Just Between Us

Building Awareness for Armonk for Autism 5K

March 22, 2020 by Grace Bennett

Inside Press Publisher Grace Bennett with the Tateos supporting Armonk for Autism

I was having a stressful morning. No further elaboration needed, but stepping into the Tateo household, the sheer warmth and welcome I felt made that all instantly dissolve. I had arrived for the cover photo shoot with Cathy Pinsky who was assigned to capture the amazing family behind North Castle’s annual Armonk for Autism 5k with photos to accompany Ella Ilan’s article. For the last couple years, I’d noticed signs all over town alerting residents to the walk. We finally decided to delve a little deeper in time for April which is World Autism Month–finding out that the walk was Morgan’s sister Reese’s idea and that she spearheaded it only made this family’s efforts that much more poignant. Kudos to the Tateos for building greater awareness and for fostering community too. In the meantime, spring is in full swing. We have a couple unique ‘Happenings’ suggestions and ‘so much more’ in these pages. We are also hard at work on May and June editions. As usual, we welcome your ideas and your support, too. Write to grace@insidepress.com

Publisher Pride

February 22, 2020 by Grace Bennett

We are officially in our 17th year, and I couldn’t be prouder of this company launched in 2003, and especially of our team whose mission is to create features which shine a light on all the wonderful, big hearted people living here and all the fun and vital happenings in this area–and also to give our sponsors an effective place to share their news too! We have two terrific new additions to our team: Robin Chwatko, as advertising manager, and Sherry Topel, who is managing accounts, too.

If we missed your story or sponsorship ‘in print,’ remember to contact me about our online edition, insidepress.com, for possible publication and/or advertising options, too. In the meantime, I invite you to enjoy just one of 11 springtime ‘Inside Press’ editions–Inside Chappaqua & Millwood, Inside Armonk and the new Inside Briarcliff/Ossining/Pleasantville Magazine (which we are calling ‘BOP’ Magazine) that we produce. We love sharing the joys of your hometown and supporting local efforts to protect our precious environments. I love hearing from readers, too. Drop me a note anytime: grace@insidepress.com

Enjoy!

Why this Town’s a 10

November 26, 2019 by Grace Bennett

I’m wrapping up a sweet 16th year of publishing in Chappaqua feeling personally grateful, and convinced this town’s, well, a 10! At a Nov. 6th ceremony unveiling a New Castle Holocaust Memorial, a new place for reflecting and remembering, a bench was also dedicated in loving memory of my dad, Jacob Breitstein, a survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau, ‘Poppy’ to many. Hundreds attended, including President Clinton and a host of public officials. Each speaker (I was very honored to speak too!) addressed the same basic wish – for anti-Semitism and all hate to stop. Story about who made it happen and how: https://www.theinsidepress.com/the-new-castle-holocaust-memorial/

As we went to press, another humongous project, the revitalization of downtown Chappaqua, ‘Streetscape,’ was finally being heralded as very near complete by Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein and former town board member Adam Brodsky, largely regarded as Streetscape’s chief overseer.

On Nov. 16th, Greenstein and Brodsky cut a ribbon surrounded by a newly launched ‘Discover Chappaqua’ town site team. Newly elected officials, town supervisor-elect Ivy Pool, and town board members elect Jeremy Saland and Jason Lichtenthal also attended the festivities.

In another golden gesture, a bench was dedicated in the memory of John Magnotta, the long-time owner of Chappaqua Cleaners and Tailors. As recently stated by Greenstein, our residents make this town what it is.

Take Dawn Evans Greenberg, for example. Beth Besen highlights her monumental accomplishments for the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, for (914) Cares–be sure to check out her (914) Cares co-founder Jessica Reinmann’s ‘where to volunteer’ tips–and more! Also, read about Dawn’s closest associate at the CCBF, Madeline Finesmith.

Finally, the issue is packed with ‘Top 10’ articles, such as Stacey Pfeffer’s inspiring personal fitness journey (‘Part 1’), must-knows about candidate for Congress David Buchwald (our very own state assemblyman), a roundup of holiday arts and cultural events–and all kinds of timely advice, too, from our generous sponsors!

Wishing everyone a love-filled holiday season, and a glorious start to 2020!

The Light at the End of the Tunnel…

November 13, 2019 by Inside Press

… is a Cause for Celebrating in Downtown Chappaqua this Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Event to feature a Ribbon Cutting and Memorial Bench Dedication Honoring John Magnotta of Chappaqua Cleaners & Tailors

By Grace Bennett

Town Gazebo Photo by Marianne Campolongo

A few words. The Town of New Castle is gearing up for a big party on Saturday. It is promising “sidewalk sales, music, art, food, a scavenger hunt and more,” said Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein, who led New Castle together with the town board and department personnel through an ambitious ‘Streetscape’ project to meet infrastructure and aesthetics challenges in downtown Chappaqua.

For most of Chappaqua’s downtown merchants, and for the residents here, the seemingly near completion of the project is likely to be music to anyone’s ears–the town experienced stressful delays testing merchant and resident patience as it impacted livelihoods and ease of travel, commuting and shopping for residents, with many or most making peace with it for the promise of the changes and improvements anticipated for the town’s future. So a downtown celebration heralding its at least near completion will surely bring a massive sigh of relief from all, even while work continues toward completion in different locations of the town. Greenstein has been regularly reporting continuing updates in his E-newsletter to the town and sharing these into social media on Facebook pages such as Chappaqua Moms and New Castle Community Discussions.

The event, called “Discover Chappaqua—A Celebration of All Things Local!” promises a festive ribbon cutting to take place at one of the project’s finished pedestrian plazas, its most prominent one to date, complete with tables and chairs for enjoying your lunch or sipping your latte at the downtown intersection of Greeley Avenue and King Streets, outside of 1 South Greeley Avenue, a downtown corner commercial building. The safety improvements on that corner are a cause for celebration, too.

Everyone should come on down for this poignant reason too: The town plans to dedicate a bench to John Magnotta who passed away last year. “Magnotta was the prior owner of Chappaqua Cleaners & Tailors (also known as George’s Men’s Shop) and a merchant in Chappaqua for 47 years. His family has served Chappaqua for 85 years, spanning three generations, beginning with their grandfather in 1934,” said Greenstein.

The town is also coinciding this event with the launch of a new promotional, but advertising free site for the town (noted per earlier conversations with the town) called ‘Discover Chappaqua’, * www.discoverchappaqua.com “This new site, Greenstein noted, “will highlight all that Chappaqua has to offer—a great place to shop, eat & live.” Greenstein thanked Town Supervisor elect Ivy Pool, and a volunteer team for producing the upcoming site. They include Dana Berk, Linda Fears, Peg Kafka Sackler and Monique Ross Banks.

See you on Saturday! Grace

Grace Bennett is founder, publisher and Editor in Chief of The Inside Press, now in its 16th year.

*For fair disclosure too, the Inside Press had received a modest commission from the Town of New Castle to help subsidize and produce a guide called Discover New Castle; all of its content which was completed last summer and mailed in a print edition in a back to school edition of Inside Chappaqua & Millwood Magazine has been shared with the DiscoverChappaqua.com team to help launch the new town site.

Cozy at Home

October 26, 2019 by Grace Bennett

I’m writing this on a grey, damp day in October, cozy in my loose ‘at home’ clothes. I guess the gloomier, chillier weather had to arrive sooner or later after one of the most spectacular Septembers on record. I was grateful for the extra stretch of summer, but equally so for the rains that help us transition through seasons, too. Mother Nature knows what she’s doing if we don’t mess with her too much! And as we head full full steam ahead into fall and winter temps, I do ponder the comforts of home, and feel ever grateful for my own. When it’s grey, there are fewer temptations. I get more of my ‘serious’ work done (like writing this column!). But I can also opt for lazy.

I might surf more, catch up on a grocery item list or other errands. If I’m feeling social, I’ll check movie listings at the Jacob Burns Film Center and inquire with a friend or two. But no matter what I do, I always feel that at home days maximizing your time solo or with family are every bit as precious as time out on the sunniest of days.

If you’re reading your second edition of Inside Biarcliff & Ossining on a grey day too, I have some good news. I promise it will give you plenty of reasons to smile, whether it’s Carine Feist’s ‘Friendsgiving Menu’ or Peter Chatzky’s ‘etcetera’ humor essay on ‘Loving Briarcliff.’

Please enjoy our second edition which celebrates two town histories-aside from our cover story on the fabulous historical society in Briarcliff Manor, don’t miss learning about the ambitious educational undertakings of the Sing Sing Prison Museum and also the inspiring vision of the Bethany Arts Community. We hope to continue trying to capture different slices of life and culture in the area… rain or shine. Happy Thanksgiving!