The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Happenings

Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center Memory Keepers: GenerationsForward Speaker Series-Sandra Mehl

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Please join the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center Memory Keepers GenerationsForward Speaker Series on Thursday, December 10 at 7 p.m. via Zoom in the safety and comfort of your own home.

Sandra Mehl is a first generation American who lost several family members in the Holocaust.  She tells the story of the heroic deeds of the Horner and Kellner families, who lived in Poland, Germany, and Belgium.  She shares her experiences growing up with survivors offering the message of hope for the next generations–how to shift from surviving to thriving. 

Although Sandra’s story evolved from a commitment to keeping her family’s values and traditions alive and a desire to gift a unique legacy to her grandson, Zev, on the occasion of becoming a Bar Mitzvah, she is also determined to help the next generation to accept the call to action to make certain “never again.” 

Sandra will discuss a family menorah that survived in her family leaving Nazi Europe.  Last year, she took the menorah to the Antique Judaica Roadshow to have the menorah appraised.  Learn what she discovered as she shares a story of the lengths some of us will go in order to put family first and foremost.

Sandra graduated from Columbia University and is a Licensed Master of Social work and practitioner of energy medicine.  She has also taught Hebrew and Global Studies in community schools.

For Zoom log-in information, please email Millie Jasper mjasper@hhrecny.org

For information and donations to the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center, visit www.hhrecny.org

 

Our next Memory Keepers GenerationsForward Speaker will be Shelley Greenspan on Thursday, December 17.

 

 

 

 

 

A Ribbon Cutting to Celebrate the New Rebecca and Arthur Samberg Building at the Ossining Children’s Center

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PHOTOS BY GRACE BENNETT

Editor’s Note: ‘Home for the Holidays’ does not get more poignant than contemplating the possibilities for children at the all new Rebecca and Arthur Samberg Building during a ribbon cutting ceremony under a beautiful fall sky at the Ossining Children’s Center. Dozens of supporters and many Westchester County officials turned up to share kind words and a whole lot of‘oohs and ahhs’ upon viewing the gorgeous 2700-square-foot facility, located at 32 State Street in Ossining. – Grace Bennett

The bright and modern new space, a news release from the Center noted, will bring the Center’s programs under one roof while meeting the growing need for infant, toddler, preschool and before and after-school care in the greater Ossining community. More info from the Center:

Rebecca Samberg, of Ossining, cut the ribbon for the new building named for her and her late husband Arthur Samberg. “Art and I have always felt strongly that every child should be able to have the kinds of experiences that our children and grandchildren have had,” said Mrs. Samberg. In the new space, 60 additional children can gain the skills necessary to thrive and succeed. The large state-of-the art classrooms, indoor gymnasium, large indoor common area, and multiple outdoor recreation areas provide ample space for children to learn, grow and play while staying healthy and safe. “Though welcoming children back during a pandemic is challenging,” said Assistant Executive Director Claudia Weger, “our flexible spaces, along with outside entrances for every classroom, allow for social distancing without compromising the integrity of our programs.”

OCC has been a fixture in Ossining for 125 years, helping families thrive, while maintaining partnerships with a range of community and cultural organizations. “The ceremony today is a testament to the interconnectedness and strength of our community,” said Executive Director Howard Milbert. The project was awarded grants from New York State through the auspices of Assembly member Sandra Galef and State Senator David Carlucci. OCC’s $17.8 million capital campaign to support the project has raised more than $15 million to date. The campaign also includes an expansion of OCC’s scholarship program to enable additional working families to enroll their children at the Center. For more information, visit

www.ossiningchildrenscenter.org

Honoring State Champions

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The Byram Hills 2007 soccer and 2015 baseball state championship teams were honored in mid-October at a sign unveiling near downtown Armonk. Alumni, community members, the Board of Education, and members of the North Castle Town Board attended.

“Our children going to school right now need role models to know what success and achievement look like,” said Dr. Jen Lamia, Byram Hills Superintendent. “Every day that they drive into this town, they can see what you have done and aspire to achieve. When you come home, you can see that your town and your school district stand behind you and take intense pride in you.”

Michael Schiliro, North Castle Town Supervisor, was pleased to see the students get the recognition they deserve. “This sign will be here forever to show your families that you were state champs,” said Mr. Schiliro. “We can’t wait to add more teams to the sign.”

Ira Schulman, Byram Hills Board of Education President, addressed the crowd and said, “The most important message I’d like to convey is that we are not training athletes to be students but student-athletes.  At Byram Hills, academics will always come first.”

Rob Castagna, Byram Hills Athletic Director, thanked the parents for their trust and support and congratulated the athletes and coaches. “It is such an honor to work with Coach Allen and Coach Saunders,” Mr. Castagna said. “What they bring to the athletic program is off the charts and hard to measure.”

‘Feed Me Fresh’ Virtual Fundraiser Raised $100,000 to Support Quality Child Care Access

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Proceeds from the 16th Annual Fundraiser for the Mount Kisco Child Care Center to Provide Financial Support for Working Families in Need

L-R: Keira Treanor, Event Chair and Vice President, Board of Directors MKCCC/ Joe DiMauro, Owner, Mt Kisco Seafood/Dawn Meyerski, Executive Director, MKCCC

Mt. Kisco, NY – (October 19, 2020) – Mount Kisco Child Care Center (MKCCC) held its 16th Annual Feed Me Fresh: A Virtual Evening on Saturday, September 26th. The fundraiser was broadcast virtually for the first time and raised $100,000 for the Center’s need-based scholarship program. Viewers enjoyed a tour of the Center, honoree recognition, guest video appearances from long-time FMF restaurant partners and live raffle drawings. Approximately half of the 195 children who attend the Center receive financial support to help provide access to quality child care for working families.

This year, MKCCC was thrilled to honor its teachers and staff. MKCCC is the only local child care center to have remained open throughout the pandemic, and by sharing best practices helped guide other organizations as they made the decision to re-open. In addition to serving families of essential workers, the Center welcomed enrolled families who needed a safe and nurturing place for their children to be during this unprecedented time. The teachers also engaged remote families so that all students felt connected. Lessons and activities were sent home through Google Classroom while Zoom classes were created for all children including show and tell, music, dance, circle time and story hour. MKCCC’s in-house kitchen staff prepared and packaged 160 meals each week for 8 weeks throughout the summer and distributed them to more than 40 families. MKCCC’s Social Worker continues to be in touch with every family to ensure all their needs are being met – physical, social and emotional. Despite constant and varied challenges, the Center ran a full-day, 8-week summer camp program which also included a swimming component at the town pool.

 

 

 

 

 

When public schools reopened in September, a new Remote Learning Program was developed. Dawn Meyerski, Executive Director, explains: “With school districts all having different scheduling, we needed to add a third program for our school-age children. The Early Morning Club and After-School Program will remain, with the addition of the Remote Learning Program. New teachers were hired, classrooms were reconfigured, and schedules were coordinated with the elementary schools, which ensured a smooth transition to the new school year.” MKCCC teachers continue to pivot to meet ever-changing COVID-19 protocols and requirements, while never compromising their high-quality care and attention for the children.

The Center was also pleased to honor Tommy Calandrucci and Gianni Piccolino of Stone Fire, Basilico and Sunset Cove restaurants. Gianni and Tommy are long-time supporters of Mount Kisco Child Care Center through their participation in Feed Me Fresh: An Edible Evening for the past 14 years. Since March, they have been providing meals to the community and directly to MKCCC families needing support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About Mount Kisco Child Care Center:

Mount Kisco Child Care Center is a non-profit, NAEYC-accredited childcare facility serving families in Northern Westchester since 1971. MKCCC provides exceptional and affordable early care and education to a diverse group of children from three months to eleven years of age. Experienced and professional teachers, an innovative curriculum, unique programs, such as the JEWEL Intergenerational Program and Feed Me Fresh, its garden-to-table, sustainable nutrition program, and a state of the art facility contribute to create an incomparable early childhood education experience.

MKCCC is located at 95 Radio Circle, Mount Kisco, NY. For additional information, please visit www.mkccc.org or call (914) 241-2135. Follow MKCCC on www.facebook.com/MKCCC and www.twitter.com/MKCCC10549 for the latest news and updates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News and Photos Courtesy of the Mount Kisco Child Care Center

Attendance Picking up at the Westchester Table Tennis Center

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Yearning to get back to the Westchester Table Tennis Center for a few rounds of fun and energizing ping pong?  Any pongers at home eager to take it out of the basement?

Attendance at the popular Pleasantville facility continues to tick up, according to Will Shortz, proprietor, who shared that 14 tables were in use earlier this week, and that “everyone is following Covid-19 protocols pretty well.”

Several bits of Westchester Table Tennis Center news to pass along:

Three tournaments are coming up in the near future:

  • October Little Open (Oct. 24-25) (this weekend)
  • November Little Open (Nov. 21-22)
  • 1st Westchester Two-Person Teams Championships (Nov. 27-29) (Thanksgiving weekend)

Details on these events + registration forms are on westchestertabletennis.com

A Two-Person Teams Championship is new. “We’re hosting it because this year’s Joola Teams Championships in D.C. were canceled. Our tournament has three categories: players’ combined ratings U3800 (Friday), U4500 (Saturday), and Open (Sunday). $8,000 in prizes. A full day of competition each day. This should be interesting and fun.”

In addition to the usual prizes, the November Little Open next month will be a qualifier for a new national T2 Challenge, with a purse of $27,000. An announcement about this will come shortly from the USATT.

Note: Because New York State currently limits attendance at our facility to 50 people at a time, spectators are not allowed at the above (except for one parent, guardian, or coach for a minor). There will be no open play on the above dates until after 7 pm.