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The Nature Issue

July / August 2026

Introducing Our new mascot, Scoop!

If you come here often, you might know that we have a mascot, Folio. He’s a little purple robot that we hide in every issue. Folio (which is journalism speak for the words at the bottom of each page next to the page number) was really an inside joke between the two of us, dating back to our May/June 2023 issue. For our ad in that issue, we asked five different AIs to describe us (the results were hysterical) and an AI image generator to create a mascot. The robot made us laugh, but it never really made sense to anyone else.

For the past six months, we discussed changing our mascot, but it was difficult to come up with the right one. We went through a substantial list of inanimate objects, hoping to land on something as brilliant as Clippy (IYKYK). However, a quill or typewriter only addressed the writing aspect, and art is equally important. A lightbulb made a little more sense, but we didn’t want to give it those weird stick arms and legs. There were plenty more (we’ll spare you the boring details), but nothing seemed to fit.

Eventually, we agreed that we wanted an animal as our mascot. But what? An octopus to represent everything we juggle at the same time? Too many tentacles—they’d get in the way. A dog, because they’re easy to anthropomorphize and everyone loves dogs? Too generic. A chameleon so it could change colors and easily hide among our pages? Too weird. An owl, as they’re a symbol of wisdom and intuition? Maybe, but their little legs are awkward, and their bodies are kind of stiff. Yet the more we debated the pros and cons of different animals, the more we returned to the owl. We polled our senior interns, and the owl was the clear winner with them as well.

Then it was up to Justin. Could he create an owl that was kind of dog-like (adorable and easy to anthropomorphize)? The answer, of course, was yes! The final step was the name, and we let our interns do the honors.

So without further adieu, meet our new mascot, Scoop! Like any loving “parents,” we think he’s perfect.

And just like Folio before him, Scoop will hide in each issue starting with this one. (Let us know when you find him! This page doesn’t count.) Scoop will also appear in some of our social media posts and on our new merch (connecttomag.com/shop).

And now it’s your turn to get in on the Scoop fun. Scoop needs a voice! Come visit our booth this summer at the Pleasantville Music Festival (July 11) or Caramoor’s Jazz Festival (July 25) and tell us what you think Scoop should sound like. All ages and ideas are welcome.

Craving more Connect To? Sign up for our newsletter.

If you’re anything like us, you rarely read daily newsletters, and weekly ones are often too much as well. But twice a month? It’s just about perfect. So that’s what we do. We arrive in your inbox approximately twice a month because we’d rather have you happy to see us than searching for the unsubscribe button.

Cross Anagrams

Arthur Wynne, the man remembered as the inventor of the crossword puzzle, also originated the lesser-known cross anagram. Most of Mr. Wynne’s examples of the puzzle were of the six-square size you see here. Once, however, he completed a seven-letter cross anagram using the diagonal acrostic FREEDOM to WORSHIP. “It was a difficult thing to do,” he wrote afterward. “Being British and naturally too stubborn to drop a thing once it was started, I said I would complete it if it took a month. And I went through the big Funk & Wagnalls with a fine-tooth comb, searching for seven-letter words that would fit the anagram requirements. When I look back at the daylight hours I spent and the midnight oil I burned on that puzzle, I shudder . . . From now on I will stick to six-letter words.”

Directions: Each clue has a six-letter word answer. Enter your answers horizontally across in the grid directly above the clues. Each word in grid A is an anagram of the word on the same row in grid B. One letter in each word is already in place.

When you’re done:

Submit your answer to win a prize. We will randomly select winners and reach out if you’ve been chosen. Good luck!

Cross Anagrams

Arthur Wynne, the man remembered as the inventor of the crossword puzzle, also originated the lesser-known cross anagram. Most of Mr. Wynne’s examples of the puzzle were of the six-square size you see here. Once, however, he completed a seven-letter cross anagram using the diagonal acrostic FREEDOM to WORSHIP. “It was a difficult thing to do,” he wrote afterward. “Being British and naturally too stubborn to drop a thing once it was started, I said I would complete it if it took a month. And I went through the big Funk & Wagnalls with a fine-tooth comb, searching for seven-letter words that would fit the anagram requirements. When I look back at the daylight hours I spent and the midnight oil I burned on that puzzle, I shudder . . . From now on I will stick to six-letter words.”

Directions: Each clue has a six-letter word answer. Enter your answers horizontally across in the grid directly above the clues. Each word in grid A is an anagram of the word on the same row in grid B. One letter in each word is already in place.

When you’re done:

Submit your answer to win a prize. We will randomly select winners and reach out if you’ve been chosen. Good luck!

Submit your answer

A Weekend in Watkins Glen

Writing and Photography by Justin Negard What is New York? Is it the skyscrapers of Manhattan? Is it the suburban homes of Westchester? Is it the shores of Long Island? Living in this community, you might not give it much thought. We have access to Michelin 3-star restaurants. We can catch a Broadway show or concert in about an hour ...

The Native Resistance

Across the region, researchers and conservationists are testing strategies to curb invasive species and strengthen native habitats. By Julie Schwietert Collazo Artwork by Justin Negard Avid local gardeners may already be aware that climate change and invasive species are creating an array of Whac-a-Mole challenges that stymie even the most energetic and resourceful person. If you’ve noticed that the soil ...

Westchester’s Most Wanted

By Gia Miller Artwork by Jack Coffey They’re not bank robbers or escaped fugitives, but these introduced species have invaded our land and certainly earned a spot on Westchester’s Most Wanted list. From fast-spreading plants to destructive insects and disruptive mammals, each poses a unique threat to the landscapes and wildlife that make our region special. 1. Porcelain ...

Meet Your Neighbors: Thomas J. Daniels, Vector Ecologist, Louis Calder Center

By Kayla Schmidt Photography by Justin Negard You probably don’t think much about ticks unless one has latched on to you. Tom Daniels thinks about them constantly. As a vector ecologist at Fordham University’s Louis Calder Center, he’s spent 40 years studying the tiny, much-loathed creatures, and he’ll be the first to tell you they deserve a little more respect ...

Glowing

By Aaron Birbrower Artwork by Molly McGarvey Founders’ note: Not everyone is born with the ability to use their voice. Not everyone can easily communicate their thoughts, feelings, hopes and dreams. On this page, we’re give nonspeaking people in our community the opportunity to be heard. The authors are students at Mouth to Hand Learning Center in Mount Kisco. You ...

Meet Your Neighbors: Michael Leonard, Certified Arborist, SavATree

By Kayla Schmidt Photography by Justin Negard Michael Leonard has spent nearly 44 years getting to know other people’s trees. As a certified arborist with SavATree, based out of Bedford Hills, he’s spent his career inspecting, diagnosing and caring for the trees that shape Westchester’s properties—and the homeowners who love them. What inspired you to take care of trees? My ...

Meet Your Neighbors: Lisa Kelly, Animal Care Supervisor, Teatown Lake Reservation

By Kayla Schmidt Ever wondered what it takes to care for a turkey vulture, a porcupine or a turtle? Lisa Kelly, the animal care supervisor at Teatown, has spent the past 17 years learning the answer to that question—and many others like it. Hers is a career built off the beaten path: no traditional degree, just a childhood love of ...

Meet Your Neighbors: Luis Melendez, Boat Captain, Riverkeeper

By Kayla Schmidt The Hudson River runs more than 300 miles, and Luis Melendez knows a good chunk of it by heart. As a boat captain for 16 years, the last two as the boat captain for the Riverkeeper, he patrols the river’s estuary from the Gowanus Canal in the city up to the Federal Lock in Troy, learning new ...

Meet Your Neighbors: Rebecca Bose, Curator, Wolf Conservation Center

By Kayla Schmidt There’s an old saying that if you love your job, you don’t work a day in your life. For Rebecca Bose, curator at the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, that rings true. For over 26 years, she has opted for wolves instead of vet school, built a career around animals she deeply respects, and found a ...

The Art of Living

By Gia Miller & Justin Negard Photography by Justin Negard When commercial real estate and fashion executive Steve Giner moved into a “fixer-upper stone carriage house” in Katonah almost 20 years ago, someone mentioned his interesting neighbor, but he didn’t give it much thought. One summer day, during the middle of his home renovation, Giner was outside observing his foundation ...

Wild Personalities

By Ilyssa Panitz Photography by Justin Negard and Gia Miller Why spend thousands standing behind velvet ropes at a Hollywood premiere or awards shows with the hopes of seeing your favorite celebrity when Westchester County is home to more than a dozen A-list four-legged ones? These local stars are far more accessible—ready for close-ups, meet-and-greets and, if you’re lucky, the ...

Westchester Nightlife

By Rinn Kress Artwork by Justin Negard Westchester is known for being a bit on the quieter side at night—at least, where the humans are concerned. But for many local flora and fauna, sunset is when the party starts. Whether they’re singing a tune, sweetening the air or lighting up the night, these native nocturnal species can often be found ...

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