LKA Community Spotlight
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Joe Niola When did you move into the neighborhood? I moved to Lake Kitchawan around 1978. How was it different than it is today? The neighborhood wasn't much different in appearance, from my recollection, with the exception of a few new houses that were built on Grandview Road, Ridgeland Road, Lake Path and Lake Kitchawan Drive. Weeds in the lake were an annual problem then as they are now. In the spring of each year, active members of the community would gather at the beach with an old box spring tied to a rope. The box spring was put in a row boat and brought out into the swimming area where it was dropped. As we pulled it back to shore, it would dig into the lake bed and tear out the weeds. This would go on for several hours until the swimming area appeared clear and safe for swimmers. There was also a time when we had our own weed harvester, but when that became a serious repair problem we hired a company to cut and harvest the weeds in the swimming area of the lake. |
What is your favorite neighborhood sight?
The lake viewed from the dock has always been my favorite neighborhood sight. I still go there on occasion to pray, meditate or just relax with my dog after a long invigorating walk.
What is your favorite Kitchawan memory?
It's difficult to determine my favorite memory because I have so many fine memories of my life in this community. For me, it's a magic kingdom that produces natural wonders from season to season, as many of the photos taken by talented community photographers can attest.
I do recall a time in the past when the winters were much colder and long spells of zero degree temperature would cause the lake to freeze very solid. The loud sound of expansion cracking throughout the lake could be heard all around the community. I recall one moonlight night skating on the frozen lake before the first snowfall.
When the snow did fall, I would wait for what I thought was the coldest day of the year, and then take a walk on the lake imagining myself in the Arctic as my mustache would collect moisture from my breath and then freeze on my face. I could then see myself as Dr. Zhivago journeying through the a stormy Russian winter; yet, knowing that in just a few months, summer would arrive, and I would be swimming in this same lake turned from frigged to delightfully warm.
We live in a very unique area of Westchester County. Our neighborhood goes back to an ancient time when people hunted with spears and arrows along the shore we now enjoy. In a way, this past is still available to us. A walk in the adjoining Levy Preserve will grant us a view of what our neighborhood was like before modern civilization came to Kitchawan..
What kind words or advice would you like to share with your neighbors or what other insight you would like to provide?
It is my hope that all who share in our Lake Kitchawan community will recognize how fortunate we all are to be living here. I feel blessed every time I look out onto the lake and experience the beauty and wonder of our natural surroundings.
The lake viewed from the dock has always been my favorite neighborhood sight. I still go there on occasion to pray, meditate or just relax with my dog after a long invigorating walk.
What is your favorite Kitchawan memory?
It's difficult to determine my favorite memory because I have so many fine memories of my life in this community. For me, it's a magic kingdom that produces natural wonders from season to season, as many of the photos taken by talented community photographers can attest.
I do recall a time in the past when the winters were much colder and long spells of zero degree temperature would cause the lake to freeze very solid. The loud sound of expansion cracking throughout the lake could be heard all around the community. I recall one moonlight night skating on the frozen lake before the first snowfall.
When the snow did fall, I would wait for what I thought was the coldest day of the year, and then take a walk on the lake imagining myself in the Arctic as my mustache would collect moisture from my breath and then freeze on my face. I could then see myself as Dr. Zhivago journeying through the a stormy Russian winter; yet, knowing that in just a few months, summer would arrive, and I would be swimming in this same lake turned from frigged to delightfully warm.
We live in a very unique area of Westchester County. Our neighborhood goes back to an ancient time when people hunted with spears and arrows along the shore we now enjoy. In a way, this past is still available to us. A walk in the adjoining Levy Preserve will grant us a view of what our neighborhood was like before modern civilization came to Kitchawan..
What kind words or advice would you like to share with your neighbors or what other insight you would like to provide?
It is my hope that all who share in our Lake Kitchawan community will recognize how fortunate we all are to be living here. I feel blessed every time I look out onto the lake and experience the beauty and wonder of our natural surroundings.
Photos above are from the most recent Lake Kitchawan Community Celebration on Saturday, July 22, 2017.
Photo: Kate Berg.