The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Happenings

Musical Moments: Plus an Upcoming Holiday Concert with the DuPonts

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Donald (Don) R. DuPont and his sister Michele DuPont Eames grew up in a household infused with music. Mr. DuPont, a beloved recently retired music teacher after 32 years from Roaring Brook Elementary School, and Mrs. DuPont Eames performed classics at a Sunday brunch (think delicious Mediterranean-inspired dishes) from the American Songbook on a sunny autumn day at Jazz on Main in Mount Kisco. Classics such as “Moonlight in Vermont” and “A Tisket A Tasket” were expertly sung as adoring fans, many of them former colleagues, came out to hear the talented duo.

Next up, they will perform two sets of a holiday-themed concert called Swinging in the Season at Jazz on Main on Saturday, December 13th. For tickets, visit jazzonmain.com. Expect holiday favorites such as “Winter Wonderland”, “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” (The Christmas Sing) and even an arrangement of “Jingle Bells” by Barbra Streisand.

The DuPont’s father, Don DuPont Sr. and grandfather, Roland DuPont are gifted musicians in their own right, passing down a rich musical legacy to the brother and sister duo. Both DuPonts played the trombone and Don DuPont Sr. started out playing at the Rainbow Room with Glenn Miller and then on the “Milton Berle” and “Ed Sullivan” shows. He eventually became a staff musician for NBC and CBS and later obtained a degree in music education at Columbia Teachers College landing a job teaching music in the Chappaqua Central School District for almost four decades. Don DuPont Sr. taught music at Bell Middle School, which in those days housed K-12th grade.

The DuPont name has been synonymous with music education in Chappaqua since the 1950s. The DuPonts had a music studio at 211 King St called Studio 49. “My dad and grandfather would offer private music lessons for children in Chappaqua and surrounding towns after school,” notes Don, who often helped out there as a young boy selling items such as clarinet reeds or trumpet oil.

In fact, Don DuPont Sr. is still performing and just recently held a big band concert at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center earlier this month featuring the sibling duo as vocalists alongside an 18-piece band comprised of talented local musicians. “Many of them are professionals in other fields but skilled musicians who want to keep my father’s legacy going.”

Don DuPont took up the trombone in elementary school. A love for music proved everlasting and he pursued voice at SUNY Purchase and a teaching certification at Manhattanville College. He started teaching as a young 22-year-old in Nyack but after three years came to the Chappaqua school district where he stayed for the rest of his career.

“I left on a high. And I’m thrilled that they hired an educator who uses the same music philosophy as I do. I like to think that my legacy is that I raised music education to the highest level for elementary school students and increased their appreciation of it and their participation in making music. Many parents have said to me that some of their best moments for their elementary school children was watching them perform,” said Mr. DuPont.

Performance was always a part of the DuPonts’ life as well. “Michelle and I have been singing together since infancy.” Before embarking on his teaching career, the duo sang with the incomparable Hildegarde, a grand doyenne and cabaret singer of the supper club scene in iconic venues such as the Russia Tea Room, Carnegie Hall and Town Hall in Manhattan.

Eventually Hildegarde stopped performing and the duo focused on their teaching careers and raising families. Michelle is also a teacher in the Yorktown School District and Don has a son with his husband Brian Hiller, a now retired music teacher from Grafflin Elementary School.

Their son, Brandon, is also showing musical proclivities and plays the electric guitar and cello.

“Coming back to sing with my sister, Michelle is like a renaissance. The fact that we can do this is beautiful and feels like a full circle moment on stage.”

The duo is hoping to perform more at both NYC venues and in Westchester-based ones. Don even has his eyes on performing internationally as they did many concerts in Switzerland years ago. Adoring fans can check out micheleanddondupont.com for their upcoming performances.

Chappaqua Cheer

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The holidays are upon us, and once again, Chappaqua is ready. After the turkey has been served, Friday, November 28th sees the sun go down, and with the community gathered, the town’s 30-foot tree takes centerstage to kick off the season.

Once the switch is flipped, said Georgia Frasch, former President of the New Castle Historical Society. “There’s lots of oohs and aahhs. People clap and the kids all come and meet Santa.”

Candy canes in hand, the kids don’t shy away from Santa’s cheer and adding Horace Greeley students who lead the caroling makes the evening even more festive. “It’s really sweet,” boasted Frasch.

For the last four years, the Horace Greeley House has hosted an annual toy train exhibit. Opening on November 22nd, the 10 AM – 4:00 PM weekend showings are pretty down home, according to Historical Director, Mia Michelson-Bartlett. “It’s a charming little experience,” she assured.

The staff takes several weeks to set up, and families go from room to room to view. Six or seven runs are being prepared and will include LEGO Around the World, the Polar Express and Santa’s Holiday Train.

Kids aren’t the only ones who are eager to get all aboard. An older generation appreciates the exhibit, too. “They are grandparents who remember playing with trains from their childhood,” explained Frasch.

Even so, they may still need a history lesson, and the Historical Society delivers. “It very quickly transformed the town,” said Michelson-Bartlett of the 1846 construction of the New York and Harlem River Railroad which extended from the city into Westchester as far as Chappaqua. The main factor involved farming. “You could export your goods to New York City very quickly, and keep them fresh,” she explained.

The sea change then centralized the town. “The area around the train built up, and new businesses opened to service the folks coming in,” Michelson-Bartlett revealed.

It doesn’t get too heavy, though. “There are larger train shows, but for families with young kids, I would call this a little more bite sized,” she added.

Alongside the grandeur of the Victorian house and the holiday decorations, the on-time tickets leave kids with their mouths gaping. The villages, the mountains and all the beautiful little lights, she said, “The children are in awe.”

And to make up for the non-hands-on aspect of the delicate exhibit, the society provides a touch room where the kids can play with toys and trains and take a photo while sitting on a mini train.

Parents need some playtime, too. December 5th gives mom and dad the chance to unwind, socialize, shop, and sip wine.

Wine Around Town, puts the locomotion in the soles of Chappaqua resident’s feet and makes the most of the local feeling. “It’s a nice time to sip and stroll,” said Linda Bosco, Chappaqua Chamber of Commerce member. “People go from store to store, bring their friends, and every store has a different promotion. It’s a really great night,” said Bosco.

Then Desires By Mikolay’s Winter Wonderland comes as close as possible to making sparks fly. “They really cut up the ice, so it looks like it’s snowing,” described Tara Mikolay, owner of the high-end jewelry store, where the annual ice sculpting takes place.

A 45-minute process, a sleight of hand that puts pulling a rabbit out of a hat to shame. “It’s really kind of cool to see something turn from a block of ice into something magical,” she added. “The sculpture really textures the spirit of the season”.

Of course, Santa will be there with hot chocolate, but kids won’t be the only grateful ones. “It’s our way of saying thank you to the community,” said Mikolay.

Finally on December 14th, Chabad of Bedford joins in and lights the Menorah at the Community Center. Arts and crafts will be part of the program, but the gathering is more of a religious celebration, according to Frasch.

However, no credentials will be checked. “All are welcome,” Frasch added.

Together, these moments create a season of celebration Chappaqua treasures now and will for years to come.

Gliding into the Holiday Season in Pleasantville

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Pleasantville has been holding a tree lighting ceremony since 2010 near Manville Road where the village usually gathers between 100 and 400 people. But the illumination has a new home address this year and will kick off the start to their holiday season with a new event.

This year on Dec. 7th, in the newly created civic space near the train station parking lot, from 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., revelers will be able to lace up ice skates for a picturesque holiday glide around the ice. “It adds to the ambience of the holiday season,” said Paul Alvarez, who is a village trustee and vice president of the chamber of commerce.

The installation is pretty simple & seamless. Synthetic ice provides the smooth surface, and the village hired a company that has done the work in other nearby towns to get every detail just right. “It gets put in and taken down on the same day,” said Alvarez.

The dimensions are 24 by 60 feet, includes a changing area, free skates, and while the surface resembles plastic, the town can leave theirs at home. “It’s all free. So, people can just come and enjoy themselves,” he said.

The band starts to play, and the crowd gears up for the tree lighting. Pace University students arrive with hot chocolate, the village hands out cookies and candy canes, and middle school choirs lead the holiday sing-along.

It’s a nice touch – especially for the young singers. “They love it. They really enjoy the fact that they are on the stage, and they have their friends, neighbors and siblings listening,” said Alvarez.

By 7 p.m., the numbers officially turnover. “We do a countdown, and the holiday tree and menorah get lit up,” he said.

From there, the village is hoping the good cheer will carry over. “We’re trying to encourage people to go to the local restaurants,” he said, and in turn, the eateries will offer some enticing deals.

Having attended this event himself for the last 12 years, nostalgia is what really lights him up. “I have been going to this since I was nine years old. It’s always such a nice kickoff to the holidays,” Alvarez concluded. “To hear the music, to see everyone out there with the tree, you remember the special times as a kid, and now that I have kids, it’s really nice to see them enjoying it.”

The Frosty Parade Brings Flurry of Fun to Armonk

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PHOTO COURTESY OF FRIENDS OF FROSTY INC.

Going back two decades, Armonk had a small holiday winter walk. But the tradition elevated when it was discovered that the cowriter of Frosty the Snowman lived in Armonk, where the setting inspired the iconic holiday song.

Ed Woodyard, founding member of the Armonk Chamber of Commerce uncovered Steve Nelson’s, co-writer of the song, Frosty the Snowman, home address and took off running. It is believed that Armonk’s bucolic setting inspired the song but there were copyright issues.

In 2005, Woodyard approached lawyer, David Boies, founding partner of Boies Schiller Flexner, known for his involvement in the Bush v. Gore decision. Boies has an Armonk office, and Woodyard sought his pro bono assistance.

“It took two years, but we finally got the clearance to call ourselves the home of Frosty,” revealed Woodyard, who cofounded the Friends of Frosty with Armonk businesswomen Debbie LaGravinese and Judy Willsey.

Woodyard didn’t know how the town would respond when they first put on the Frosty parade in 2009. He was pleasantly surprised. “Coming over the hill, we couldn’t believe it,” he recalled. “There were a thousand people lined up to see the parade.”

Still going strong, Armonk’s Frosty Day features face-decorating, frosting cookies, and a make-your-own Frosty. There are train rides in Wampus Park, live marching bands, singers, dancers, and lots of parade floats. The merchants in town hand out holiday treats and the library plays the cartoon on a loop. This year there will even be a bubble truck to add to the festivities!

Seniors from The Bristal join the Fire Department and their antique trucks as part of the parade, and when there’s a reigning state champ, the Byram Hills Bobcats have even had their own float.

The parade marches right through the ‘historic district’ of downtown Armonk which was the inspiration for the ‘Village Square’ where Frosty dared the children to “catch me if you can”.

The Frosty Homecoming Day and Parade are currently planned for Sunday, November 30, 2025, the Sunday of Thanksgiving. The fun-filled family event starts at noon, the parade is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be followed by the annual holiday lighting ceremony and sing-along at the Gazebo in Wampus Brook Park.

You do not want to miss this Fantastic Frosty Fun! And true to his word, “I’ll be back again some day.”

armonkfrosty.com

Books, Beloved Authors, and Bubbles: Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival Returns

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On Saturday, September 27th, the town of Chappaqua will once again transform into a storybook scene as the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival (CCBF) returns for a celebration of storytelling unlike any other, bringing over 165 award-winning and bestselling authors and illustrators to meet fans, sign books, and celebrate the power of storytelling. Marking its 12th year, this all volunteer, nonprofit festival draws more than 10,000 attendees from across the tri-state area and beyond.

At the helm is Elizabeth Blye, festival Executive Director, whose journey with CCBF spans from attendee and enthusiastic volunteer to visionary leader. The Library Media Specialist at Anne M. Dorner Middle School in Ossining and Middle Grade Editor at Little Press Publishing, she is a proud book warrior who strongly believes in the power of story and connection.

“Every child deserves to feel seen in a story. We want all to leave this festival with a book that speaks to them,” Blye says, passionate about connecting young readers with books that reflect their experiences, broaden their worldviews, and spark their curiosity. She truly believes that “there is a book for every reader and a reader for every book”, and “the beauty of this festival is seeing these connections happen in real time”.

She steps into this role with immense gratitude for the extraordinary foundation developed by Dawn Greenberg, founder and former executive director. “Dawn dedicated so much of her heart and time to this festival over the last twelve years. Her tireless commitment to this mission has left an indelible legacy, and I am both humbled and honored to carry forward the work she so passionately championed,” Blye shared.

This year’s lineup includes over 165 of both new and beloved returning authors. First time participants include Elana K. Arnold, author of the A Boy Called Bat series; James Bird, author of The Brave, No Place Like Home, and the forthcoming Wolf Club; Horace Greeley graduate Leyla Brittan, fresh from her debut YA novel Ros Demir Is Not The One. Returning authors include Nick Bruel, creator of the Bad Kitty series, Victoria Kann, author of Pinkalicious, Josh Funk, author of Lady Pancake & Sir French Toastseries, and Sayantani DasGupta known for the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series and Secrets of the Sky.

But the day isn’t just about books. The festival team brings the community together for an immersive, family-friendly experience designed to delight all the senses. An exciting activity area and ASL interpreted story time area, courtesy of title sponsors Kiwi Country Day Camp; interactive booth from Highlights Magazine; Bubble Bus; sponsored by Breeze; as well as a Family Fun Zone filled with free activities courtesy of the many sponsors awaiting festival goers. As well as a delicious lineup of local food trucks, including Leila’s Crepes, Three Little Pigs, Mobile Pie, Wrappers Delight, Tipsy Taco, Road Grub Mobile, and Melt Mobile.

Admission is free, with parking included, and the event runs rain or shine 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chappaqua train station. For families both near and far, the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival is more than an event: it’s a reminder of what’s possible when stories, and the people who tell them, take center stage.