Inside Press

Attendance Picking up at the Westchester Table Tennis Center

October 23, 2020 by Inside Press

Yearning to get back to the Westchester Table Tennis Center for a few rounds of fun and energizing ping pong? Any pongers at home eager to take it out of the basement?

Attendance at the popular Pleasantville facility continues to tick up, according to Will Shortz, proprietor, who shared that 14 tables were in use earlier this week, and that “everyone is following Covid-19 protocols pretty well.”

Several bits of Westchester Table Tennis Center news to pass along:

Three tournaments are coming up in the near future:

October Little Open (Oct. 24-25) (this weekend)
November Little Open (Nov. 21-22)
1st Westchester Two-Person Teams Championships (Nov. 27-29) (Thanksgiving weekend)

Details on these events + registration forms are on westchestertabletennis.com

A Two-Person Teams Championship is new. “We’re hosting it because this year’s Joola Teams Championships in D.C. were canceled. Our tournament has three categories: players’ combined ratings U3800 (Friday), U4500 (Saturday), and Open (Sunday). $8,000 in prizes. A full day of competition each day. This should be interesting and fun.”

In addition to the usual prizes, the November Little Open next month will be a qualifier for a new national T2 Challenge, with a purse of $27,000. An announcement about this will come shortly from the USATT.

Note: Because New York State currently limits attendance at our facility to 50 people at a time, spectators are not allowed at the above (except for one parent, guardian, or coach for a minor). There will be no open play on the above dates until after 7 pm.

‘Halloweekend’ Event at the Irvington Theater Promises a Livestream of Spooky Surprises

October 13, 2020 by Inside Press

It started on Halloween six years ago…

That’s when Douglas McClure, John Malone, and a few of their friends dressed up as the Ramones and performed on North Dutcher Street where they live. Since then, the ritual has joyfully multiplied into a treasured Irvington tradition: community bands providing their neighbors with a rock and roll soundtrack (and the accompanying light show) while trick-or-treaters and their families crowd the Village side streets to sing and dance along.

“We’ve got architects, psychologists, veterinarians, teachers, and technology professionals,” said McClure of the musicians who comprise each act. “It runs the gamut.”

Half Halloween concert finale at Irvington Theater on April 26, 2019, featuring local bands Wild Thyme, Lennon + Friends, Evil Eckar with special guest the Dirty Irv Horns, and the North Dutcher All Stars.

“The Cure” performing on North Dutcher Street, Halloween 2018.

The audience was captivated by “Tom Tom Club” and “Talking Heads” at Irvington Theater’s Half Halloween Concert.

“Devo” (fronted by Doug McClure) at Irvington Theater’s Half Halloween Concert.

Downtown Irvington, just before Halloween’s musical magic begins.

The Halloween Bands (as they’ve been collectively dubbed) don’t let their moniker dictate their performance schedule; last spring, they came together for “Half Halloween,” a spectacular concert fundraiser on the Irvington Theater stage that thoroughly enchanted audience members of all ages. For the first time, four beloved bands were all in one place: Lennon + Friends, Wild Thyme, Evil Eckar, and the North Dutcher All-Stars. Local resident Rich Lobel made a wildly entertaining Master of Ceremonies, and the whole evening was replete with uncanny impersonations, impromptu aisle dancing, spooky surprises, and a karaoke contest that brought down the house. The Village of Irvington was abuzz for weeks, basking in the afterglow of such palpable community spiritedness and intergenerational celebration.

“Ever since that magical night, people always ask us if we made a movie of the show,” said participating musician Miyuki Furtado, who also serves on the Irvington Theater Commission. “Folks who missed it were so disappointed, and anyone who was there wishes they could see it again.”

That wish is about to come true. For the first time ever, Irvington Theater will stream this legendary concert for a one-night-only Halloweekend event – from their stoops to our stage, and now directly to you! Costumes, candy, and household watch parties are strongly encouraged.

Furtado says it’s the perfect time to revisit such a cathartic, live event: “Especially now, with so much uncertainty in the air, that night takes us back to a feeling not so long ago… when we could all gather together and share an incredible, creative community bond that made everyone on the stage and in the audience feel so welcomed, close, and inspired.”

This world premiere concert film will stream at 7:30pm on Friday, October 30. Purchase your ticket ($12 per household) to receive the viewing link and password at irvingtontheater.com/irvingtonanywhere.

Irvington Theater is home to a diverse range of innovative programming that entertains, enlightens, and inspires, establishing itself over its 118-year history as the cultural heart of the Rivertowns. The theater continues its tradition with unprecedented reach with “Irvington Anywhere,” their entirely virtual fall season of short films, lively concerts, and classic celebrations. Irvington Anywhere is made possible thanks to the generous support of Eric Bernstein of Compass, Dobbs Ferry.

PHOTOS BY Paula Romanow Etzel

Diane von Furstenberg to Emcee U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum 2020 New York Virtual Tribute Event

October 13, 2020 by Inside Press

Chappaqua residents Stacey Saiontz and Howard Unger will be honored by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum tomorrow evening and iconic fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg will be the master of ceremonies for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s 2020 New York Virtual Event on October 14 at 6 p.m.

She will join a lineup of passionate speakers featuring Benjamin Ferencz, the last surviving Nuremberg prosecutor and the Museum’s partner in the Ferencz International Justice Initiative, and NBA All-Star Ray Allen.

The event will also include celebrity guests, including Jason Alexander, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Morgan Freeman, who will participate in the Museum’s pledge to Holocaust survivors–and to the future–to never forget.

Stacey Saiontz and Howard Unger at last year’s 2019 NY Tribute Event. Photo credit: Michael Priest for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

At a time of enormous challenges, the Museum’s mission to put this memory and its lessons to work in the world has never been more crucial. Just yesterday, the the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum issued a statement on Facebook’s new decision to ban Holocaust denial and distortion.

Stacey Saiontz of Chappaqua is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivor, Jack Feldman, who was featured in the HBO documentary “The Number on Great Grandpa’s Arm” with Stacey’s son, Elliott.

Stacey has championed the cause of Holocaust education through her support of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum by serving as a member of the Museum’s Education Committee and as a founding member of the Museum’s New York Next Generation Board.

Howard Unger, Chappaqua resident and Founder of the investment firm Saw Mill Capital, grew up hearing the story of his father’s survival of the Auschwitz and Dachau concentration camps, which inspired him to become involved in bringing awareness to modern-day genocide. Unger serves in many roles for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum including as: member of U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council’s Executive Committee, Chair of the Audit Committee, member of the Museum’s Committee on Conscience, Museum Benefactor and member of the Museum’s Strategic Advancement Committee.

Link to register for this free event: https://www.ushmm.org/online-calendar/event/nytrbutedinner1020

News courtesy of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

A Fresh Take on Learning in a Time of COVID

October 6, 2020 by Inside Press

Outdoor Classroom at Robert E. Bell Middle School

In 2017, Robert E. Bell Middle School’s Student Leadership Council Advisors, Justin Olive and Meredith Green, challenged students to apply for a Chappaqua School Foundation (CSF) grant that would have a meaningful impact on the entire student body. They rose to that challenge with a proposal to transform the courtyard space, which had undergone a recent renovation, into a functional learning environment. The grant noted that forming “an alternative classroom environment centered on outdoor collaboration would be a refreshing change of pace” and would also help parents’, students’ and teachers’ concerns regarding “the isolating nature of devices.” The outdoor classroom was installed at the start of the 2020 school year and the goals that prompted its creation are timelier than ever due to the widely-felt impact of COVID-19.

Today, Olive is in a new role as staff developer & K-12 science coordinator and is looking at the space with fresh eyes. “This year, it’s even harder to create an environment where students have the freedom to move around and collaborate. This space will provide us with that opportunity,” he said. Outfitted with a variety of equipment including whiteboards, yoga mats, and crazy creek chairs, the courtyard now appeals to both form and function. As Green says, “These days, we are constantly reimagining what school looks like and having opportunities for outdoor learning experiences are invaluable. Kids are enjoying using it during lunch time and we foresee it becoming a useful space for us in the middle of this pandemic.”

As teachers and administrators forge a new path to learning, they are leveraging every resource available in new and inventive ways. Strategic partnerships between the schools, community and foundations such as CSF have never been more impactful.

– courtesy of the Chappaqua School Foundation

Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce Launches ReStart Grant Program for Small Businesses in New Castle

October 5, 2020 by Inside Press

First Round Application Deadline Saturday, October 10^th at Midnight

Chappaqua, NY, October 5, 2020 — New Castle ReStart, (www.newcastlrestart.com) a grant initiative facilitated by the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce, has been launched to provide need-based relief for New Castle’s small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary objective is to help small businesses whose primary owners reside or work in the community with their rebuilding and reopening efforts, as well as to subsidize additional costs incurred to purchase new equipment and integrate the processes required to implement state-mandated safety protocols.

Eligibility for the grant includes:

Businesses with a physical storefront located within the physical boundaries of the Town of New Castle
Businesses that have not been deemed essential per Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.6 will also be eligible to apply.

The application deadline for the first round will be Saturday, October 10 at midnight. Donations and applications will continue to be accepted for the next rounds of funding. The amount to be disbursed and the number of grants provided will depend on generous donations from community members, along with any funds raised through activities that support this endeavor. Donations are tax-deductible and will provide direct assistance to those most in need.

The ReStart initiative was created and is directed by Chamber president, Dawn Dankner-Rosen and Chamber Vice President, Rand Manasse. Key to the launch are ReStart Committee members: Randi Childs, local photographer, who donated the $11,000 she raised through her successful #TheFrontPorch photo project; Kristen Browde, who donated her legal expertise and all of the legal services needed to create this grant program; Chamber Treasurer Ted Holmes, who enacted all of the filings needed to create the grant program; Cynthia Schames, who created the ReStart website and Stephanie Steinberg, who designed the logo.

This community-wide committee was formed with the support of the New Castle Town Board. ReStart Committee members to date include Town Supervisor Ivy Pool, Town Board member Lauren Levin, Dawn Dankner-Rosen, Rand Manasse, Ted Holmes, Kristen Browde, Randi Childs, Cynthia Schames, Dawn Greenberg, Debbie Grisham, Shauna Levy and Wendy Nolan. We are still seeking additional members, community support and participation. Please contact ddr@ddrpr.com with your intent.

ReStart applications for small businesses in need are now available online at https://www.newcastlerestart.com/apply. All applicants will need to show proof of financial need, report whether assistance has been received from other sources, including loans, grants and unemployment insurance and state their anticipated uses for any grant money received. Please go to newcastlerestart@chappaquamillwood.org.

News is Courtesy of the Chappaqua Millwood Chamber of Commerce.