The Inside Press, Author at Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk: The Magazines for New and North Castle

Walk & Family Fun Day at the Ronald McDonald House

July 30, 2018 by The Inside Press

Sunday, September 30, 2018: 4th Annual Dylan J. Hoffman Memorial Walk & Family Fun Day

VALHALLA, NY– Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley will host the 4th Annual Dylan J. Hoffman Memorial Walk & Family Fun Day on Sunday, September 30, 2018. The event will benefit critically ill children and their families in the Hudson Valley.

Dylan lived a short life, but his memory and spirit are alive and well. This event hosted by the House in conjunction with the Hoffman Family of Wilton, CT, will celebrate his life and the thousands of families who have stayed at the Ronald McDonald House since 2011 when it was opened.

The Walk will be led by 6-year old Grand Marshall Liam Flanagan of Wingdale, NY in Dutchess County and Ronald McDonald. Participants will leisurely stroll around the campus of the Westchester Medical Center – approximately a 1.2 mile lap. After the walk, families and friends can enjoy activities including Wacky Inflatables Bounce Houses, the Bubble Bus, Teatown Lake Reservation’s Birds of Prey, BASF Slime Tent, music by DJ Johnny G and a BBQ by the Yonkers Fire Department.

What: 4th Annual Dylan J. Hoffman Memorial Walk & Family Fun Day
When: Sunday, September 30, 2018
Where: Ronald McDonald House, 80 Woods Road, Valhalla, NY 10595 on the campus of the Westchester Medical Center
Time: Registration and Warm-Up: 11 a.m.; Walk: 11:30 a.m.
Donation: $30/family

Sponsor: Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley

Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley gives families with critically ill and traumatically injured children the gift of togetherness and keeps them close to the care and resources they need. The House has 12 bedrooms that are filled to capacity almost every night and we provide meals, laundry and respite services for our families. Located on the campus of the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY, the House is just steps away from the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. Since it opened in 2011, more than 1,500 families have stayed at the Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley.

For more information about individual, corporate and foundation support, registration or to create a team, visit rmh-ghv.org or call 914 493-6455.

Armonk Chamber’s Third Thursday Circus, and more! AUGUST 16

July 30, 2018 by The Inside Press

Back with its last hurrah of the summer, the Armonk Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring its August 16th “Third Thursday” event in Downtown Armonk from 5-8:30pm, with Westchester Circus Arts as the special guest. There will be spectacular, sky-high aerial performances throughout the evening, plus high-wire acts, jugglers and more. Visitors will be able to channel their inner acrobat with hand-on activities. Local businesses will be offering face painting and refreshments, as well as more children’s activities in Armonk Square. Armonk restaurants and eateries will be in on the festivities, offering specials throughout the evening.

As always, the event will feature two live bands: Bedford’s School of Rock (5-6:30pm) and Vinyl Countdown (6:30-8:30pm).

Next up on the Chamber’s agenda is the 2018 Cider and Donut Festival on Sunday, September 23^rd, featuring the 5k Run for Love and Byram Hills Pre-School Association Carnival. Children’s races start at 9:15 (donut dash), followed at 9:25 by the McIntosh Mile and then at 9:45 by the 5k run/walk. The festival begins at 10am and continues until 2pm with carnival rides, face painting, craft activities, pie eating contest, donut fishing and more. Of course, Beascakes Bakery will be there serving up hot, fresh donuts, and we will have farm-fresh apple cider as well. Local businesses will provide more food, including the Granola Bar Truck, Fortina Pizza Truck, Tauk kitchen with burgers, hot dogs and cotton candy. Classic rock music will feature the fabulous Vinyl Countdown band.

Visit armonkchamberofcommerce.com for race registration and more details.

Please visit the Inside Press coverage of this amazing event from last year too: https://www.theinsidepress.com/final-third-thursdays-aerial-extravaganza-dazzles-armonk-community/

Winners and Finalists in Music Conservatory ‘Colors of Music’ Mural Art Contest!

June 18, 2018 by The Inside Press

‘COLORS OF MUSIC’ STUDENT MURAL CONTEST WINNERS!

Local Student Artwork to Be Painted As Community Mural in White Plains

White Plains, NY– The Music Conservatory of Westchester is proud to announce that both Mya Madison Davis, 9^th grader at Pelham Memorial High School, and Ciara Sergi, 9^th grader at White Plains High School, are winners of the “Colors of Music” Student Mural Contest! Additional finalists were Emma Farley, of New Rochelle, grade 7, Albert Leonard Middle Schoo and Lucy Schwartzreich, of Chappaqua, grade 11, Horace Greeley High School.

Numerous entries were submitted by middle and high school students around Westchester County with the hope that their artwork would be chosen as the basis for a mural to be painted on the Music Conservatory of Westchester’s building on Central Avenue in White Plains. Four finalists were selected by an adjudication panel of art experts and creative community leaders from New York City and Westchester County.

In a tie, based on scores from all eight members of the adjudication panel, both Mya Madison Davis and Ciara Sergi were chosen as winners of the contest. They will collaborate with professional mural artist, Jonathan Villoch, to adapt their winning designs as a large-scale mural representing the theme of “Multi-Cultural Music.” Runners-up in the contest, Emma Farley of New Rochelle, 7^th grader at Albert Leonard Middle School and Lucy Schwartzreich, of Chappaqua, 11^th grader at Horace Greely High School will attend a mural art workshop over the summer with all four finalists. A new mural will be developed based on the winners’ designs under Jonathan Villoch’s guidance.

“Giving and getting feedback is so important to collaboration and having an open dialogue is essential for artists to communicate productively on any project,” Mr. Villoch said of this once-in-a-lifetime artistic experience.

Finalists in the contest are (in alphabetical order by last name):

Mya Madison Davis, of Pelham, grade 9, Pelham Memorial High School
Emma Farley, of New Rochelle, grade 7, Albert Leonard Middle School
Lucy Schwartzreich, of Chappaqua, grade 11, Horace Greeley High School
Ciara Sergi, of White Plains, grade 9, White Plains High School

Mya Madison Davis described her winning contest submission titled “Rainbow Rhapsody” as, “The bright colors represent diversity of people. The instruments I used are from all over the world. For example, I included a Djembe which is a drum from Africa. I also included a pan flute which originates from Colombia. I also depicted instruments that would not usually go together like a piano and an electric guitar. An important part of my painting is the silhouette of the conductor’s arms because it shows everyone from all different cultural backgrounds coming together, united in one harmony, all with a common goal.”

Ciara Sergi described her worldly entry titled “Musical Pangea”: I drew the characteristic instruments from each of the continents as a product of their traditional culture, and used their instruments to depict each continent.”

The Music Conservatory of Westchester thanks all of the talented student artist entrants in the “Colors of Music” Student Mural Contest for their exceptional creative ideas, colors, mediums, and musical and multi-cultural elements that were demonstrated to illustrate the theme.

“Each artist brought his or her creative point of view. Some artists were quite literal in their interpretation; others took the theme to another level of graphic abstraction and conceptualization,” Lynn Honeysett, former Executive Director of the Pelham Art Center said of the art entries submitted by local students for the contest. “I appreciated that all the student artists brought heart and soul to their work.”

Submissions for the “Colors of Music” Student Mural Contest, supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, were judged in two rounds by eight panelists with art expertise as well as Westchester County community leaders:

Margaret Adasko, Curator of Education, Katonah Museum of Art
Samantha De Tillio, Assistant Curator, Museum of Arts and Design
Michael Dweck, Treasurer and Board Trustee, Museum of Arts and Design
Jimmy Fink, Radio Personality and Producer at 107.1 The Peak
Lynn Honeysett, Former Executive Director of the Pelham Art Center
Kimberlyn V. McKoy, Gallery Associate, ArtsWestchester
Amy R. Paulin, Assemblymember for the 88^th District
Jonathan Villoch, Professional Mural Artist, Collaborating Artist for “Colors of Music” Student Mural Contest

Conservatory Executive Director Jean Newton said, “We are very excited to unveil the finished mural, celebrate and share it with the entire community. Music and art brings people together in a way that nothing else can.”

The Music Conservatory of Westchester will celebrate the unveiling of the final mural on Sunday, September 30^th, 2018 with a block party on the Conservatory’s grounds. The entire community is invited to enjoy live music, food trucks, and family fun! The Conservatory encourages all students who entered the contest to attend and share in recognizing their fellow students whose creative vision of the vibrant diversity of Westchester County and beyond will be featured as public art for the community.

The Music Conservatory of Westchester was founded in 1929 by a group of community members and renowned artists. Today, the Conservatory provides the extraordinary benefits of music to all in our community, from absolute beginners to advanced artists, with one-on-one instruction, performing ensembles, theory, composition, early childhood classes, lifelong learning for adults, and free community performances, serving 2,900 students each year from 4 months to over 80 years old. As a not-for-profit organization, the Conservatory is dedicated to serving the community and reaching out to those who would not otherwise have access. Our Scholarship Program provides tuition assistance for financially deserving students. The Music Therapy Institute brings music into the lives of 1,900 children and adults with disabilities each year through on-site and outreach programs. Healing Our Heroes offers military veterans a specialized music therapy program to help with recovery after their service. The Conservatory has inspired generations of students, and contributed to a vibrant musical life in the county, the region, and beyond.

Visit musicconservatory.org.

Save the Date for Northern Westchester Hospital 2018 Gala: November 3 Honorees Noted Here!

June 8, 2018 by The Inside Press

Ellen and Kamran Hakim were Named Community Honorees and Dr. Adina Keller and Dr. Jeffrey Keller Named Physician Honorees

Mt. Kisco, New York— Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) will honor philanthropists Ellen and Kamran Hakim, and physicians Drs. Adina and Jeffrey Keller at the hospital’s annual gala on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at 333 North Bedford Road at 6:30 p.m. The event is co-chaired by Jennifer and Jon Klein, and Luba and Steve Seidman. The announcement was made by Keeva Young-Wright, President of the NWH Foundation and Vice President of External Affairs at NWH.

“We are delighted to honor the Hakims for their long-term, generous support of Northern Westchester Hospital and the Kellers for their clinical excellence and leadership roles at NWH,” she said.

“These couples exemplify the community support, commitment and dedication that enables NWH to provide high quality, patient-centered care to all members of our community.”

Mr. Hakim, a New York-based real estate investor and one of the city’s largest private landlords, immigrated to the United States from Iran in 1956 at the age of 14. Mrs. Hakim, born Ellen Manocherian, is in partnership with her sister Joan Cohen in the family’s real estate business.

Longtime supporters of NWH, the Hakims hosted two fundraising galas for the hospital at their Old Salem Farm. Their grandson Andrew was born at NWH, and Mr. Hakim, who has been a patient at NWH credits the hospital for saving his life. The couple are married for 53 years and have lived in Westchester for just as long. They have four children, 12 grandchildren, and reside in Chappaqua.

Adina Keller, MD, FACOG, is a community-based physician who has dedicated her professional life to women’s health and cancer prevention. As a board certified OB/GYN with CareMount Medical Group and associate chief of OB/GYN at NWH, Dr. Keller is a champion of cancer prevention. In addition to her practice, which includes minimally invasive robotic surgery, Dr. Keller has made it a mission to educate the community about health, wellness and cancer prevention.

She is on the Board of Trustees at NWH, and is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s (AGOG) Cervical Cancer Prevention Task Force and served as section chair of its Hudson Valley District. She also served as Medical Director of the American Cancer Society, Westchester Branch, and was on its Board of Advisors from 2007-2015. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including The American Cancer Society Leadership and Humanitarian award, US News and World Report Top Doctor; New York Magazine’s Best Doctor Award (2017); and has received Top Doctor awards from Castle Connolly (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018) and Westchester Magazine (2013, 2015 and 2017).

Jeffrey Keller, MD, FACS, FAAP, is board certified in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and a Pediatric Otolaryngologist who has devoted his career to taking care of children. Dr. Keller began working at Northern Westchester Hospital in 2005 and is currently the Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology for the Mount Sinai Health System at CareMount Medical. Dr. Keller practices at CareMount Medical’s Mount Kisco and Carmel offices, and has privileges at Northern Westchester Hospital, the Ambulatory Surgery Center of Westchester and Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Dr. Keller has authored numerous chapters on Pediatric Otolaryngology, and has received many awards. He is the recipient of New York Magazine’s Best Doctor Award (2006-2008 & 2014-2016); Best Doctors in America (2013 and 2015); and top doctor awards from Castle Connolly (2013-2018), Westchester Magazine (2013-2017), Hudson Valley Magazine (2017), and Hudson Valley Parent Favorite Docs (2016 and 2017).

Dr. Adina Keller and Dr. Jeffrey Keller live in Chappaqua with their two teenage sons.

The NWH Gala begins with cocktails at 6:30 p.m., a program and dinner at 8 p.m., and dancing at 9:30 p.m. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit www.nwhconnect.org/2018gala.

This news: courtesy of Northwell and Northern Westchester Hospital