The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Grace Bennett

With the Fiddler Cast: A Celebration of Life at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center

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Photo by Lisa Wohl

It was an incredible end of winter treat to watch a dozen cast members of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, including the Fiddler HERself, take the stage of the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center (ChappPac) to share their remarkable journey through and since Broadway’s blockbuster production.

Merete Muenter, associate director and associate choreographer of the show, moderated. Each of the 12 cast members in attendance had a chance to speak from the heart, answering a series of Muenter’s wide ranging, food-for-thought questions–including ‘Do we still need Fiddler today?”

One cast member somberly reminded about today’s antisemitism while another addressed the plight of refuges from Ukraine–and so, the collective answer to us very (in agreement) fortunate theater goers was, yes, of course we do! The consensus: We need lots more Fiddler.

In lighter moments of ‘the Conversation,” with a slide show illustrating memorable cast moments on and off set, many of us romantics were tickled to learn of cast member romances, and even a marriage, with the hand-holding actors in attendance.

Photo by Lisa Wohl

If I were taking notes, I’d relate more and ‘who’ said ‘what’. But I confess I was there to kick back and enjoy–to capture all the personal feelings the timeless music Fiddler evokes, and right near home!

The unforgettable melodies have become a way to revisit my Jewishness, and I’m sure this is true for millions: part of the experience of being Jewish mirrors Fiddler’s celebration of Jewish faith and culture while never forgetting the struggles of the Jewish people through the ages… their production on Broadway will stay with me forever!

And these big-hearted, long time cast members–who have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Broadway Cares–didn’t disappoint.

Immediately, we were treated to hearing ‘Tradition,’ which amply set the mood!

We heard Tevye’s ‘If I Were a Rich Man’, The Daughters’ and Yenta’s ‘Matchmaker’, ‘The Sabbath Prayer’, and ‘Anitekva’.

We even got a short lesson in ‘Yinglish’ as the audience received a quick tutorial to singing along with ‘Sunrise, Sunset.’ Fun! We weren’t half bad. And what, in these times, could have been a better finale to the evening than ‘To Life’? Gornisht! (i.e., nothin!)

This review is dedicated to the memory of Chaim Topol.  September 9, 1935 – March 8, 2023. Topol is best known as the Israeli-born actor who portrayed Tevye the longest in Broadway’s iconic Shalom Aleicheem musical Fiddler on the Roof, and in the Hollywood movie adaptation.

914 Cares Panelists Delved into the Reality of ‘Clothing Insecurity’ & More… Toward Ending Poverty

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Jessica Reinmann, head of 914 Cares, leading a morning panel of the organization’s annual Westchester Poverty Symposium

There’s an assumption of affluence when you tell people you grew up in Westchester, posited David Heath, Co-Founder and CEO of Bombas, and keynote speaker for the 914 Cares 4th Annual Westchester Poverty Symposium which brought together non-profit leaders in March to discuss strategies and solutions toward ending poverty. “But when you peel back the onion, we see different layers–and not all affluent.”   

And, for many, far from.

In introducing Heath at the White Plains event, Jessica Reinmann, 914 Cares CEO and chairman, Reinmann opined that she considers Heath ‘the Derek Jeter’ in the business of giving, noting that Bombas was “just a few months away from donating its 100th million items of clothing” since its inception, its greatest focus… socks, the most requested item in homeless shelters, said Heath, who described his lightbulb moment as an executive: “that Bombas could donate a pair of socks for every pair of socks sold.” Today, the company works with over 3500 ‘giving partners’ such as 914 Cares across 50 states to achieve its astounding success.

And like the people behind 914 Cares and other service organizations represented at the White Plains March event addressing this lesser known aspect of poverty –  ‘clothing insecurity’ and its negative impact on the self esteem of children — Heath said the quality of the product is critical too, and that Bombas takes special measures toward that end.  “We want the person to experience the same level of quality and joy that we were delivering to our paying customers.” Reinmann later reenforced a similar concept, one central to the 914 Cares mission, focusing “on the dignity of the recipient.”

914 Cares described the Symposium as “an annual opportunity for thought leaders… to share innovative ideas about community-driven partnerships.”  “The event is all about connection, and learning how we can work together to share ideas and resources to improve the lives of our neighbors in need,” said Reinmann.

Along with Heath and Reinmann, the other panelists were Lynn Margherio, Founder/CEO, Cradles to Crayons; Nichole Culotta, Program Manager, 914 Cares; Ana Maria Fritsch, Bedford Central School District; and Matthew Fasciano, President & CEO, Delivering Goods. Later in the program, a final panel focused on Food Insecurity. Faith Butcher, Chief Impact Officer of United Way of Westchester shared highlights of that organization’s annual ALICE report. The panel also featured Daniel Bonnet, Chief Program Officer, Carver Center; Rick Rakow, founder of Rakow Commercial Realty & Board Member, Feeding Westchester; Erica Youngren, Full Plates Coalition Chair, County Harvest; and Chris Dapolito, Store Manager of DeCicco and Sons.

As Margherio noted in the first half of the panel: “It’s comforting to know there are so many kindred spirits in the fight to end clothing insecurity in children.”

For more information visit 914Cares.org

Friends Arrive for a Book Signing for Stacey Ross Cohen’s Brand Up: The Ultimate Playbook for College and Career Success in the Digital World

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Stacey and her husband, Bruce, at a book signing for her new book Brand Up: , on Saturday, April 1, at Scattered Bookstore in Chappaqua

Stacey Ross Cohen, head of Co-Communications and mom of two young adults, has poured decades of branding knowledge and experience into a book geared to teens in high school and college. She is confident, this ‘ultimate playbook’ can shape, bolster, and ensure futures near and far!

I started to browse through my now autographed copy of Brand Up: The Ultimate Playbook for College and Career Success in the Digital World (Publisher: Post Hill Press; Distribution: Simon & Schuster) and it is indeed teeming with concrete strategies and tools for gaining an edge in college admissions and career success. And P.S., any adult seeking personal branding knowledge would be wise to pick up a copy, too. The book is available at Scattered Books in Chappaqua and at major retailers.

At Saturday’s book signing at Scattered Books, following a warm reception from her (always adoring!) husband Bruce and dear friends coming and going on a drizzly morning, Stacey expressed her excitement over the book’s many possibilities including being translated into multiple languages. I have full confidence in Stacey’s plans and vision.

I’m also speaking from personal experience – and will let you in on a little secret – without Stacey Cohen’s vote of confidence and mentorship (back in 2002!), I honestly don’t know if I would have launched a first edition of Inside Chappaqua. She listened ever so carefully to my vision, offered her winning combination of breadth of knowledge, warmth, confidence building–plus directly hooked me up with others ‘you should really talk to’, which I did. After that, my go cart turned into a bullet train.  It was ‘women empowering women’ in action and at its best, and she has been cheering me on ever since. I’ll be cheering her on now too.

(L-R): Catherine Cioffi, Michelle Gregson, Stacey Ross Cohen and Jeanne Muchnick               Photo by Randi Childs
With Stacey Ross Cohen, from left: Linda Tyler, Grace Bennett and Dr. Ann Marie Evanko           Photo by Randi Childs

 

How ‘Bout That?

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Photo by Mia Brown

Age may be just a number, but the shelf life of a print publication these days is most decidedly not. It speaks volumes, and I am owning that! When I published a first edition in 2003, I was fully prepared for it to be a one-hit wonder. I let go of my fear and gave it the old college try. And then, lo and behold, it took hold, and I had more than enough sponsors to keep it going. And going, and going it positively did… and here I am, with a 20th year commemorative edition in print and online. Well, how ‘bout that?

Throughout the Inside Press journey, I have navigated and published (always delivering on time… a point of pride!) through different personal crises, and in these most recent years, a world crisis. I write this in fact with some long Covid symptoms unfortunately still plaguing me. Nothing too dire. Hopefully, that all clears up soon. I have my May/June issues to work on next after all!

Being a tad insecure, as well, I have always thought that any issue could be my last. Chalk that up to my being a child of Holocaust survivors. Maybe it’s hard for us to trust the universe entirely.

It didn’t matter that those closest to me would roll their eyes at all my angst. No one close to me ever believed me, not for a Chappaqua minute. I’m hand wringing less these days, I’m glad to report.

Fortunately, I’ve reached an age that if I went belly up, or bottom down, you know what? I’d be ok, too. More than ok. It might even be ‘a choice’ I make one day. A ‘Next Act’ could have its very own silver linings.  I expect I’ll be as excited for that one day as I was about launching a hyperlocal publishing company.

It’s a ‘good head space’ to be in, and a ‘Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” ‘tude is a terrific confidence builder (ask any Gone with the Wind fan). I would not have shared these most inner thoughts at the 10-year mark, but at my 20th, I do feel more free. I have earned that privilege, thank you very much.

No man or woman is an island, and that couldn’t be more true in publishing either. It’s fairly obvious that the real estate community is an enthusiastic supporter of the Inside Press, and I’m of course indebted to their collective generosity! A group of eminently kind testimonials from an interesting cross section of other businesses are also going to my head!  I’m hoping their words, occasionally shared, are an enticement for past advertisers to collaborate with me again, or for new ones to come knocking.

Finally, I couldn’t publish successfully without a group of contributor pros (their faces and bios are in each edition!).   https://www.theinsidepress.com/meet-the-inside-press-contributing-team/If my 20th year stands for anything, it’s for the considerable talent of our past, present and future creative ensemble!

For the Armonk edition, which turns 10 next year, (how ’bout that, too!) I engaged a great local talent, Illeana Baquero, to put her own spin on Spring.

In the Pleasantville & Briarcliff edition,  now in its third year, I chose to cover spotlight a prominent local author, Ben Cheever. After all, I’m celebrating the power of writing in many ways right now with these editions, too.

I hope you enjoy all the new ‘content’ online including some first time Advertiser Testimonials. https://www.theinsidepress.com/20-years-of-inside-press-what-makes-us-stand-out/I’m eternally grateful for the sponsor support, as without it, I couldn’t gather all the wonderful stories! Or pay my bills, but I digress. Aside from the 20th year drum roll, we’ve included compelling artist profiles, Maggie Mae love, sweet essays, spring-themed pieces (get your planters and hiking shoes ready!), an artists’ residency, and more. I would love your feedback too and your story ideas. If I’m known for anything, I hope it has been for my openness to you, dear reader, here, and beyond.

Ode to Chicken Soup: COVID, Be Gone

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Chicken soup saved me through a bout with COVID in December. I was a vaccinated, boosted COVID virgin who hadn’t experienced so much as a sniffle through this pandemic. All the vaccine precautions combined with masking and social distancing, and Empty Nest living, kept me safe, I’m certain. At some point however, COVID weary fatigue kicked in. I had begun to assume a distinct air of COVID invincibility, many of you know it, a sense of “Well, if it hasn’t got me yet, maybe I have a special immunity to it.” Then, boom, the alien virus, forever mutating (was it Delta, Alpha or Omicron that got me?) settled on a new unlucky host–me–following travel to Spain and Morocco to visit my son. I had made travel plans as soon as I could to visit my son abroad, shelving any lingering pandemic fears.

But I return to Chicken Soup. My main purpose in writing this is to confirm its reputation as ‘Jewish Penicillin’. In the immediate days following testing positive, I dreamed of cooking a great big batch, but admittedly I was too sick–with COVID striking from multiple ends of my compromised human being. This bug is still no joke, au contraire, and I’m not here to make light of it, truly, so I digress to add that no one on Facebook seemed particularly phased by my ‘I’m Sick with COVID’ announcement. The comments were soft and understated, of the ‘Feel Better!’ variety versus ‘OMG, Grace, we are praying for you!’–utterly unsatisfying! We have entered a period of the COVID blahs and blues versus the dire stage of everyone rushing to write their wills. I felt cheated of more angst-ridden responses.

Despite my COVID barely impressing anyone, I was duly concerned for myself as it peaked. I chatted with friends who still had a healthy respect for COVID’s wrath, and one friend loaned me her oximeter to track my oxygen level. It became a favorite past time! When a low fever kicked in, I also called my doc to ask him if I could die. I asked about PaxelIAmLivid (the I got COVID after being vaccinated and boosted drug). From his voice mail, I knew he would not be whipping out his prescription pad. “You’re a healthy older woman, not elderly, and without any underlying conditions. But if you want to discuss it, let me know.” A pause followed. “If it gets bad though, go to an emergency room.” Because clearly, he was not coming anywhere near me. I was on my own.

In the immediate aftermath of my breaking news, a couple dear friends brought over containers of Chicken Soup from local places (one wellness package included a bottle of red wine, which would come in handy). The donated soup, pretty good and much appreciated, was gone after a couple repeat episodes of Handmaid’s Tale. As any Jewish mother knows, I needed bottomless pots of my homemade broth to drown the sucker! I also didn’t want to die of COVID with a dipping portfolio exacerbated by food inflation, on account of too many soup deliveries. I plotted my chance to brew my own for totally indulgent personal consumption and for considerable cost savings too.

Finally, following a supermarket delivery of the key ingredients, I rolled up my pajama sleeves, and at long last, prepared my own personal Pot. I readied myself for continuous ingestion to surely zap this unwelcome invader.

Scrolling social media reels? Interrupted only by slurps of soup. Addressing emails after my away message went away? Great big bowl of soup. During episode 7 of Fleishman is in Trouble? Two big bowls. I desperately wanted Claire Danes to feel better, too, and would have loved to have shared some soup with her.

I am happy to report that my efforts were worthwhile. Chicken Soup soothed me, nurtured me, and I firmly believe fast forwarded my illness. Did it cure me? I’m not sure, as the aftermath of COVID has continued in the form of a chronic cough and chest congestion. Still, a firm believer that eventually My Soup will assume a final victory, I continue to whip up batches. In Chicken Soup, I trust. I am completely and unequivocally indebted to this miracle bird when it is infused with the healing ingredients from nature’s bounty.

My broth’s slurp worthy secrets were inspired in me, by my mother, and grandmother, and from generations of long-suffering ancestors who understood the value of a Chicken centuries before I ever did. The real COVID Buster in my story, however, was my own modern-day spin on Mom’s recipe–fistfuls of chopped garlic and ginger and mad dashes of turmeric, and a splash of that gifted red wine, too.

A few people have asked for the recipe. Apologies, but I am holding it hostage for a sizeable ransom. Still, if I’m deluged with letters asking, I’ll consider publishing it in the May/June edition. Or perhaps send your own favorite (& healing) soup recipe! Write to Grace@insidepress.com with the subject line: Ode to Chicken Soup.