Winter 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 to pass on key information that you need to know about everyday stuff like the weather, keeping house and taking care of your livestock. We think that if we asked their editors to curate a What To Do: Winter Survival Checklist for Armonk, Bedford & Chappaqua, that it would go something like this:

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Report

Weather: Winter will be colder and slightly wetter than normal, with above-normal snowfall. The coldest periods will be in late December and early and mid-January. The snowiest periods will be in mid- and late December, mid-January, and early to mid-February. (See our guide to back-up power here.)

Astronomy: Full moon days for the winter: January 4, February 3, March 5. (Remember if you talk politics or religion to your spouse on these days you may be lawyering up in the morning.)

Geminid Meteor Shower: The Geminids are the best meteor shower of the year averaging 75 per hour. And this year they arrive on the weekend and will be visible all night long. Sat-Sun, 12/13-14.

Best Fishing Days: According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac the best fishing days are between when the moon is new and full. If you’re planning on winter fishing or heading south with your rod and line, your best fishing days are: December 21-31, January 20–February 3, February 18-March 5.

Holidays, Religious Observances, Excuses to throw a party

Christmas … December 25 Slam Dunk Tournament at the County Center … December 26-29 New Year’s Day … January 1 Bubble Bath Day … January 8 Martin Luther King’s Birthday … January 19 Groundhog Day … February 2 Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day …  February 11 Valentine’s Day … February 14 Washington’s Birthday … February 16 Ash Wednesday … February 18 Mardi Gras … February 17 National Potato Chip Day … March 14 St. Patrick’s Day … March 17

Astrology: Celeste Longacre’s Best Days: According to the OFA’s resident astrologer/radio personality and author Celeste Longacre, here are the best days each month to: Start a project: Jan 21, 22; Feb 19, 20; Mar 21-22 Finish a project: Jan 18, 19; Feb 16, 17; Mar 18, 19 Cut hay: Jan 24, 25; Feb 21, 22; Mar 20, 21 Can, pickle or make sauerkraut: Jan 14, 15; Feb 10, 11; Mar 9, 10, 11 Start a diet: Jan 10, 15; Feb 19, 23; Mar 10, 19 Start a diet to gain weight: (ha) Jan 23, 27; Feb 19, 23; Mar 22, 23 Quit Smoking: Jan 10, 15; Feb 6, 11; Mar 10, 19 Go to the dentist: Jan 19, 20; Feb 5, 6; Mar 4, 5, 6 Wean animals or children: Jan 10, 15; Feb 6, 11; Mar 10, 19 Breed children or animals: Jan 14, 15; Feb 10, 11; Mar 10, 11 Best days to hug your kids: everyday

Maybe kids need more time to play video games: Okay, so maybe it’s time to chill out on those video game limitations, because, if you play your joysticks right, your kid just might earn a college scholarship. Gaming industry entities like Sony Online Entertainment and the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences have been awarding scholarships to students who are interested in pursuing careers in interactive entertainment for almost a decade. But last June Robert Morris University in Chicago announced they will be recruiting players and offering scholarships to field a varsity team in the online multi-player battle-arena video game League of Legends, Hearthtstone Heroes of Warcraft and Death of the Ancients (DOTA). The University plans to offer 45-50 scholarships that will pay for 50% of tuition and room and board. They’ll get uniforms, tutoring support if practice time takes away from their studies and will compete in the Collegiate Star League, an eSports league that competes with Harvard, MIT and UC Berkeley. Food for thought …

Have you downloaded the Castle Cab app yet? You will. Here’s why:Castle Cab is the new mobile-based taxicab service serving North Castle and surrounding communities with on-demand service and advanced reservations. (Hint: Charlie’s guitar lessons. Mary’s basketball practice. Armonk Dance!) The mobile app enables you to book a ride, receive instant confirmation, and pay from your credit card right from your mobile device – for like, right now, next Thursday, or the next 6 Saturday mornings at 7:45. So what do you need a local taxicab for when you have your own fleet of cars in your driveway? We came up with 29 reasons and a game you can play to come up with 29 more. Read more.

Financial Therapy in Chappaqua: Chappaqua resident Scott M. Kahan, Certified Financial Planner professional and President of New York City based Financial Asset Management Corp., recently opened a branch of his NYC based fee-only wealth management practice in Chappaqua. He told us that the goal of a good financial planner is to “take the emotions out of investing” for the client. “We know that for most investors their relationship with money goes back to childhood and how money was treated then. This is important to know. “ If you think this sounds a little like financial therapy – it is. “Sometime I feel like a financial therapist,” Scott said. But, like any real therapist, Scott’s goal is not to make you understand how much your parents have screwed you up – it’s about making you a better investor. Read more.

How teens get high, lose weight, kill pain, try to raise their test scores and get messed up: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic. Why do teens do it and how do they get started? And what is the risk profile for the types of teens who are susceptible to prescription drug abuse? You may be surprised at what Armonk resident, psychotherapist, and social worker Dr. Nan Miller told us. As the coordinator of Mt. Kisco Partners in Prevention, a community alliance operating under a grant from the Federal Drug Free Community Program, Dr. Miller has become a local expert on teen substance abuse. This is the second in a series of ongoing discussions that we are having with Dr. Miller on the topic.  Read more.

Courtesy of Emily Sidoti

Holiday Entertaining: DeCicco’s: Craft Beer pairings for the holidays: We asked craft beer expert Brendon O’Brien, of DeCicco’s Armonk, for a quick lesson on craft beer and we got that and more. Brendon manages the craft beer section that stocks over 2,000 different labels, and runs the bar at DeCicco’s. He told us all about IPAs with their citrusy and piney aromas, Winter Brews and Sour and Wild Ales – a style of beer that’s starting to get recognized by craft beer aficionados.Then we had him pair some beers with holiday recipes from the likes of Michael Chiarello and Bobby Flay. Here’s what we’re eating (and drinking) for the holidays, New Years Eve and the Super Bowl. Read more.

Generator Maintenance: Armonk residents Barrie and David Rakower’s Firefly Propane Service now performs maintenance for home and portable liquid propane or natural gas generators. Be prepared for the first storm. You know it’s coming. You can contact them at 888.384.3359 or at barrie@fireflypropane.com. Don’t have one yet? See our Home Generator Guide here.

Winter Tree Care: Our area’s varied and beautiful tree population contributes to the richness and desirability of living on our towns. They are both an important part of the eco-system we call home and the value of our houses themselves. If you are anything like us, you probably consider the trees in your yard, in the best sense of the word – trophies. Yet, many of us are more concerned with caring for our lawn than our trees. We asked Rolf Brandt, arborist of The Care of Trees in Mt. Kisco to help us raise our tree IQ. “Preparing your trees for winter not only provides health growth in the spring it can protect your property from storm damage,” Rolf told us. “Here’s some simple tips you can do yourself or talk about with your arborist.”

Remove critical risk trees.

Fertilize as part of your normal annual program.

Inspect for ice and snow damage.

Cable, brace or remove weak limbs.

Prune for shape, structure and health.

Eliminate dead, diseased or unsafe branches.

Examine trees and shrubs for insects and diseases.

Hydrate trees before the ground freezes.

Wrap newly planted trees for warmth and protection.

Mulch for root protection.

Protect trees from salt damage.

What To Do: School Recess Camps

Here are some options to keep the kids engaged during the (H)oliday, (W)inter, (S)pring and (MLK) Martin Luther King Day school recesses.

Armonk Indoor: (W) President’s Week Elite Soccer Camp: Led by Stuart Smith and his coaching staff, this camp is for high-level players in grades 3-8 (boys and girls) who want to be challenged and pushed to their limits. Participants should play WYSL/CJSA Division 1 or 2, or EDP/RPL Premier. Tues-Fri, 2/18-21: 9am-12pm.  (205 Business Park Dr., Armonk, 914.273.8522; www.armonkindoor.com)

Audubon Greenwich: (W) Nature Exploration Days, Explore outdoors, arts & crafts, and games. Grades K-6, full days. Tues-Wed, 2/10-11 & 17-18. (613 Riversville Rd., Greenwich; www.greenwich.audubon.org)

Bedford Recreation, (H) (MLK) (W) Skate at The Harvey School with Bedford Rec. Fri., 12/27 & Mon, 1/20, 2/17: 12:45-2:45. Winter Recess Fun: Winter crafts and games. Tues & Thurs, 2/17 & 19: Full day & extended day. Grades K-5. (Bedford Hills Community House.) Winter Recess Fun Bowling: Wed, 2/18: Full day & extended day.  Grades K-6. (Bedford Hills Community House/Cortland Lanes.) Check Winter Brochure or www.bedfordny.info)

Brewster Sports, (MLK) (W) Five Star Martin Luther King Day Basketball Camp, Five Star President’s Week Holiday Camp. Half day & full day, Ages 9-16. (19 Sutton Pl., Brewster, 845.406.0130, almorales@brewstersportscenter.com; www.brewstersportscenter.com)

Club Fit, Schools Out Sports Camps, (H) (W) (S) Basketball, kickball, soccer, dodge ball, swimming and more. Full-day, ages 5-12. Plus basketball and soccer clinics. (Bank Rd., Jefferson Valley/Yorktown, 914.3245.40407; www.clubfit.com)

House of Sports, (H) (MLK) (W) (S) When schools are closed the House Of Sports offers daily holiday camps in basketball, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, hockey, performance and volleyball. Half day for ages 3-4, full day for grades K-8. Buy by the day. Call to register. (1 Elm St., Ardsley, 914.479.5419; www.houseofsportsny.com)

Harvey School Public Skating: (H) (MLK) (W) Jim Whiting and staff at Bedford Recreation, in association with The Harvey School offers public skating at The Harvey School’s Evarts Rink on Fri, 12/26, Mon, 1/19 & Mon, 2/16: 12:45-2:45pm.

Jacob Burns Film Center:  A Taste of Animation: create stop-motion animated films in the Lad’s Animation Studio. Tues, 2/17 & Thurs, 4/2. Full day grades 3-4. Wed, 4/1: grades 5-6. Wed, 2/18: grades 7-8. Music Video Production: Create a music video using popular effects such as split screen, fast/slow motion, green screen and compositing. Tues, 2/17: full day, grades 5-6 & Tues, 3/31, grades 7-8.  (Jacob Burns Film Center’s Media Arts Lab, 405 Manville Road, Pleasantville; 914.773.7663 ext. 8, https://education.burnsfilmcenter.org/education)

Jodi’s Gym (H) (MLK) (W) (S) Half-day camp including gymnastics, music, games and art for kids ages 3-7. Buy by the day. (Jodi’s Gym, 25 Hubbels Dr., Mt. Kisco, 914.244.8811; www.jodisgym.com)

Katonah Art Center, (H) (W) Students will work with a variety of materials, trying their hand at clay, painting, drawing & crafts. All campers should dress appropriately for art and bring a snack. Materials included. Half day and full day. Buy by the day. Grades 1-5 and teens. (131 Bedford Rd., Katonah, 914.232.4843; www.katonahartcenter.com)

New Castle Recreation (W) Mad Science, full-day, grades 1-5, Tues-Wed, 2/17-18, Pizza & Bingo, Get Crafty, partial day, ages 5-12, Thurs, 2/19. Check Winter Brochure or www.mynewcastle.org)

ProSwing, (H) (W) (S) Holiday Break Instructional Baseball Clinics, Half day for ages 6-12, (27 Radio Circle Dr., Mt. Kisco, 914.242.1626; www.proswingbaseball.com)

Rockin’ Jump: The new Rockin’ Jump trampoline exercise and entertainment center for kids and teens is scheduled to open in Mt. Kisco in mid-January. With a Rockin’ Splash area where kids jump from trampolines into a pool of soft foam cubes, a Rockin’ Dodge ball zone, a Rockin’ Dunk zone dedicated for trampoline basketball and a Rockin’ Arena acrobatics zone it is sure to come in handy throughout the winter and on school recess breaks. More to come soon. (333 North Bedford Rd., Mt. Kisco, 914.743.5730; wwwmtk.rockinjump.com)

Rosenthal JCC, (H) (W) (S) Full day school-break camps. Daily themed mini-camp staycations with flexible drop-off and pick-up times. Choose one day or all of the days – your choice!  A great chance for your kids to meet up with their friends and make new ones! Please pack a nut free lunch; refrigeration and microwave provided. (600 Bear Ridge Rd. Pleasantville, 814.0333 x15. Allison@rosenthaljcc.org, www.rosenthaljcc.org)

Saw Mill Club: (H) (W): Tennis, swimming, games, arts & crafts, Zumba, Yoga and all day fun. Ages 3-5 and 6-12. Flex-schedules and drop-ins accepted. 12/22-24, 26 & 29-31. Half-day on 12/24 & 31. Mon-Fri, 2/16-20: 9am-3pm. Contact Nicole Weiss, 914.241.0797, nweiss@sawmillclub.com  (Saw Mill Club, 77 Kensico Dr., Mt. Kisco; www.sawmillclub.com)

Teaches Hoops, (W) (S) Basketball for boys and girls, grades K-2 (half-days) and grades 2-7 (full-days.) (Greenville Elementary School, Edgemont) 914.238.0278, customerservice@teacheshoops.com; www.teacheshoops.com)

Teatown Lake Reservation, (H) (W) (S) Holi-Daze Mini Camp, Hiking, crafts and adventure. Half-day, ages 4-5, Full-day Ages 6-12. Plus, President’s Week Mini-Camp and Spring Fling Mini-Camp.  (1600 Spring Valley Rd., Ossining, 914.762.2912 ext. 110; www.teatown.org)

WeeZee World, (H) MLK) (W) (S) During school holidays and whenever school is out, children ages 4-12 play and participate in theme day activities, explore WeeZee’s one-of-a-kind gym, make art projects, cook and have water fun in the Rainforest Room (pack a swimsuit!). Full-day campers can pack a lunch or purchase lunch on site. (Chappaqua Crossing, 480 N. Bedford Rd., Chappaqua, 914.752.2100; www.weezeeworld.com)

White Plains Performing Arts Center (H) The Little Mermaid Workshop (H) Grades 2-12. Mon-Tues, 12/29-30: 10am-4pm. Students focus on scene work, music and choreography from WPPAC’s Main stage show with production staff and cast members.  (11 City Place, White Plains, 914.328.1600,)

World Cup Gymnastics Holiday Break Special Days, (H) Full day, ages 3 & up. Frozen, Mon, 12/29, New Year’s Nuttiness, Tues, 12/30.  (170 Hunts Ln., Chappaqua, 914.238.4967; wwww.worldcupgymnastics.com)