The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

The Inside Press

Helping People in Need – A Panel Discussion

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Local Action Global Outreach

The Chappaqua Library and the Chappaqua Interfaith Council will jointly present a panel discussion “Helping People in Need” on Wednesday, February 25 at 7 p.m. at the Chappaqua Library. Panel members include representatives from Volunteer N.Y., Infinite Family, Neighbors Link, Open Door Family Medical Center and other nonprofits in the Northern Westchester area. The Rev. Dr. Martha Jacobs, Senior Minister of First Congregational Church of Chappaqua, will moderate a discussion about the needs and opportunities for volunteers in our community. There is no charge to attend.

Prior to the panel discussion, St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church will host a Finger Food Potluck. This event will be in its community hall (191 South Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua) next to the library beginning at 5:30 PM. Please join us for this free event and bring finger food to share.

Leigh Pezet, Pastor of the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer and President of the Chappaqua Interfaith Council, stated that bringing attention to the organizations struggling to support the needs in our communities is of great importance. “We need to lift up these efforts and support the services these entities provide to the neediest among us,” he said.

The panel discussion is part of a series of events under the heading of “Local Action, Global Outreach,” focusing on social awareness and a move towards activism. The next event will be a book discussion on A School for My Village, by Twesigye Jackson Kaguri. It will be at the Chappaqua Library on Wednesday March 4 at 7 PM. The book details the author’s efforts in Uganda to found a school and the Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project, which aims to end systemic deprivation, poverty, and hunger through a holistic approach to community development, education, and healthcare. Mr. Kaguri‘s transformation of personal loss (several of his family members contracted AIDS) into hopeful action illustrates how one person can make a difference. The book will be available for sale at the panel discussion on Feb. 25 and at the library. This program is also free and open to all.

In addition, Making A Difference in March is an opportunity for everyone in our community to reach out to help others. Our goal is a Caring Community, an ongoing ethic to look out for each other in little and big ways, daily. You might bring lunch to a sick neighbor, volunteer to help a non-profit or surprise someone with cookies or freshly baked bread. Maybe shovel a neighbor’s walkway after a recent snowfall. Or pay for coffee for the next person in line. Let your imagination be your guide…. something to help others every day.

That effort also includes volunteering at local schools. Dr. Lyn McKay, Superintendent of the Chappaqua School says: “Our residents continually and enthusiastically donate their time, talents and expertise to partner with Chappaqua Schools in preparing students to be caring, active, productive, and responsible citizens in a 21st-century democratic society. This partnership is essential to students’ success.”

“Here in New Castle, we are blessed with a strong sense of community,” adds town supervisor Rob Greenstein. “There are countless heart-warming examples of helping those less fortunate than ourselves. Whether donating time, money or just looking out for en elderly neighbor, giving back is a way of life here. We are lucky to live in such a close and caring community.”

For more information about the events, please contact the Chappaqua Library at 914-238-4779.

Chappaqua Library presents French-American Musical Exchange

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Christopher Brellochs
Christopher Brellochs
Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 3 pm
Chappaqua Library Auditorium
195 South Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua, NY

A French-American Musical Exchange brings French saxophonists Nicolas Prost and Anne Lecapelain to the United States for a collaboration with American saxophonist Christopher Brellochs and pianist Cynthia Peterson featuring music by Debussy, Ibert, and Milhaud.

Suggested donation $10

Harvey Presents: Tony Award-Winning Actor and Playwright Harvey Fierstein

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Harvey Fierstein
Harvey Fierstein
Four-time Tony Award-winning actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein will appear next month as part of the community program series Harvey Presents, The Harvey School announced today. Fierstein, perhaps best known for writing the Broadway play “Torch Song Trilogy” and starring in the lead role, will appear at Harvey’s Walker Center for the Arts Friday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. He will be interviewed by special guest host, acclaimed film and theater critic Pat Collins.

Tickets for Harvey Presents: An Evening with Harvey Fierstein are on sale now. Admission is $40 for adults, $25 for students. Students must produce a valid school photo ID at the door. Seating is limited.

Order tickets online or call (914) 232-3161 ext. 161 for more information.

Bios on Fierstein and Collins

Fierstein spent 10 years acting in off-Broadway plays before his “Torch Song Trilogy” made it to Broadway in 1982 where it won the Best Play Tony Award as well as Drama Desk, Obie and Dramatist Guild awards. Fierstein also won Tony, Drama Desk, and Theater World acting awards for his portrayal of the lead.

Fierstein won his third Tony for the libretto of the musical “La Cage Aux Folles,” and his starring role as Edna in the musical “Hairspray” earned him a fourth Tony Award. He is the first person in history to win Tonys as an actor as well as a writer on both the dramatic and musical sides of the theater world.

His other acclaimed plays include current Broadway hit, the 2013 Best Musical “Kinky Boots” (Tony nominated for Best Book), “Newsies” (Tony nominated for Best Book), “A Catered Affair” (Drama League winner Outstanding Musical of the Year) and “Casa Valentina” (Tony nominated for Best Play).
In addition to serving as a social and political commentator with opinion pieces and essays featured on the TV series “In the Life,” and on the Op-Ed pages of The New York Times and Huffington Post, Fierstein has appeared in several films and TV shows. Fans remember him from his role in “Mrs. Doubtfire” playing the brother of Robin Williams’ character. He also appeared in “Independence Day,” “Death to Smoochy,” “Bullets Over Broadway” and the Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning documentary, “The Times of Harvey Milk.” He narrated the documentary and won a News & Documentary Emmy Award.

Young people might know Fierstein from reading his children’s book, “The Sissy Duckling” and seeing the HBO film version which won him the Humanitas Prize. He lent his distinctive voice to the character of Yao in Disney’s animated feature “Mulan,” a role he later reprised for the video game Kingdom Hearts II and the direct-to-DVD sequel “Mulan II.”

Inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 2008, the Ridgefield resident returned to the stage in the 2011 Broadway revival of “La Cage Aux Folles,” playing the lead of Albin for the first time.

Pat Collins, an Emmy Award-winning critic, has enjoyed a long friendship with Harvey Fierstein. They co-hosted a syndicated Tony special last year. Collins won Emmys for the Pat Collins Show and as a member of the news team at WCBS TV where she served as its film and theater critic. Subsequently, she covered entertainment news for Good Morning America and The CBS Morning News. At WWOR-TV, Collins hosted a number of behind the scenes Broadway specials in addition to reviewing film and theater for the “10 O’Clock News.” Collins has hosted several specials for CUNY TV including “Kinky Boots: The Road To Broadway,” a three-part series on independent films, and a special marking the 50th anniversary of “Fiddler On The Roof.”

Collins serves as the president of The Joe Raposo Music Group which administers the catalogue of compositions of her late husband Joe Raposo, a co-creator of “Sesame Street” and its longtime musical director. Pat and her husband William Sarnoff live in Bedford.

Kids with Cabin Fever? Come Visit Byram Hill’s Winter Family Festival

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Now in its eighth year, the Byram Hills Pre-School Association is holding its Winter Family Festival this Sunday, February 8th from 11 am-3 pm at Coman Hill Elementary. Featuring a non-stop line-up of live entertainment, kids and can enjoy some of the best family-friendly entertainment in Westchester: Bob the Guitar Guy, BH HS a cappella group, The Kidville Rockin’ Railroad Band, Armonk Dance and a DJ for dancing! After taking in some music, kids can let off steam in the bouncy houses. A dedicated house for toddlers and one for big kids each supervised by monitors to help keep it sane and safe! Arrive early to get in line for the popular face painters.

Come hungry and take a lunch break or dessert treat — courtesy of favorite local vendors such as DeCiccos, Broadway Pizza and Beascakes! Once the little ones have recharged, they can tackle Valentine’s Day crafts provided by Mini-Monet or at the art and sensory table presented by Bright Horizons at Timber Ridge.

Date/Time: Sunday, February 8th from 11 a.m – 3 p.m.
Location: Coman Hill Elementary, 558 Bedford Road, Armonk, NY 10504

This is a non-profit fundraiser for the charities and community activities supported by the Byram Hills Pre-School Association.
Entertainment lineup:
11a.m.: Bob the Guitar Guy
Noon: Byram Hills High School A Cappella Group
12:30 p.m.: Kidville Rockin Railroad Band
1 p.m: Armonk Dance
2 p.m.: DJ

Bouncy Houses and DJ All Day!

WFF-2015-Flyer

Chappaqua Parents Join Montefiore Efforts to Battle Epilepsy

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A Wine Tasting Benefit was recently held at Le Chateau in South Salem to support the Epilepsy Research Fund (ERF) of The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. Tiki Barber, former New York Giant and co-host of The Morning Show, CBS Sports Radio, was the special guest. This event was organized by Chappaqua parents whose children suffer from epilepsy. The funds raised go toward finding a cure for epilepsy, a condition that affects over 50 million people worldwide. One in 100 people have epilepsy and it is more common than autism. It has many forms and can affect any age, although it’s mostly apparent in children and seniors over age 70.

The ERF is led by Dr. Solomon Moshé, also a Chappaqua resident and vice chair of Neurology and director of Pediatric Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology at Montefiore Medical Center. Treating children with epilepsy is a team effort and includes many dedicated professionals who manage their front-line care.

(l-r): Dr. Solomon Moshe of Chappaqua, Abbe Goldstein of Chappaqua, Joshua Lurie, Tiki Barber, Laurie Marsh and Dan Levitz
(l-r): Dr. Solomon Moshe of Chappaqua, Abbe Goldstein of Chappaqua, Joshua Lurie,
Tiki Barber, Laurie Marsh and Dan Levitz