The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Inside Press

A Community Delights in Frank Shiner & in the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center

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By Grace Bennett

Frank Shiner tells his audiences that “Love,” in all its permutations (the agony and the ecstasy), serves as the theme for his musical selections. By every indication last night: love and a palpable excitement permeated the air as the audience rose for a standing ovation for Shiner–cheering for the exuberant and talented singer but also for the future of the all new Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. 

Frank Shiner   PHOTO BY Carolyn Simpson, Doublevision Photographers

It was just emotion taking him over at first when Shiner took the stage, looking out into the packed room, and a little choked up, he said, “Thank you, Chappaqua.”

And then he proceeded to engage a hometown audience with a thoughtful selection of blues/soul songs including stirring titles from Amy Winehouse (“Love is a Losing Game”): and The Young Rascals (“How Can I be Sure?”), backed up by a group of mega talented musicians who have worked with celebrity performers. They were:

 

Jon Cobert, keyboard – Lennon, Springstein

 

Sherrod Barnes, guitar- Whitney, Roberta Flack, Earth Wind Fire

 

Jay Rodriguez sax,flute- Prince, Patty Labelle, Elvis Cost Miles Davis                    

 

Chris Anderson Bass, toured with A Great Big Wold and Rachel Platten and has a band with his wife. 

 

Dan Weiner drummer – Amer. Got talent house, Woo Tang Clan

 

(L-R) Joining Frank Shiner on stage with stellar performances of their own too: (L-R) Jon Cobert, Sherrod Barnes, Dan Weiner, Chris Anderson and Jay Rodriguez PHOTO BY Carolyn Simpson, Doublevision Photographers
Frank Shiner with cast members from Greeley’s production of Grease. PHOTO BY Grace Bennett, Inside Press

 

Shiner and his daughter Lindsay  PHOTO BY Carolyn Simpson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                    Frank also announced the debut of his daughter Lindsay Shiner, a Greeley senior who was just accepted to the BFA Program at Baldwin Wallace University, singing as backup and in a duet with her father (“When Something is Wrong with my Baby” with the lyrics changed slightly to reflect a father/daughter relationship!).  Toward the end of the show,  members of Greeley’s cast of Grease, the senior musical, joined Frank on stage as well to perform “We Go Together.”

David Restivo, executive director of the Chappaqua Orchestra and on the Town’s Arts and Culture committee, volunteered with sound, together with John Flanagan, who ran the lights too. Area restaurants including Le Jardin du roi and Quaker Hill Tavern in Chappaqua offered donations before and after the show with tie ins on their menus. Shiner himself donated $5K in proceeds from the show to the newly formed Friends of the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. Shiner’s upcoming album, Lonely Town, Lonely Street will be available May 19th on RED/SONY with his single On a Rainy Night in Georgia.

Most of all, it was a warm and enthusiastic community gathering signifying the continuing aspirations for the evolving venue. Prior to Frank taking the stage, the audience heard Town Councilwoman Lisa Katz, who conceived the Center working with the town’s Arts and Culture committee, describe an array of plans by the Town of New Castle–including a town theater camp for kids this summer and a special art show in September–to ultimately position the site of the old Readers Digest Wallace Auditorium as a key cultural destination in Northern Westchester, and for the county, as well.

John Fanelli, director of the Lighthouse Youth Theater in Armonk, with a years-long track record of directing shows in the county, has been brought in as theater manager to help produce an array of musicals and shows to the venue.  He expressed his enthusiasm about the venue and told the audience that he is open to receiving ideas for productions from the community, too.

Chappaqua’s Michele Gregson and Tracy Stein are heading the new Friends of the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center and have plans to raise an initial $50,000 for program development at the Center.

A website is under construction and a calendar of events is being created soon too. 

Next up: an all new Storybook Family Concert by the Chappaqua Orchestra on April 29th directed by Maestro Michael Shapiro. Shiner graciously encouraged everyone attending to purchase tickets for the show which he described as a high caliber event and “not just for kids.” Visit www.chappaquaorchestra.org for tickets and more information.

No doubt about it… Chappaqua’s Got Arts.

Grace Bennett, Publisher and Editor of the Inside Press, is excited about the future of the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center.

New Castle Police Promise: “We will not ask about someone’s Immigration Status”

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Chappaqua, NY, April 13–  An individual’s immigration status will not be questioned by the New Castle Police during law enforcement activities, according to a release issued today by the Town of New Castle. “The New Castle Police Department want all people – regardless of their immigration status—to feel comfortable talking to its officers,” stated Robert Greenstein, Town Supervisor.

In a separate exchange with the Inside Press, Greenstein stated  the idea was raised when he met to discuss immigration policy with Chief Ferry a few weeks back in a public work session. “The Chief loved the idea and encouraged us to do it,” said Greenstein.

“We are not doing anything different,” Police Chief Charles Ferry said. “We are not going to engage in law enforcement activities solely based on somebody’s immigration status. We want people to speak up and not feel intimidated to talk to our officers.”

“They will not ask about someone’s immigration status!  They want witnesses and crime victims to know they are here to help you,” Greenstein stated in the release. “Their message is simple: Crime victims should feel comfortable reporting crimes. Witnesses should feel comfortable reporting crimes.”

The Town created a flyer (see below) to distribute around town; Greenstein said its information would also be “printed on business cards for our officers to carry with them.”     — Grace Bennett

 

Kristen Browde Leads “Stronger New Castle” as Team Aims to Capture Town Board Seats

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Kristen Browde Leads Ticket kicking off Historic Run for Town Supervisor

Ivy Pool and Gail Markels Seek Town Board Seats

Town Justice Noah Sorkin in Re-election bid too

New Castle Democratic Committee at Annual Fundraiser Celebrates New Slate; also Honors Up2 Us Group and Greeley Tribune Student Editors

Article and Photos by Grace Bennett

(L-R): Stronger New Castle Candidates Kristen Browde (for Town Supervisor), Gail Markels and Ivy Pool for town board seats, with Jerry Curran, co-chair, New Castle Democratic Committee  

Chappaqua, April  11— Each of three candidates in a new all-Democrat slate calling themselves “Stronger New Castle” expressed a promise to bring greater transparency and change to New Castle.

With  a unifying theme in place, Kristen Browde, running for Town Supervisor, together with Ivy Pool and Gail Markels for Town Board, on April 5, announced their respective campaigns for elective office serving New Castle. In an expression of Democratic unity, Browde stated outside Chappaqua’s Town Hall: “I’m going to be a Democrat who up and down the line will support Democrats.”

Browde, a resident of New Castle since 2004, is a divorce attorney and former Emmy-winning reporter and television news anchor at CBS News (where she worked for 17 years). She also brings a historical significance, along with national interest to a town supervisor run–as a transgender individual seeking public office in New Castle. 

Two-term incumbent Robert Greenstein currently holds the seat here in the hometown to a President and twice nominated presidential candidate and Secretary of State.   

Her candidacy, Browde said, “has nothing to do with being transgender or not,” she stated in her remarks, adding that each candidate brings to the table “what they are qualified to do and what they are motivated to do.” Her own work in town has included serving on both the Chappaqua Central School District’s Financial Advisory Committee and the Town’s Inclusion and Diversity Committee.

Browde added that while she is running on her qualifications, she is also not shying away from being open about her life as transgender, adding that she feels “a special honor and responsibility to those who came before us, citing Stonewall and how she “stands shoulder to shoulder” with those who have been harassed, “by being visible and not hiding my past.”

Browde’s professional background as an attorney and journalist includes being a member of the Board of Trustees of the AFTRA pension fund, a member of the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York and as a founding member of the Transgender Bar Association.  

Browde stated that (as far as she knows), she is one of only eight other transgender individuals running for public office across the country, and that she is the first to be endorsed in New York by a major party.

National media immediately took notice. The Daily News picked up the story the night before the official announcement and a CBS reporter and cameraman were among regional and national media covering the official race announcement outside Town Hall.

Standing with members of Up2Us (the formerly Chappaqua Friends of Hillary group–of which Browde, Pool and Markels are all members) and with Karen La Porta and Jerry Curran, co-chairs of the New Castle Democratic Committee (NCDC) which nominated the three-candidate team, Browde said that like so many in New Castle, she was “stunned and disappointed at what happened on January 29th’” when, she said, so many expected Hillary Clinton to be sworn in as President.

In a question/answer period with reporters following her remarks, Browde said she looked forward to welcoming new residents when they arrive to live in affordable housing in Chappaqua at new multiple unit housing at the Hunts Lane site (that stirred so much controversy in town, but which is, on course).

“When the families are moved in, we will make them feel welcome and make them feel safe here,” she said.  Browde has a son at the Seven Bridges Middle School (and a second studying abroad).

Browde also expressed concern about how the town was addressing climate change issues, recalling the impact of Hurricane Sandy in town. “Sandy threw us for a loop,” she said, “and this town has done virtually nothing to be more prepared if there’s another Sandy.”

Some background: Robert Greenstein, a registered Democrat, won a second term in 2015, by a little over 300 votes, in his run against challenger Victoria Alzapiedi, the New Castle Democratic Committee nominee. Democrats Jeremy Saland and Hala Makowska won two open town board seats beating out Republican candidates Seth Chodosh and Eileen Gallagher, members of the “Team New Castle” ticket (together with Greenstein, a registered Democrat). Saland and Makowska are not up for re-election.

Markels and Pool seek the seats currently held by town board members Lisa Katz and Adam Brodsky, whose terms officially end this year.  Greenstein, Katz and Brodsky of “Team New Castle” have not formally announced their bid for re-election, but are expected to do so later this spring.

Stonger New Castle Campaign manager Carol Evans, former publisher of Working Mother Magazine and founder of Executive Women for Hillary, now called Executive Women for Her, told the Inside Press that she is inspired by the three new candidates nominated by the NCDC.

She described Pool as “a young mom with tremendous professional experience working for several terms in the administrations of former New York City Mayor Bloomberg” and Gail Markels as “an entrepreneur with extensive experience in government who will know how to negotiate effectively on behalf of New Castle.” 

 Pool, who has a six- and eight-year old at Grafflin, said she knows “how to take a project from a good idea to a finished project,” and that after the 2016 election she felt “a strong sense of responsibility to step up.”

Markels, who raised two children in the Chappaqua schools, promised to help promote an “open and transparent town government,” and that she “can’t wait to hit the trail and make New Castle blue.”

Full bios of the three candidates can be found at www.StrongerNewCastle.org

Town Justice Noah Sorkin announcing his run

In addition to the new team slate, Town Justice Noah Sorkin, also announced a bid for re-election, saying that he would work hard to “safeguard the rights of individuals coming through the town.” County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, up for re-election as well, praised the new team for a “very positive, very energetic  kickoff.”

New Castle Democratic Committee Annual Dinner 2017

Later the same evening, over cocktails and dinner, all three candidates had an additional chance to speak at the annual meeting and fundraiser the NCDC held at Crabtree’s Kittle House.

 Along with endorsing the new team ticket, the NCDC honored Chappaqua’s UP2Us board: founder Dawn Greenberg, Randee Glazer, Steven Goldenberg, Jason Lichtenthal, Julie Gaughran, Francesca Hagadus, Iris Lauchaud, Kelly Leonard, Kristin Lore, Holly McCall, Lori Morton, Beth Sauerhaft and Marie Short. 

Jerry Curran stated that the efforts of Up2Us were “colossal” and called it a  “truly grass roots  group.”

“They envision an America in which individuals are represented fairly and treated with kindness, respect and dignity,” said Curran. “They seek to empower and support all Americans by driving political and social change to build a brighter future for us all.”

 Greenberg said the group started out with 12 members (it has grown to 3,738 on Facebook), and that they will remain active in a growing resistance movement that has sprung up all over the country.

She indicated her group was going to be active bringing Democrats to office on the local, regional, and national level.  “Astorino, watch out. We are coming for you,” she said, in reference to County Executive Rob Astorino, whose seat is also up for grabs.  “We are going to come out hard and strong… We are not going to stop until we get our country back.”

Dawn Greenberg speaking on behalf of the UP2Us board. (L-R) and with Steven Goldenberg, Marie Short, Randee Glazer, Jason Lichtenthal and Geri Shapiro

 Greenberg took the opportunity to also honor Geri Shapiro, a former campaign manager for Secretary Clinton in a second successful run for U.S. Senate. Shapiro now works on behalf of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Shapiro, for her part, recalled the Clintons arrival in New Castle and honored the memory of both Town Supervisor Marion Sinek and Maureen Keating (who she called ‘a force of nature’) in helping to welcome the Clintons to the community.

Oscar Flores with Geri Shapiro

Shapiro praised the Up2Us group, expressing appreciation for the friends she has made. She also honored Oscar Flores who worked with the Clintons in the White House, and continued to in Chappaqua. “He is such an important part of this community and all of our lives,” Shapiro stated.  “Oscar’s response is always the same, “I’ll take care of it.” And that usually means “the sun will come out tomorrow.” Oscar rose to the podium to thank Geri.

Finally, also honored, were a group of Horace Greeley high school students–Amanda Cronin, Claire Hotchkin, Billy Perlmutter and Meaghan Townsend–for their editorial work at the Greeley Tribune, and for ‘breaking tradition’ in endorsing Hillary Clinton during the Election.

The New Castle Democratic Committee program journal for the evening included a signed tribute from Hillary Rodham Clinton.

 

Greeley Tribune staffers after accepting their citations.
Kristen Browde

Grace Bennett is Publisher and Editor of the Inside Press which aims to follow Election 2017 in New Castle.

 

Jane Silverman, Up2Us; Carol Evans and Catherine Wilson, Executive Women for Her and Up2Us; and Reginald Lafayette, Westchester County Democrats.

 

Browde with (l-r) Up2Us members Jason Lichtenthal, Lori Morton and Jane Silverman

 

Browde with Corrine Pena of Up2Us

Antiques Appraisal Day at the Horace Greeley House Museum: April 22

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with Expert Evaluations provided by Rago Arts and Auction Center

It’s time to dust off your treasures! Do you have a family heirloom or garage sale treasure that you’d like to have appraised? Here’s your chance!

On Saturday, April 22, from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., visitors are invited to stop by the New Castle Historical Society, located in the Horace Greeley House Museum in downtown Chappaqua, with their antique treasures for an Antiques Roadshow-style Appraisal Day. Special guest experts Sebastian Clarke (generalist), Katherine Van Dell (jewelry), Mick Byers (fine art), and Jennifer Pitman (silver), of the Rago Arts and Auction Center, will conduct the appraisals.

The event is co-sponsored by the Rago Arts and Auction Center of Lambertville, NJ.  Rago is a renowned venue for auction, private sale, and appraisal. Specialists from Rago appear frequently on the hit PBS series Antiques Roadshow. For more information about the Rago Arts and Auction Center, please visit www.ragoarts.com.   

A ticket for this Antiques Roadshow-style fundraising event includes the evaluation and appraisal of your antique treasure(s) by the expert appraisers. A ticket to the event costs $15 for NCHS members and $20 for non-members. Each guest may bring up to two items.

To kick-off the event, Rago specialist and Antiques Roadshow regular, Sebastian Clarke, will discuss his experiences ‘on the road’ in a talk titled “Tales from the Road” from 10 am to 11 am. There is a recommended donation of $10 to attend the talk.

To make a reservation for this event, please call Cassie Ward, Executive Director of the NCHS, at 914-238-4666. Walk-ins are also welcome. For more information about the New Castle Historical Society and this event, please visit www.newcastlehs.org. All proceeds from the event will benefit the New Castle Historical Society.