The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Grace Bennett

Cherishing Family

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Family life is and always will be many things to many people, but the powerful connection and bonds forged within our family units–and for me and many that includes our friendship circles, too–is the common denominator. Family is love. Cherishing family, and the children I raised, grown and flown they may be, will always be central to any love I feel, and more so in challenging times.

I also like to recognize the larger family who touch us all–our local and county officials, caring neighbors, health care personnel and first responders who provide resources and actual lifelines in this most unusual year, and every year. Such community resources include the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry, now planning a 30th year celebration feeding Westchester, and the Mount Kisco Child Care Center which advocates so successfully for families. You can read about both these terrific organizations here too.

Please enjoy all the stories, photography and artwork; our freelance contributors work hard to assemble the mix of stories you find every time, and I have a lot of fun sharing them on the web too, with some help from the Play Nice Together team, and always feel humbled by all the excitement around that. I have a feeling, for example, Lyssa Weiss’s savvy weight loss strategies, as conveyed by Ella Ilan, will be eaten up, with zero calories incurred. Our blogger series continues too highlighting writing by talented writers Kat Nemec, Rich Monetti and Deb Raider Notis.

A huge thank you to Congressman Mondaire Jones for carving time out of his packed schedule to speak with our writer Jennifer Sabin and for later visiting Chappaqua for an Inside Chappaqua & Millwood  cover photo shoot by Carolyn Simpson. I loved the opportunity simply to greet and meet him, and his district director, Joan Grangenois-Thomas, too. 

I also want to thank the lovely John Diaconis for a personal tour of the historic Miller House, and for sharing his inspiring story, our Inside Armonk cover story, by Christine Pasqueralle. Gratitude to Donna Mueller for the photographs of John and his family, and also those of Drew Bordeaux, a mega talented musician/artist, both solo and with his bride and fellow artist Tammy (story by Stacey Pfeffer), and of Adam Stone and his comeback team! at the Examiner Media (story by Andrew Vitelli).  Also, please don’t miss the following story gems (and photos by Carolyn too): Stephanie Spiegel of Centerpeace (story by Shauna Levy), Ian and Lauren Karr (story by Ronni Diamondstein), and Wendy Craft and Evan Echenthal (story by Anna Young). We are also thrilled to include stories by Robin Chwatko. These include one of Emma Freeman’s rising star. And a second highlighting the offerings at the amazing Armonk Tennis Club.

So bottom line: please enjoy all the stories presented by our hard-working contributors–you will find wonderfully warm and accomplished people and families to ‘meet’ and in the print editions, inviting page designs by art director Lisa Samkoff.

Finally, we hope you will read Ronni Diamondstein’s touching tribute to Lawrence Otis Graham; the reminisces and thoughts conveyed come from many corners of New Castle and beyond.

Wishing you well and time to enjoy spring’s glorious holiday and milestone celebrations. 

These being ‘double editions,’ wishing you much joy this spring at your Passover or Easter gatherings, perhaps, and/or for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day too. As an aside, you might wish to take some of those celebrations ‘outside’ on your deck or patio, so do check out Marianne Campolongo’s feature about trends in backyard living too!  We are continuing a quarterly schedule and will see you again in mid-August! Truth be told, I have a little trip planned, and some memoir writing to do with the precious extra time, too. Stay well.

P.S.  Sometimes a single person you’ve never met can make you feel awash with love and appreciation. A celebrated resident ‘vaccine fairy’ for example, reached out to help me with my vaccine appointment. She has helped innumerable others. For anyone who’s having trouble making an appointment to get a COVID vaccine, Christina is happy to help! She has booked almost 600 appointments for eligible NYS residents. Please email her at vaxfairy@gmail.com. 

P.S.S.  The Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center’s “Memory Keepers Story Hour” (see below) continues with three additional April virtual presentations. They always hit close to home. April 5, 2020 marks two years since my own survivor father’s passing. I have told his story in bits and pieces on social media, and hoping to convey a more complete tale of ‘Poppy’ one day, too. Please consider registering for one of these events.

Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center Spring 2021 ‘Memory Keepers Story Hour’ Continues

A virtual online platform created by the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center and that features Holocaust Survivors, Liberators, and GenerationsForward speakers–a second and third generation group that includes children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors–continues through April with Kathy Grosz-Zaltas on April 15; Wendy Sandler on April 22, and Michelle Gewanter on April 29. All virtual events begin at 7 p.m. To register, email Millie Jasper mjasper@hhrecny.org for Zoom log-in information or call the HHREC at 914 696-0738.  The Memory Keepers Story Hour series launched in 2020 supports the HHREC mission to teach the lessons of the Holocaust, to promote the right of all people to be treated with dignity and respect, and to encourage speaking up and acting against all forms of hate, bigotry, and prejudice. Its Bureau includes 26 Holocaust Survivors, three Honorary Holocaust Liberator Speakers, and 36 GenerationsForward Speakers who tell their stories from a “next generation” perspective, adding new meaning to the survivors’ powerful stories. Visit www.hhrecny.org for more info.

More Locals with a Writing Flair: Rich Monetti

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Rich has been a freelance journalist in Somers since 2003, and like anyone in the business knows, jobs come and go. He adds wryly that changes in the industry over the last few years has had more stuff go than come. Add in Covid-19, and “there has been almost a complete collapse,” he said. So, by default, Monetti found blogging an outlet with less certain returns.

That said, Rich said he earned a grand total of $400 writing stories for Vocal.Media last year, and “the paltry total,” as he phrases it, begs an obvious question. Why bother? Here, Rich’s answers to “why blog”…

“Well for one, I love to write, and some money is better than nothing. I’m a firm believer that work leads to work, and I have the proof. In 2016, the newspaper work was sparse, so I starting going up to Somers High School to cover the varsity football games. A half a cent per click netted me no more than $2 for any one game, but one particular view made all the difference. The sports editor from the local Somers paper saw my articles and brought me aboard as a sideline reporter. I’ve been with the paper ever since.

“The same perseverance/love of writing landed me my latest gig. One of my regular movie review readers heard that a site called Take 2 Indie Review was looking for writers, and he recommended me to the publisher. She liked my work, and a steady stream of reviews has me off to a great start.”

Rich reminds aspiring writers: “No matter what you do, and where you are in your career, don’t sulk. You need to turn the passion into something concrete and keep putting yourself out there.”

From Rich’s My Movie Reviews: “The Trial of the Chicago 7 on Netflix Feels Pretty Good”

“My study of American History makes me no stranger to the 60s and the Vietnam War. That said, I know very few details about the Chicago 7. In fact, I didn’t even know that Abbie Hoffman was among those on trial. At the same time, I’ve also realized that learning history from the movies is a poor substitute for understanding. So I was reluctant to take my curriculum from the Netflix movie, but with some encouragement, I gave it a go.

I couldn’t help keep my laptop nearby, though. I wanted to fact-check every time I saw something suspect. But I mostly decided to let it go, and let the drama play out for enjoyment.

The set up reveals that the Chicago Seven are far from homogenous, and that “the man” isn’t the only source of conflict. Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale, John Froines, Lee Weiner and David Dellinger divvy up the agendas, and the opening splice has the main characters marking their territory.

Literally completing each other’s sentences, the novice quickly sees the divergence. Foremost, the editing has Hayden and Davis play perfect contrast to Hoffman and Rubin. No nonsense, student activism to end the war versus opened ended visions of social revolution and a kinder, cooler nation.

In turn, the invasive deadpans of Sacha Baron Cohen continually deepens the chasm… ”

For more by Monetti, please visit his My Movie Reviews on Facebook.

More Locals with a Writing Flair: Deborah Raider Notis

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Deborah Raider Notis is the mother of four boys, ranging in age from 21 to 14. She and her husband, James, have lived in Pleasantville, New York for over 16 years. Nine years ago, Deborah, and her business partner, Marilyn Rifkin, started GAMECHANGER NOW, Westchester’s answer to academic match-making which offers the most personalized process for connecting families to academic, music, and art tutors, as well as certified college counselors, interview prep specialists, and resume building specialists. The company helps families from preschool through post-college, simplifying every step of their journey. In addition to connecting families to these hard-to-find resources. The website at www.gamechangernow.com has an informative, entertaining blog with information about family life, education, and navigating academia. Many of these blog posts were written by Deborah. 

Deborah has been writing for newspapers, magazines, and blogs since the early 1990’s on topics ranging from home golf courses and online dating to Rhodes Scholars and college campuses during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is currently working with her agent, Barbara Rosenblatt at 22MediaWorks, to publish her children’s book, Shipwrecked on Fudgepop Island. This book, written with her 14-year-old son, is loosely based on a story that Deborah wrote in third grade with her father, Stanley Raider. Additionally, Deborah has kept her own writing journal since high school, jotting down thoughts, collecting quotes and articles, and writing her own short essays, poems, and stories. In 2017, she moved her thoughts, essays, and short stories online, creating her blog, The Purge Chick. The Purge Chick is a collection of essays on family, friendship, and funny, heartfelt perspectives on life. 

From Deborah’s Purge Chick: “In the Blink of an Eye”

There are days that I still think that I am 22. Really. Maybe it is the delusion of old age. Maybe it is emotional survival. Maybe it is that everything after 22 happened in the blink of an eye. And then there is today.

Today, my college roommates messaged me to reminisce about the olden days in our decrepit dorm. We talked about boys who are now men. Inside jokes that still make us chuckle. Familiar places that no longer exist. Parties at which we lingered until dawn. People whom we no longer know, some of whom are no longer with us. At the time, every moment seemed incredibly important, utterly vital to our everyday existence. Yet it was all so incredibly fleeting, and now these moments are simply memories. Mostly fond memories with people who will mostly hold a special place in our hearts.

And then it hit me. My child will be leaving my home in about a year. I will have a child who is around that age. I cannot be that age, because I will have a child who will be leaving our home and starting a new life without me, without his father, without his brothers. A life that will consume him, a life that could take priority over his life in our home.

And then it hit me. My child will move into a dorm room and meet people who will have some sort of, hopefully positive, imprint on his life. A child who will be meeting people with whom he will forever share the bond of college. He will visit new places, make new memories without us, and start his separate life.

And then it hit me. Twenty some odd years from now, he will communicate with his college roommates and reminisce about familiar ….

Read more from Notis at https://thepurgechick.wordpress.com/

A Community Engaged

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April 15th marks 15 years since my mom passed of pancreatic cancer, that notorious Silent Killer, just a few days shy of her 70th birthday, also in April. I remember this difficult period well, from her diagnosis and hospitalization at Sloan Kettering to hospice care at Calvary Hospital where the palliative care at least helped fend off terrible pain. Over a brutal four-month period span, many family members and I stayed constantly at her bedside. I was also acutely aware of and had met others in my own community experiencing similar journeys–grappling with and reconciling the limited options for afflicted loved ones. Over the years, I have often wondered about the progress for earlier detection and more treatment options. Zabeen Mirza, whose father succumbed to the disease at age 40, had approached me about producing a story recognizing area families actively fundraising for key organizations like PanCan and the Lustgarten Foundation. I jumped on board and assigned the story to Robin Chwatko, and a cover story for Inside Chappaqua was born. Please know how grateful I am to the many in our community engaged in the battle.

In a similar vein, we also shine a light on efforts to fundraise to battle blood cancers by including a Greeley student’s most promising efforts via his personal campaign. In so doing, Spencer Katz honors his mom, Lisa Katz, a New Castle Town Board Member and a lymphoma survivor.

I’m continuously amazed and touched by our engaged and caring communities. With that in mind, I can point to several ‘engaged people’ profiles (and cover subjects!) we included such as one on Ronni Diamondstein, and of course, her beloved Maggie Mae. Megan Klein captures the essence of this ‘dynamic duo’ and their contributions, so enjoy. 

In this same edition, Megan’s work is featured in a story by Stacey Pfeffer about under the radar bloggers. Time to discover ‘Operation Happiness’ if you haven’t yet! Keira O’Sullivan’s delightful Pizza Ratings also made the cut, and in the next edition, we have more bloggers to introduce, too!

A first-time book author, Zach Schonfeld, offers a behind the scenes account of 24 Carat Black, an under the radar ‘70s era funk group.

Our schools have been meeting their greatest challenges in their very histories in managing this pandemic. In Inside Armonk, and as our cover story, Ella Ilan finds out how one district in particular persevered! 

Please don’t miss Jennifer Drubin Clark’s fun profile about Armonk’s favorite outdoors proponent and much beloved town figure. That would be Skip Beitzel, 2014 Armonk Citizen of the Year, and the owner of Hickory and Tweed for the past 36 years.

We also offer a forum to a much beloved figure at Breezemont Day Camp, Marnie Levy, whose transition to “Life Coach” could inspire many grappling with career choices to find their own path. If you are pushing yourself just a bit too hard, a must read are Marni’s self care tips too.

Per usual, there’s ‘much more’ to enjoy, a gorgeous poem by Tanvi Prasad that I’ll forever think of as a gift to Mother Earth, and our ‘Etcetera’ column by Dan Levitz on how the pandemic has changed things up dramatically but how we still as a community retain so much that’s meaningful.

Anna Young takes us into Briarcliff Manor for a glimpse of newly revitalized parks and trails. Fewer excuses not to hit the great outdoors!

If you are among the many thousands who miss planned and unplanned jaunts to the Burns, here’s a chance to catch up with Christine Pasqueralle on what they are up to and how they have made community comfort and safety a priority too with their virtual offerings.

Our advertisers share some exciting spring promises, too, as Shauna Levy relates.

And here’s my final Springtime promise: In our next set of editions, I plan to tip my hat to an array of some truly darling and community-minded moms and dads residing among us. We are planning just one more set of editions for this spring, doubling up on our Mother’s Day/Father’s Day coverage efforts, and already so much that’s wonderful is in the works. Happy Spring to you and yours.

‘Graced’ and Taxed on Valentine’s Day 2021

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I’ve decided to add a new category to this site, for my most personal blogging a bit more, words that don’t necessarily relate to my role as publisher, and perhaps delve a little deeper without worrying about how this or that customer might react. Yes, that is a ‘thing’ in publishing, and I’m not immune to it. Officially declaring this space sacred from self-censoring considerations which can stymie so. I’m calling it ‘Graced’… because I’m hoping anyone reading and relating to any of it makes you feel just that. So this is a new home for my words that I’ll share into social media, too, whenever it feels right. When it doesn’t, my words will stay in draft, another set of the so called ‘morning pages’ writers everywhere are encouraged to keep. I’m choosing today, Valentine’s Day, to launch it. I normally jump on the ‘Valentine’s Day is just awesome bandwagon’ (which I basically believe it is), but on this Valentine’s Day, I just haven’t been in the best way or the best version of me. Not by a long shot. And that’s where the ‘taxed’ in the headline comes in.

In the fall of 2020, on Facebook, I described getting lost on a mountain in Beacon, NY, and being rescued. What I didn’t add was that incident immediately followed a soul searing, humiliating breakup, the death knell of a years long intimate friendship that is still too painful ‘to touch’, too confusing to make sense of, too personal to describe and certainly to recover from despite the longest walk on the most gorgeous days or beautiful trails. What I didn’t add either was a freak accident with a blender just a couple weeks later that nearly took off my pinkie–and the scars and nerve damage that remain. I understand it now as having been and perhaps still am in a continued state of being vulnerable following a psychic wound.

On #ValentinesDay2021, I’m alone but not alone with some dear family and friends to reach out to with a fun or goofy Valentine’s Day text, a glorious virtual company to lean on somewhat. I also know that anyone in or outside it with any heart and soul is considering the hundreds of thousands of Americans and millions around the world who have perished in this pandemic, the communities of first responders, and army of volunteers–and that there is just too much pain to process and too many completely broken hearts or hearts on the line–despite the promise of 2021, for so many, at least.

So… wishing a Happy Valentine’s Day to anyone who has suffered a devastating loss of a loved one, or injury, physical or psychic, during this past year. To anyone struggling with any aspect of your own health-emotional, physical, psychological and financial, too… one or more are so often interrelated, too–in a struggle that may still feel strangely new because… well, because no one prepared you or me or our kids on how to live through a pandemic and certainly not how to smile through it, and keep a stiff upper lip, not on any day, including and perhaps most of all, not on Valentine’s Day.

Here’s hoping you are mostly doing ok, maybe like I, taking this pandemic day to day, and remembering to believe that ‘I’m doing ok’ is a success story, too. I witness so many using this time to grow and learn too–in fact, to soar. I bow to your evolved sense of self preservation, and I follow closely and often for continued inspiration. In the meantime, listening too to the ever growing number of wellness experts (who’s not following at least a handful these days?) who insist we persevere when we cultivate a deeply held compassion for our own selves, too, and for believing in the exquisiteness and preciousness of our own survival. So here’s to compassion and believing washing over me, washing over you. Sending love.   — Grace