Written by Isabella Aranda Garcia & Gia Miller
What began as a pandemic pastime for Mona Lipson has transformed into a bona fide business that combines everyone’s favorite frozen treat with small local businesses. Miss Mona Makes Ice Cream stands out for its mission to “unite neighbors, strengthen communities and amplify voices all through the joy and power of ice cream.” Calling herself New York’s first CST (which stands for “Community Supported Treats”), Lipson creates each unique flavor with locally-made food and beverage products, and many are invented in collaboration with local businesses.
Lipson says every scoop is a statement of inclusivity, and her “ice cream with heart” creates a social impact with every purchase. Plus, her ice cream is sold in small wax-free cardboard boxes that can be rinsed off and recycled or torn into pieces and composted, unlike traditional ice cream pints. You can find her mint green ice cream cart at community events and private parties, or you can purchase ice cream directly from Lipson herself.
Fun Facts
The best flavor Miss Mona has made to date is undeniably ours. The Scoop features coffee ice cream made with beans from The Paperboy Roasting Co., chocolate chip biscotti by 351 Bakery and Coop’s mocha hot fudge. It was a fun (and delicious) collaboration.
Runner-up: Sugar Attic’t, Armonk
This article was published in the January/February 2025 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
To view all 2025 Connect to the Best winners, click here.
Gia Miller is an award-winning journalist and the editor-in-chief/co-publisher of Connect to Northern Westchester. She has a magazine journalism degree (yes, that's a real thing) from the University of Georgia and has written for countless national publications, ranging from SELF to The Washington Post. Gia desperately wishes schools still taught grammar. Also, she wants everyone to know they can delete the word "that" from about 90% of their sentences, and there's no such thing as "first annual." When she's not running her media empire, Gia enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, laughing at her crazy dog and listening to a good podcast. She thanks multiple alarms, fermented grapes and her amazing husband for helping her get through each day. Her love languages are food and humor.
Isabella Aranda is a designer, writer and social media specialist with an M.A. in emerging media from the New Media Institute at the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication. Driven by curiosity and inspired by timeless modern design, she blends creativity and strategy to craft compelling narratives that engage diverse audiences.
Her expertise spans digital marketing, content creation and UX design, with notable achievements such as co-creating the Georgia On Your Mind podcast and leading digital campaigns that significantly boosted engagement. A Venezuelan immigrant, Isabella brings a multicultural perspective to her work, enhancing her ability to connect with and inspire others.
