The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Inside Press

Unique Collections, Family Fun and More at the Armonk Outdoor Art Show

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Friends of the North Castle Public Library holding court.

By Molly Alexander

On Business Park Drive, the sun shone brightly and visitors either strolled or boarded a complimentary shuttle bus all eager to arrive at the North Castle Community Park for the 56th Annual Armonk Outdoor Art Show (AOAS) on September 23 and 24. With over 300 volunteers, more than 185 artists and excited attendees from near and far, this award-winning fine art and fine crafts show served as a warm and welcoming family attraction.

Corporate sponsors including Equinox, Houlihan Lawrence, Northern Westchester Hospital, and White Plains Hospital Medical and Wellness offered info and demonstrations. Family Activities sponsors included the Harvey School, First Five Learn and Play and the Neuberger Museum of Art provided wonderful activities for children of all ages. Silver corporate sponsors included William Raveis, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and Framings. For a full listing of sponsors, visit armonkoutdoorartshow.org.

Show-goers meandered through rows and rows of art ranging from crafts, sculptures, paintings, photography, jewelry, handbags and clothing. Each tent had a unique artistic treasure inside. “It’s very interesting how all the artists are from everywhere; all around the country,” an attendee commented. “Every piece of art is different.”

Awards were also presented to artists in seven categories and there were two additional special awards with $1000 prizes. The Alan C. Solomon Best of Show Prize went to honor the artist who “exemplifies creativity, artistic talent and mastery in his/her artwork across all artistic categories.” It was awarded to Bounkhong Signavong, the founder of Lao Design. The Sylvia Rogers Best New Artist Prize “to attract new artists to the AOAS and recognize the talent and imagination of up and coming artists,” was awarded to Cuban born Enrique Miralles, who exhibited a powerful collection of dry point etchings.

The weather on both days was absolutely gorgeous, if a bit toasty and kept guests sipping on iced drinks to keep cool and partaking in delicious foods from area vendors. It offered a day of exploration for all with many visitors picking up original pieces of art wear, paintings, and sculptures created in a variety of mediums to treasure for many years to come. If you missed this event, come next year when the 57th annual AOAS will be held on September 29 and 30.

Sculpture by Valerie Bunnell
Woven aluminum by James Mosier

 

Painter John van Orsouw

Arc of Westchester Hosts Art Reception at Chappaqua Library Gallery

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L-R: Robert E. Miss, chair, Advisory Committee, gallery265; Nancy Patota, executive director, Arc of Westchester Foundation; Rita Ross, Chappaqua resident and board member, Arc of Westchester; Tom Hoffman, donor, Arc of Westchester; Jean Hoffman; Ric Swierat, executive director, Arc of Westchester

Chappaqua, NY – Arc of Westchester hosted a reception on Thursday, September 7, at the Chappaqua Library Gallery to view and discuss “In the Moment,” which features works from talented artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities. All of the artists are participants in gallery265, Arc of Westchester’s creative arts program. “In the Moment” was on exhibit through September 23. For more information, visit www.arcwestchester.org.

Arc of Westchester donor Tom Hoffman and his wife Jean purchase a painting by John Israel, a gallery265 artist.

 

 

 

Kathy Higgins and Rita Ross, Chappaqua residents and members of The Exceptional People Committee, a New Castle organization that is trying to find ways to better the lives of people in the town who have special needs, in the areas of social, educational, training and vocational opportunities, transportation, housing, and care services.

 

 

 

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About Arc of Westchester

Arc of Westchester, founded in 1949, is the largest agency in Westchester County supporting children, teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals on the autism spectrum, and their families. Over 800 employees provide more than 2,000 individuals throughout the county with a broad range of innovative and effective programs and services designed to foster independence, productivity and participation in community life. The mission of Arc of Westchester is to empower children, teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals on the autism spectrum, to achieve their potential by strengthening families and encouraging personal choices, abilities and interests. Arc of Westchester is a chapter of NYSARC, Inc. and The Arc.

Supporting ‘The Perfect Spot’ at MKCCC’s Feed Me Fresh Gala Fundraiser

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Article and Photos by Grace Bennett

(L-R) Kelly Sullivan, Helen Bock, Patty Black and Dawn Meyerski hosting the 13th Annual Feed Me Fresh gala fundraiser for the Mount Kisco Child Care Center

Bedford Hills, September 16–In the warm and bucolic setting of gorgeous Ivanna Farms, a spectacular evening unfolded Saturday night with the singular goal of supporting the Mount Kisco Child Care Center (MKCCC), their efforts to provide quality child care and to make child care affordable to as many working parents as possible.  The event was MKCCC’s 13th annual ‘Feed Me Fresh’ gala fundraiser and it came complete with mingling and learning early on in the ‘lower tent,’ wonderful music by The Shaves and Chappaqua’s own Jon Cobert, a culinary feast featuring samplings from multiple area restaurants and eateries in the ‘upper tent,’ a live auction, and of course a celebration of MKCCC’s 2017 honorees. 

The Honorees were: Eric Hadar (long-time supporter and host with honorary co-chairs Margery Hadar and Karen Newman), Fran Osborne (MKCCC board member and honorary co-chairs Toni Kelly and Betsy Towl) and ‘Team Amy’ and honorary co-chairs Madeline Crabtree and John Crabtree.  

Kelly Sullivan, chair of Feed Me Fresh, noted the generous time volunteers give to the event both in terms of planning and decorating, “to throw the nicest party of the year.” Board member and child care expert Barbara Klein related to the Inside Press that her grandchild is now being cared for at MKCCC. “Having run the Chappaqua Children’s Workshop for many years where I worked with older children, this is my first experience observing an infant in child care. I was very impressed with the care and commitment.  It’s a setting with very special people doing an amazing job. I firmly believe our family picked the perfect spot.”

Attendees Colleen and Ron Pascione of Millwood proudly stated that they had three children cared for at MKCCC and the oldest now volunteers there too. Chappaqua’s Claire Frieder said she supports the event because of the invaluable ‘peace of mind’ available to working parents “and especially those who can’t afford the regular costs of child care.”

More of the Center’s ‘Feed Me Fresh’ news coming soon and will be added here about the generous support  raised ‘to help provide access to quality child care for working families’ at the Mount Kisco Child Care Center. To follow updates about the event too,  or to donate, visit mkccc.org.

Delicious cilantro pesto samples were offered courtesy of these young volunteers who learn how to grow their own, and the benefit of home gardens, at MKCCC’s very own garden, too.
Honoree Fran Osborne (left) and friends at Feed Me Fresh.

Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier at the Hampton Classic Horse Show

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New York, NY  – Douglas Elliman, the fourth-largest real estate brokerage in the nation, will be the title sponsor of the $86,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier at the Hampton Classic Horse Show. An official sponsor of the event since 1996, the firm is proud to celebrate its 21-year affiliation with the Classic. Representatives from Douglas Elliman will participate in the awards presentation for the Grand Prix Qualifier, to be held on Friday, September 1, and a special Douglas Elliman jump will be on display in the Grand Prix ring throughout the entire show. The Hampton Classic, an East End tradition, runs from Sunday, August 27, through Sunday, September 3.

Douglas Elliman agents from Northern Westchester, including Nancy Strong, Stacey Oestreich, and Sally Slater among others who take their clients the Hampton Classic, hosting luncheons with their clients at our Douglas Elliman booth at the company’s VIP tent and watching the exciting classic transpire. Douglas Elliman’s local equestrian properties are featured in video at the Douglas Elliman booth.

For the America GoldCup): Douglas Elliman is awarding the first competition on Wednesday, Sept. 13th in the afternoon; it is the first FEI class of the show. This is the info provided by Old Salem Farm: Class 100, $8,000 Douglas Elliman, 1.40m Jumper, FEI Article 238, Table A

“Sponsoring the Hampton Classic each year is an important way to connect with our key clients who convene in the Hamptons from all over the country and abroad,” said Howard M. Lorber, Chairman, Douglas Elliman Realty LLC. “As always, Douglas Elliman is committed to the equestrian communities in the markets we serve, and partnering with the Hampton Classic is always a highlight.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the first time this year, Douglas Elliman will have a brand-new pop-up shop in the Boutique Garden, the centrally located public area open during the event week leading up to the Grand Prix. Standing alongside other luxury brands such as Hermès and Land Rover, the space has been designed to showcase the brands’ most prestigious properties—both new developments and luxury resales. Each top market, from New York City to the Hamptons, Westchester and Connecticut, South Florida, Aspen and California will be displayed.

The Classic, one of the largest horse shows in the country, is a must for horse lovers. The prestigious event showcases some of the top jumper riders from around the world, and hosts more than 100 classes of competition for horses and riders of all ages and abilities.

For more information about this event and about Douglas Elliman, please visit elliman.com

 

 

Full Steam Ahead for STREETSCAPE

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(L-R) County Legislator Chairman Mike Kaplowitz, State Assemblyman David Buchwald, and New Castle Town Board’s Adam Brodsky, Supervisor Rob Greenstein, Matt Slater (chief of staff for Senator Chris Murphy) NCTB’s Lisa Katz and Hala Makowska at a groundbreaking ceremony for Streetscape.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place earlier this summer celebrating the launch of Streetscape – an ambitious Town of New Castle construction project intended to fix and enhance sidewalks, public
spaces, infrastructure, roadways, and add streetlamps and plantings.

The work, the town officials promised, will alleviate infrastructure challenges in and further beautify downtown Chappaqua; the ceremony brought together virtually everyone involved in bringing the project to fruition. “We are replacing our historic foundations that in some cases are over 80 years old, with a new and reimagined Hamlet,” stated Town Council member Adam Brodsky, who was at the helm of the project. “This hard work will be the basis to allow our businesses to grow and more people to call the Downtown home over the distant future. Our Hamlet has gone too long without the attention it deserves. Having a beautiful and functioning Town will entice new businesses to our Downtown and help those already here to prosper.”

Brodsky thanked present and past town board members for their efforts, and also those involved in volunteer committees and to environmental and engineering consultants to the project, as well. He also quoted New Castle’s most famous resident, Horace Greeley: “I think we all, as we grow old, love to feel and know that some spot of earth is peculiarly our own–ours to possess and to enjoy, ours to improve and to transmit to our children.”

These remarks, he said, will be after careful consideration by the New Castle Historical Society engraved on a brass plaque to be forever affixed into the sidewalk in front of the Horace Greeley House. “They truly encapsulate why the beauty of our hamlet is so important. It is an extension of our homes and a place we possess, enjoy and will pass on to our children.”   — Grace Bennett