was your verbal score on GMATS very low or did you do very poorly in an english class in undergrad?
Those were the only reasons why I could imagine Stern encouraging you to take TOEFL. If I were you I'd make sure I submit my application on time and not worry about TOEFL, unless sentence 1 applies to you
Info below is from stern's website. If you are still concerned, look into the English Language Proficiency mentioned below :
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
All applicants whose native language is not English and
who have not received a university degree in an English-speaking country must take the TOEFL in addition to the GMAT.
For applicants from countries where English is not the primary spoken language but is the primary language used in education, such as India and Singapore, the TOEFL is not required.
In place of the TOEFL, you may take the English Language Proficiency Test from the American Language Institute at New York University.