The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Happenings

At its 27th Humanitarian Gala, BGCNW Celebrated “84 Years of Transformative Impact and a Record Breaking Day of Fundraising”

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The theme of the evening was real storytelling with the common thread being how the Club serves as a second home changing the trajectory of generations.

On June 2, 2023 more than 300 people joined in the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester’s (BGCNW) gala celebration. Club Co-Presidents, Anne Citrin and Emily Stoddard, who shared their own connections with the Club and commitment to being champions of children introduced the honorees Philanthropists Kimberly and Andrew Handler. Andrew, a former board member, shared “Every time I visit the Club it is still overwhelming for me to see how this place contributes so much to the lives of so many.” He received a standing ovation after his presentation.

One of the featured storytellers was current Aquatics Director and Club Alum Eric Mitchell who shared that he had a very tough home life while growing up and the Club was his sanctuary. He had a bike accident at 15 and was told he would not swim again. “The last remaining thing in my life that gave me purpose was now taken from me. My chances of going to college were gone. I was devastated and completely hopeless. The folks that are involved with this organization rallied around me, built me up, and pushed me forward, I eventually accepted a full athletic scholarship to swim at Old Dominion University, earned a Masters degree from Columbia in Sports Management, coached college swimming for 7 years before finding my way back to the Club and every day I have the chance to make a kids day more enjoyable and be there for them to teach resiliency.

Torell Nugent, Club Alum, BGCNW Board VP and Account Executive at Disney explained that “The Club became my safe haven, support system, and my home away from home. I discovered newskills and explored my passions outside of academics. It was through these activities that I learned the importance of diversity, community, and leading by example and the importance of resilience, perseverance, kindness, and integrity.”

The third featured storyteller is the longest-serving board member, 38 years, and fondly looked to as the community Patriarch, Stuart Marwell. Mr. Marwell is also a Club alum, past Board President, and currently President of Curtis Instruments, Inc. He explained that his story with the Club was a family affair. “Generations of my family have supported and benefitted from the Club for years and we look forward to making sure that other children and their families have the same opportunity. I enjoyed all that the club had to offer – Basketball, crafts, the trampoline where I had to learn trust for those who spotted for me, and helping with community service projects such as planting the willow trees along the stream in Leonard Park some are still there today.”

To add to the storytelling theme guests were encouraged to participate by leaving a message on the audio guestbook or video booth and were treated to book art centerpieces created by Club kids. The event journal highlighted 15 Club Tales; inspiring stories from Club alumni, volunteers, and staff members of all ages. An amazing time was had by all.

To lend your own support to the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, visit their website at www.bgcnw.com or send a check to 351 Main Street, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Give the gift of your time as a volunteer or mentor. For more information, contact Shantae Artis at sartis@bgcnw.com

News and photos courtesy of BGCNW

PARK AND READ: A New Westchester County and Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival Collaboration

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Park and Read, a captivating summer read-aloud program aimed at fostering a love for reading in young children, is set to take place in picturesque Westchester County Parks. This engaging initiative, organized by Westchester County Director of Programs and Policies, Childcare & Education Roseanne Finizio in collaboration with the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival Executive Director Dawn Greenberg, offers an enriching experience for children aged 3 to 6.

Taking place on weekdays Monday through Thursday, from July 10 – August 10, at 11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., the Park and Read program will feature interactive storytelling sessions in both English and Spanish. Experienced and noteworthy storytellers will bring stories to life, creating a vibrant and immersive environment for children and families to enjoy.

The first reader will be Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who said the program is just what kids need as they unwind in the summer: “The Park and Read program combines the joy of storytelling with the beauty of Westchester County Parks, creating a magical experience that fosters a love for reading. We are excited to inspire young minds to get lost in the joy of books.”

Finizio said: “As a former educator, I have witnessed the profound importance of reading and the transformative impact of reading to children. With the Park and Read program, I am delighted to have the opportunity to foster a love for reading among children and create memorable moments of joy under the summer sun.”

The program schedule is as follows:

·         July 10-13: Location: Willson’s Woods Park Venue: DeMatteo Terrace Address: 8 Bradford Road, Mount Vernon, NY 10553

·         July 17-20: Location: Glen Island Park Venue: Grass area outside of bathhouse (Pavilion 1 held for inclement weather) Address: Weyman Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10805

·         July 24-28: Location: Tibbetts Brook Park Venue: Grass area in front of bathhouse (Catering Hall held for inclement weather) Address: 355 Midland Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704

·         July 31 – August 3: Location: Saxon Woods Park Venue: Grass area adjacent to children’s playground (Pavilion held for inclement weather) Address: 1800 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605

·         August 7-10: Location: Kensico Dam Plaza Venue: Grass area outside of office Address: 1 Bronx River Parkway, Valhalla, NY 10595

The Park and Read program welcomes children accompanied by a guardian and admission is free. Pre-registration is not required; however, participants must adhere to the Westchester County residency rules.

Greenberg said: “The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival is thrilled to partner with Westchester County Parks for this initiative. By bringing literature to the heart of nature, Park and Read aims to create a memorable summer experience for children while encouraging the practice of shared reading at home.”

For more information about the Park and Read program, please email RFinizio@WestchesterCountyNY.gov or call (914) 995-2501.  More information can also be found at https://parks.westchestergov.com/park-and-read

About the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival: The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival is an annual event held in Chappaqua, NY, that celebrates children’s literature and authors. With a mission to inspire a love for reading and learning, the festival brings together authors, illustrators and families for a day filled with literary activities, book signings and storytelling sessions.

News Courtesy of Westchester County’s County Executive Office

Celebrate Friday Night Pride on June 2 in Hastings-on Hudson

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The Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, Destination Hastings, and Hastings Rainbow Families are excited to host the second annual Friday Night Pride, a free, joyful, family-friendly Pride festival in downtown Hastings on June 2 from 6 – 9 p.m. (rain date June 9th).

The Good Witch Coffee Bar (134 Southside Ave, Hastings-on-Hudson at the Metro North Station) will hold a pre-event from 3:45 to 5:45 with music and supplies for families to make Pride signs. At 5:45 p.m., families can take their creations and join in a march from The Good Witch up to Warburton Avenue to kick off the main event, led by Brooklyn all-female brass band, Brass Queens.The Friday Night Pride event centers on a concert in the middle of Warburton Avenue, featuring a bevy of musicians, dancers, and performers, ranging from local talent to Broadway stars. The show will be emceed by Broadway vet Jamie Karen and stage and recording artist Amy Lynn of Amy Lynn & the Honey Men, who will both also be performing. Other performers include Brian Harris, Jed Ilany, Sophia Rae, Lexy Casano-Antonellis, Kat Gang, the Hastings High School and Middle School choirs, the students of MK Dance, Marla Louissant from the national tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Obie-award winner James Jackson Jr., fresh off his starring role in Broadway’s Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning A Strange Loop.  Mayor Nicola Armacost will be opening the event, and performances will be interspersed with local LGBTQIA+ community members sharing their stories.Warburton Avenue will be lined with tables offering free activities, including a giant rainbow slide, face painting, kids’ crafts with Jodi Levine of Supermakeit.com, make-your-own spray paint art with graffiti artist Katie Reidy, a community paper quilt project with the Hastings Library, rainbow bracelet making with the Hastings-on-Hudson PTSA, dance activities with hip hop performers Brianna Luciano and Kiana Davalos, LGBTQIA+ Broadway trivia with Broadway Training Center, and much more. Village restaurants will be out selling dinner as well as Pride-themed specials, from boozy ice pops to rainbow popcorn. Westchester LGBTQIA+ organizations The LOFT, Center Lane, and Pride Works will all be in attendance, and local vendors will be offering rainbow cookie decorating, rainbow hair extensions, Pride flags and swag, and LGBTQIA+ kids’ books, among many other Pride-themed offerings. Plus drag artist Amber Guesa will be working her way through the crowd, ready for selfies, and taking the stage for a special kids’ performance.All are welcome to join us as we celebrate and strengthen Hastings as a community of love and equity!

 

Editor’s Note: The above news release has been republished in its entirety to help support Friday Night Parade in Hastings. It has neither been independently reported or fact checked. All questions should be referred to the sources cited within.

 

ShopMS Pop-Up Shop a Great Success

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Irene Unger offered a thumbs up for the community’s efforts.

Cooler temps and rain did not deter area residents and visitors alike from attending this popular annual event at Briarcliff Congregational Church.

Held on March 25th, the event featured 20 vendors, and raised over $5000. It was organized by Briarcliff Manor’s Irene Unger, who has been living with MS for 24 years and organizes this fundraiser each year to raise money to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis.

HHREC Announces Summer Educator’s Study Tour of Holocaust Museums and Historic Sites March

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The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) will host teachers and others interested in learning about the history of the Holocaust at the HHREC National Educators’ Trip to Germany & Poland June 24-July 9, 2023.

HHREC Director of Education Steve Goldberg and professional tour guide Gerrit Book will lead a two-week series of educational seminars from June 24th to July 9th. This program is designed to offer insight into the history of the Jewish Community in Germany and Poland, trace the origins of the Holocaust, and tour monuments and memorial sites. The tour will include stops at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate, Auschwitz-Birkenau, the former Warsaw Ghetto, and Sachsenhausen, a former concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany.

“Our sponsorship of this educational mission enables our teachers to enhance their understanding of this dark period in human history by literally ‘walking the walk’ where the Holocaust was conceived and implemented.” said Steve Goldberg, HHREC Director of Education. “They also can see how the perpetrators have memorialized their victims through unique monuments. This life-changing experience will impact their teaching in the years to come.”

For more information, contact Steve Goldberg sgoldberg@HHRECNY.org or visit the HHREC website hhrecny.org.

News courtesy of the HHREC.