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The Home Issue

March / April 2024

Read our latest issue below, or keep scrolling for behind the scenes pictures, videos and information.

View our March/April 2024 trailer.

Welcome to our second home issue and our first attempt at repeating a theme.

We’re not the people who like doing the same thing twice, and we know no one wants to read the same thing twice, so creating a second home issue presented us with a new challenge: how do we tell stories about the same topic in a very different way? The answer: Let’s talk about living in our homes. Then, we had too many ideas (it’s a problem we’ve grown accustomed to).

You’ll find stories with an environmentally friendly theme, such as Ali Voron’s shop, Piece Revival, easy (and affordable) ways to green your home and how to sell or donate your spring cleaning finds so they don’t end up in a landfill. And, because living in a home also means having fun, we, along with the famed Emily Post, are sharing tips on how to host a memorable dinner party.

We also created a section-within-a-section called “How to Home” that includes shorter stories about how to refresh your home, create a productive workspace and Airbnb your home, along with a story on the financial/legal things you should know when buying a home and what you should know/consider when making the transition to senior living.

Since one of our goals is to help you, we also help you prevent and prepare for a home disaster. And, speaking of helping, the home-related problem we hear about the most often is “I’m ready to downsize, but I don’t know where to go.” So, we’re answering that question. And we also go on a day trip to Sagamore Hill, the home of Theodore Roosevelt.

And when you’re all “homed out,” you can read about your incredible neighbors, like a teen building a mini-golf course to spread awareness about climate change, a local artist who recently passed away, a high school track coach who was one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, and a John Jay High School alum who is making it big on Broadway.

Plus, there’s always stuff for you to learn. We’ll help you understand why your dog chews on your socks or eats “gross” things, how to buy/care for hydrangeas and if family therapy is right for you.

Yes, we packed a lot into this issue—so much, in fact, that we had to increase our page count.

Finally, a little plug for the other things we do, because Connect To isn’t only on the pages of this magazine. On our ever-growing website, we’ve begun publishing the Record Review’s beloved police report (connecttomag.com/policereport), penned by the same writer. And we’re starting something completely new, a project we’re calling The Buzz (connecttomag.com/thebuzz). Here, you can hear your neighbors “buzz” about a topic and even record your own thoughts about the topic (voice only, all completely anonymous).

Plus, our app is growing. You can subscribe through the App Store or Google Play to get discounts for local shops, restaurants, businesses and more.

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The Buzz: Home Edition

Try our voice-only social experiment. The Buzz is a fun and engaging way to connect with members of our community through audio. Listen to the thoughts and opinions of your neighbors in a completely anonymous setting. For the home issue, we asked our community what the most unique thing is in their house.

The results will surprise and entertain you.

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Hydrangea Mania

Download our hydrangea chart to help you take care of whatever hydrangea you have in your yard.

Hole in One

Learn more about how Ossining High School’s Max Lazarowitz is helping build awareness about climate change throughout our community.

The Work of Roy Lerner

View more images and photos of the late Vista artist Roy Lerner who we featured in our March / April issue.

Dr. Elixir’s Coconut Fat Wash

Check out the detailed fat wash recipe that is an important ingredient to our Cocktail Corner recipe as featured in our March / April issue.

Remembering Roy Lerner

Remembering Roy Lerner

The Vista-based artist passed away last May at the age of 68 Writing by Rob Cavenagh Photography by Justin Negard Some children have fond memories of watching their parents in the kitchen or going to their workplace on days off of school. Yvonne Lerner, however, remembers doing her homework in her father’s studio, located approximately a quarter mile from their ...
Mary Ellis

Mary Ellis

Writing by Ava Fleisher Photography by Justin Negard This story begins when artist Mary Ellis was “very, very young.” An abstract expressionist painter and owner of Fifth Avenue Manufacturers, Ellis received support from those around her who could recognize her unique style. But throughout her childhood and adolescence, she struggled in school.  “I was told that I shouldn’t even apply ...
Understanding the Legal and Financial Pieces of Buying a Home

Understanding the Legal and Financial Pieces of Buying a Home

Writing by Aerin Atinsky Artwork by Aeneas Eaton Buying a home is usually the largest purchase you’ll ever make, and the happiness of walking into a home designed to your personal taste is unparalleled. But how do you get from point A to point Z as seamlessly as possible?  If you’ve purchased a home before, and even if you haven’t, ...
Piece By Piece

Piece By Piece

By Cathy Deutsch Seventeen years ago, when Katonah resident Ali Voron was a newlywed, she began collecting unusual odds, ends and furniture she found interesting.  “We were just starting out, and we didn’t have the funds or the desire for typical mass manufactured furnishings,” says Voron, who opened Piece Revival in Cross River in March 2023. “I've always been artistic ...
Tips for Hosting a Memorable Dinner Party

Tips for Hosting a Memorable Dinner Party

By Gia Miller When it comes to dinner parties, a lot has changed over the years. When Emily Post’s book “ETIQUETTE” was first published in 1922, the wealthy were still literally rolling out the red carpet for their dinner guests. There were so many home entertaining rules that Post dedicated well over 20,000 words to the topic.  Today, though, our ...
Think You're Too Busy to Green Your Home?

Think You’re Too Busy to Green Your Home?

Here's how start, while barely lifting a finger. By Gia Miller When it comes to making your home more environmentally friendly, the lengthy (and potentially expensive) “to do” list can be paralyzing. Do I install a heat pump first? Invest in solar panels? Buy new appliances or get a “smart” thermostat? The answer to all these questions is “no.” Instead, ...
The Next Chapter

The Next Chapter

A comprehensive guide to empty nesting, downsizing and retiring in Westchester and beyond By Josephine D'Ippolito Stepping into the next chapter of life, which is usually triggered by kids leaving home or a transformative decision to retire, can feel both freeing and elusive. It’s not just about moving to a smaller home; it's about strategically moving towards a lifestyle that ...