The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

The Inside Press

Free Open Air Summer Concerts in Armonk

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summerconcerts

Mark your calendars for the three of four remaining summer “Open Air” concerts  at Wampus Brook Park in Armonk.

The Saturday night (concerts start at 8 p.m.) admission is free and all are welcome to bring family, friends, and neighbors along with lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets to one of the most beautiful parks in Westchester County.  The series is co-sponsored by North Castle Parks and Recreation.

Video Trailer

Remaining three in the series:

the_hager_family_250_250“The Hager Trio”
Broadway Melodies
Saturday • July 26 • 8pm

Daniele Hager will be performing alongside her two brothers John and Robert for a night of Broadway favorites accompanied by pianist Eric Thomas Johnson.  Each of the members has performed either on Broadway, Off Broadway, or with International Opera Companies.

“Our Town” and “Chances Are” Quartets
American Songbook
Saturday • August 9 • 8pm

Influenced by popular quartets of the past, including the Mills Brothers and Buffalo Bills, Our Town produces a sound unique within a cappella circles.  They hold titles as the Northeastern District BHS quartet champion, and winners of the oldest a cappella competition, the prestigious Harmony Sweepstakes.  All four members have sung in some of the finest performance halls in the world including Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center.

our_town_250_250The lead singer of the Chances Are quartet, Julia Bacal, has sung in many classical choruses, including a performance at Lincoln Center with the NYU Chorale, and was a featured singer for Uptown Sound, a popular local jazz ensemble in NYC.  Other members of the quartet include Alice Fennell, tenor, Sharon Guzi, bass, and Sharon Vitkovsky, baritone.

The Swingaroos
Jazz and Swing
Saturday • August 23 • 8pm

This NYC/Westchester jazz group, will entertain you with their original 1930-40’s inspired tunes as well as forgotten goodies by world-famous bandleaders Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw. Their jive is hot swing with Hollywood class and a Vaudeville spirit.

The Swingaroos are Kimberly Hawkey (vocals/tenor banjo/washboard/mouth “trumpet”), Assaf Gleizner (piano), Chris Conte (bass/vocals), Mike Gordon (drums), Dan Glaude (saxophone/clarinet), and Nat Ranson (trombone). Together, they have performed for fine establishments such as the Hudson Hotel, Under St. Mark’s Theater and the Art Deco Society of NY.

hawkey_kimberly_250_250The series opened with:
Dynomite Di and Destruction”
Blues and Rock
Saturday • July 12 • 8pm

Dynomite Di (Dianne Cricchio), with her infectious smile and energy, will capture the heart of any audience covering Ruth Brown, Imelda May, Amy Winehouse, and some originals.  This is a Blues and Rock band with Chris Vitarello on guitar, Dave McDowell on saxophone, and Jerry Scaringe on standup bass and harp as well as lead vocalist.

Chappaqua Sidewalk Sale starts today!

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chap-side=saleCome see what our shops have in store for you!

THURSDAY – SATURDAY 

 July 24-26, 2014

(Taste of Chappaqua: July 26, noon – 2pm)

Head downtown for some amazing sales and great deals this Thursday through Saturday during Chappaqua’s annual Sidewalk Sale!

Don’t forget to visit stores like Shuppee in the Village Yard or Ootra on King Street to check out their fantastic deals!

On Thursday, from 2:00-2:30, musical theater campers from the Amadeus Conservatory will perform musical selections from The Little Mermaid!

On Saturday, from noon to 2pm, you can also enjoy a “Taste of Chappaqua.”  Participating restaurants and bakeries (Le Jardin du Roi, sherry b dessert studio, Hall of Scoops, Old Stone Trattoria and more) will have samples available for you to taste.  You can vote on your favorites in each category.  (Ballots available from the restaurants or at the Chamber table on South Greeley Avenue.)

A Major Splash Fighting Cancer

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Teddy Meyer swimming with his dad Scott in honor of his grandfather
Teddy Meyer swimming with his dad Scott in honor of his grandfather.  Photos by Henry Lee

By Richard Mintzer

Swimmers of all ages hit the water early on Sunday to take part in the third annual Swim Across America at the Chappaqua Swim and Tennis Club. The money raised–close to $40,000 was anticipated at this posting–goes for cancer research, prevention and treatment.

The event had been held locally at the Orienta Swim Club in Mamaroneck for three years before interest grew in Chappaqua.

“There was so much interest from our own community that we brought it here and so many people participated,” explained Dan Levy, team captain and head swim coach at the Chappaqua Swim and Tennis Club, who also lost his sister to cancer.  “It’s not only the kids swimming, but you see adults jumping in and joining them,” added Levy.

Participants have the option of swimming a full mile (64 laps) or a half mile (32 laps) and can take breaks as necessary.  Wyatt Yates, turning 12 next week, swam two miles in the early hours of Sunday morning.  “It’s not really hard when you think about it. You just have to tell yourself to keep on swimming and it’s over really fast. I took a short break in-between the miles,” said Yates, a Chappaqua resident, whose older sister Madison, and mom Carrie, also swam.

Kiara Cekic
Kiara Cekic

“We have Jada 6, Kiara 8 and Lucca 10” noted a proud Maija Cekic while sitting poolside and keeping score of her girls’ laps while dad, Raseko, also cheered them on. “We were telling them that it’s a great cause and we encouraged them to do it, plus they love swimming” added mom as her daughters popped out of the water to ask how many laps they were up to.

Also ready to jump into the pool was Katonah resident Bobby Hackett, who won the silver medal in the 1500 meter freestyle at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Hackett, who also ran a free swim clinic during the morning, grew up in Yonkers.

“We all know people who are affected by cancer or have passed on, so it’s a very important cause” said Hackett, who also helps coach the Marlin’s swim team at the Boys and Girls Club in Mount Kisco.  “It’s good for me to stay in shape, help some of the kids with their strokes and it’s a great way to start a Sunday,” added the former Olympian before jumping in.

SAA Memorial
SAA Memorial

Many participants were swimming in memory of loved ones who had battled cancer or to honor those who are battling it now. For some of them, it was their first time swimming these distances and they were encouraged by enthusiastic parents, volunteers and spectators.

All participants were encouraged to bring in photos or mementos to put on display and celebrate the lives of family members and friends who have passed away from various forms of cancer.  The Swim Across America banner also became a “message board” for everyone to write a special message regarding their loved ones.

Outside the club’s outdoor 25-meter heated pool, swimmers, volunteers and spectators were able to enjoy a variety of refreshments from smoked salmon to pastries and sweets donated by a wide array of sponsors from Le Jardin du Roi and the Healthy Choice Apothecary, to Carolyn Simpson/DoubleVision Photography and the Mango Café in Mount Kisco plus the hosting Chappaqua Swim and Tennis Club; a number of private individuals also contributed to the event.

Nora Kuduck and Ava Franks Post Swim
Nora Kuduck and Ava Franks Post Swim

This year, with nearly $30,000 raised even prior to the big day, it is anticipated that the total proceeds from the event would top the $38,000 raised last year in Chappaqua for Swim Across America, Inc., which hosts nearly 50 swims in 14 states, raising millions of dollars for cancer research and prevention programs at the country’s finest hospitals and managed-care facilities.  Donations may still be made here.

Photos by Henry Lee

 

Getting Number for SAA
Getting Number for SAA
Coach Dan Swim Across America
Coach Dan Swim Across America

Help Fund the College Dreams of Greeley Graduates

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hg-schol-fundSome Members of Our Community Urgently Need Your Assistance

URGENT: HELP US BRIDGE THE GAP!

Make a Donation to HGSF by July 29 to Help Fund  the College Dreams of Greeley Graduates.

Each year the Grants Committee of the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund is struck by how deeply some of our neighbors are struggling to meet basic needs let alone pay for a child’s college education.  This year’s applications for financial assistance are even more dramatic and really show the effects of the recession and the rising costs of college on families right here in Chappaqua.  Unfortunately today the HGSF has funds available to meet only 37% of the $400,000 “gap” between college costs and availability of funds to pay that our expert consultant has calculated for the 40 students who have completed applications. We need your help to bridge the gap.

For many of these applicants, their individual “gap” exceeds $20,000. While each need is unique and circumstances are confidential, as a whole our applicant pool shows that people are struggling right here in Chappaqua. Some generalities: more than half of the applicants come from families with incomes falling below the federal poverty guidelines and/or the federal standards for free or reduced lunch; almost half of the applicants have parents who are currently unemployed; and some applicants are independent and have no family support. While we can’t meet all the need, we would like to be able to do better for these kids. Please help us do better.

If this email finds you in a position to help us make a difference, please make a donation now to help us bridge the gap. We will apply donations received up to July 29 (our final grant determination date) to help these applicants. Without our help, many will be unable to start, continue or finish college. Help us to help them.

Thanks for your support!

You may donate with a check sent to HGSF, PO Box 242, Chappaqua, New York 10514 or online via PayPal at our website.

The Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund is a nonprofit organization that exists to help Greeley graduates realize their dream of attending college despite difficult financial circumstances.  HGSF is a fund of last resort – it exists to help meet the gap in funding the cost of attending college after parent and student contributions, school financial aid awards and student loans are exhausted.