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Written by Andrea Seiden

Published: 25 July 2023

Created: 25 July 2023

Last Updated: 25 July 2023

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Long before the Barbie movie and giggling women dressed in pink from head-to-toe, I loved Barbie. I have always been unapologetic about my relationship with her. Growing up, it never occurred to me that she was shallow, materialistic, or too perfect, as some feminists complained. To me she was genuine— a capable woman, role model, superhero, and friend. Unlike my mother, she had her own apartment, killer wardrobe, and career. What’s more, she knew how to drive.

In 1973, my father, a doctor in the US Army, was stationed in Germany, where he served as the Chief of Pediatrics. When our family arrived in Landsthul mid-year, school was already in session, and friendships had already been formed. The imaginary world I created with Barbie and my sister in our shared bedroom was a safe place—a refuge for me.

Unlike the other American girls on the post who had Francie, Skipper, Ken, and Barbie, my sister and I did not. To round out our Barbie fantasy world, we included stocky little trolls with bulging marble eyes, faceless cornhusk dolls with rope belts, and the costume dolls our parents bought us on our many weekend trips to bordering European countries. These dolls, which wore richly embroidered dirndls and wooden shoes with little painted tulips and windmills, were not meant to be played with. Instead, they were supposed to sit on a shelf, ready to sing out at a “It's a Small World” at a moment’s notice.

One year, a neighbor gave us a German doll named Eric. Eric was made from translucent plastic, giving him a blueish, skim milk cast. Unlike Twist ‘n Turn Barbie, Eric was inflexible. His arms and legs were hollow and would fill with soapy water if we took him into the tub should Barbie want to learn how to scuba dive while on a beach vacation. We would hang him upside down to drain the water from his limbs and squeeze the water out of his pouty-painted mouth and pin dot pupils, which we lanced with a safety pin for a faster flow. Eric stared intensely into space like a catatonic zombie and was not the least bendable. He wore a blue European Speedo and carried a little white terry towel on his arm like a waiter taking a wine order. We forced his legs into a seated position when he joined Barbie and her entourage for dinner. Still, they always reflexively splayed back out -- forming a wide letter V which, given his anatomically correct features, we found both gross and hilarious.

Barbie, Eric, and their ragtag group of friends would often pile into a shoebox convertible and go for drives. Unlike the real women I knew, Barbie enjoyed the power, prestige, and independence associated with driving, typically reserved for men in those days. Barbie confidently navigated the open highways that crisscrossed our bedroom, with one hand on the steering wheel and the other raised high in the air as if she were riding a bucking bronco at a western rodeo. Eric lay in the passenger seat, relegated to navigating. In those days, when men drove and women were only allowed to hold maps, such a role reversal was almost unheard of.

In our family, as my father kept pace with the other cars on the speed-limitless Autobahn, our mother struggled to decipher the enormous map that draped over her legs and blocked the windshield. This often erupted in a heated argument between our parents. In the world we created, if Eric got Barbie lost, she kept calm and could simply press an invisible button, transforming the car into a TWA plane or spaceship that soared around the room.

One of the things I liked most about Barbie was her extensive wardrobe of bellbottoms, sequined gowns, white nursing uniforms, and plastic wigs. To supplement her store-bought outfits, we made micro mini dresses for her by cutting large circles of colorful fabric and punching in three holes; the one in the center was for Barbie to pop her head through, and two smaller ones for her arms. Any remnants were used for belts, headscarves, and bandeau bikini tops. But our Barbie was not merely a fashionista; we gave her many careers; she was a school teacher, a folk singer, a doctor who delivered babies, and a scientist who peered down a microscope at an onion skin.

My sister and I rarely argued while we played with our dolls. Being older, I had complete creative control over Barbie’s adventures. However, one time Cynthia did get angry with me when I staged a beauty parlor, and accidentally sheered her Barbie’s hair so closely that it exposed her plugs, making her head look like a pin cushion. We both cried at her disfigurement, and I tied a paisley bandana around Barbie’s head, reassuring my sister that her doll now looked like a cool hippie chick.

After three years in Germany, our parents told us we were returning to the States. My sister and I cried, knowing we would have to start life anew. We cried even more when, in our new home in North Carolina, we opened the boxes my parents had packed, and discovered that our Barbies were not there. Only the collection of world heritage costume dolls that my parents valued had crossed the Atlantic. We put those dolls in a closet and never took them out again. I was thirteen, too old to play with dolls, let alone start a new collection. So I promised myself that when I had children, I would buy them every Barbie available, paint their rooms hot pink, and teach my daughters to accessorize and drive.

A lot has happened between the 1970s and now that has impacted who I have become, but I can’t underestimate how much I was inspired by the woman I imagined Barbie to be. I never became most of the things that my Barbie was — a successful scientist, a singer, a fashion model, or even a confident driver — and I had sons, not daughters, who did not inherit my passion for this controversial doll. But if I’ve become an independent and capable woman, flexible enough to navigate life’s twists and turns, I can, perhaps, credit Barbie.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 16 August 2023

Created: 16 August 2023

Last Updated: 22 August 2023

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“I’d rather have 50% of something than 100 percent of nothing.” That’s what a newcomer to the Westchester political scene had to say about the polarization in Congress that’s deadlocking progress on bills that would help the American people.

The Deputy Commissioner of Correction for Westchester County and the Senior Pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church in Tuckahoe, Michael Gerald has an unusual profile for a candidate for U.S. Congress. He started out as a police officer and itinerant evangelist and ended up leading a large church and a major county department. He is a retired New Jersey State Trooper who holds a Bachelor of Science in Law and Justice from the College of New Jersey, a Master of Ministry from the Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate in Ministry from Eastern University. Now he’s ready to take the next step by vying for national office.

Gerald has announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Congressional District 16, the seat currently held by Jamaal Bowman. Though there will be re-districting, the 16th now includes a portion of the Bronx and large swath of Westchester County. Asked why he decided to challenge Bowman he said, “We need a real Democrat. Not someone who is playing politics and governing from the extremes.”

What are his views? He said, “I am running to represent Westchester properly – to ensure that every constituency is supported, heard and seen. I am running to ensure that our infrastructure needs are resolved. I am running to restore civility and respect in the office. I am running to ensure that politics isn’t being played with votes or positions. I am running for the youth who need a progressive champion for the best education possible. And, I am running for the working and shrinking middle class folks who are being squeezed in all directions. Finally, public safety is a priority and perceptions of unsafe communities threatens the very fabric of our society.”

Discussing the current dynamic in Congress, Gerald said, “Hakim Jeffries is the future of the party. He is charismatic and he is open minded. America has always governed from the center.” He vowed to work with colleagues to negotiate, compromises and do what’s best for the working class, for the environment and for our infrastructure.

He said, “I wouldn’t be running if the current incumbent’s positions mirrored mine or were congruent with the values of Westchester.” He cited Bowman’s “no” vote on the infrastructure bill has an example of what’s wrong with far left and far right factions voting against legislation that would aid the constituents they represent. He said that bill impacted more than just infrastructure…. it meant jobs, affected the cost to bring goods to market and the price of food and basic needs.” Gerald vowed to “work decisively with the leadership to get things done.” He said, “ I will not be an ideologue.”

It’s early in the race and Gerald is currently focused on raising funds for the campaign. He will need to file to run officially in February 2024. What if County Executive George Latimer also decides to vie for the nomination? Gerald said, “If George decides to run, I will support him – I will not run.”

Learn more about Michael Gerald here.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 17 July 2023

Created: 17 July 2023

Last Updated: 17 July 2023

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This home along Trenor Drive will be featured as an interior stop on the tour.During the 1920s, the city of New Rochelle grew dramatically, reportedly ranking fifth in the country in per capita spending on new construction. A hundred years later, its streetscape still strongly reflects this significant period in the countless homes built in the popular styles of the day, including revival Colonial, Mediterranean, and Tudor styles. On Sunday, July 23rd, the New Rochelle-based nonprofit Histoury will be leading a tour that focuses on a collection of the city’s Tudor Revival homes. The tour will be a guided bus tour; over the course of four hours you will see and learn about the architecture of around 20 homes and hear many interesting stories about them. You will also get the unique chance to tour the interiors of several, including one by esteemed Tudor Revival architect Lewis Bowman.

These homes were designed to be reminiscent of medieval English cottages and palaces, popular for their picturesque yet refined air. Characterized by timbering and stucco on the exteriors, steeply-pitched roofs, and asymmetrical floor plan, other common features include “storybook” entries consisting of a rounded door set within a small gabled section, diamond-paned windows, and dramatic chimneys. Interiors were often treated with arched door openings, French doors, and coved ceilings. Paneled walls, dramatic fireplaces,intricate staircase newels, and timbered ceilings were other popular elements used to create a medieval feel.

Histoury is excited to share this one-of-a-kind experience to learn more about New Rochelle, the historic people that called these buildings “home,” and this impressive architectural style. Its mission is to promote the appreciation and preservation of historic buildings in communities large and small through their guided tours. Touring the Tudors is a one-time event. Space is limited, visit www.histoury.org to reserve your spot today.