Moms Who Rock Around Our Towns: Dobbs Ferry's Brooke Nalle

Brooke Nalle is a pediatric sleep coach and the founder of Sleepy on Hudson

Each week, we're going to share with you a local mom who we think is awesome. We'll ask her some questions and hear about how she manages life with kids in our area. We hope you'll enjoy getting to know some of our neighbors. Brooke Nalle is a pediatric sleep coach and founder of Sleepy on Hudson. lives in Dobbs Ferry with her husband, Graham and their children, Alistair (almost 8), Clara (5.5), and Loewy (2.5).  1. How do you balance being a mom and working? Brooke, perhaps like many working parents,  doesn't feel she does do the "balance thing" well, but on days when she does, she seeks out "the grey area and does work there - nap times, while the kids are on play dates or at activities, at night." She makes every effort to  "be present …

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Black Cat's Ana Brings Uruguayan Remedy to Irvington

'Ana's Comfort Tea' helps heal sore throats and clear congested sinuses.

Last week I ducked into the Black Cat Cafe in Irvington a few minutes before collecting the police blotter up the street, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to eke out a single follow-up question because my throat burned as if I'd drunk paint thinner and then swallowed a lit match.  I asked the woman who was working at the time if she had any herbal teas that were good for sore throats. She sad, "I have just the thing." It turns out, I was introduced to "Ana's Comfort Tea," a replica of a traditional herbal remedy from employee Ana Rusch's home country of Uruguay. "Ana's Comfort Tea" is a mixture of ginger (jengibre), chamomile (manzanilla), mint (menta), lemon ( limón) and a lot of honey (mucho de miel.) "When I was young and growing up …

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Festivities Closing; Everything 25% Off

With the exception of chocolate and candy.

Residents Teresa and Bill Caruso resently posted a sign in the window of their shop Festivities, on Main Street in Hastings, that they will be closing their gift and card store. All items—but chocolate and candy—are 25 percent off. The store will be open again on Tuesday, when we can learn more from the owners; stay tuned for more details.  Festivities has been open since the 1990's.  How do you feel about another Hastings mainstay closing? What type of business do you think could survive, thrive even, in that space. 

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Workplace - Wild and Wonderful

Helicopter Parents,Time for a Landing!

Sometimes parents have a hard time stepping back and letting their child become an adult. When it comes to your child’s job, you must do just that.

I received a call last week that went like this: Caller: “Hi, are you the person I would speak to about internships?” Me: “Yes.” Caller: “Great, my son is senior at xxx high school and he is looking for an internship at your company.”  Me: “I am going to share with you two things that I hope you will find helpful.  First, unfortunately I do not have any internships available. Second, your son should be making these calls.”  She was offended. Oh well. As a mom, I certainly understand the impulse to intervene and ask your child’s employer questions that he or she may not know to ask or feel comfortable asking. However, if your child is old enough to apply for a job, go on an interview and get hired, he or she can and should handle all issues…

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Rivertowns Biz Snippets: Great Service at Irvington Hardware

What separates one hardware store from another? Great service, says Irvington police officer Edmond Vize.

Working right up the street from the small Main Street hardware store, Irvington Police Officer Edmond Vize patronizes Irvington Hardware regularly for lightbulbs, screws and any other household needs. "You couldn't ask for nicer people to wait on you in a hardware store," Vize said of owners Joseph and Ellen Galano. "They are good people." Irvington Hardware is now open for limited hours on Sundays, and carries everything you need from snow shovels and scrapers to flashlights, batteries to paint and topsoil. "I go there all the time for odds and ends," Vize said. "If you're going to give away your money, it should be to nice people." Stay tuned for the next Rivertowns Biz Snippet on Monday. Have an idea for a snippet? Upload it as an …

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Rivertowns Biz Snippets: 'Food For Thought's' Organic Chocolate, Pet Foods and Stellar Service

Today's feature is on this Spring Street health nut's haven. Have an idea for a snippet? Post it as an announcement on Patch.

In honor of its 40th anniversary this spring, Hastings' recently got a facelift—outside the store, that is. Everything on the inside is just as organic, reasonably-priced and healthful as it has been since 1972. Owner Dwight Burke and his sister Tracy Burke-Pearson are extremely proud of the merchandise they sell inside their tiny-but-tightly-packed Spring Street shop. From top-of-the line vitamins and lotions to gluten-free pancake mixes and organic pet food, they have everything a health nut could ever crave.  Even the health nuts' kids don't have to feel like they're being dragged (unwillingly) down the road to bodily purification, with Food for Thoughts' offerings like: kid-friendly, animal-shaped, gluten-free pastas and Annie's …

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Dwight Burke

3:17 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012

thanks Hope its loyal customers like yourself that keeps us going in the town of hastings on Hudson!   more ›

Rivertowns Biz Snippets: Geordanes' Chicken w/ Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Comfort food keep Irvington officers going on their long shifts. Have an idea for a Rivertowns Biz Snippet? Submit it as an announcement.

Irvington Police Sgt. Michael Buck loves Geordanes' prepared foods for lunch—especially the chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy.  "I just love the way it tastes," he said. "They're quick, have good srvice and nice people."  He also mentioned that the price was also a huge attraction. Geordanes' on Main Street offers a number of prepared items you can take with you for lunch or dinner any day of the week.  They also offer sandwiches, salads and lots of other kitchen staples.  Rivertowns Biz Snippets highlights great products you can get at Hastings, Dobbs Ferry and Irvington establishments.  Have an idea for a snippet?  Upload it as an announcement. 

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Lizzie Hedrick

3:42 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012

I'm not sure my photos do their food justice...   more ›