The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

The Inside Press

Westchester County Launches $5 Million Business FIRST Grant Program for MWBEs, SDVOBs & DBEs

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Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs), Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Businesses (SDVOBs) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) impacted by COVID-19 pandemic encouraged to apply for grant funding

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY (September 19, 2022) – The Westchester County Office of Economic Development today launched a $5 Million round of Business FIRST Grant funding to support Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs), Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Businesses (SDVOBs) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications will be accepted online starting today and the application period will remain open for about four weeks.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises, Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Businesses and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises are important players in our local economy. They contribute to the diversity of our communities and, like many other businesses, have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are pleased to make relief funding available to these ventures, and help them both build back up and plan for a brighter future.”

Westchester County Director of Economic Development Bridget Gibbons said: “The financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local business community is pervasive. We are committed to helping our small business community, including MWBEs, SDVOBs and DBEs, rebound and grateful to have funding available to invest in their next chapters.”

Westchester County Director of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development and Immigrant Affairs Martha Lopez said: “This $5 million round of grant funding is an extension of the County’s commitment to minority and women-owned businesses. We are proud to provide professional development, business development and networking opportunities to these entities throughout the year and are thrilled to now be extending financial resources to aid in their economic recovery.”

Westchester County Business FIRST: Financial Investments for Recovery and a Sustainable Tomorrow provides immediate financial relief to organizations in Westchester County that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. This round of funding will provide qualifying MWBEs, SDVOBs, and DBEs with grants of up to $45,000. Grants will be provided on a reimbursable basis only and recipients must provide receipts to Community Capital before any funds will be disbursed. Those organizations needing help in completing their applications can email our partner Charlene Nixon, President and CEO of the Westchester Multicultural Chamber, to receive assistance at:  businessfirst@wmccnys.org.

To be eligible, the organization’s primary location must be in Westchester County. The organization must be currently open with plans to stay open, or temporarily closed with plans to reopen in 2022. To be eligible, MWBEs must be Registered with the County’s MWBE program or Certified by the New York State Division of Minority and Women’s Business, SDVOBs must be Certified by New York State as a Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Businesses (SDVOB) and DBEs must be Certified by a Certifying Partner in the New York State Unified Certification Program (NYSUCP).

Organizations who received funding from the federal government through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) are eligible to apply but the use of the 2022 Business FIRST grant funds should not duplicate purposes. Organizations who received a Business FIRST Grant in 2020 or 2021 from Westchester County are not eligible for this grant opportunity, nor are organizations who received a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant from the SBA.

The Westchester County Business FIRST grant program is being administered by the Westchester County Office of Economic Development through the American Rescue Plan.

 

For more information on the application process, visit https://westchestercatalyst.com/business-first-programs/grants/.

 

About Westchester County Business FIRST

Westchester County Business FIRST: Financial Investments for Recovery and a Sustainable Tomorrow is a grant program designed to offer immediate financial relief to small businesses and nonprofits in Westchester County that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The Westchester County Office of Economic Development works to improve the County’s economic well-being and quality of life.  This includes a broad range of activities to attract, create and retain jobs, and to foster a resilient, pro-growth and inclusive economy. For information, visit https://westchestercatalyst.com/. 

 

News Courtesy of the Westchester County Office of Economic Development

 

Come Fall in Love with this Season’s Fantastic Films and Events at the Jacob Burns Film Center

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E.T. The Extra Terrestrial photo courtesy Universal Pictures iMordecai photo courtesy Greenwich Entertainment Karaoke photo courtesy Greenwich Entertainment Moonage Daydream photo courtesy Neon See How They Run photo courtesy Searchlight Pictures The Silent Twins photo courtesy Focus Feature

The JBFC’s compelling fall schedule offers scintillating special events and the return of fan-favorite series, including Q&As with casting director/filmmaker Jennifer Venditti, Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) alumni, activists, and local filmmakers; a 100th anniversary screening of Nosferatu with live piano accompaniment; a haunting Halloween triple feature; the return of our beloved Jewish Film Festival; a Sidney Poitier retrospective; live broadcasts of stage shows; highly-anticipated new releases; and more.

Pleasantville, NY – Sept. 12, 2022 – The Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) announced today a variety of unique, compelling, and one-of-a-kind events, series, and screenings for fall 2022. With special events and thought-provoking Q&As featuring filmmakers, politicians, activists, and more, there’s something for everyone to see this season at the JBFC!

Special Events with In-Person Guests and Limited Engagements Include:

Join us for an engaging evening of conversation and clips highlighting the prolific work of acclaimed casting director and filmmaker Jennifer Venditti. In both her casting and filmmaking (Billy the Kid), her work recognizes the extraordinary in the ordinary, confronting stereotypes and broadening our ideas of beauty and our understanding of what it means to be human.  She is known for casting non actors for acting roles. Venditti has cast such film and TV projects as Euphoria, where she has been nominated for an Emmy, C’Mon C’Mon, Uncut Gems, Good Time, and American Honey, among many others.

  • 19 at 7 p.m.: God’s Creatures screening and Q&A with filmmaker Saela Davis & Anna Rose Holmer

In a windswept fishing village, a mother is torn between protecting her beloved son and her own sense of right and wrong. A lie she tells for him rips apart their family and close-knit community in this tense, sweepingly emotional epic.

  • 22 at 7 p.m.: Coast screening, live musical performance with Hannah Kenny of Black Match, and Q&A with director Jessica Hester, producers Dani Faith Leonard & Sonya Lunsford, and Coast actors Mia Frampton & Mia Xitlali

Desperate to escape the trappings of her small coastal farming town, 16-year-old Abby falls for the lead singer of a touring rock band and must decide whether or not to leave her family and friends behind. With live music performances and an exciting ensemble cast, Coast is about female friendships, finding your truth and letting the music take you home. Presented in partnership with River Towns Music Group. Community partner Hudson Roots.

Dramatic Escape, a feature-length documentary, transports viewers into the lives of a group of incarcerated men at a maximum-security prison who are attempting to mount a behind-bars stage production of A Few Good Men at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York. Tracing the journey from auditions through curtain call, viewers witness the development of these men as individuals and as an ensemble. Personal stories and candid accounts of the crimes that landed them in prison are interwoven with everyday struggles and philosophical considerations of the nature of redemption. RTA helps people in prison develop critical life skills through the arts, modeling an approach to the justice system based on human dignity rather than punishment. At this special screening and reception, we’ll be joined by nearly 20 men who were featured in the documentary and have since been released.

This film is part of JBFC Series Community Matters: Now More Than Ever, and is presented in partnership with RTA with support from ArtsWestchester. Community partner Hudson Roots.

  • 21 at 7 p.m.: Halloween Triple Feature

Join us for a triple feature full of thrills and chills, as A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, The Babadook, and Titane round out this mini-marathon highlighting horror flicks from women filmmakers.

Just in time for Halloween, catch the silent horror classic Nosferatu–now celebrating its 100th anniversary–an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, crafted by legendary German director F. W. Murnau (Sunrise, Faust, The Last Laugh). Featuring live piano accompaniment by Ben Model.

Join us for a lively conversation about the status of women in journalism – back in Elsie Robinson’s time (1920s-1950s), and today. Allison Gilbert, whose new book is the first biography of Hearst nationally syndicated newspaper columnist Elsie Robinson, will be joined by Lisa Belkin, former columnist for The New York Times, and Pamela Paul, The New York Times Opinion columnist and former editor of The New York Times Book Review. Before the discussion, enjoy the 1940 classic His Girl Friday, a rapid-fire screwball comedy featuring reporter Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell) who spars with her ex-husband and editor (Cary Grant).

Highly Anticipated New Releases Include:

Básculas Blanco, a Spanish company producing industrial scales in a provincial Spanish town awaits the imminent visit from a committee which holds its fate in their hands as to whether they merit a local Business Excellence award: everything has to be perfect when the time comes. Working against the clock, the company’s proprietor, Blanco (Javier Bardem) pulls out all the stops to address and resolve issues with his employees, crossing every imaginable line in the process. Spain’s Official Submission to the 94th Academy Awards.

In the aftermath of a huge scandal, Trinitie Childs (Regina Hall), the first lady of a prominent Southern Baptist Mega Church, attempts to help her pastor-husband, Lee-Curtis Childs (Sterling K. Brown), rebuild their congregation.

In the West End of 1950s London, plans for a movie version of a smash-hit play come to an abrupt halt after a pivotal member of the crew is murdered. Starring Sam Rockwell, Adrien Brody, and Saoirse Ronan.

The Silent Twins is the astounding true story of twin sisters who only communicated with one another. As a result, they created a rich, fascinating world to escape the reality of their own lives. Based on the best-selling book The Silent Twins, the film stars Letitia Wright (Black Panther) and Tamara Lawrance (Kindred).

Told through sublime, kaleidoscopic, never-before-seen footage, performances, and music, Brett Morgen’s (The Kid Stays in the Picture, Cobain: Montage of Heck, Jane) feature-length experiential cinematic odyssey explores David Bowie’s creative, musical and spiritual journey. The film is guided by David Bowie’s own narration and is the first officially sanctioned film on the artist.

  • Sept. 23: Don’t Worry Darling

A 1950s housewife living with her husband in a utopian experimental community begins to worry that his glamorous company may be hiding disturbing secrets.

  • Oct. 21: Tár

From producer-writer-director Todd Field comes Tár, starring Cate Blanchett as the iconic musician Lydia Tár. Tár examines the changing nature of power, its impact and durability in our modern world.

 

Other Highlights of the Fall Schedule Include:

We are thrilled to present the 21st annual Jewish Film Festival, returning for in-person screenings this October! This year’s selection includes more than two dozen entertaining, thought-provoking, mesmerizing, and often humorous films, including narratives and documentaries from Israel, the US, and around the world. JBFC member pre-sale opens Tuesday, Sept. 13 at noon; tickets go on sale to the general public Tuesday, Sept. 20 at noon. This festival is sponsored by AJC Westchester/Fairfield, Roberta and Joseph Rosenblum, Elisabeth and Gary Schonfeld, Anonymous, Nadia and Bob Bernstein, Bonnie Gale, and Kauff McGuire & Margolis LLP.

Don’t miss this exciting retrospective of Hollywood icon Sidney Poitier’s most celebrated films. From popular classics to lesser-known gems, this series reflects the full range of Poitier’s dynamic on-screen persona as well as his immense skill behind the camera. Thoughtfully curated by Professor of Film at Vassar College and noted Poitier scholar Mia Mask, we hope this brief dive into Poitier’s work will delight long-time admirers and convert new fans.

Films Include: Paris Blues (Oct. 23), A Raisin in the Sun (Oct. 24), Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Oct. 26), To Sir, with Love (Oct. 26), Buck and the Preacher (Oct. 27), and A Warm December (Oct. 28).
To Sidney, with Love screens as part of JBFC Series REMIX: The Black Experience in Film, Media, and Art. This series is presented with generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts and ArtsWestchester.

 

The Following Fan Favorites Return this Fall:

Nov. 10, 2022–Jan. 12, 2023

Films Include Three Productions from National Theatre Live: Jack Absolute Flies Again (Nov. 10), Emilia Clarke’s (Game of Thrones) West End debut in a 21st-century retelling of Chekhov’s The Seagull (Dec. 8), and acclaimed director Simon Godwin’s return to Shakespeare with Much Ado About Nothing (Jan. 12).

World Stage on Screen brings the best of international theater and fine arts programming to the silver screen. This series is sponsored by The Knolls–A Bethel Community.

 

Sept. 17–Nov. 19, 2022

Films Include: An American Tail (Sept. 17), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Oct. 22) and Charlotte’s Web (Nov. 19).

JBFC Kids is designed to deepen the experience of viewers ages 3–13 (and their families) and welcome a new generation of cinema-lovers and media-makers into our community. JBFC Kids is presented in partnership with the Westchester Library System. 

 

Sept. 28–Dec. 21, 2022

Films Include: Love with the Proper Stranger (Sept. 28), My Man Godfrey (Oct. 24), Ball of Fire (Nov. 30), and What’s Up, Doc? (Dec. 21).

Senior Afternoon Cinema is a year-round matinee series, featuring outstanding repertory films programmed to appeal to senior moviegoers. This series is sponsored by The Knolls–A Bethel Community.

At Open Caption screenings, the film’s dialogue appears directly on the screen as would subtitles for a foreign-language film. The JBFC is working to expand the accessibility of our programming lineup for our patrons with hearing loss, and presently offers at least one Open-Captioned matinee every Wednesday and Sunday.

Until further notice, JBFC is offering Masked Matinees for the first screenings of the day on Sundays and Mondays until further notice. While in the building, staff and customers will be required to wear masks unless enjoying concessions while seated. Other than the Masked Matinees, masks are recommended but not required.

For more information, visit burnsfilmcenter.org, FB: @JacobBurnsFilmCenter, Twitter: @JBFC_ny and Instagram: @JBFC_pville. 

 

The Jacob Burns Film Center is a nonprofit arts and education hub located on a three-building campus in the New York Metro area. The JBFC brings the transformative power of film to the surrounding community through unique programming and discussion, support for working artists, and educational initiatives. Since opening in 2001, millions of people have enjoyed the best of current American and foreign cinema, unique film series, and special events at the five-screen theater complex. A pioneer in visual literacy, the JBFC offers educational experiences for students of all ages at our state-of-the-art Media Arts Lab, including curricula for public schools. Creative Culture offers robust filmmaker fellowships and residencies to champion diverse voices, and fosters a community of thriving artists.

Fall Offering News Courtesy of the Jacob Burns Film Center

JazzFest White Plains Launches with Free Performances!

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Headliners include the Joey Alexander Trio; the Buster Williams Quartet “Something More”; Grace Kelly and Ragan Whiteside

I’RO & The Afro Latin Exchange perform at the White Plains Farmers Market on September 14, 2022 on the first day of JazzFest White Plains, which runs through Sunday.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (September 14, 2022) – JazzFest White Plains began its five-day run Wednesday with a free performance by I’RO & The Afro Latin Exchange.

The concert at the White Plains Farmer’s Market was the first of three free noon weekday concerts that will occur this week in downtown White Plains. The festival will conclude on Sunday with a free, six-hour Jazz & Food Festival on Mamaroneck Avenue between Main Street and Martine Ave.

This year’s headliners include the Joey Alexander Trio; the Buster Williams Quartet “Something More”; Grace Kelly and Ragan Whiteside and Friends. Free and ticketed performances will occur on downtown streets and in venues that include ArtsWestchester, Grace Episcopal Church and the White Plains Public Library.

“Since its origins in late-19th-century New Orleans’ Black communities, jazz has been a wellspring of new ideas in American culture, and it has inspired musicians around the world,” said Janet Langsam, ArtsWestchester’s CEO. “JazzFest celebrates this genre’s glorious history of innovation while showcasing the exciting artists of today for glimpses of jazz’s future direction.”

Other notable artists scheduled to perform at the 2022 JazzFest White Plains are: Miki Hayama and Richie Goods, the Albert Rivera Quintet, the Carlos Jimenez Mambo Sextet, the G. Thomas Allen Quartet and more.

The eleventh-annual JazzFest White Plains is produced by ArtsWestchester, the City of White Plains and the White Plains Business Improvement District.

For a full festival schedule and to purchase advanced tickets, visit artsw.org/jazzfest.

About ArtsWestchester

For over 50 years ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest private not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership vision and support to ensure the availability accessibility and diversity of the arts. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998 ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue.

News Courtesy of JazzFest and ArtsWestchester

Northern Westchester Hospital Foundation Board of Directors Appoints Four New Members

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The Northern Westchester Hospital Foundation has appointed 4 new board members. From left to right, Carl D. Reimers, MD, FACC, FSCAI; Pamela Hervey; Barbara Alpert, MD, PhD, FACP; Amanda L. Messina, MD, FACS will all serve three-year terms. Photo credit: Northwell Health

MOUNT KISCO, NY – The Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) Foundation announced today that Barbara Alpert, MD, PhD, FACP; Pamela Hervey; Amanda L. Messina, MD, FACS; and Carl D. Reimers, MD, FACC, FSCAI, have been appointed as board members. The mission of these volunteer leaders is to serve as hospital ambassadors for the community and to provide advice on fundraising strategies for the hospital, which is part of the nonprofit health system Northwell Health.

“We are thrilled to have Drs. Alpert, Messina and Reimers and Ms. Hervey join our already amazing group of foundation board volunteers,” said Keeva Young-Wright, associate executive director of NWH and president of the NWH Foundation. “These four mission-driven leaders have longstanding relationships with the hospital and, as Foundation board members, will provide great insight to fundraising initiatives that advance patient programs, lifesaving equipment and technology, and capital improvements.”

All new members will serve three-year terms. Dr. Alpert, an internist specializing in adult internal medicine at Optum Care, formerly CareMount Medical, has served since 2013 on the NWH President’s Council, an advisory board designed to help the hospital address community needs, and said she is excited about her new role.

“I am very enthusiastic about this opportunity to serve the community through participation on the NWH Foundation Board,” said Dr. Alpert. “Our hospital is singularly focused and uniquely positioned to address the medical and emotional needs of all residents of our community, and I am honored to contribute to this endeavor.”

Ms. Hervey is a longtime philanthropist, devoting her time and resources to many local organizations including the Westchester Land Trust, John Jay Homestead, the Community Center of Northern Westchester, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, and Friends of Karen, where she served as board president.

“My passion for improving the lives of others, especially within the community I live, has been paramount to me throughout my life,” said Ms. Hervey, who remains on the board of Friends of Karen, a nonprofit that provides support to families across the tri-state area with a child facing life-threatening illness. “I have no doubt that my skills in finance, strategic management, and governance will help Northern Westchester Hospital achieve its goal to improve the wellbeing of the community.”

Dr. Messina, the chief of general surgery and a bariatric surgeon at NWH, brings an extensive background in leadership to the board. She serves on several oversight committees, providing strategy and development insight to maintain top-quality care and patient safety at the hospital.

“My training to continuously improve my skills as a surgeon perfectly prepares me to support the mission of the Northern Westchester Hospital Foundation board to improve the quality of care patients receive at this amazing hospital,” said Dr. Messina, who is also part of Optum Care. “I am privileged and eager to add impact to this board’s mission.”

Dr. Reimers, director of the cardiac catheterization lab, brings 27 years of experience as a board-certified cardiologist and interventional cardiologist. The catheterization lab is part of the Seema Boesky Heart Center at NWH, an extension of the renowned cardiac catheterization program at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, which consistently earned national distinction under his leadership. 

“In my career I have never found a place as unique and special as Northern Westchester Hospital,” said Dr. Reimers. “The team spirit, quality of patient care as well as patient experience are exceptional here. It is an honor to become a Foundation board member and to have a role in the ongoing success of this hospital.”

For more information on Norther Westchester Hospital and the Foundation, visit https://give.northwell.edu/northern-westchester-hospital.

News courtesy of Northern Westchester Hospital.

 

‘Choices: A Rock Opera’ Coming to the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center November 11, 12 & 13

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Following three OVERSOLD premiere performances at Whippoorwill Hall in Westchester County, NY, the creative team of Choices: A Rock Opera went back to the drawing board to improve the show wherever necessary. After meeting with several focus groups that included dozens of people with mixed theatrical backgrounds, ranging from casual theatergoers to Tony-Award winning producers and directors, it was determined by Choices creator John Krupa to “go deeper” with the show’s next performances at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on November 11, 12 and 13.

“The goal of the new shows is to explore the storyline, characters, emotions, reactions, and all interpersonal relationships to a deeper degree,” states Krupa.  To help achieve this, there is a new focus on acting, with a concentration on character motivation. In the prior performances, acting was secondary to singing and blocking. 

The storyline has been given greater depth by adding six brand new songs that provides more backstory and better explains certain elements of the storyline.  The show has even been working with a licensed therapist to help better understand why the characters might do what they do.

“In the first shows, we purposely left a lot to the interpretation of the viewer. In response, viewers suggested that we provide them a little more information about the characters and the storyline, to help them see things more clearly.  We were happy to oblige.” Krupa says the changes made “give more clarity to important elements of the plot, illuminating reasons why a character acts a certain way or interacts with another character in a certain way.  These changes do not change the storyline at all, but merely enhance it.”

Choices: A Rock Opera tells the story of a journey through life of a lead singer in a 1980’s “hair band”.  His journey is universal in the way that with each twist and turn he must make choices as to which path to take, knowing that all paths lead forward, and you can’t do-over your past.  With the changes made for the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center shows on November 11 & 12, viewers will have a deeper understanding of who this person is and why he makes the choices he does.  Choices is Broadway bound, and these Westchester shows (Westchester County, NY is home to the show’s creative team) are critical to the development of the story, and the show overall.

Tickets are on sale now for the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center November 11 & 12 shows at www.choicesarockopera.com. Check out that site for additional information on the show and to buy show merchandise.  See you at the next shows!