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Upper Westchester, NY June 2026

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Keeping Momentum, Staying Connected

June is a transitional moment here in Upper Westchester. The school year is wrapping up, summer calendars are starting to take shape, and there’s a natural shift in rhythm, one that invites us to slow down just enough to reconnect with what matters most. It’s also a reminder that community isn’t built in big moments alone, but in the consistency of showing up, supporting one another, and staying engaged even when things feel a little less structured.

We’re excited to bring you a look at Greenwich’s first professional polo team, a feature that blends sport, tradition, and lifestyle into a modern cultural experience. It’s the kind of story that feels aspirational yet connected to the broader lifestyle many of us appreciate here in Westchester.

You’ll also notice something new: the introduction of Ask Leslie. After incredible feedback in our other markets, we knew it was time to bring this column to Upper Westchester. It offers thoughtful, relatable insight which is something we can all benefit from as we navigate the many layers of daily life.

What I’m most focused on right now is what comes next. Continuing to build stronger local connections, bringing in more of the businesses and voices that define Upper Westchester, and ensuring that each issue becomes more impactful than the last. That’s the commitment behind the scenes.

As always, I encourage you to support local, stay engaged, and share your feedback. This publication is for you and it continues to evolve because of you.

Here’s to a summer of momentum, connection, and continued growth.

Warmly,

LAURA SABIA, PUBLISHER @UPPERWESTCHESTER.CITYLIFESTYLE

Our publication serves the communities of Armonk, Bedford, Bedford Hills, Chappaqua, Katonah, Mount Kisco, Pound Ridge and Valhalla.

June 2026

PUBLISHER

Laura Sabia | laura.sabia@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Emma Parente | emma.parente@citylifestyle.com

MARKET SUPPORT DIRECTOR

Adam Vohra | adam.vohra@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Dana Cifone, Tanya Meyers

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Jennifer Wege

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Mary Albers

LAYOUT DESIGNER Rhiannon Coffman

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.

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1: A community celebration for the Katonah Fire Department’s new Rescue 17 truck 2: Bedford Town Supervisor Ellen Calves and Chief of Katonah Fire Department John Whalen. Photography by Jennifer Wege
Bedford 2030 Greenlight Awards 9: Bedford Historical Museum Historical Walking Tour Photography by Jennifer Wege

business monthly

Young Entrepreneur Launches Premium Mobile Auto Detailing Service

Twenty-three-year-old entrepreneur Peter Rossi, a North Salem High School and Pace University graduate, has launched Professor Detail Auto Care, a premium mobile auto detailing business serving the Hudson Valley. As AI reshapes the workforce, Rossi left a traditional marketing career to pursue a skilled trade he believes is difficult to automate. His business brings professional detailing, paint correction, and ceramic coating services directly to customers’ homes. Offering a convenient, high-quality alternative to traditional car washes.

Girls With Impact Hits 20,000 Milestone

Girls With Impact surpassed a milestone, serving more than 20,000 young women across all 50 states and over 60 countries. Founded in 2017, the organization equips young women ages 14 to 26 with business, financial literacy, and leadership skills to prepare them for real world success. At a time when confidence declines in adolescence, its programs provide early access to experience, helping close the gap between ambition and opportunity for the next generation of leaders.

Northwell Expands Care with New Chappaqua Practice

Northwell Health recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Primary and Specialty Care practice at Chappaqua Crossing, marking the 66th ambulatory location established in Westchester through Northwell Health Physician Partners. The $3 million, 9,400 square foot facility offers integrated services including primary care and multiple specialties. Designed to improve coordination and accessibility, the new location enhances access to high-quality, comprehensive care for residents across Westchester County.

ASK LESLIE

Oh, hi, summer. Finally! It's the season I wish for all winter long and the reason I curse when I sit on hot leather seats. The season of perfect sunsets and relentless bugs. When you love that the kids have no math homework, yet somehow can't wait for September. Summer. When pouring a cocktail at 4:00 p.m. on a Tuesday feels so right until your alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday. But! In summer, you can always hit snooze.

I recently came across a post that stopped me mid-scroll: My alarm goes off twice in the morning. Once for the person I want to be,

and once for the person I am. Kind of poetic. Though…I'm still trying to figure out who my third and fourth alarms are for.

In the spring, my family and I visited Epic Universe at Universal. My husband took our two kids on separate days to explore their must-see areas while I happily people watched poolside. In the evening we'd all meet up at the pool, our girls making a beeline for the waterslide on repeat while my husband and I caught up over Tito's and soda with extra (extra!) limes. At some point he leaned over and said, "You know what the girls would love? To see you go down that slide." I cringed. Then I imagined their cute little faces filled with pure delight and disbelief. So I did it (many times, actually). And I loved it.

I wouldn't have gone down that waterslide without a nudge from someone who knows me well. It wasn't really my "thing" - but that day, it became a big thing.

Summer has a way of turning a lot of things into big things. The moments we'd normally talk ourselves out of, the invitations we'd almost decline, the slide we'd never in a million years think to go down. Socializing is no different. So! With the season of backyard gatherings and packed social calendars finally here (hooray!), it's no surprise that this month's letters are giving major summer social life vibes.

CONTINUED >

What's the best way to handle it when you send an invitation with an RSVP deadline and not a single person responds?

Dear Waiting by the Inbox,

A pet peeve of mine, and I'll fully admit I've been the guilty party on the other side of this too. Eek.

Don't take the silence personally. Life is genuinely busy, people have partners to check with, family calendars to sort out, and your invite, as lovely as it was, is sitting in their inbox getting snoozed until they're ready to commit. RSVP deadlines are great in theory and absolutely worth including, they just tend to function more as a suggestion.

Letting technology do the nudging for you is a good solution. Paperless Post is my personal go-to, you can preschedule reminders that go out automatically to anyone who hasn't responded yet, so you're not the one chasing people down. Their ‘Flyer’ option sends invites via text, which in my experience gets a quicker response rate than email.

Don't overthink it, people need the reminder and they're always glad to get it.

Happy hosting!

— Leslie

Is it ever acceptable to simply decline an invitation, even when there's no real excuse?

Dear Permission Granted,

Short answer: yes, absolutely acceptable. And here's a question worth asking yourself...who actually needs the excuse, you or the host?  Learning to say no without guilt took me a while too, but once I got there it was pretty liberating. A few years ago a friend shared her philosophy on declining the things you just don't want to commit to, and I haven't looked back since.

The line is simple: "That doesn't work for me." Generic enough to cover almost anything, yet specific enough to feel pretty good about it. You can tailor it as needed, "that day doesn't work for me " works well and requires zero explanation. Another personal favorite: "I already have plans." Which is entirely true, by the way, even if those plans involve rewatching your fave movie in your robe with absolutely nowhere to be. Still counts!

It's completely natural to not want to disappoint people, but if you're just not feeling it, so be it. Your time is precious and yours Spend it the way you want.

— Leslie

Want to submit a question to Ask Leslie? Email darien@citylifestyle.com or DM Leslie directly on Instagram (and follow along!): ask_leslie_official. All submissions are confidential and anonymous.

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AN EXCERPT FROM EPISODE 6 OF SHARE THE LIFESTYLE, A CITY LIFESTYLE PODCAST

Photographer: Brittany Dawn Short

Creative Director: Jen Birn

Stylist: Stephanie Coultress O’Neill

Location: Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, TX

MIKE JOHNSON HAS BUILT HIS LIFE AROUND ONE QUIETLY RADICAL IDEA: THE STANDARD YOU SET PRIVATELY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.

After eight years in the Air Force, a celebrated run on national television, and a health crisis abroad that sent him deep into supply chains and ingredient certifications most founders never touch, the result is Oshun — a luxury ritual brand built on provenance you can trace and integrity you can verify. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Mike shares what it actually takes to build something worth putting your name on. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full episode.

Q: YOU BECAME A FAN FAVORITE ON THE BACHELORETTE AND THEN LEFT THE SPOTLIGHT. YOU MOVED TO MEXICO, LEARNED SPANISH, THEN COSTA RICA, AND BUILT A COMPANY. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR?

A: “If you’re a good person going in, that shows. If you’re not, that shows too. I also learned that people form this parasocial relationship with you — they assume things about you. When all actuality, different circumstances bring out different parts of who you are. I was on TV trying to find love. The kindness people were showing after felt a bit fake, because they wanted to be a part of something that isn’t who I am individually, but a part of what they saw on TV. And so I had to get away from everybody and everything and the noise.”

THE QUIET STANDARD:

MIKE JOHNSON

“Too many people have prayed for me. So I’ve got to get up and do the walking.”
— Mike Johnson

Q: YOU JOINED THE AIR FORCE RIGHT OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHAT WERE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING TOWARD?

A: “There was something in me that was saying: I’m not living up to my full potential. I was being a follower. My uncle said, ‘What’s going to make you become an adult the fastest?’ I said, obviously, the military. The Air Force broadened my thought process more than anything. We’re so caught up in our own perception — when you learn to understand different people’s perspectives, it adds to you in so many ways.”

Q: WITH OSHUN, YOU OWN YOUR MANUFACTURING, YOU EMPLOY A CHEMIST, EVERY PRODUCT HAS A BATCH NUMBER TRACEABLE TO ITS ORIGIN DATE. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT DEEP WITH THE BRAND?

A: “The EU bans 1,100 ingredients in personal care products. The U.S. bans nine. That’s my starting point. Oftentimes, it might be the same ingredient, but it comes from a place where it doesn’t have the highest purity. And 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed. Every product Oshun makes carries a batch number that goes back to the exact day it was created — I can show you every single supplier, the date, the origin. I own more than one part of the supply chain because that’s the only way I can stand behind what’s in the bottle.”

This conversation is just the beginning. Mike goes deeper into why he’s buying land up north, the family in the Philippines who prayed over his factory floor, and what he’d tell every person ready to stop performing and start building. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.

MIKE JOHNSON

GRE ENWICH’S fir st professional polo team BLE NDS TRADITION, SPORT, and lifestyle INT O A REFINED, modern cultural experience, MARKING A NEW ERA

GREENWICH SOUND

POLO TEAM GALLOPS INTO A NEW ERA

On summer Sundays, the polo scene unfolds with an easy rhythm, cars winding through quiet roads, conversation drifting across the fields, and then, almost on cue, the unmistakable thunder of hooves breaking through the afternoon. This season, however, carries a new kind of energy.

For the first time, Greenwich has its own professional team, the Greenwich Sound Polo Team. It’s a milestone that feels both exciting and overdue. More than just another chapter, it marks a shift, positioning Greenwich not only as a destination for polo, but as a serious presence within the professional game.

Polo itself has always been a balance of contrasts, fast and physical, yet polished and controlled. It requires discipline, but also instinct. That balance is part of its enduring appeal. Families gather on blankets alongside guests in tailored summer looks and private cabanas. Glasses clink, laughter carries, and conversations, both social and strategic unfold against the steady cadence of the match just steps away.

The Greenwich Sound Polo Team steps into this world with a clear perspective. It’s not about changing the sport, but elevating how it’s experienced, on the field and beyond it. That mindset begins with its founders.

Ron Fanish, co-founder and entrepreneur, brings a background in design, real estate, and service-based businesses across New York and Greenwich. His approach is grounded in growth and structure, building something that can expand without losing its identity. His role is subtle but foundational, shaping the long-term vision of the team.

Al Keshvarzian, co-founder and team captain, adds a different layer. A Senior Vice President in finance, he is equally defined by his deep roots in the polo community. His experience and leadership bring a level of discipline and professionalism that sets the tone on the field.

Tony Pec offers a more modern lens. With a career focused on digital strategy and brand growth, he understands how to position the team within a broader cultural conversation, ensuring it resonates both in person and beyond the field.

And then there is Esteban Panelo, whose presence feels instinctive to the sport itself. Originally from Argentina, where polo is woven into everyday life, he brings international playing experience and a deep understanding of the game. As both a player on the team and Polo Manager at the Greenwich Polo Club, he bridges competition and operations seamlessly, shaping not only how the team plays, but how the entire experience comes together.

Together, they’ve built something that feels thoughtful and cohesive, a team that respects polo’s heritage while quietly redefining its place in Greenwich.

That refinement extends beyond the field, into how the team presents itself. Collars & Co., the official sponsor of the Greenwich Sound Polo Team, plays a defining role in shaping that identity. Known for its modern take on classic menswear, the brand designs the team’s uniforms, bringing a clean, tailored aesthetic to the sport, while also launching a collaborative collection available to the public. It’s a natural extension of the experience, allowing guests and spectators to take a piece of the polo lifestyle with them, bridging sport and style in a way that feels both intentional and accessible.

At the center of it all are the horses. The Argentine thoroughbreds that carry the Greenwich Sound Polo Team are extraordinary, bred for speed, agility, and intelligence. Watching them move is something entirely its own. There’s a fluidity, a power, and a connection between horse and rider that feels almost unspoken.

It’s in those moments that polo reveals itself fully. It’s not just about the score, it’s about timing, trust, and the subtle communication that drives every play. And yet, in Greenwich, the match is only part of the story.

The day itself is just as important. It unfolds naturally, a glass of wine, a conversation that lingers, the sudden lift in energy as the game picks up pace. The Greenwich Sound Polo Team understands that this is what truly draws people in. It’s not about changing the sport, but enhancing how it’s experienced.

There’s a sense of intention in every detail. In how the team presents itself, in how the environment feels, in how guests move through the day. It’s elevated, but never forced. Exclusive, but still inviting. Above all, it feels authentic.

The fields stretch wide beneath open skies, framed by trees that soften the edges. It’s elegant without effort, expansive without feeling distant. There’s a sense of history here, but it doesn’t feel fixed. Instead, it creates space for something new to take shape while still honoring what came before.

That balance between tradition and evolution is what makes this moment so compelling. Because while the Greenwich Sound Polo Team is new, it feels entirely at home. Less like an arrival, and more like a natural progression, an evolution that reflects both where the sport has been and where it’s headed.

On any given Sunday, as the light shifts and the match settles into its rhythm, you can feel that evolution happening in real time, in the energy of the crowd, in the precision of the play, and in the quiet confidence of a team stepping into its first professional season with purpose. The Greenwich Sound Polo Team isn’t trying to redefine polo. It’s simply finding its place within it, and doing so with intention.

Al Keshvarzian
“GREENWICH

MAKES HISTORY WITH ITS FIRST PROFESSIONAL POLO TEAM, WHERE ARGENTINE THOROUGHBREDS, WORLD-CLASS PLAYERS, AND A REFINED SOCIAL SCENE COME TOGETHER. SET AGAINST THE TIMELESS BACKDROP OF

FARM, THE

EXPERIENCE BLENDS

CONYERS

SPORT, STYLE, AND COMMUNITY INTO A MODERN TAKE ON A CLASSIC TRADITION.”

WHY MEN WAIT UNTIL THEY “NEED” CLOTHES

ARTICLE BY TANYA MEYERS FASHION STYLIST/@MODE_T_

Most men do not think about their wardrobe until something forces the issue. A dinner comes up. A trip gets booked. There is a work event, a wedding, a date night, or a moment in front of the mirror when the usual outfit suddenly feels a little off. That is usually when it becomes clear that new clothes are needed.

For many, shopping is not something they want to spend time thinking about. They want a closet to feel easy, practical, and reliable. They want to know what works and be able to get dressed without a lot of effort. The problem is that when shopping is reactive, the wardrobe gets built around isolated moments rather than real life.

That is when the gaps start to show.

A closet may cover work, the gym, and casual weekends, but still miss the in-between moments. Dinner out, casual meetings, school events, date nights, and weekends that call for something a little more pulled together, these are often the times when getting dressed feels harder than it should. Not because there are no clothes in the closet, but because there is not enough range.

To me, the solution is to build a wardrobe with a little more intention before the need becomes urgent.

The first place I always start is fit. Fit makes a huge difference in menswear, and it is often the fastest way to improve the wardrobe. A jacket that fits properly through the shoulders, pants with a cleaner shape, or a shirt that is not too long or too boxy can completely change the feel of an outfit. Even simple pieces look better when they fit well. That is one of the reasons I always like recommending Rothman’s in Scarsdale. They have a great selection for men, and the in-house tailoring makes the whole process easier.

Shoes are another easy place to update. They affect the look more than people realize. A cleaner sneaker, a refined loafer, or a versatile boot can instantly make familiar outfits feel sharper and more current.

Then comes range. Sometimes all it takes is one or two additions to make the whole closet work better. A great overshirt, a lightweight jacket, a polished casual pair of trousers, or a knit polo can fill the gaps and add more flexibility.

The goal is not a bigger wardrobe, but a smarter one. And if getting dressed still feels harder than it should, sometimes a fresh eye is all it takes. I’m always here to help make that part easier!

Rachel Lacoste

REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON | CHAPPAQUA BROKERAGE 45 SOUTH GREELEY AVENUE CHAPPAQUA, NY 10514

Working with Rachel means having a dedicated partner in your corner before, during, and long after the sale. Her keen attention to detail, in-depth market knowledge, and genuine ability to listen and understand her clients’ wants and needs set her apart as a trusted real estate professional. Clients consistently commend Rachel for her patience, responsiveness, and commitment to making the home buying or selling process as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

203-228-2264

rlacoste@houlihanlawrence.com

RachelLacoste.HoulihanLawrence.com

Extend the Season. Elevate the Space.

GUYS’ GUYS’

Has it been too long since your tribe gathered to rib and one-up each other as only guys can do? To help plan a getaway for just the guys, City Lifestyle gathered an eclectic list of locations offering tons of things to see, do and experience. Here’s hoping the only ribs one will get on this guys’ getaway are the kind to hold in hands while barbecue sauce drips onto shirts.     Scottsdale/Phoenix

There’s no other tournament on the PGA Tour like the Waste Management Phoenix Open and no hole like the legendary 16th, where 20,000 boisterous fans boo the tee shots that miss the green. The other 51 weeks of the year, golfers can play TPC Scottsdale or try one of more than 200 courses in the Scottsdale area, a top golf destination. Another winter event is the BarrettJackson Collector Car Auction. Even if one’s only collector car was a Hot Wheels, it’s a blast to peruse the acres of autos for sale before heading inside to watch the unique or renowned cars crossing the auction block. When it’s time to get moving, the strenuous hike up Camelback Mountain in nearby Phoenix

is a bucket-list item. Need a more moderate trail? Experience the same magic of the majestic saguaro cactus in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

New Orleans

It’s always a party in New Orleans (NOLA), especially when it comes to festivals, many of them centered around music. Folk to funk, gospel to jazz, zydeco, blues, African and other musical styles are celebrated on the Jazz and Heritage Festival’s 12 stages. If free admission is more desired, don’t miss the French Quarter Festival featuring local musicians and food vendors representing dozens of New Orleans restaurants. Part of the fun of Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo is admiring revelers’ watercraft, some of them homemade just for this festival on the banks of Bayou Saint John. If one of the festivals can’t be attended, there’s still plenty of NOLA live music, particularly the jazz clubs on Frenchmen Street. And when a break from crowds is needed, take a guided swamp tour. Kitschy, yes, but it’s a hoot to cruise around on a swamp buggy while looking for alligators.

Bowling Green, Kentucky

“America’s Sports Car” is produced at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, where visitors can join guided tours to observe Corvettes being built and learn the fascinating history of these sexy autos. See examples of all Corvette generations at the National Corvette Museum. And if the need for speed is still felt, a few times a year Xtreme Experience offers driving or ride-along events in exotics like Ferraris or Lamborghinis at the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park. After getting all revved up, cool down at Mammoth Cave National Park, the longest known cave system in the world and a World Heritage Site, where guided tours take participants through tunnels humans have used for thousands of years. And after all this touring, the Bowling Green area is the southernmost point in the Kentucky Bourbon Trail of distilleries.

Austin

Live music rules here, with iconic venues such as Antone’s, The Continental Club, the White Horse and hundreds of other locations, from dive bars to big stages. From rock and blues to country and urban, music is heard every night of the week (and many afternoons as well). When guys are hungry, there are tons of barbeque and Tex-Mex joints. Unique food trucks are truly a thing here, with nearly 2,000 food trailers in town. Burn some calories biking or running the Southern Walnut Creek Trail or one of many paved paths. Get out on the water in a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard on Lake Travis or Lady Bird Lake. Take a dip in the historic Barton Springs Pool, where the underground springs keep the water around 68 degrees all year.

GETAWAYS

GETAWAYS

FOUR GREAT PLACES FOR GROOVES, GRUB AND GAWKING WITH BEST BROS

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

JUNE 11TH - 14TH

Art in Bloom

Katonah Museum of Art | 5:30 PM

Art in Bloom is a juried exhibition featuring artists from the Katonah Museum Artists’ Association (KMAA) and celebrated local floral designers. The selected artworks serve as inspiration for a corresponding floral interpretation and collectively explore the symbiotic relationship between visual art and living ephemeral forms. Enjoy lectures, workshops, and family programs celebrating the connections between art and nature.

JUNE 13TH

Kisco Wellness Fair

Fountain Park, Mount Kisco NY | 10:00 AM

Discover new paths to wellness at the Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce Wellness Fair! This is a kick-off event for a week-long celebration of health, movement and community. Meet community professionals and experience demos, screening and Free mini-classes.

JUNE 17TH - 28TH

1776 - The Musical

Bedford Historical Society | 7:00 PM

Step into the spirit of the American Revolution with a lively staging of the Tony Award-winning musical 1776 at Historical Hall. Presented by the Town of Bedford, John Jay Homestead, Bedford Historical Society, and Katonah Classic Stage as part of the Rev250 initiative, this production brings to life the debates, drama and determination behind America’s founding.

JUNE 24TH

Music in the Square: Mike Risko Band

Armonk Square | 6:00 PM

Enjoy a high-energy summer evening with the Mike Risko Band! Known for their electrifying performances and crowd-pleasing setlists spanning decades of rock and pop hits, the band brings an unforgettable live show filled with energy, musicianship and fun. Gather in Armonk Square for a vibrant community concert experience perfect for all ages.

JUNE 27TH

American Roots Music Festival

Caramoor Grounds | 12:30 PM

The annual American Roots Music Festival fills Caramoor's stunning grounds with the soulful sounds of Americana, folk, bluegrass, and more! Wander from stage to stage and discover your next favorite artist as an incredible lineup of bands brings the music to life across our picturesque venues. Experience a full day of music and community in the heart of Westchester!

JUNE 28TH

Peace, Love, Trails: Fork In The Trail 5K

Bedford, NY | 9:00 AM

Get ready for the Fork In The Trail 5K, a one-of-a-kind race experience in Bedford! This exciting run sends participants into the scenic Westmoreland Sanctuary after starting together, where they choose their own path at a fork in the trail. Open to runners of all levels, the event blends adventure, nature, and friendly competition for a truly memorable community challenge.

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Upper Westchester, NY June 2026 by City Lifestyle - Issuu