The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Cover Stories

Getting to Know… Mary Jo Ziesel, New Executive Director of the Jacob Burns Film Center

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Photo by Donna Mueller

“Wouldn’t this be an amazing place to work one day?” That’s what Mary Jo Ziesel said to her partner Dr. Hank Spinelli after the two took in screenings of Pavarotti and Parasite at the Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) in 2019. Just two years later, Ziesel would be named the Executive Director of the JBFC. Since taking on the role in September 2021, Ziesel has been hard at work implementing programs and keeping up the JBFC’s excellent reputation as an important cultural institution in the local community and beyond.

Before joining the JBFC, Ziesel held over two decades of leadership at American Ballet Theatre (ABT). Among her many accomplishments were the development of a $7M center of innovation, serving more than 20,000 students, summer intensive programs, the ABT National Training Curriculum, the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and William J. Gillespie Schools and a national network of ABT Certified Schools. During the pandemic, Ziesel pivoted programming online, reaching thousands of students and teachers in 49 states and 46 countries. She was instrumental in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion at ABT. 

Speaking with Ziesel, one gets a sense of her excitement for creating new ideas for the JBFC and the joy she has in working with the staff, board, members, and community. “I am thrilled to be here. When I first discovered it, the theater staff was so enchanting, knowledgeable and professional. They are so well trained with providing an incredible experience.” Ziesel has been hard at work learning the intricacies of the JBFC organization and engaging with the community at large as the theater celebrates its 20th anniversary.

photos by donna mueller

“One thing I’ve learned in arts administration is if you have great art, where there is rigor, commitment, focus and resiliency, if you have all those elements, it transfers everywhereand anything can happen.” says Ziesel. From her first day on September 7th, Ziesel has felt the magic and excitement that happens at the JBFC. “Everyone is so excited that people are coming back to the theater–it’s what we do and what we believe in. The energy in the theater is palpable–you know you’re experiencing a special moment in time.” The JBFC prides itself on showing 400 films a year and presentingupwards of 150 events–which means there’s never a real down time. “You can come to the theater every day and see something different. What strikes me as different than the performing arts, you typically have a season and relax once it’s over. But here what’s so great, one of the magical things of why employees are so excited and committed to being here, the film programming is changing every week, it’s always new and engaging.”

One of the JBFC’s programs for emerging artists is the Creative Culture program which champions diverse voices and helps to foster a thriving artistic community from all over the world. The Fellowship Program provides a 10-month-long experience for emerging filmmakers to produce two short film projects within a collaborative community.

“We’re bringing in a new cohort of talented emerging filmmakers; it’s a very competitive process for fellows each semester. Sean Weiner, the Director of Creative Culture, has created a safe collaborative environment for the artists, who are mostly in their early to mid-20’s. I’ve been so moved by the robust and all-encompassing services the Burns provides. The stories the filmmakers are telling are deeply personal and to have the maturity to tell a story and be that vulnerable is quite something at that age. The JBFC is providing a platform for voices and stories that might not otherwise be heard.”

“The other piece is our artist-in-residency program which provides filmmakers from all over the world a space where they can come and work on their feature films. They have access to all resources in the building. They’re like kids in a candy store – they can use all the elements and are provided a space to really focus on their work – an incredible gift to be able to do so.”

At the Burns, from left: Kendra Ekelund, General Manager; Selena Beaumont, Executive Assistant to the Executive Director; Mary Jo Ziesel, Executive Director; and Sean Weiner, Director of Programs, Media Arts Lab.

As the year goes on and the 20th anniversary continues, Ziesel is looking forward to many upcoming programs including bringing back the popular Focus on Nature series as well as the opening of the much-anticipated Downton Abbey: A New Era film coming out in March. Ziesel is also excited about the return of in-person camps as well as JBFC Kids, a program geared towards younger kids and their families, which offers both film screenings and hands-on media-making experiences. She anticipates some fun events at the Media Arts Lab including engaging activities for families to experience media and film viewing. 

The curated film series will be back as well including Remix: The Black Experience in Film, Media and Art, The World Stage on Screen–the best of international theatre on screen–and Global Watch, a series of social action documentaries. She also hints at some upcoming special guests to the JBFC. “One thing I’ve learned very quickly is you may plan for guests a few months out, the pace is very quick for when people are available. Often, we get a very last-minute exciting guest to come visit. Patrons appreciate the excitement of not knowing but trusting it will be something good.”

There will also be plenty of opportunities to take in some of the JBFC’s virtual programming. There is an upcoming Romanian film series as well as the Jewish Film Festival. The JBFC continues to do virtual programming in schools as well as professional development for teachers. “We can reach teachers nationally and internationallwe’re embracing the lasting presence of digital and what it can do to reach new audiences. We reach about 16,000 students each year and are very excited to bring back the virtual Classroom to Screening Room.”

Patrons are embracing the “new normal” in-person theatrical experience as well. “Patrons are excited to be back in the space and appreciate our vaccination requirements and mask policies. It’s park of getting the movie-going experience back into your life. Once the seal is broken and you’re back, it’s like saying ‘I remember this and loved and missed it’. We’ve all been shut indoors. Streaming in our pj’s is one thing, but coming to experience film in a shared environment with an audience is something people are excited about.” As always, one of the most important things is the relationships with the patrons as well as the staff and the board. “The staff is just incredibly talented and it’s inspiring to work with them. It’s awe-inspiring to see what Steve Apkon (JBFC Founder and Pleasantville resident) originally created here and how the community and town can be transformed. Together, we will continue to entertain, educate, and inspire people of all ages through the amazing power of film.”

My Recipe for Living with Multiple Sclerosis

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Irene at home with her furry best friend, Jesse. He keeps her moving on even the worst days.

My story starts like many others diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). One day I am fine and the next day I am seeing two of everything. This is 1999, I am 22 years old and student teaching while taking four classes to finish my master’s in education. I am planning to start my teaching career the following September.  

I did not have the time for a million tests and scans to get to the bottom of the double vision, but I didn’t want to wear an eye patch indefinitely and certainly needed see again. Two weeks later the definitive diagnosis stopped me in my tracks. “You have MS.” I wish I had had a crystal ball and really knew how much MS would take from me.

Fast forward to 23 year later, and I now fully understand what it means to live with multiple sclerosis. There have been many difficult times accompanied by fear and sadness that come with this disease. The strength of my family, friends, and the community where I would set down roots have taught the real meaning of turning “lemons into lemonade.”

Irene along with her husband Geoff and their son Ben walking alone just days after Walk MS 2020 was cancelled.

I have been a Briarcliff Manor resident since I landed my first teaching job at Ossining High School right after graduate school. Eventually, after living in the area for 10 years, my husband and I decided to raise our son in Briarcliff Manor. Along with my parents, these four caretakers have been on the sidelines supporting me through my daily MS related problems, as well as in my darkest days. Without them I may not have the strength to keep fighting to find a cure for MS.

This drive started in 1999 right after the newly diagnosed, social butterfly in me wanted to figure out how to meet others with MS. Just three weeks after my diagnosis, I participated in my first Walk MS with three friends. I created a team called 2Steppers after my favorite Dave Matthews Band song, “Two Step.” The lyrics express celebrating life every day. Little did I know those four friends would triple by the next year and grow into a powerhouse Westchester Walk MS team. Currently, my team a has raised close to half a million dollars, with a goal to break through to the other side of that number this year! 

So how did this happen?

 It starts with my extremely dedicated team members including family, friends from childhood, college, and many from the Briarcliff Community. We have also continuously tried to get creative in how we raise money. In 2016, my son and I started going door to door asking local businesses on the strip in Briarcliff for donations for a raffle to support Walk MS. Stores like Wonderous Things, Briarcliff Toy Store, March, Briarcliff Market & Deli, Value Drugs and so many others were quick to donate gift baskets, food, gift cards and supplies. Our first two years we sold raffle tickets in front of Value Drugs and raised over $1,000 each time thanks to the generosity of community shoppers. So many community members shared personal connections to MS and this motivated me to be the community voice and local face of MS and am proud to do it!

In the spring of 2018 and 2019 we hosted a shopping boutique event in my home with community donated raffles and seven different vendors. These events proved why it is so important to reach out to your community for support, because I felt the love from every person who came and made deep personal connections with others who confided their MS and other health related challenges. 

In early March of 2020, I sat down with my planning partner to finalize details for the next month’s boutique. Five days later our world turned upside-down, so we postponed, and then postponed once more, and then cancelled the boutique plans completely. Little did I ever think that for two years there would be no in person walks, or community events.

However, this year Walk MS and 2Steppers are back. We would love to get you to help all of us out there living with MS! The greater community of Briarcliff Manor, Chappaqua, Pleasantville and Ossining can help support us in many ways.

On Sunday, April 3, 2022, my team will once again meet at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle and join approximately 1,000 other walkers. I would love to grow our team with anyone interested in walking with us. Most people know someone living with this horrendous disease and walking in their honor will help us feel fantastic.

Our team’s next event, Shop, Sip and Support Boutique is on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Briarcliff. This year we will have local artisans such as Briarcliff’s own tonyBny, nationwide vendors such as Pampered Chef, as well as many others. If you would like to be involved by being a vendor, donating goods/raffle prizes, or just want to come shop, please get in touch with me using the contact information below.

Finally, you can donate to Walk MS and help me to reach my personal fundraising goal and help all of us fighting this incurable and unpredictable disease. All the details about our events, how to join the team, how to donate and so much more can be found at www.2steppers.org. My email is 2steppersteam@gmail.com, and I welcome all correspondence, including hearing from others in our community who have personal connections to multiple sclerosis. 

Let’s make more lemonade together!

 

 

As the Pandemic Slogs On, Teens Hit Hard

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Our Writer Finds Out How She & Her Peers Can Stay Strong

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I never thought that of all the worries that come along with being a teenager, being able to see friends, eating inside at restaurants, and going to school would make it to the top of my list. But when the pandemic hit, these things I took for granted were abruptly taken away. Each phase of the pandemic brought a new worry. I don’t know which was worse: the beginning when everyone was in strict isolation, or the period when things slowly started to re-open and everyone held different definitions of what the “right” or “safe” thing to do was. 

Either way, we were faced with issues that were definitely not the normal stresses that come along with being a teenager. Amidst the lack of social interactions and the scares that came when waking up with a sore throat, many faced new or aggravated mental health struggles. On top of normal worries about Covid, we had to miss out on monumental moments of our social so many lives, education, and just simply growing up. 

Once reality settled in during the initial lockdown, any feelings of excitement about a two week break from school quickly died down. “The beginning of online school was kind of exciting, but as it went on it was like… how much longer is this gonna go on for? Where are my friends? Where are any other people besides my family?” said one Horace Greeley high school student. 

Loneliness began to creep up on people. “Being inside and alone for so long definitely did not help my mental health,” said another Greeley student. These feelings of loneliness and anxiety were, and still are, completely normal. Humans have never been creatures that deal particularly well with change, and with a change as big as a global pandemic, we need to cut ourselves some slack.

During this first wave many were unsure of how to cope and what to do with their time. “I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t do much during the lockdown. I didn’t really find anything that helped me,” said a Greeley student. Another said “I sat in my room all day which definitely did not help my mental health.” Teens being in isolation during some of the most vital years of their development was difficult to say the least.

In a CNN segment, Michael Smerconish said that he’s “worried about kids being educated remotely and losing out on a whole host of social dynamics. What you can’t get in the remote world are the life lessons, the human interactions, the forging of relationships.”

However, things started to look up as people were getting vaccinated, returning to school in person, and finally spending time together. Even though I am a sophomore, returning to school this year full time in person felt like my first real year of high school. The level of focus and material I’m learning has improved drastically. I even had a teacher thank a kid for talking and laughing over them because they missed that realness after a year of silence and stiffness on Zoom. 

Another Greeley student said that “it is good to get to see people and actually learn.” For most, it seemed the only thing that kept them sane was getting back to in-person schooling and seeing their friends. Smerconish shared that he felt it was unfair that kids are “bearing the brunt of Covid even though most infected children are at much less risk of becoming severely ill,” and therefore, “anytime society is contemplating a response to Covid, their needs need to be prioritized.” While maintaining safety throughout Covid is extremely important, it is also important to prioritize kids’ mental health.  

Horace Greeley psychologist Dr. McAuliffe shared insightful advice to help students remain hopeful. “In general, choosing to have an optimistic attitude, to believe things will work out helps. Believing in your ability to handle hard situations also contributes to an attitude where students can engage in managing their challenges rather than overly worrying about things. The truth is, we all will get through this and overly worrying robs people of the ability to solve problems.”

While many aspects of teens’ mental health have been hurt due to the pandemic, I also think that after going through this experience, teens came out more resilient than ever. Aside from learning about masks, social distancing, and quarantining, we also learned to adjust, grow, and deal with change. 

“I continue to be amazed how well kids cope with this in general, despite the fact that this is a really hard situation,” said Dr. McAuliffe.  I’m optimistic that we can use the strength we have gained, remain hopeful, and, as said by Dr. McAuliffe, “persist, persist, persist.”

Elks Bring OLD GLORY to Armonk Recreation Center

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In 2019, Mid-Westchester Elks Lodge #535 received an unexpected gift from a local resident –a 59-inch-by-43-inch beautifully crocheted American flag.

When Elks member and Armonk resident Arthur Adelman saw the work, he immediately thought of the Hergenhan Recreation Center as a perfect destination.

“I knew right away that the seniors in the Hergenhan center would really admire it and love it,” Adelman tells Inside Press. “And in fact, I brought it there and showed it to them and they were all amazed and loved it.”

The Elks first planned to hang the crocheted work–whose origin is unclear–in the center but decided otherwise after realizing that it was not in the best condition. The episode brought to light, however, that there was no American flag in the building, which is used for a wide range of meetings, gathering and community events.

“We all thought that it was a great idea,” Adelman said. “We just needed a better condition flag.”

As of this January, a 4-foot-7-inch by 4-foot-6-inch American flag now hangs in the center thanks to a donation from the Elks lodge. The flag is displayed in a frame with plexiglass along with a plaque that reads “Donated by Mid-Westchester Elks Lodge # 535 Armonk, NY.” A commemoration ceremony was originally set for January 20 but was delayed due to snow. 

While the flag itself was not particularly expensive, the framing and plaque put the cost upwards of $1,000, according to Adelman. As a patriotic organization–one that supports several veterans’ organizations and initiatives–the Elks were eager to make sure a flag is proudly displayed at the center. 

The lodge also hope that the commemoration and the prominent display of Old Glory sparks further recognition for the 154-year-old Elks, a charitable and patriotic organization open to all American citizens, and leads local residents to think about joining the group. 

Increasing Awareness

“The two purposes are visibility and recruitment,” says Adelman. “Younger people these days don’t join organizations as much. So our priority, and the reason we are doing this, is to let everybody know in North Castle and beyond that the Elks exist.”

The Mid-Westchester Lodge was initially three separate lodges–one in Mt. Kisco, one in Port Chester, and one in White Plains–with each lodge having its own building. But in March 2009, with membership declining, the three lodges merged to form one central lodge. The Elks now meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays each month at the American Legion in Armonk. 

“Most Elks lodges have their own buildings,” says Adelman. “Some of them not only have their own buildings, they have swimming pools, they have tennis courts.”

The sale of the three properties, however, left the Mid-Westchester Lodge with a sizeable war chest. This has allowed the organization to fund a range of activities and initiatives. 

“The motto is ‘Elks care, Elks share.’ And fortunately because the three lodges that constituted our lodge all had buildings and sold them, we have a very nice treasury and we can afford to be generous.”

The Elks have supported dozens of local charities, fundraisers, and community events, including grants to The Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry, Cerebral Palsy of Westchester, and the North Castle Public Library. The organization also supports several youth sports teams, including youth football and little league. The Elks are especially engaged in programs supporting veterans, participating in the Memorial Day and Veterans Day Ceremonies at the North Castle American Legion; providing a grant to the Montrose VA Food Pantry, and sponsoring long weekend cabin stays for 8 to 12 disabled veterans for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing.

The pandemic initially forced the Mid-Westchester Lodge to move most of its meetings to Zoom in 2020, but once vaccines became widely available, they were able to resume in-person meetings while masked and socially distanced. 

“That’s worked out fine,” Adelman says. We’ve not really had a diminution in attendance.”

A changing world–one which the online metaverse has made smaller while at times weakening the bonds between neighbors–has challenged community-based organizations like the Elks. But Adelman hopes that anyone willing to give their time and service to help their community considers the Elks. 

A Slice of New Castle History, Visited In our Writer’s Letter to Dorinda Dodge

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Dear Dorinda,

The first time I came across your tombstone in the Quaker Friends Meeting House graveyard, I was awestruck. It stood out. While others were weather beaten and some barely legible yours stood at attention and was clearly new. What I found even more interesting was that it listed your birthdate – May 23, 1938 but no date of death. As someone more accustomed to Jewish cemeteries, I had never before seen a headstone listing a birthdate but no information recording a date of death.

A daily walker amongst those tombstones with my two dogs, I knew that you were probably from a prominent family in Chappaqua. After all, there were tombstones from the Kipp family of Kipp Street in this same graveyard and the Haights of Haights Cross Road. I had an inkling that you were a descended from the family that built Dodge Farm which is abutting the Quaker Friends Meeting House.

And with extra time on my hands (thanks COVID lockdowns) and a natural curiosity about local history, I reached out to the New Castle Historical Society first about you and then another somewhat trusty resource aka Google who informed me of your nickname Rindy and your current residence in Vero Beach, Florida.

Gray Williams, the omniscient town historian answered my inquiry and promptly replied that “Dorinda (Rindy) Dodge is the daughter of Courtney Dodge, the developer and builder of the family homestead property, Dodge Farm. Marcourt Drive (one of my favorite running spots btw) is a compression of his and his sister’s names: Mar[jorie] and Court[ney]. Rindy decided that she wants to be buried with her family and arranged to have her monument erected to mark the spot.” 

So of course, his reply piqued my curiosity and I did a bit more research on your Quaker family who had roots in this town dating back to the 1740s. Your father’s contribution to the development of this town caught my eye in particular. Looking at notes from the Horace Greeley High School Class of 1957, I found that your father Courtney started building homes 1938 around Dodge Farm, the very same year that you were born. Perhaps he needed income for his growing family or he had a strong desire to keep putting roots down in this bucolic slice of Northern Westchester.

With you turning 84 this year, I get a little burst of happiness every time I pass your tombstone and see no date of death listed. You must be alive and kicking in the Florida sun instead of succumbing to COVID as one in 100 older Americans have in this pandemic.”

It couldn’t have been easy building homes with a newborn and no formal training in construction or real estate development but he was described as a “natural at building things.” The class notes explain that Courtney would buy land in Dodge Farms from his mother, build a house on it, move in, build another house, put them both on the market and sell whichever went first. 

Dorinda, I am sorry that you moved so many times in your childhood but at least you weren’t uprooted to a new town. I understand that your family moved many times because people usually wanted to buy the house your family was living in because it was beautifully adorned with antiques. The notes continue to say that “Rindy would leave one house in the morning, go to school and come back to the next house at night..almost everything unchanged.” What cherished objects did you take with you from home to home – a stuffed animal, a doll? 

It is believed that your father built around 25 houses or so with a brief hiatus during World War II. Houses in the early days sold for under $10,000 but today yield well over a million. 

But enough about him… I wonder more about you. I know you have many artistic talents, painting among them and have previously been an interior decorator. I was thrilled to hear that you have many grandchildren too and have traveled the world. 

With you turning 84 this year, I get a little burst of happiness every time I pass your tombstone and see no date of death listed. You must be alive and kicking in the Florida sun instead of succumbing to COVID as one in 100 older Americans have in this pandemic. 

And Mr. Williams confirmed for me that you are indeed “very much alive.” May you continue to live a vibrant life Dorinda and if you ever come to your hometown for a visit, look me up. I’d love to meet you and learn more about your family’s history and ties to our hamlet.

With warmest wishes,
Stacey Pfeffer

PS  I’m glad you decided to honor your family’s roots here by choosing your hometown as your final resting place and joining the six other Dodges already buried here. There was clearly a reason why the Algonquins called our town shah-pah-ka, a place where nothing is heard but the rustling of the wind in the leaves.

PPS  It’s great to see that the house building talent was passed down from your father and that you are working on building your third house in sunny Florida. If wintry weather continues, I may just look you up and pay you a visit.