The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

The Inside Press

Who are these small business rock stars?

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499Why are some small business owners like rock stars?
Because they…
DAZZLE THEIR AUDIENCE
(provide customers with a valuable good or service)
APPRECIATE THEIR FANS
(deliver great customer service)
KEEP ON PLAYING FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS
(stay relevant)

Come hear from some of Westchester’s small business rock stars — industries from food to home goods to health services — how they kept the music going through good times and bad.
PLUS network and grow your own business — showcase your materials on our display table (Chamber members only) and meet members of other Chambers throughout Westchester.
It’s 2 hours that could change your tune for years to come!
Rock on!
Get more information
Register Now!

When

Wednesday February 12, 2014 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST

Where

Chappaqua Crossing – Pegasus Room

480 Bedford Road
Chappaqua, NY 10514

Quiet City Chamber Ensemble

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clip_image002The Chappaqua Orchestra Chamber Series Presents:

QUIET CITY CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

Newly discovered music by Aaron Copland and rarely heard compositions by American composers.

Sunday, January 26, 2014 at 3 pm

Chappaqua Library Auditorium,

195 S. Greeley Ave.

Chappaqua, NY

Admission free, donations gratefully accepted

www.chappaquaorchestra.org

While you’re in town, TCO recommends you www.shopnewcastle.net

The Chappaqua Orchestra, P.O. Box 461, Chappaqua, NY 10514 914-238-9220

Teatown’s 10th Annual Hudson River Eaglefest℠

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eagleFor the past 10 years, Teatown Lake Reservation has celebrated the return of the eagle to the lower Hudson Valley with a festival known as Teatown’s Hudson River EagleFest.  The event began as a small, but enthusiastic gathering of approximately 300 attendees in 2005 when it was first held on Teatown’s property.  Teatown’s 10th Annual Hudson River EagleFest℠, a favorite winter event in the region, will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at Croton Point Park, (Eagle Headquarters), which can accommodate the 5,000 attendees for a full day of activities to celebrate our national symbol.

Ten additional eagle viewing sites will be hosted by collaborating environmental organizations all along the Hudson River.  The newest location is at Rockwood Hall in Sleepy Hollow.

Amazing live raptor shows are always a fan favorite and will be held throughout the day.  Additional activities range from guided and independent eagle viewing, bus tours, storytelling, a tent brimming with children’s programs and activities, bird walks and displays from 30 area organizations. Entertaining and educational shows take place all day long in The Eagle Theatre and Eaglet Stage under much-appreciated heated tents.  Food for purchase will be provided by the Wobble Café.

EAGLE THEATRE SCHEDULE:
All shows feature live birds of prey

10:00 am  and 11:00 am – Skyhunters in Flight – Brian Bradley
12:00 pm and 1:00 pm –  Close Encounters with Wintering Eagles and Owls  – Bill Streeter/Delaware Valley Raptor Center
2:00 pm – Threatened and Endangered – Mary Beth Kaeser/Horizon Wings
3:00 pm – Flight of the Raptor – Jennifer Pena

EAGLET STAGE SCHEDULE:
9:15 am –    Raptors for Rookies – Saw Mill River Audubon Society
10:00 am – Birds of Prey – Teatown Lake Reservation
11:00 am – Travis Brady – Greenburgh Nature Center
12:00 pm – Using Technology in Outdoor Adventures – L.L. Bean
1:00 pm –   Eagle Tales – the Lore of Roar and Soar – Jonathan Kruk, Master Storyteller
2:00 pm –   Bird Medicine – Native American stories of eagles and other birds – Evan Pritchard
2:45 pm –   Hudson Valley Wildlife – Teatown Lake Reservation

TICKETS AND INFORMATION:   This year, Teatown will sell General Admission tickets which will allow you to enter all of the tents and to take advantage of all of the day’s activities for one price (bus tours are an additional fee).  Pre-sale tickets will be $10/adults (14+), $8/children (5-13) and free for children 4 and under.  Tickets sold at the venue on the day of will be $15/adults (14+), $10/children (5-13) and free for children 4 and under.  We encourage everyone to arrive early to the bird shows in the Eagle Theatre as seating will be on a first come, first served basis.  To purchase Pre-Sale General Admission tickets, visit www.teatown.org.  A general admission ticket allows you to attend as many shows in the Eagle Theatre/Eaglet Stage as you want (as long as there are available seats).  Purchase bus tour tickets by calling the Teatown office at 914-762-2912, ext. 110.   Tickets for the bus tours (for age 14 and up) are $25 each and often sell out.   For additional questions, please call 914-762-2912 x110. Visit www.teatown.org for up-to-date scheduling information.

BUS TOURS:  Guests can travel by charter bus with a Teatown educator at 9:30am or 2:00pm for an in-depth two-hour view of eagles in their natural habitat. Tours begin at Croton Point Park and stop at three locations along the river which can include the Croton Boat Ramp at Croton-Harmon Train Station, George’s Island Park in Montrose, Riverfront Green in Peekskill, Steamboat Dock Park in Verplanck and the Croton Dam in Cortlandt. Bus tours are intended for guests ages 14 and over.   Participants must be able to walk up to ¼ mile to view birds at some of the stops.  Be prepared for walking on snow, ice, etc.  Tickets are $25 per person (limit of 25 seats per bus).  Purchase bus tour tickets by calling the Teatown office at 914-762-2912, ext. 110.

ALL ABOARD THE METRO NORTH EAGLE TRAIN!:  Ride the train like never before! Attendees coming from Manhattan can take the 9:53am Metro-North Eagle Train car from Grand Central Station to Croton-Harmon Train Station. Along the way, they can view Hudson Valley birds with guest naturalists sponsored by Wave Hill. Free shuttle buses will bring attendees to/from the Croton-Harmon Train Station to Croton Point Park.

To participate in this event, guests must purchase a regular train ticket from Metro North.  Metro North personnel will direct guests to the correct train car to hear the wildlife presentation.

eagle2EAGLE VIEWING SITES:   Guests can enjoy eagle viewing locations and activities along the Hudson River at no additional charge. Each is staffed by eagle experts with spotting scopes. When it’s time to warm up, attendees can take a break in the heated tents/buildings and enjoy a hot cocoa at the following sites:

•    Trailside Museum and Zoo, Bear Mountain State Park
•    Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain
•    Boscobel House and Gardens, Garrison
•    Croton Boat Ramp at Croton-Harmon Train Station
•    New Croton Dam, Cortlandt
•    George’s Island Park, Montrose
•    Kathryn W. Davis RiverWalk Center, Sleepy Hollow
•    Riverfront Green Park, Peekskill
•    Rockwood Hall, Sleepy Hollow
•    Steamboat Dock Park, Verplanck

Detailed keepsake maps will be available at Croton Point Park and at Teatown prior to the event to guide visitors to each unique viewing destination.

BIRD WALKS:  Spot eagles and other native birds around Croton Point Park with an expert guide. Walks are given every hour from 9am-3pm.  The duration of the walk is 30-45 minutes and proper footwear for the weather conditions is advised.

TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING:  Parking is free and available in the park.  Overflow parking is available in the Village of Croton, lot A.  Shuttle buses will bring guests from the outlying lots and the Croton Harmon Train Station to Eagle Headquarters throughout the day.

SNOW DATE:  In the event of severe weather, the alternate date for EagleFest℠ will be Sunday, February 9, 2014. Please check Teatown’s website, www.teatown.org, for program details and weather updates, or call Teatown at 914-762-2912 x110.

SPONSORS:  Teatown’s Hudson River EagleFest℠ 2014 is generously sponsored by First Niagara Bank Foundation, Club Fit, L.L. Bean, Westchester County, Westchester County Parks Department, WHUD, Wheelabrator, Saw Mill River Audubon and Continental Buchanan.

BALD EAGLES IN THE HUDSON VALLEY:  Each winter, between December and March, bald eagles from Canada and northern New York and New England fly south to the lower Hudson Valley to feed on fish and waterfowl found in unfrozen waters. The bald eagle, which was considered an endangered species prior to 1995, shed its federal threatened status in 2007. Today, biologists estimate that about 150 bald eagles overwinter in the lower Hudson Valley. Every year the bald eagles’ return affirms the continued health of the Hudson River and nearby habitats for wildlife and people.

Teatown Lake Reservation, an environmental education organization on a 1,000-acre private, not-for-profit nature preserve in Westchester County, is one of the largest and most active environmental education and nature centers in the region.  Teatown impacts more than 20,000 adults and children every year.  In addition to its full schedule of year-round programs and nature-focused summer camp, Teatown maintains more than 15 miles of hiking trails.  It has grown continuously since it was established on 194 acres in 1963, 50 years ago.  Teatown today offers what some call  one of the region’s natural gems, providing beauty and peace with educational and recreational programming for people of all ages, as well as educational programs and scientific research for community leaders, organizations and local governments. More information about Teatown is at www.teatown.org.

Bringing Christmas Cheer: From “Shapiqua” to the Cheyenne River

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By Sherrie Dulworth

"Elf" Lachaud, Santa and children (Photo courtesy of the Cheyenne River Youth Project.)
“Elf” Lachaud, Santa and children (Photo courtesy of the Cheyenne River Youth Project.)

Growing up in Chappaqua, Laure (Laur) Lachaud knew that the hamlet’s name originated from the Native American “Shapiqua” meaning “Running Water.” But she didn’t know a lot more than that about American Indian history or culture.

But a 2010 volunteer trip to a remote part of South Dakota, with the Cheyenne River Youth Project, (http://www.lakotayouth.org/) near the running waters of the Cheyenne and Mississippi Rivers, launched her education.

Lachaud attended Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua. “I was taking a break from school and had wanted to volunteer for a long time and had looked at different programs,” she said, eventually discovering the Cheyenne River Youth Project.

“I found I really knew nothing about Native Americans,” said the 25-year-old Lachaud. Seeing some of the conditions among the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation (also known as the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe), a virtual lack of industry, entertainment and jobs, was a shock. She learned more about their history, culture and current challenges, and about ways to help make a difference.

Laure Lachaud (right); with Santa; another elf and children
Laure Lachaud (right); with Santa; another elf and children.

This month, Lachaud returns for her sixth volunteer trip where she will join with an international corps of volunteers for the annual Christmas Toy Drive. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lWS1CJ8r4k) This special event delivers gifts to about 1,000 children who otherwise might not have much of a Christmas holiday.

According to the Cheyenne River Youth Project’s executive director and founder, Julie Garreau, these three million square-acres encompass some of the nation’s poorest counties. “We go into a lot of homes and there won’t even be a tree – or there is a tree and sometimes there is nothing under it. We try to change that,” said Garreau, a Lakota Native American. “For many of these kids, the toys from this project are the only ones that they receive for Christmas.”

The goal is to make the Toy Drive highly personal so that each child gets gifts that they have specifically requested, not simply a generic present for a “boy age 5” or a “girl age 10.”

Letters to Santa pour in throughout October and November. In December, they close the gymnasium to store and sort donated toys, and match them with individual requests. Each present is wrapped and has a name tag for the child who requested it.

A group of volunteers
An international group of volunteers.

Before volunteering, Lachaud, a part-time receptionist, had not worked with children. Standing four-foot-ten, she laughed that the other volunteers kept losing her among the kids. But this Christmas Eve, she will again don green elf gear and spend the entire day helping to deliver gifts, and cheer, to the kids. “They are so excited to see Santa and the elves,” Lachaud said. She finds that the joy on children’s faces mirrors her own. “It’s the most fun I’ve ever had,” she added.

The Toy Drive is a special experience, but Lachaud noted that the bigger picture goes beyond that. She hopes to help educate others about the needs and the opportunities to help. “There is so much in the news about the international plight, but I want people to know that there are kids suffering in the U.S.,” she said. “Their situation is so underreported.”

The Cheyenne River Youth Project works to improve both immediate and long-term conditions through an array of family, teen and children’s services. After the New Year, they are launching a new coffee shop, gift shop and a café. According to Garreau, their primary purpose is job creation and youth workforce development. “The goal is to employ young people and teach them work ethics and job skills,” she said.

Laure handing a gift to a child.
Laure handing a gift to a child.

The organization, and Garreau, has received numerous recognitions, including a 2013 Community Service award from the National Indian Education Association. “As a Lakota woman, growing up here, you love your community, you want to make it better,” Garreau said. “Our extended family is very important. For me, I am working to help our community, family and friends.”

Lachaud’s education has continued…about Native Americans and herself. She has met descendents from the same tribe as Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse and learned about their history. She finds that she relates to the Native American dry sense of humor and the importance of family to them. She was surprised to observe how infrequently Native Americans complain about things, like the weather. Shortly after her first arrival, the temperature plummeted to almost 20 degrees below zero and then an ice storm knocked out power for about 10 days. “It has made me complain a lot less,” she said.

Sherrie Dulworth is a Westchester-based freelance writer who covers healthcare, social policy and human interest stories.

Jacob Burns Film Center – Dec 19, 2013

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JacobBurns

Thurs. Dec 19, 2013
Philomena, starring Judi Dench, Alexander Payne’s Nebraska, and the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis continue this week.
We’re showing the timeless holiday classic, It’s A Wonderful Life, starting Sat. December 21st, at noon.

No Christmas would be complete without The Nutcracker!, Enjoy the Mariinsky Ballet’s Nutcracker 3D at noon on Wed. December 25.

REEL PARTNERS 2014! Local businesses… we want you! If you’d like to reach our members with your special offer, join our merchant discount program. Deadline to participate is Dec. 30. Contact Elizabeth Garrigue at 773.7663, ext. 412 or read more about it!

Give the gift of film! JBFC Gift Memberships, Gift Cards, and Gift Buckets are available at the box office!

Please help us reach our year-end giving campaign goal and further our film, education, and outreach programs. Your gift WILL make a difference!
Click here to Donate Now.

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