The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Ella Ilan

Add These Local Music Festivals to Your Summer To-Do List

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Hudson stage at Clearwater Music Festival
PHOTO BY ECONOSMITH.COM

Couldn’t get to Coachella?  Westchester has two great festivals coming your way this summer. The Clearwater Festival and the Pleasantville Music Festival are both top-notch events right in your backyard.

The Clearwater Festival

The Clearwater Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17 on the banks of the Hudson River at Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson. Performers will include Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, The Mavericks, Ani DiFranco, They Might Be Giants, Rhiannon Giddens, and hundreds more.

An Environmental Twist

This two-day event, founded by the late folk legend Pete Seeger and his wife Toshi, combines musical performances and green activism. In 1966, recognizing that the Hudson River had been devastated due to years of pollution, Seeger decided “to build a boat to save the river.” He hosted small local concerts where he opened his banjo case to collect donations to build the Clearwater, a tall ship that would be a symbol of environmental advocacy.

The festival’s parent organization, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater (“Clearwater”), pursues Seeger’s mission to protect the river. Clearwater’s grassroots efforts have resulted in the passing of landmark legislation including The Clean Water Act.  Funds raised at the festival will go directly to Clearwater.

“My hope is if you’re coming for the music because you love the lineup, you check out the Clearwater information and discover that because of Clearwater’s efforts, you could swim in the Hudson now,” says festival director Steve Lurie. “Maybe you even become a member and maybe you sign a petition and maybe you also walk away as a supporter.”

Blues Traveler plays at last year’s Pleasantville Music Festival
PHOTO BY JONATHAN CUNNINGHAM

Fun for the Whole family

Catering to families, a special stage will host performances for kids, juggling and roving artists, storytelling, and more. Festival-goers can visit the “Working Waterfront” and take free rides on small boats or purchase sail tickets for the tall ships.

Guests can explore the Handcrafter’s Village, the Green Living Expo, and visit the many tents and exhibitors. An Artisanal Food and Farm Market will sell food sourced from the Hudson Valley.

About twenty thousand people are expected over the course of the weekend. Ticket prices through June 15 are $68-$280 depending on whether they are day passes or weekend plus camping passes.  Prices are higher at the gate.  Clearwater Members receive a 20% discount off the non-member prices.  Kids 11 & under are free.

The Pleasantville Music Festival is New York’s Backyard Jam

Less than a month after the Clearwater Festival, the Pleasantville Music Festival will take place on Saturday July 14th at Parkway Field in Pleasantville.  Artists will include The Psychedelic Furs, The Lone Bellow, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Cracker, John Hall, Lizzie and the Makers, and many more.

This event has grown considerably since it began fourteen years ago as a small folk festival attracting about five hundred people.  Upwards of 5,000 people are expected to descend upon Parkway field, setting up chairs, blankets and tents for the day.

Winners of the Battle of the Bands, a competition amongst Westchester residents 26 or younger, will perform original songs on stage and open the festival.  Last year, Byram Hills High School graduate Ari Perakis and his band Riiza won and opened atthe festival.

Who is in the Crowd

“We are a music festival for people who like the idea of a music festival more so than the actual reality of a music festival,” says Pleasantville Music Festival director Bruce Figler.  Mr. Figler is referring to the manageability of the festival for a family.  “It’s just one day, you can park at Pace University, take the shuttle over, enjoy the music, bring your kids, and then go home. You don’t even need a babysitter.”

This contemporary rock music festival aims to appeal to the average Westchester homeowner, likely in their forties or fifties.  Festival organizers strive to satisfy different elements within that demographic, whether it be people who like jam bands, acoustic music, top 40 hits, or hard rock.

“We try to arrange the lineup in such a way that everyone who comes will be able to see someone they know and like,” says Mr. Figler.

To entertain the children, there will be a kid zone with face-painting, rides and amusements.  There will also be a vendor village with various merchants and a food court.  Beer garden sponsor Captain Lawrence Brewing Company will serve beer to adults.

Tickets are $45; $30 for students or seniors; free for children 12 and under.

Both festivals are zero-waste events, using sustainable practices to reduce waste and protect the environment.

For more information, to volunteer or to order tickets, go to www.clearwaterfestival.org for the Clearwater Festival and to www.pleasantvillemusicfestival.com for the Pleasantville Music Festival.

Armonk Beautification Committee; Behind the Scenery

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PHOTO BY ROSS EAGLE
aquilinestudios.net

If you feel a sense of pride as you drive through town and notice the flowers in the spring, the attractive street signs or tasteful holiday decorations, you can thank the Armonk Beautification Committee. This committee is made up of dedicated volunteers appointed by the North Castle Town Board. They meet once a month to propose ideas and facilitate projects in partnership with town authorities regarding landscaping and the beautification of Armonk, Banksville and North White Plains. Carol Bidjarano, the committee chairwoman, says “We are a great cast of characters. We do everything as one. Everyone brings something else to the table and we have a lot of fun.”

A Multitude of Projects

Typical annual projects undertaken by the committee include the hanging flowering baskets adorning Main Street, the barrels of flowers at various traffic islands, and the flags that fly from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  Every year, the town is spruced up for the holidays with wreaths on the light poles, snowflakes suspended over Wampus Brook Park and the North White Plains Community Center, and the holiday tree in the gazebo. The committee works with a budget allotted to them by the town board. Once the routine annual projects are paid for, any remaining money is put towards more extensive projects that are phased in over time.

The new street signs in town with an eagle atop them were one of those projects.  “It took a while to get the street signs up and the town supervisor got positive feedback from people…It’s a good feeling when you work on something behind the scenes and people compliment it without even knowing you worked on it.  I feel proud when I go through town and see those signs,” reflects Ms. Bidjarano.

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A Town Clock Tops the Wish List

The committee’s current wish list of projects includes erecting a town clock similar to those in neighboring towns, more “Welcome to the Hamlet of…” signs at all points of ingress into the towns, more flowering trees on the traffic island by Route 120 heading towards Chappaqua, and updating the trash containers in town. The town clock would be one of the more expensive items, costing anywhere from $12,000 and up. Funding and support from the community could make such an endeavor a reality.  Donor names could be memorialized on a plaque located on the clock.

PHOTO BY KEVIN FOLEY

A Dire Need for Volunteers

The committee would also love to attract new members as the group could benefit from some fresh ideas. It currently has six voting members. Ideally, they prefer to have an odd number of members so that they can avoid a tie.  Nancy Battistelli, the North White Plains subcommittee chairwoman says, “The town needs more people taking an interest.  No one seems to have any time with their hectic schedules.”

The North White Plains committee did not have their annual holiday party and tree lighting ceremony this year due to the hardship involved for the few older committee members who did not have enough personnel. They quickly learned that their past efforts were appreciated when many young families expressed their disappointment since they had been looking forward to this family event. Upon discovering that the beautification committee needed help organizing the event, several young community members pledged to get involved and help organize the holiday festivities next year.

Despite the various challenges, these devoted volunteers get the job done and manage to make Armonk, Banksville and North White Plains look beautiful. The one thing that is clear is that it takes a village. The committee welcomes anyone that would like to attend a monthly meeting and get involved. Additional information about the committee including wish lists and donations can be found at www.northcastleny/beautification-committee.