The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Inside Press

Spring Programs at the New Castle Historical Society

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Women’s History, History of Millwood Lecture, Antiques Appraisal Day, and House Tour

Chappaqua, New York — This spring, the New Castle Historical Society, located in the Horace Greeley House museum in downtown Chappaqua, will host several programs that encourage Hudson Valley residents and visitors alike to actively engage with and experience local history and heritage.

The NCHS kicks off their spring calendar with Curator-led Talk & Tours of the exhibition, New Castle’s Carrie Chapman Catt & the Women’s Suffrage Movement. The exhibition features contemporary historic photographs from Westchester County Historical Society, the New York State Museum, and the Library of Congress; a 1917 petition in support of women’s suffrage, including over 800 signatures from local Westchester County women (on loan to the NCHS from the Ossining Historical Society); an Evelyn Rumsey Cary “Woman Suffrage” Poster; and several replica artifacts related to women’s suffrage, including “Votes for Women” sashes, pennants, buttons, and plates. The first Curator-led Talk & Tour will take place on Thursday, March 15th at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Visitors may also schedule private led tours of the exhibition through the end of May 2018.

On April 22nd, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the NCHS invites its members and the public to its 52nd Annual Meeting.  This year’s meeting will be held at the new Millwood Fire House. At the meeting, Town Historian Gray Williams will present a brief history of Millwood, New York, with special focus on the Putnam Division of the New York Central Railroad. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later in April, the NCHS teams up with the Rago Arts & Auction Center to offer an Antiques Roadshow-style Appraisal Day at the Greeley House. On Saturday, April 28th, visitors are invited to have their family heirlooms or garage sale treasures appraised at the Horace Greeley House. The appraisals will be conducted by four special guest experts (fine art, jewelry, silver, and general).

In May, the NCHS’s popular “Castles of New Castle” House Tour returns on May 17th. This event, one of the society’s main annual fundraisers, provides ticketholders with the opportunity to explore five exquisite homes in the Town of New Castle. All proceeds from this event benefit the New Castle Historical Society. Tickets for the event will be available beginning mid-April.

If you would like more information regarding these programs, or to register for an event, please visit www.newcastlehs.org or contact NCHS Executive Director Cassie Ward at director@newcastlehs.org or 914-238-4666.

 

 

Living Proof: Multi Arts Evening to Shine a Light on Mental Health Issues

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The Mental Health Association of Westchester (MHA), The Lagond Music School, and Music & Miles: Changing Minds are thrilled to join forces for a new multi-arts evening of energizing performances shining a light on mental health issues and the power of the arts as a vehicle in sharing one’s story of healing in the face of adversity.

To be held on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, Living Proof will feature individuals sharing their personal and inspiring stories of resilience, creating hope and meaning for others who are experiencing mental health issues.

The evening of expressive arts will benefit the Miles Applebaum Music Scholarship Fund at The Lagond Music School and The Mental Health Association of Westchester. Performers include the Bruce Williams Quartet, Brianna Mae Clements, John Gillispie, Rebecca Haviland, Elizabeth Erin Kemler, Bianca Muniz, and Radioactive Zebra. Presenting artists include Anabelle Hiller and Nathaniel Galka. The evening will be emceed by radio DJs Coach and Bruce Figler of 107.1 The Peak, a media partner of the event.

The Miles Applebaum Music Scholarship Fund was established to honor and remember Miles Applebaum, a guitar student who studied at The Lagond Music School and later the Boyer School of Music and Dance at Temple University. Miles died by suicide at the age of 21 in 2014, and the Scholarship Fund was created to carry on his dream by providing aspiring musicians the opportunity to ignite their passion and study music at Lagond Music School, a nonprofit musical haven for students of all ages.

“The idea of Living Proof resonated for me that no matter what challenges we face, we can tap into our strength and courage to push through the hardest of times while giving hope and healing to others who have struggles of their own,” said Shari Applebaum, Miles’ mother and a Suicide Bereavement Specialist at MHA. “There’s no better way to honor Miles than through music and the arts which was the fabric of his life.”

Proceeds will also benefit The Mental Health Association of Westchester (MHA), a community-based non-profit that provides behavioral health services, community education and advocacy work. “We are honored that MHA has been chosen as a beneficiary of this powerful event and are excited to partner with these wonderful organizations to raise awareness of mental health issues in our community,” said MHA CEO Charlotte Östman, LCSW-R. “We believe strongly in the power of sharing our voices and stories and are thrilled to see mental health take center stage at Living Proof.”

“The Miles Applebaum Scholarship Fund is particularly dear to Lagond Music as we worked side by side with Miles for years. Miles’ passion for the music he loved is something we should never forget,” said Rosanne Lana, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Lagond Music School. “As performers, I feel the Applebaum family has allowed us to rejoice in our calling as artists, entertainers and storytellers.”

Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and the event features a selection of hors d’oeuvres, spirits and desserts followed by performances, a silent and live auction and the presentation of the 2018 music scholarship. $100 general admission; $40 tickets for attendees 25 years and younger. For more information and tickets, visit www.musicandmiles.org

For more than 70 years, The Mental Health Association of Westchester has promoted mental health in Westchester through advocacy, community education and direct services. MHA offers a range of services that are recovery-oriented, trauma-informed and individualized to promote recovery and wellness. To learn more, visit www.mhawestchester.org.

 

Lagond Music School is a charitable organization dedicated to music education and live music performance. Lagond seeks to identify and serve a diverse community of students, and provide a stimulating, creative environment that generates enthusiasm and motivation for music. It is innovative and dynamic, taking a professional approach in teaching not only the technical and theoretical knowledge of music, but the application of it in the professional world. For more information, visit www.lagondmusic.org.

Music & Miles: Changing Minds celebrates life and supports music education and performance while raising awareness for mental health and suicide prevention among teens and young adults. Proceeds raised by Music & Miles: Changing Minds benefit The Miles Applebaum Music Scholarship Fund at Lagond Music School, as well as behavioral health nonprofits. For more information, visit www.musicandmiles.org.

 

New Name & New Charitable Initiatives for: (914) Cares

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Editor’s Note: (914) Cares drew our attention recently and we learned of its numerous charitable efforts in Westchester. These began with Dawn Greenberg and Jessica Reinmann who together are the founders of  ‘Chappaqua Cares, Chappaqua Shares.’ Launched in 2014, it intended to “introduce our neighbors to lesser known local nonprofits and their needs.  The goal was to channel donations of goods and volunteer hours to these organizations,” stated Greenberg and Reinmann.

What you need to know about (914) Cares

The two founders explain the name change, too: “Initially our focus was on food, clothing and toys and was limited to organizations in Chappaqua for whom we ran short-term drives.  Our focus quickly grew into longer-term support for the pantries closest to Chappaqua with an annual fundraising event, Empty Bowls.   In addition, as part of our goal to teach children the importance of volunteerism, we created events for families like card-marking for nursing homes and pajama/book collection for Project Night Night.  Because our goals and mission have broadened over time to include nonprofits throughout the County and to involve communities beyond New Castle, in 2018 we updated our name to (914) Cares.”

Key Programs

Empty Bowls

Empty Bowls is part of an international grassroots effort to combat hunger with fundraising events reminding participants of the empty bowls throughout the world.  Our organization has raised over $300,000 with annual Empty Bowls events in 2015, 2016 and 2017.   In addition to providing financial support through these events to area pantries and organizations that combat hunger, we seek to educate our communities on the pervasive rate of hunger in our County.

Kids’ Kloset

Kids’ Kloset is a volunteer-driven program that provides Westchester County children and families in need with donated clothing and related items free of charge. Since Kids’ Kloset was opened in 2011, it has provided over 16,000 bags of clothing and diapers to local children.  Children, newborn to 18 years of age, receive “bags of love” with clothing prepared into outfits free of rips, stains, and missing buttons. The bags represent more than clothing. We believe they boost the confidence and esteem of the youth, potentially helping to improve grades at school and reduce stress in the household. And parents can be assured their children have clean, appropriate, well-fitting clothing.

We assist our Community Partners with publicity and execution of donation drives for a variety of items needed for basic human needs including: clothing, food, diapers, toiletries, books, school supplies, toys and gifts.  The focus is on new or gently used items getting quickly into the hands of those who can most use them.

Volunteer Drives are used to help area nonprofit organizations fill volunteer hours for both short-term and ongoing programs.  We help provide volunteer hours for food pantry stocking and disbursement, sorting of goods from drives, fundraising events, reading mentoring, cooking and many other requests.

 Family Support, Frequently we help provide local families with immediate short-term help including clothing, housewares, food drives and/or meal trains. We also provide referrals to agencies able to help with long-term support.

For more information, visit 914Cares.org.

Or, contact directly: Jessica Reinmann: jessica@914cares.com and Dawn Greenberg dawn@914cares.com

 

On Love and Caring in the Age of Trump

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You know… as a local publisher, I have received assorted criticism from both sides of the political aisle.
 
For not doing enough with my press and my time even at the local level to counter the age of Trump. When I try, it can feel like a Herculean task as I try to keep up with community coverage, press deadlines, paper work, etc. This local publisher gig is frequently a full time job, and then some.
 
From others: for being ‘too political’ with my press.
 I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer. And navigating these tugs and pulls from both directions can feel somewhat exhausting as I ride this see saw, still. I maintain my independence so that I’m not pulled too much in either direction, actually.
 
Whether I’m doing enough, or not enough, whether I miss the mark, or am on target, I always try to convey: that while love lost a round, its power is unbeatable, and I’m confident it will win at the end. And that I appreciate and am grateful for all the activist efforts, too.
 
As erratic as I can be, I  always, always try to strike a note that conveys that at the very least, I am awake, and that I CARE.
 
I CARE about the environment, and supporting real science.
I CARE about women’s hard fought for rights under siege and protecting choice.
I CARE about the aggressive accumulation of wealth in the hands of the few.
I CARE about supporting a vision of a Rainbow over America, and compassionate leaders who would never marginalize any one group, resort to hard core exclusionary tactics, or consider one group more deserving than another.
 
Well, you get the idea.
 
Happy Valentine’s Day, with love and care.  — Grace

‘First Day on the Bus’ with Drivers Ready to Help Kids with Allergies

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Article and Photos by Grace Bennett

Chappaqua, NY, February 12— For most kids, boarding a bus by the middle of February is a non event.  But for two Grafflin elementary school students–Luke Leopold, 5, and Jared Saiontz, 10–it was a milestone filled with excitement, pride and clear joy.

State Assemblyman David Buchwald with Luke and Jared as they boarded a bus for the first time to take them to school.

It was the first time either boy took the school bus–thanks to the passage of new, New York State legislation that authorizes bus drivers who choose to participate to administer life-saving epinephrine to a child undergoing anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction that has a rapid onset and can quickly turn deadly. (Check with your school and your bus company.) The law went into effect today paving the way for safe travel for the two boys, both of whom have food allergies.

New York State Assemblyman David Buchwald, who introduced the bill, escorted Luke and Jared to the bus. Sporting their backpacks with epinephrine-delivering devices clipped onto the back of  them, the two boys joined hands sauntering over together to the bus before proudly climbing on board. The bus driver greeted them with a broad smile.

Buchwald later described the moment as “what I live for as a legislator,” in that, he said, he could “help youngsters live the life they imagined.”

State Senator Terrence Murphy sponsored the bill in the state Senate and Governor Cuomo signed in the law the bill which now allows school bus drivers and others employed by firms providing services to schools to administer epinephrine when a child suffers anaphylaxis shock.

The law, Buchwald explained, allows school kids who have allergies (both food related–1/13 children have food allergies–or due to other causes such as bee stings) to ride the bus in safety.  “Previously no responsible adult was authorized to respond.” Without a quick response to an unanticipated attack, a child could go into anaphylactic shock and possibly die. The drivers can receive training using the auto injector that delivers epinephrine (known widely by its trade name, the Epi Pen). Kids with allergies keep the device fastened outside their backpacks for immediate access. 

Jared’s mom, Stacey Saiontz, and Luke’s mom, Jackie Leopold saw the kids off too. They had both advocated for passage of the legislation. Stacey recalled a 15-year-old Massachusetts girl whose life was saved by a bus driver administering epinephrine. This morning, she was simply elated.  “I’m so excited for Jared and Luke and all the other food allergic children who rode the school bus safely today,” she said. “THEY are so excited.”

Grace Bennett is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Inside Press.