Type Away Cait

  The new year is approaching soon and with that comes new beginnings and the brand new you. While it may be easier for some, It may be hard for others to make adjustments into their everyday lives, even the smallest of changes. Dr. Jennifer Buchwald, a clinical psychologist at the Hudson Valley Center for Cognitive Therapy , spoke with The Rockland County Times to share her advice on how one can stick to their new year’s resolutions. "It’s really helpful to make a specific plan for how you’re going to make the change. Write down your reasons for making the change, so you can read your list over when you’re feeling tempted to do the behavior you’re trying not to do,” she said. Read full article here.

Remember the good old days of going to the video store to rent movies? Christopher Plummer, the director of Rockland Community College’s Cultural Arts Theatre and co-founder of the Rockland Shakespeare Company, shared that the first VHS tape his mother ever bought him was "Back To the Future." "We were in the electronic store and I remember the guy saying to us, ‘Hey, would you like to buy the movie?’ We looked at each other like, ‘You can buy a movie?’” he said. The brand new copy costed them $100. Read full article here.

Ah, Thanksgiving: a time of cheer, laughs, good food and getting together with the family. But for some, it may be daunting to meet with certain members. After all, we’ve all heard of the in-law horror stories and watched the movies: “Monster-in-Law,” (2005) “Meet The Parents,” (2000) and “ Crazy Rich Asians" (2018). "Meet the Parents" (2000) Raffi Bilek, a Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical and the director of the Baltimore Therapy Center , shared his advice on how to avoid family tensions. “These days, I think politics is the hot topic. For the past couple of years, it’s gotten more and more polarized and political issues cause big arguments,” he said. According to a 2022 poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College , 19% of registered voters said that politics damaged relations with family members or friends.  With the recent release of the dates and locations of the 2024 presidential debates , it's likely to come about in conversation at le...

Crumbl Cookies employees prepare chocolate chip cookies before baking it in the oven.  photo credit: Cait Malilay Crumbl Cookies is launching its eighth Connecticut location tomorrow at 8.a.m. “We will be giving away a free mini chocolate-chip cookie to all children 10 and under, so bring the whole family and come celebrate," said Jessica Ruiz, the manager, in an email. Ruiz, who started her journey at Crumbl Cookies as a crew member in Danbury, shared that her personal favorite is the Caramel Apple cookie. “From the apple cider base to the soft, gooey caramel to the crisp apple bits, it is truly a sensory delight. It's like enjoying a caramel apple at a fair, but in the form of a warm and freshly baked cookie – an irresistible treat,” she said. This will be the third Connecticut location owned by Scott and Justin Cinnamon of Ridgefield.  Read full article here. Jessica Ruiz, the manager of the Crumbl Cookies Stamford location poses in front of Crumbl Cookies flavors.   p...

  Christopher Plummer, the director of Rockland Community College’s Cultural Arts Theatre and co-founder of the Rockland Shakespeare Company , will never forget one of the very first horror movies he watched as a kid: “The Exorcist” (1973) , directed by William Friedkin. “‘The Exorcist’ terrified me in a way I can’t properly convey to you or quantify,” he said. “I watched it since many times and I remember distinctly seeing it as a child, but that was one movie that very very much scared me and I don’t get particularly scared at films.” Plummer —who is a distant relative of the late actor Christopher Plummer, known for iconic films such as “The Sound of Music” (1965) and “Knives Out” (2019) — discusses the evolution of horror movies and what elements constitute a great horror flick.  Read full article here.

  graphic courtesy: The Mental Health Association of Westchester County The Mental Health Association of Rockland County and The Mental Health Association of Westchester County are expected to merge this autumn or early winter.  “We believe that the merger will make us stronger as a combined entity, which will give us a deeper and wider array of services, and a greater ability to be flexible and nimble to meet the changing needs of our communities. We’ll also have a stronger infrastructure and enhanced financial strength, which really positions us to be the best that we can be on behalf of the people that we have the privilege of supporting in our communities," said Stephanie Madison, the president and CEO of MHAR. With an operating budget of $50 million and 500 staff members, the new partnership will make them the second-largest mental health association in the country. Read full article here.

  photo courtesy:  L’Oréal Paris Samantha Wettje, Bardonia resident and co-founder of 16 Strong Project, will be honored in Los Angeles as part of L’Oréal Paris's 18th annual private celebration for Women of Worth on Nov. 16. “It is an incredible honor to be included in one of this year’s L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth honorees alongside some of the most incredible women I’ve ever met making unbelievable change in their community,” she said. 16 Strong is an organization dedicated to helping children, teens and young adults affected by adverse childhood experiences. Read full article here.