The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Happenings

Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester: 85 Years of Impact

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The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester (BGCNW) is celebrating 85 years of service, focusing on civic advocacy and leadership. Through programs for youth ages 6 months to 18, the Club fosters academic growth, fitness, wellness, workforce development, and leadership skills.

A key pillar of BGCNW’s work is advocacy. In 2023, 18 teens, along with CEO Alyzza C. Ozer, Esq., successfully secured legislation allowing NYS to allocate funds directly to community-based youth mental wellness programs. Special thanks to County Legislator Erika Pierce, who championed the Club as the first community-based organization in the county to receive such funding. As a result, BGCNW has implemented a comprehensive mental wellness program, providing over 5,000 therapy sessions and significantly improving lives in the first year.

In January, Ozer and 18 passionate youth traveled to Albany alongside BGCNW Teen Director Christopher Beaudreault and Donor Impact Officer John Tunas to advocate for continued funding. However, NYS merged after-school funding streams and altered financial eligibility criteria based on real estate values in the Bedford Central School District (BCSD). This change rendered BCSD ineligible for funding even though Mount Kisco Elementary is on the list of NYS Title 1 schools and over 75% of district students qualify for free lunch. The Club now faces a devastating $2 million loss over five years, highlighting the need for equitable funding regardless of zip code.

BGCNW is advocating for Universal After-School support, recognizing that children and teens deserve safe spaces, nutritious meals, and academic and wellness resources. With state-wide eligibility changes negatively affecting many youth organizations, BGCNW has requested additional funding for OCFS-licensed programs. During their Albany visit, the teens also pushed for legislation addressing food scarcity, youth mental wellness, and Learn to Swim initiatives. Drowning remains the second leading cause of accidental death among children under six, yet more than 70,000 children have learned water safety at the Club. The Marlins Swim Team, with 250 athletes, continues to earn national recognition and serves as a pathway to university.

Strong partnerships between government, businesses, and community stakeholders drive meaningful change. BGCNW Youth of the Year, Grace Gerosa, emphasized the Club’s impact: “The Club has helped me develop life skills, gain mentors, and secure a spot at Bucknell University. My voice matters. Without the Club, I wouldn’t be who I am today.” To hear more about advocacy from the Club teens go to: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/KwlVb9Yad4, where they were featured on PIX11 News.

FRANKENSTEIN-THE MOVIE SCORE Comes to the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center March 22

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FRANKENSTEIN-THE MOVIE SCORE is a Production of Friends of Chappaqua Performing Arts Center

Grammy-nominated composer Michael Shapiro’s FRANKENSTEIN-THE MOVIE SCORE with live orchestra will be performed by the New Chappaqua Orchestra under the direction of the composer at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, 480 Bedford Road, Chappaqua, New York 10514 (info@chappaquapac.org) on Saturday night, March 22, 2025 at 8 p.m.  Doors open at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are available at https://chappaquapac.org/

The classic early sound horror film Frankenstein starred Colin Clive and Boris Karloff (in his breakout role as the Monster) and was directed by James Whale.  The hit movie Frankenstein is largely credited with saving Universal Pictures from bankruptcy, breaking all box office records during the Depression era. However, the film was produced prior to through composed film scores being typically used (indeed King Kong in 1933 was the first film to have a full film score).

In 2002, Michael Shapiro composed an orchestral film score for the classic film Frankenstein and was premiered by The Chappaqua Orchestra at the Jacob Burns Film Center played simultaneously with the movie.  Since its premiere in Pleasantville, the score has been performed in one of its four versions (chamber orchestra, full orchestra, wind ensemble, and opera) worldwide over 65 times from St. Petersburg, Russia, Milan, Italy, Bergen, Norway, Trier, Germany, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Manchester, UK, to performances all over the United States and Canada, including the opera version premieres at the Los Angeles Opera and Atlanta Opera and the wind ensemble version by the Dallas Winds at the Meyersohn Symphony Center. 

The Chappaqua performance, under the direction of composer Michael Shapiro, will be the first time the score has been played in Westchester in over ten years.

Cleaning Up the Hudson River… One Bit of Trash at a Time 

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Kayaker collecting trash at Annsville Creek, Peekskill Photo by Makiko Parsons

The Inside Press is again pleased to shine a spotlight on Sweep, the annual mega volunteer event sponsored by Riverkeeper.org, which ‘brings together science, law, and advocacy to heal the Hudson River and safeguard drinking water.”   

With those worthy goals, is it any surprise that Sweep, now entering its 14th year, attracts volunteers who care enough about the Hudson River to devote a day in May to remove trash and debris from its shores and tributaries? 

LET’S GO, VOLUNTEERS 

The Sweep event attracts both families and singles. This past May 4, a record-breaking number of everyday people — 2,720 all totaled — came out. Ages ranged from under a year old to 90.  Katie Leung, the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator for Riverkeeper.org, estimates that 600 volunteers were new to Sweep. 

While those numbers alone are impressive, even more impressive is the level of commitment demonstrated by the stalwart band of local volunteers. 

Leung says, “When volunteers get together at these cleanup sites, there is a sense of community building and partnership that drives them to pick and dig up every single piece of litter and debris that pollutes the river or the tributaries. They want to do a good job cleaning their sites and leave them better than when they found them.” 

Adds Char Weigel, Sweep leader from Sleepy Hollow: “The beauty of Sweep is not just that thousands of people work together to improve the health of our Hudson. It is that thousands of strangers, who might never otherwise meet, find common purpose and a shared soul for a few hours every year on a spring morning.” 

Organizing and coordinating Sweep takes a lot of hard work.  Leung says: “However, I am not alone in this effort, and I’m lucky to have amazing support from the numerous Sweep leaders, as well as my Riverkeeper colleagues. Sweep leaders are a critical part of the event, making sure their volunteer groups are safe while having fun.” 

A SITE TO BEHOLD 

If anyone doubts Sweep is a large-scale endeavor, try coordinating 150 project sites throughout what’s called “the New York City and the Hudson River Watershed.” Each year, Sweep has added more and more sites. This year, the southernmost location was in Staten Island, and the northernmost was in the Adirondacks. 

Leung says, “One of the biggest hurdles is making sure that all the sites get the volunteers that they need. This year, we’re thinking of new ways to recruit more volunteers to some of the less busy sites.” 

Given the “generous support from the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, Riverkeeper expanded Sweep into an ongoing program, conducting cleanups, native tree plantings, and invasive species removals throughout the year,” according to Leung. On top of expanding Sweep, Riverkeeper has given it a new name: Sweep + .  

The ultimate goal is “to continue to grow the number of project sites, volunteers, and impacts each year until Sweep+ is the largest volunteer clean-up program in New York State.“ ‍‍ ‍‌ ‌‍ ‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌ ‌‍‌ ‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍ ‍ ‍‌ ‌‍ ‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌ ‌‍‌ ‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍ 

No update on Sweep 2024 would be complete without hearing about the 27 tons of trash that were collected. In addition to the typical debris like cigarette butts, tires, paper, and plastic, this year’s notables included a VHS tape of “My Cousin Vinny” in surprisingly “perfect” condition; mannequin legs; a playground set; lottery and parking tickets; a metal safe; and a set of house keys. 

 

Volunteers with trash collected at Yonkers Riverfront  Photo by Jasmine Olmo

PLAYING A ROLE 

Let’s face it. Volunteering isn’t for everybody. If that describes you, Leung suggests other helpful things readers can do to protect the Hudson River, along with helping Riverkeeper: 

  1. Stay informed on the latest clean water fights and ways to take action
  2. Become a riverkeeper by donating and becoming a member
  3. Get involved in community science by collecting water quality data at a tributary or waterfront
  4. Report a polluter by submitting a report to the Riverkeeper Watchdog team
  5. Shop for Riverkeeper gear on their website to support their work.

Everyone can play a role in helping to safeguard our precious water resources. 

Leung is correct when she says, “Sweep has so many moving parts and can get pretty hectic, but what overshadows that is the untiring and unrelenting commitment I’ve seen from everyone caring for the river.” 

Let’s hope that Sweep+ 2025 proves to be another record-breaking event! 

Eldest volunteers cleaning up at Sleepy Hollow River Walk    Photo by Char Weigel

 

 

 

Second Generation Holocaust Speaker to Share Unique Story of Missing Licenses Found in Germany

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On Wednesday, January 8th, the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) will host second generation Holocaust speaker Lisa Salko, who will appear on the HHREC MemoryKeeper series to present 13 Jewish Drivers’ Licenses.  

In November of 2018, Salko, her sisters and cousins traveled to Lichtenfels, Bavaria, Germany to reclaim their grandfather’s and two great uncles’ drivers’ licenses which had been confiscated by the Nazis 80 years earlier, shortly after Kristallnacht. The drivers’ licenses had been rediscovered while the town was digitizing records in 2017. What started as a trip about reclaiming a part of their family turned into something so much bigger than them.

13 Jewish Drivers’ Licenses is about a small Bavarian town coming to terms with its darkest past. Salko shares the story of her weeklong trip which coincided with the 80th Anniversary of Kristallnacht.

“I’m grateful to be sharing my personal story with you.” said Salko. “ It’s an important story; one of discovery, reflection, reconciliation, and hope. It is extremely relevant given the rise of antisemitic occurrences in our country today, throughout Germany and Europe, I’ll be taking you on a journey to Lichtenfels, Germany where my maternal family is from, and introduce you to a remarkable group of Upstanders, and share all they have done to educate their community about the Holocaust and the importance of Holocaust remembrance.”

Salko is a member of the HHREC GenerationsForward program, which is composed of second and third generation children and grandchildren of Holocaust victims and survivors, who share their family stories. She has presented 13 Drivers’ Licenses at synagogues, libraries, educational symposiums, middle and high schools; at Manhattanville University, Baruch College/CUNY, the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the German Consulate in New York, the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in NYC, and Yad Vashem: The World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, Israel. This past March, she appeared as the keynote speaker at the HHREC High School Human Rights Institute at Iona University.

Salko also served as a consultant and appeared in a short documentary film 13 Drivers Licenses’,  an internationally acclaimed and award-winning film directed by Ryoya Terao, a Documentarian and Professor at NYC College of Technology/CUNY. The film has won over 30 awards worldwide.

Salko is a real estate professional at Benerofe Properties Corp., a real estate and private equity investment firm based in White Plains, NY.

The program will commence online via Zoom at 7:00PM. The event is free and open to the public. For more information visit the HHREC events page at hhrecny.org.

About The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in White Plains New York that serves schools, synagogues, colleges, churches and civic centers in Westchester and the greater Hudson Valley area. The HHREC 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. HHREC works with teachers and students to help schools fulfill the New York State mandate that the Holocaust and other human rights abuses be included in their curriculum. Since 1994, the HHREC has brought the lessons of the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations to more than 3,000 teachers, and through them to thousands of students. For more information visit www.hhrecny.org call 914.696.0738 email info@hhrecny.org

 

Spooky Times Arrive at the ‘Twilight Village’ of Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow!

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Sleepy Hollow, NY– At the expansive “Twilight Village” now at the historic Philipsburg Manor, through November 3, grab family and friends for a chance to mingle with ghostly creatures and spirited legends! The event is appropriate for all ages even little ones!

Traveling solo? That’s fine! Buddy up with your fertile imagination as you stroll across the dimly lit bridge, contemplate lights bouncing off water or the neon shadows cast on tall imposing trees and the dare-to-enter ‘residences’, all on a perfect autumn night. It’s rather… romantic. Think… date night!

If your imagination goes into overdrive, no worries. Several pop up shops will delight and calm you.

There are games (the teens will especially love) to blow off earthly steam.

But first… consider treating yourself  and your entourage to a clever magic show in which human hosts call upon spirited characters of Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow, while also enlisting audience members participation to achieve feats that will leave you positively agape…

The heart of the evening’s experience includes sightings of a most spirited Headless Horseman, a group of flame throwers, and an animated story teller in the old Barn!

Reach for apple cider donuts  if hunger pangs kick in. This correspondent, starved after the tour, and it being only 7 p.m., also suggests that you be sure to visit one of Sleepy Hollow’s many fine restaurants.

It takes a village. A village devoted to its legends, too.

Either upon arrival, or before you leave, do stop by a packed gift shop for a multitude of colorful gift ideas for everyone on your list, too!

This is one of those ‘you can’t go wrong’ evenings.

May the Spooky Mood Stay with You! 

For more information and for tickets, visit https://hudsonvalley.org/events/twilight-village-at-sleepy-hollow/