The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Inside Press

Sierra Club Endorses Ali Boak for State Senate

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State Senate candidate Ali Boak stands poised to take up the mantle of environmental advocates everywhere with news of her endorsement this week by the influential Sierra Club. The group credited Boak’s steadfast dedication to renewable energy and environmental preservation in announcing its endorsement.

 “Ali Boak is the clear choice for the State Senate’s 40th District,” said Ed Berry, Political Chair of Lower Hudson Sierra Club. “We need a representative in Albany who will stand up to powerful oil and natural gas companies, support renewable energies, and preserve our environment for future generations. Ali has the vision and record of leadership to be a powerful partner to the Sierra Club and friends of the environment across New York.”
“I’m proud to have the endorsement of the Sierra Club,” said State Senate candidate Ali Boak. “For generations, the natural beauty of the lower Hudson Valley has inspired artists and nature lovers, and drawn countless families to our towns to live and work. I take very seriously the need to protect this special land and water and as your next state senator, I look forward to working hand in hand with key environmental groups, such as the Sierra Club, to advocate for environmentally-friendly policies in Albany.”
Founded in 1892 by legendary conservationist John Muir, the Sierra Club is the largest and most influential grassroots organization in the country. It’s two million-plus members and supporters have lead the charge in passing some of the nation’s landmark environmental legislation. The group has also most recently focused its efforts on encouraging the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy and green jobs.
Closer to home, the Lower Hudson chapter has been a leader in the fight against the Algonquin Pipeline and the push to close Indian Point Nuclear Plant, both efforts that Boak has strongly supported in her campaign for the State Senate’s 40th District.

Q&A with John Re about Chappaqua’s Dusk to Dawn

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Mike Wolfensohn (center wearing Dawn’s Team shirt) with John Re (kneeling)
Mike Wolfensohn (center wearing Dawn’s Team shirt) with John Re (kneeling)

By Grace Bennett

1) Describe the Dusk to Dawn mission. I know you and Mike Wolfensohn work so hard on this fundraiser each year.

John: Dusk to Dawn is the primary fund raising event for Dawn’s Ray of Hope, Inc. www.DawnsRayOfHope.org Dawn’s Ray of Hope is the charitable organization created in honor of Dawn Re to carry on her efforts to raise money to aid in the fight against cancer. With significant money already going to cancer research, we wanted the money we raised to go where a smaller amount of money can make a larger impact. We donate to local charities that provide support and assistance to cancer patients, and to cancer patients themselves who need financial assistance to pay medical bills. Our donations to both Support Connection in Yorktown and Gilda’s House in White Plains have enabled them to offer much needed programs to help not just the patients, but their families who also are going through a tough time. By paying for part of some local residents’ medical bills, we have been able to make an immediate impact on those families as well as being able to alleviate some their financial burdens so they can focus on recovery and family.

The Dusk to Dawn event is an all-night co-ed softball tournament/marathon which combines Dawn’s two favorite fund raising activities–the ACS’s Relay for Life and the LLS’s Snowball Softball Tournament. Teams make a $750 donation to enter the tournament and are assigned a game slot to compete against “Dawn’s Team.” (Yes, Dawn’s Team plays each game…from dusk (about 5:30 p.m.) on Friday night, ‘til dawn (or whenever the last game ends–usually around 7or 8 a.m. on Saturday morning.) And since teams are of varying abilities (all skill levels are welcome!), we play with wood bats and a 16” Chicago style softball which helps to balance the game. We also have a barbecue going, with hamburgers and hotdogs, refreshments (non-alcoholic) and snacks available all night for just a nominal charge.

2) What are your goals each year?

John: Our primary goal is to raise as much money as possible by bringing in as many teams as we can to play. We have been lucky enough to have a full schedule with 10 teams participating in each of the last few years; but (by shifting the schedule and adjusting the game slots) we do have the ability to make room for more.

We also want to have fun. Dawn was all about fun and I can’t think of having an event in her memory and not have fun be an integral part of the formula.

Last (and certainly not least), we also hope to make this a community event, where people who are not on (or affiliated with) teams will come, watch, hang out, enjoy the barbeque, and (of course) make a donation. Quite honestly, we’re trying to figure out how to make that last part happen.

3) Any highlights from this year you want to share?

John: Truthfully, the night is full of memories and highlights. The game against the “Chappaqua Moms” is always a favorite because it is fun year-after-year, and everyone on both teams plays with the right attitude. This year’s Chappaqua Moms game was especially fun for me since Mike and I were honorary CMs and got to play on the team!

Playing alongside our kids and their/our friends never gets old, providing a lot of smiles and proud papa moments. One highlight this year was playing against a group from the HGHS Class of 2012. They played in our first tournament in September 2011 as Greeley Seniors, and returned this year as young adults to support us.

We also appreciated the HGHS Women’s Soccer Team coming to grab dinner after their game on Friday night. The young ladies on the soccer team have played in prior Dusk to Dawn tournaments, but were unable to do so this year as they had a game of their own.

But each game has great moments. Whether we’re playing against the team from CM, the Chappaqua Fire Department, Quaker Hill Tavern, the Support Connection in Yorktown, or the New Castle Adult Softball League (i.e., the Scramblers, Dirty Ol’ Dawgs, 8 Men Out, Raptors, Without a Prayer–to name a few)), there’s always something we remember and laugh about!

4) What’s your hope for the future?

John: We’d love to see Dusk to Dawn continue as a community event here in Town for many years to come, with more and more people becoming aware of us and our mission, and coming to support the players and the organization. We know that there are many worthy charities out there to which a lot of folks in our Town give a lot of their time. But by the same token, we think our event is easy to support. What better way is there to support a charity than playing softball and eating at a barbecue with your friends? And after that, who knows? Maybe our event can serve as a model that could be run simultaneously in different communities in Westchester.

Graceful Gratitude

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By Grace Bennett

I recently started a “Mindfulness Boot Camp” with Jodi Baretz, whose etcetera column in this edition is an excellent reflection on gratitude. I’m not sure I can add more value on the subject than Jodi, but interesting to note: Jodi explained to our group that feeling grateful may not come naturally at all.

In fact, she said that us humans harbor a “negativity bias,” meaning we’re more likely to focus on the one negative aspect of say, a vacation, than on the many positive aspects of the experience. Similarly, in relationships, one negative experience can cast a shadow on an overall positive pairing, or one annoying personality trait might be your obsessive focus on an otherwise wonderful person.

As my mom might have put it, people like to kvetch…a lot. Seems we have to practice being more mindful about feeling grateful!  So I’m going to share just a few things I’m feeling grateful for today:

  • To fresh starts, professionally speaking. Like the redesign of this magazine. Chappaqua’s Lisa Samkoff came on board to give our Inside pubs a more contemporary look. We hope you agree that it has been a successful effort. Grateful for other key support from Caroline Rosengarden and Andrew Vitelli, and for all our contributors and of course, sponsors, to each edition.
  • The exciting new theatre productions underway at the Horace Greeley Theater Company. Rehearsals are underway for ‘Into the Woods,” directed by Jonathan Gellert. Tickets are on sale for the Nov. 17-19 performances. For more information, visit
    Cast members of "Into the Woods"
    Cast members of “Into the Woods”

    http://www.greeleytheater.tix.com

  • To the power of the written word. I’m thrilled that seven courageous girls took time out this summer to express to the community at large their smart and passionate thoughts about the election while pondering their neighbor’s incredible journey. I’m grateful to Dr. Keri Walsh, who brought her writing program at the Greeley House this past summer to my attention.
  • My ‘get fit’ journey at the Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco. I announced on Facebook recently that I’d gained too much weight over the last year. I’m grateful for the opportunity to train twice a week with a wonderfully engaging personal trainer, Sarah Eichorn. She’s making a huge difference in how I feel both physically and mentally in these empty nest years. The changes in how I look and feel are showing in little increments, and I’m embracing Sarah’s belief that a positive journey is as important to my well-being and long term success as any weight loss I experience. I’ll be writing more about this special experience in the next edition, too!

So, tell me. What are you grateful for? Maybe it too could be a story in a future edition of Inside Chappaqua. Write to editor@insidechappaqua.com.

Oct. 29: Open House for Breezemont Day Camp in Armonk

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A HALLOWEEN-THEMED EXTRAVAGANZA Planned!

Saturday October 29th from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Breezemont Day Camp (located in Armonk on the Greenwich/Armonk border) will be hosting its annual Fall Open House! A Halloween themed extravaganza, there will be a haunted house, hay rides, pumpkin and face painting and much more.  First time families are welcomed to attend! Snacks will be provided. This is a great way to see our beautiful 18-acre facility only minutes from Greenwich. During our eight-week summer program, we provide door to door transportation throughout Greenwich. To learn more about Breezemont please visit www.BreezemontDayCamp.com, email Matt@Breezemont.com or call 914-367-1936.breezemon-16open-house

“One Team – One Dream” Save the Date for Greeley High School Athletes Fighting Cancer: November 6

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 Greeley Athletes and Local Foundations Combine Efforts to Raise Awareness and Funds for Pediatric/Adolescent Cancer

hghs-making-headway High School students from Horace Greeley have partnered with the Gardner Marks Foundation and The Making Headway Foundation to host “One Team – One Dream”, the 3rd Annual Athlete Walkathon, to support Pediatric/Adolescent cancer research and programs that assist these children and their families.

The event, scheduled for November 6th, will raise awareness and funds for Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors affecting kids and young adults.  Currently, local students, athletes, and families are helping to make this event a success are working on getting representatives from every sports team in the High School as well as many other local sports groups and organizations to participate.  This grassroots event was created in memory of Gardner Marks (Greeley Class of ’08) who was an athlete at Greeley. Gardner lost his life due to complications from cancer.  The Greeley Sports Boosters is sponsoring the Walkathon and are helping to promote the cause.

Anyone who wants to help fight against Pediatric/Adolescent cancer is welcome to participate in the Walkathon.  The event is scheduled on November 6th, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Horace Greeley High School Competition Field. This year’s slogan, “One Team – One Dream” focuses on the power that individuals can have by working together as part of a universal team. Please donate or sponsor individuals online at www.greeleysportsboosters.org.  And, we would love to have you walk with us on the day of the event!

Pediatric/Adolescent cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among all kids in the United States.  Currently, there are almost 400,000 kids fighting cancer, with an estimated 16,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed each year.  Many years ago, the 5-year life expectancy after diagnosis was only 50% for kids with cancer.  However, thanks to large investments in cutting edge research and treatments, the rate of children who pass away due to a cancer diagnosis has been cut in half.  Many of these medical breakthroughs have come as a result of the direct investments by individuals and local charities.  Additionally, organizations like The Making Headway Foundation and The Gardner Marks Foundation are investing in quality-of-life programs that directly provide a holistic set of services to pediatric/adolescent cancer patients and their families.  The 3rd Annual “One Team, -One Dream” Horace Greeley Athlete Walkathon is a wonderful way that local families can participate in the fight against pediatric/adolescent cancer.

Proceeds from this event will be split evenly to support two local non-profit organizations. The Gardner Marks Foundation is devoted to raising money toward helping families in need of financial support, logistics, and mental health. Now in its 20th year of operation, The Making Headway Foundation provides care and comfort for kids with brain and spinal cord tumors while funding medical research geared toward better treatments and a cure.   100% of donations will go directly to pediatric cancer research or services.  For more information or to donate visit https://makingheadway.ejoinme.org/Greeley2016.