The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Happenings

  “Grease is the word” at Horace Greeley High School!

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 Lead cast overlooking the HGHS competition field.  Photo by Carolyn Simpson

This June one of Chappaqua’s most anticipated annual events returns in a new and exciting way. For more than 75 years the Horace Greeley High School Senior class has produced a stage performance that engages the Senior class as actors, student producers, stage managers, musicians, set builders and sound and light technicians, and raises funds for college scholarships.

Each year more than 200 seniors, some with acting experience but most without, pick a popular Broadway show and practice in anticipation of a few shows over a weekend of bonding with their class as part of the end of year activities.

The first Senior Musical in 1946 provided the seed funding for an Education Fund to support college scholarships for Horace Greeley graduates. In 2003 the Education Fund was renamed The Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund and it continued to raise money for need based college scholarships.  

This year’s live presentation of Grease will be like no other because Covid precautions have pushed the show outdoors to the Greeley competition field for the first time in Senior Musical history, and where the stage and seating capacity is larger than ever under the starry night.

The seniors will perform a “family appropriate” version of the classic movie and stage show. It features the irresistible songs from the Tony Award nominated Broadway show and hit movie, including “Grease is the Word”, “Summer Nights”, “Hopelessly Devoted to You”, “Greased Lightening” and many more. 

The Greeley seniors are working hard and are excited to bring the community back together for live performances after a long two-year absence. Together with the Horace Greeley High School PTA, headed up by Chair, Rita Santelia and Vice-Chair, Nishat Hydari, and parent producers, Christie Krase, Stephanie Gold, Julie Weiser and Ilene Benjamin, and the many parent volunteers from the Chappaqua community working behind the scenes, are all ready to bring to life the story of Sandy, Danny and their Pink Lady and T-Bird sidekicks.

Director Kevin Kearins of KJK Productions, Music Director Ricky Romano and Choreographer Jesse Pellegrino will work with the Senior class for 2 months to bring out their best performances. 

Director, Kevin Kearins is so excited to work on this extraordinary live event. “We have a large group of talented students and the musical lends itself to that.”

Every year the cost of college increases and the needs of Greeley graduates exceed the available funding. The Senior Musical is one fund raising event that helps close the gap so the opportunity for a much higher attendance than a typical indoor show can increase the funds available for worthy students.

Director Kearins says, “Grease has always been around, and the songs have always permeated our society and culture.” “It will bridge generational gaps, and everyone can enjoy it.”

Shows are scheduled for 7:00 on Thursday June 2nd, Friday June 3rd and Saturday June 4th with a rain date of Sunday June 5th at 3:00. For ticket information please go to chappaquaschools.org or https://secure.sellingticket.com/design22/clients/list/index_byUserListAll.aspx?OrganizationID=151

Dust off those leather jackets and bobby socks and “Come together” on these “Endless summer nights”. Be there or be square!

 

A Boost to Food Allergy Awareness in New Castle with New Playground Signs

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Following the unveiling of a Town of New Castle sign promoting food allergy awareness: (L-R) Vicki Tipp, Stacey Saiontz, Jared Saiontz, Lisa Katz, and Heather Orenstein Brown  PHOTOS by Grace Bennett/Inside Press

Chappaqua, NY–Food allergy awareness received a welcome boost in New Castle last week with the unveiling of a sign–offering key reminders to visitors. Ten are now in place in playgrounds throughout the area. In addition, a proclamation  designating May 8-14 Food Allergy Awareness Week in New Castle was announced by Town Supervisor Lisa Katz. See below for the full text of the proclamation.

To announce the development, Katz appeared at the playground outside Town Hall together with town board member Vicky Tipp along with three community food allergy awareness advocates–Stacey Saiontz, her son Jared, 14, and Heather Orenstein Brown–to unveil the sign and offer comments that convey the importance of these measures.

The board and citizen gathering conveyed that 1 in 13 children are being diagnosed with food allergies, and that with the numbers increasing,  it’s vital that every community take simple steps to help keep kids with food allergies safe.

“This is exactly what the Town of New Castle is doing,” said Saiontz.

Thanks to advocacy by 14 year old Jared Saiontz, the Town of New Castle decided to put up signs in all ten town parks advising our community on how to keep food allergic children safe–wash your hands before going on the playground equipment and don’t eat while on the playground equipment.

From Town Supervisor Lisa Katz writing in the Town of New Castle Supervisor’s Report:

“These signs provide education and awareness about allergies and teach community members how they can help play a part to help food allergic children.  They are also helpful as many who do not live with food allergies may not understand that food residue can lead to a reaction. There is no cure for food allergies.  Allergic reactions to food can range from mild symptoms to anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction that can occur rapidly and is potentially life-threatening. We are proud to help educate the citizens of New Castle on the serious nature of food allergies.  Thank you to Jared Saiontz for bring this to the attention of the Town Board, and to our Recreation and Parks Department, Recreation Commission, and our Town Administrator for helping us to get it done!”

TOWN OF NEW CASTLE FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, Food Allergy Awareness Week was established as a national week of encouraging food allergy awareness and supporting those who are impacted by food allergies and anaphylaxis; and

WHEREAS, a food allergy is an immune system response to a food the body mistakenly believes is harmful. When a person with food allergy eats the food, his or her immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, including histamine, that trigger a cascade of symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract, the skin, and/or the cardiovascular system; and

WHEREAS, food allergies affect approximately 32 million Americans, including 6 million children; and

WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of food allergies is significantly increasing among children under the age of 18; and

WHEREAS, nine foods account for 90 percent of all food allergy reactions: Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Milk, Egg, Wheat, Soy, Fish, Shellfish, and Sesame; and

WHEREAS, there is no cure for food allergies, strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction; and

WHEREAS, anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that comes on quickly and has the potential to become life-threatening; and

WHEREAS, each year an estimated 3.3 million Americans require emergency room treatment for symptoms of a serious allergic reaction to food. Reactions typically occur when an individual unknowingly eats a food containing an ingredient to which they are allergic; and

WHEREAS, emergency medical treatment for severe allergic reactions to food has increased by 377 percent in only a decade; and

WHEREAS, managing a food allergy on a daily basis involves constant vigilance and even trace amounts of an allergen can trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Lisa Katz, Supervisor for the Town of New Castle, do hereby proclaim May 8-14, 2022, as Food Allergy Awareness Week in the Town of New Castle, New York, and encourage the residents of New Castle to increase their understanding and awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis.

New Castle Dedicates a New Bench in Memory of “Great Poppy” Jack Feldman, Survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau

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Last Tuesday night, over 220 community members came together in commemoration of Yom Hashoah- Holocaust Remembrance Day.  The students of Horace Greeley High School club ENOUGH (Educate Now on Understanding Genocide and Hate) co-sponsored the event with the Town of New Castle Holocaust and Human Rights Committee. 

During the ceremony community members heard remarks from Chappaqua resident and Second Generation Survivor Betinna Prober, Holocaust Survivor Trudy Elbaum, County Executive George Latimer, Town Supervisor Lisa Katz, ENOUGH Presidents Jack Rosenberg and Gabe Adams. 

The community heard songs, prayers and poems by the local clergy, Rabbi Brusso, Rabbi Greenberg, Rabbi Jaffe, Rabbi Sacks, Cantor Ezring and Reverend McJunkin. 

The Daffodil Project is a worldwide project to commemorate the lives of the children lost during the Holocaust.  The goal is to plant 1.5 million flowers across the world – one daffodil for every child killed. https://www.daffodilproject.net.  In October of 2019, the community planted 750 daffodil bulbs at the New Castle Holocaust Memorial as part of the Daffodil Project.

The community was also inspired by the middle school and high school winners of the Third Annual Writing and Arts Contest for Holocaust Remembrance.  The first place winners in each category shared their essay and/or artwork.  The art is currently on display at the New Castle Town Hall. 

The essays can be read here: https://mynewcastle.org/602/Holocaust-Human-Rights-Art-Writing-Winne 

The town dedicated a bench at the New Castle Holocaust Memorial in memory of Jack Feldman, Survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Jack was the beloved grandfather of Co Chair of the Town of New Castle Holocaust and Human Rights Committee Stacey Saiontz and great grandfather of ENOUGH Vice President Elliott Saiontz.

 

 

HHREC and Westchester Jewish Council Countywide Yom Hashoah Commemoration Draws Crowd at Garden of Remembrance in White Plains

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The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) and Westchester Jewish Council (WJC) hosted the annual Countywide Yom Hashoah Commemoration Keeping the Memory Alive on April 28th at the Garden of Remembrance in White Plains, NY.

PHOTOS by Julie Rothschild

HHREC Chairman Michael Gyory greeted attendees and spoke about the importance of the Westchester community in coming together to commemorate Yom Hashoah, a “Day of Remembrance” amid global developments. An invocation was delivered by Bishop Mary Glasspool, Episcopal Diocese of New York, and the program included remarks by Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who spoke about the need to avoid blaming a single person for the Holocaust or the war in Ukraine, and the importance of being an “upstander” to safeguard against dictators, today and in the future.

A keynote speech was delivered by Rabbinic Pastor Dr. Aliza Erber, a daughter of a Holocaust Survivor and member of the HHREC Speakers Bureau, who shared a story of how her mother had to give her away as a young child to live in an underground bunker and how she survived to ultimately reunite with her after the end of WWII.

Following her speech, the program continued with a candle lighting by a group of Somers High School Holocaust Commission Student Winners, including Jaiden Donovan, Eowyn Keenan, Sarah Cassidy, Olivia Sherman, Sebastian Wissa, Tori Suare and Taylor Luks. The program concluded with remarks by William Schrag, President of the Westchester Jewish Council.

   PHOTOS BY Julie Rothschild

 

News Courtesy of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center

Editor’s Note: At this event, I was personally thrilled to watch my friend and fellow journalist Stacey Pfeffer of Chappaqua carry one of the rescued Torahs on behalf of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, alongside Temple Beth El’s Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe.  The Torah is number 54 from the Memorial Scrolls Trust. The Torah came from Boskovice and was written in 1853. At that time Boskovice was a part of Germany, but it is now the Czech Republic. —  Grace

Stacey wrote a beautiful essay about her family’s history and her feelings receiving this honor: https://jewishwomenofwords.com.au/my-15-minutes-with-a-rescued-shoah-torah/stacey-pfeffer-and-her-father/

Stacey Pfeffer holding a rescued Torah alongside Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe (right) of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester in Chappaqua. To Stacey’s left is her uncle, Arthur Korzec.  Photo by Grace Bennett

About The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center is a not-for-profit organization based in White Plains New York that serves Westchester, Fairfield and neighboring counties. Their Mission is to enhance the teaching and learning of the lessons of the Holocaust and the right of all people to be treated with dignity and respect. We encourage students to speak up and act against all forms of bigotry and prejudice. Their work with students and teachers helps schools fulfill the New York State mandate that the Holocaust and other human rights abuses be included in their curriculum. Since 1994, they have brought the lessons of the Holocaust, genocide and human rights crimes to more than 1750 teachers, and through them to thousands of middle and high school students. Through their volunteer Educators Program Committee, the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center gives teachers the unique opportunity to develop programs for themselves and others. These programs not only enrich teachers’ knowledge about the Holocaust and related issues, but they also provide the lens through which to view all other human rights violations. For more information call 914.696.0738 email info@hhrecny.org 

 

 

Northwell Health Walk Returns to Westchester

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The Event will Benefit both Northern Westchester Hospital and Phelps Hospital

 

Walkers from the inaugural Northwell Health Walk at Westchester in 2017 benefiting Northern Westchester Hospital and Phelps Hospital which provides quality health care close to home. This year’s walk will be on Sunday, May 22 at the Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown Heights. Register at https://northwellhealthwalk.com/westchester. Photo courtesy of Northwell Health

MOUNT KISCO, NY – The Northwell Health Walk will be on Sunday, May 22, at 10 a.m. at the Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown Heights. Its mission is to unite thousands of people across five different New York locations who believe in supporting quality health care that’s close to home. And for the first time since 2018, the Northwell Health Walk is back in Westchester County.

The pandemic reminded us how important it is to have high-quality, well-equipped hospitals in our community. Hundreds of individuals comprising of nearly 40 teams will join the grassroots fundraiser benefiting Northern Westchester Hospital and Phelps Hospital.

The festival will feature an opening ceremony celebrating our heroic doctors, nurses and staff–and the caring community members dedicated to keeping Westchester healthy. supporting quality health care.

Walkers will enjoy a scenic, wheelchair accessible and dog-friendly 2.5 mile walk on a paved road through the park, as well as:

  • Music and fresh fare from local favorites like Black Cow Coffee, Ben & Jerry’s and Stonefire Pizza
  • Fun lawn games and free giveaways
  • Warm-up activities from chair yoga to martial arts
  • Free health screenings and activities
  • Arts and crafts, an ambulance tour, bubble machine, Playland surprises, and other kid’s activities

Gates opens at 8:30 am. Walk begins at 10:00 am. Register at https://northwellhealthwalk.com/westchester. Join an existing team to walk with or create your own–either way, you’ll be supporting your local healthcare heroes and keeping your community healthy.

Every dollar raised helps these community hospitals with leading-edge services keep up with the evolving needs of our community as well as those who care for them.

As part of the Northwell Health system, patients have access to nearly every type of specialty and subspeciality. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Orthopedics and spine.
  • Thoracic and general surgery.
  • Cancer care program with PET/CT imaging that offers a full continuum of care in partnership with the Northwell Cancer Institute.
  • The only Gamma Knife in the region. Precise radiation therapy used to treat tumors, vascular malformations and other abnormalities in the brain.
  • Robotics Center of Excellence.
  • One of the largest obstetrics and gynecology programs with a level III neonatal ICU program at Northern Westchester Hospital.
  • Bariatric, vascular, neurology, neurosurgery and stroke care, which includes thrombectomies, a delicate innovative surgical procedure that removes blood clots from arteries and veins to prevent life-threatening strokes.
  • Both hospitals are American Heart Association & American Stroke Association certified and have received the Gold Plus Award, the Target Stroke Elite Award and Advanced Therapy Honor Roll for stroke care.
  • Both hospitals are Magnet designated hospitals, the highest nursing care distinction in healthcare.

For questions about the event, contact Amanda Hellerman at (914) 242-8361 | ahellerman@northwell.edu

News courtesy of Northwell