The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Christine Pasqueralle

A Community Focus at the Jacob Burns Film Center

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Margo Amgott, Interim Executive Director, Jacob Burns Film Center

How a Cherished Movie House and Cultural Center is Staying the Course

Situated in the heart of Pleasantville’s vibrant downtown, the Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) is a beloved institution in the community, as well as a destination for film lovers from all over Westchester and beyond. Since opening in 2001, the JBFC has welcomed over 3,000,000 people to its five-screen theater complex to enjoy the best of American and foreign film, unique film series and special events. Forced to keep its physical doors closed due to COVID, the JBFC is still going strong, producing a variety of virtual content that lets patrons interact from the comforts of home. 

Speaking with Margo Amgott, JBFC’s Interim Executive Director, one really understands the love and respect between the community and the JBFC. “The community has been so warm and wonderful, so thoughtful. I haven’t worked in a community that works to support an institution as much as the JBFC community has. From the founding board members, founding staff and staff today, they have built relationships–a wonderful example of community-based work.”

Still from the film COLLECTIVE, which will be part of the JBFC Romanian series.

Virtual Screening Room

 The JBFC has found a number of alternative ways to engage patrons through a wide variety of content including new releases and curated film lists to stream from home, family-friendly activities and resources to help make life at home more enjoyable. One of its most popular services is the JBFC’s Virtual Screening Room. 

The JBFC works with film distributors to offer a curated selection of new and classic films to the community. Each screening purchased helps to support the JBFC as well as independent distributors. Recently, the JBFC has started streaming on their own platform, Eventive, which allows viewers a more streamlined way to engage virtually. Its first events held on Eventive were the Romanian Film Festival in late February and the Arab Film Festival in early March. 

Free live-streamed events are another popular offering of the JBFC. Past events have included live virtual Q&A’s with filmmaker and JBFC Board member Ron Howard and another with Viggo Mortensen, director/writer/star of Falling. Upcoming events are always in the works so be sure to check JBFC’s website.

The popular What We’re Watching is an ongoing series where members of the JBFC Programming team casually chat about what recent films and other content they’ve liked, disliked and why. Anything goes in this popular streaming series. The JBFC Education blog is filled with family-friendly activities, how-to videos, streaming content and more. 

Classroom To Screening Room

The JBFC is also fully committed to the education of children. The recently-launched virtual Classroom to Screening Room program allows students in grades 3 through 12 to explore social, economic and cultural forces all through the power of film. The program, which has been offered throughout Westchester for nearly 20 years has now been made available online locally and on a national level at no cost for the 2020-21 school year.                

Amgott is hopeful that the JBFC can re-open its doors for its 20th anniversary celebration this summer. But even if that doesn’t happen, the JBFC has big plans in the works which includes retrospectives from the past 20 years. “We would love to be open by summer but plan for both ways. We miss our community.” She does say that once the theater re-opens, the idea of having the diverse experience of in-person and virtual offerings is very appealing. “Customers can do it both ways–curl up in pj’s at home or come in person and see friends. It has pushed us to think more broadly on how we provide entertainment to those who support movies.”

Bruni Burres and JBFC Founding Director of Film Programming Brian Ackerman

In addition to making many necessary improvements including state-of-the-art air handling, an outdoor box office and sanitizing procedures, the JBFC is refreshing and improving the theater as a whole, to make it an even more welcoming, attractive and comfortable customer experience.

One of those improvements is the re-lamping of the theater marquee, with help from a generous donor. The theater wants to take a more sustainable approach and the beautiful marquee will be one of the first things people see when they arrive. “We feel an obligation to the community to do this and bring light to the building. It can really bring life to the theater which has been dark these months,” says Amgott. In the coming months, look for a rotating art exhibition on-hand as well.  

When the JBFC is ready to re-open its doors, the community is sure to be out in full force, embracing it with open arms. But for now, patrons both near and far can enjoy all the JBFC has to offer from the comforts of home. And that is a pretty incredible thing.

What We’re Watching members of the JBFC Programming team sit down to chat about what they’ve had their eyes on recently. In this casual discussion series, anything goes: from film festival highlights and movies in our Virtual Screening Room, to worthwhile television programs and yes, even purchased disc media! Each discussion starts at 7 pm–every other Tuesday night and will go for about an hour. Founding Director of Film Programming Brian Ackerman, Senior Film Programmer Andrew Jupin, Programmer Saidah Russell, Film Programming Coordinator Adrienne Frank.

Staying Connected with Elderly Family Members

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Photo courtesy of the Empire State Association of Assisted Living

For many people, the holiday season is a time filled with joy and gathering with loved ones. Now more than ever people look forward to what the new year may bring and to bidding a (not so fond) farewell to 2020. But for many families, the challenge and difficulty of safely visiting with loved ones who live in assisted living facilities continue. How can families stay connected to one another during this time and encourage togetherness while also keeping loved ones healthy and safe?

Lisa Newcomb is the Executive Director of the Empire State Association of Assisted Living (ESAAL) and the organization represents over 300 of the 545 licensed assisted living communities in New York State. The ESAAL advocates for these communities through legislation and providing education for member administrators, directors and other management personnel. Speaking with Newcomb one gains a sense of what life has been like for residents of assisted living facilities during the pandemic as well as the steps being taken now to regain some sense of normalcy for senior residents and their families, especially as the holiday season approaches.

As Newcomb states, it has been a rough road for everyone involved from the beginning of the pandemic when there was a major lack of PPE available and a struggle to get supplies.

“One death is too many, so getting PPE is critical to any ongoing on-site visitation,” said Newcomb. As infection rates decreased, visits began to resume but, as she says, it can still be a hardship for many. “It’s taking a toll on residents and family members too. The staff are doing their best to fill in for family members,” she said, adding that no one can take the place of your own child.

Assisted living residences are known as being very social places. Many residents are mobile, active, and like to socialize with one another, with their family and friends, as well as take trips out of the facility. By July, visitation was allowed with rules in place. If anyone tested positive for Covid-19, visitation was shut down for 28 days. By September, the rule changed to a 14-day shutdown, and this has had some positive impact on visitation rates. Residents are encouraged to conduct visits outside with some circumstances allowing for indoor visits in a well-ventilated room with supervised social distancing.

Facilitating Visits

As the weather gets colder, it may become increasingly harder to visit with loved ones in-person if the rules stay as they are. Fortunately, there are other ways families can keep connected. Staff can facilitate virtual visits (such as FaceTime) with residents and family–seniors who are grandparents especially love to see the faces of and talk to their grandchildren. But nothing can fully take the place of an in-person visit especially for residents who have dementia and trouble comprehending; they may feel abandoned or forgotten by family.

There are clever ways some assisted living facilities are handling holiday visits. One facility rented a construction trailer for the next six months: it is heated, big enough for one to two visits at a time and is ADA compliant. Seeing family in-person can be the one bright spot in a resident’s day. Newcomb said she is hopeful small gatherings for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukah will be allowed so long as there are no cases of Covid-19. In the past, holiday gatherings have taken place in the dining room with visits from community and family members.

“The rates are so low, so hopefully clusters can be controlled quickly and stopped. It has an emotional impact on the elderly–assisted living is the place to be doing things.” Residents want to get out, visit with loved ones and do activities together. “Seniors move into assisted living to live–not to be confined to their room or apartment without visitors. Activities can be done safely keeping in mind that our residents’ mental health well-being is as important as their physical health.”

As the holidays approach, let’s all remember those in assisted living, and hope they are allowed the dignity of a visit with their loved ones this season.

Loving the Lake on Hidden Hollow

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Recent transplants to the New Castle area, the Kline family has lived in the Hidden Hollow section of Millwood since January 2019. Kevin, a VP of Digital Marketing at Mastercard and Janice, a Manager of Campaign Operations at salesforce.com live with their children Emerson, 5 and Fiona, 2.5 as well as with their Tibetan Terrier, Madison.

The Klines both hail from other areas–Kevin from Iowa and Janice from New Jersey. While living and working in Manhattan, they knew they needed more space for their growing family. After stints in Nyack and Thornwood, the family searched all over Northern Westchester and fell in love with their Hidden Hollow home. “We love the quiet street, the access to the lake, the proximity to DeCiccos and other stores and convenience to the Taconic,” says Janice.

There is a real sense of community in Hidden Hollow. As Janice says, “The neighbors are all wonderful and friendly, there are lots of little kids, and also high school kids who babysit.” The neighbors come together during the year for fun traditions such as the end-of-summer BBQ at the lake and an annual Halloween parade. Families gather before the parade for pizza and snacks and then go trick-or-treating together.

The lake at Hidden Hollow is a real gathering spot for the community. “The lake is so pretty and in the summer, is such a fun place to hang out,” says Janice. Many families go there to meet up and swim. There is also a lifeguard on duty six days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend and there are also boats, kayaks, a volleyball net and fresh sand, which is brought in every year.

In October 2018, a tornado hit the area, damaging part of the lake and causing trees to fall. Although the Klines moved in after the tornado hit, they participated along with the rest of the community in the clean-up efforts of the lake in Spring 2019. Neighbors uniting and helping one another is what truly makes Hidden Hollow a special place to live.

Random Farms: Amenities Galore and A Close-Knit Community

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The Random Farms community is a wonderful place for families to call home. With its quiet streets and park-like feel, it is an ideal neighborhood. Random Farms was originally subdivided from the former Millwood Road estate of Lady Gabriel, a benefactor of Chappaqua schools, Northern Westchester Hospital and various other organizations. It has its own homeowners association and many amenities, including a pool, tennis and basketball courts and a clubhouse. One family that calls it home since 2015 is the Agarwala family.

The family of four consists of Sandip, who works in finance, Monica, who works in product management for Mastercard, Kiran, age 9 and Kayla, age 7. Monica grew up in Chappaqua while Sandip hails from Dutchess County. Monica always thought of Chappaqua as a great place to raise a family and when it was time to settle, the Agarwalas chose Chappaqua for its proximity to family, great schools and its strong sense of community.

“There are so many things we love about Random Farms,” says Monica. “We have a pool, tennis courts and a basketball court, which we use throughout the summer. The North County Trail is also within walking distance of us and we love going for walks, and bike rides there, practically year-round.”

Speaking with Monica, you get a sense of what makes the Random Farms neighborhood so close-knit. “When we moved here, we immediately met a half dozen families with kids about the same age as our children. We were able to make friends easily and our children met many of their classmates before they started school. Since the houses are close together, we often make impromptu playdates and the kids spend snow days sledding in our yards.”

Random Farms boasts activities year-round including an annual block party at the end of summer and Halloween festivities in which many homes are transformed into haunted houses. Families also gather together for pizza before trick-or-treating begins. As Monica says, “For families with young kids, there is so much to do and you can always count on bumping into your friends and neighbors.”

Why This Multi-Generational Family Calls Chappaqua Ridge Home

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The Patel family has called Chappaqua Ridge home since 1982. The family consists of Rohit, an endodontist, Kalindi, a retired child psychologist and their children Amrita, a dentist who works with her father Rohit, Kavita, who holds a Masters in Public Health and Ved, a biomedical engineer with Topcon in New Jersey. The close-knit family originally moved to Chappaqua Ridge for its excellent school system, proximity to the city, local culture and the great outdoor spaces Chappaqua has to offer. Gedney Park, in particular is one of Amrita’s favorites, having grown up playing there with childhood friends.

Chappaqua Ridge was originally developed on land previously owned by the Haviland family, and has become an ideal neighborhood for families to raise children, enjoy close proximity to downtown and take advantage of everything Chappaqua has to offer. The neighborhood is big on holiday celebrations – neighbors put pumpkins out in front of their homes for Halloween so that trick-or-treaters know which houses to stop for candy, and many even coordinate decorations for other holidays throughout the year.

The Patels love Chappaqua Ridge because they have generations of family members in the area and everyone has continued to stay close. As Amrita says, “I’ve had friends I grew up with live here and then move away, and new families come and go, but the same warm atmosphere hasn’t changed since the community welcomed my parents here in the 80’s! I would love to stay in Chappaqua and especially in the Ridge. I want my children to grow up with that same warmth that I did.” This is truly a testament to the close, neighborly atmosphere Chappaqua Ridge offers to its residents.

As a Chappaqua native, Amrita has many favorite “hot spots” in town but one of her favorites is Lange’s, which according to her, “Makes the best egg and cheese breakfast sandwich around.” Certainly a ringing endorsement!