The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

New Castle Releases

Rally in Mount Kisco to Support of the Omnibus Child Victims Act

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Elected officials, advocates, and survivors of child sexual abuse will gather August 31 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Mount Kisco Hall, 104 Main Street, Mount Kisco. The rally, hosted by Ali Boak for State Senate, www.boak4ny.com, intends to highlight the need to protect New York’s children by extending the statute of limitations for those who   are sexually abused.

Facts:

 

●     1 in 5 children are sexually abused.

●     New York’s current laws demand that a victim of child sexual abuse claim justice before their 23rd birthday.

●     Research shows that it takes an average of 21 years for a victim to disclose their abuse.

●     Most victims of child sexual abuse cannot seek justice because the statute of limitations kicks in.

SCREENAGERS: Growing Up in the Digital Age; Sept 7 & 8 Film and Forum

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Town of New Castle release:

screenagers1-e1454601138886-630x457Chappaqua Moms, a virtual Facebook community which includes over 6,800 members, is thrilled to present its first-ever “live” community event: SCREENAGERS: Growing Up in the Digital Age.

•Kids spend on average 6.5 hours a day on screens and that doesn’t include classroom or homework screen time.
•Boys spend on average the equivalent of 1.5 days on video games every week •Some recent studies show us that screen time increases dopamine production and causes behavior that mimics addiction.

During the frenetic yet optimistic fresh-new-notebook feeling of the first week back at school, we are inviting parents *along with* their children ages 10-18 to come view then talk about a topic that pervades all of our households. As seen on Good Morning America, SCREENAGERS: Growing Up in The Digital Age is selling out audiences around the country. SCREENAGERS is the first feature documentary to explore the impact of screen technology on kids and to offer parents proven solutions that work. SCREENAGERS is blazing a new model of distribution, known as a community viewing model, in hopes that parents and educators can start a conversation nationwide about how screen time impacts our lives.Screenagers

Physician and filmmaker, Delaney Ruston decided to make SCREENAGERS when she found herself constantly struggling with her two kids about screen time. Ruston felt guilty and confused, not sure what limits were best, especially around mobile phones, social media, gaming, and how to monitor online homework. Hearing repeatability how other parents were equally overwhelmed, she realized this is one of the biggest, unexplored parenting issues of our time. Ruston turned the camera on her own family and others—revealing stories that depict messy struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction. Examples of stories, include Hannah’s, an 14-year old victim of social media bullying that stemmed from her trying to hide her use of social media from her mom. Issues are different for boys and girls, and the film also follows Andrew’s story, a straight-A student whose love of video games spins out of control when he goes off to college and lands in an internet rehab center.

Interwoven into these stories, are cutting edge science and insights from thought leaders such as Peggy Orenstein, Sherry Turkle, Simon Sinek, as well as leading brain scientists who present evidence on real changes happening in the brain. SCREENAGERS goes far beyond exposing the risks of screen time, but reveals multiple approaches on how parents and educators can work with kids to help them achieve a healthy amount of screen time.

Our moderators for the Wednesday September 7th event will be Audrey Mann Cronin, Dr. Benna Strober, Eileen Kenna, a 5th grade teacher at Bell, and Greeley Counselor Caroline D’Agastino. Our co-moderators for the Thursday September 8th event will be the Reverend Dr. Martha Jacobs and Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe.

Audrey Mann Cronin is a digital culture entrepreneur, a communications consultant, the founder of blog and Facebook community, Our Digital Daughters, the creator of mobile app LikeSo: Your Personal Speech Coach, and, most importantly, the mother of two Greeley teenagers.

Dr. Benna Strober is a child and adolescent psychologist in private practice in mount Kisco. She is an avid writer, sharing her knowledge and expertise on all things teens. By far, her biggest accomplishment and joy is being the mom of 3 Greeley daughters.

Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe serves as Senior Rabbi for Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester in Chappaqua, New York. He earlier served Congregation Emanu-El of San Francisco from 2007-2014. In recent years, Rabbi Jaffe has served on the boards of the Jewish Community Federation’s Peoplehood Commission, the San Francisco Interfaith Coalition, and the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis and has served as a regular columnist for the J Weekly newspaper. He currently serves as co-chair of the Chappaqua Interfaith Coalition.

The Rev. Dr. Martha Jacobs is the Senior Minister at The First Congregational Church in Chappaqua. Prior to her coming to FCC, Martha was a professional hospital chaplain for more than 20 years, serving New York Presbyterian Hospital – Columbia Campus, and United Hospital in Port Chester, NY. Martha’s work involved providing care to patients and family members of all ages and religious beliefs. Her training included conflict and mediation skills.

This event is generously sponsored by Camp Breezemont, Armonk New York and the New Castle Arts & Culture Committee. All proceeds from ticket sales will be divided evenly among these 2 local charities: “Chappaqua Cares” and “A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure”.

WHERE: Wallace Auditorium – Chappaqua Crossing, 480 Bedford Rd, Chappaqua

Sept 7th (7:15-9:15pm): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chappaqua-moms-presents-screenagers-growing-up-in-the-digital-age-tickets-26287338136

Sept 8th (7-9pm): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chappaqua-moms-presents-screenagers-growing-up-in-the-digital-age-tickets-26287391295

Movie Trailer: www.screenagersmovie.com<http://www.screenagersmovie.com>

Julie Scott, founder of Chappaqua Moms, stated “It’s ironic that the very thing that brings us together— in this case, the same screens featuring the Chappaqua Moms page on Facebook— is also causing consternation at home (Instagram/Snapchat/Games/texts etc.). The back-to-school week double-showing of the film Screenagers will hopefully serve a dual purpose of bringing our community together as well as provide some food-for-thought about teaching our kids how to better balance the need to be connected with the need to disconnect”.

Kimberly L. Gilman, Director of Development A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure Foundation, stated “A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure is thrilled to be chosen by Chappaqua Moms as one of the charities to benefit from the ticket sales to the ScreenAgers movie! Cancerous brain tumors are the #1 cancer related death in children. The mission of A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure is to raise funds and awareness for scientific research leading to new, promising treatments and a cure for children’s brain cancer”.

Jessica Reinmann, co-founder of Chappaqua Cares, stated “I’m thrilled to be a beneficiary of this production. We are thankful that Chappaqua Moms has continued to be a place where we can rally the troops for those in need. Chappaqua Cares our mission is to connect local philanthropic organizations with residents in the community who want to help with fundraising, donation drives and by volunteering. Our goal is to broaden awareness of our neighbors in need and facilitate successful interactions between the community and these organizations.”

Town Board member Lisa Katz, who chairs the New Castle Arts & Culture Committee, stated “I am so excited that we are able to use the Wallace Auditorium to show SCREENAGERS. The Arts & Culture Committee is committed to expanding arts & culture throughout New Castle. This is especially important for our kids who are growing up in this digital age. The Wallace Auditorium will allow us to host so many great community events like this throughout the year”.

New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein stated ”I would like to thank the co-moderators of Chappaqua Moms,Julie Scott and Georgia Frasch, for bringing SCREENAGERS to our community. I would also like to thank Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, Rev. Dr. Martha Jacobs, Audrey Mann Cronin, Dr. Benna Strober, Kim Gilman & Jessica Reinmann for their help in organizing this incredible event. I look forward to the two showings of Screenagers & the discussion about the impact screen technology has on our lives and what we can do to find a healthy balance”.

Contact list:

Second Screenplay Writing Workshop with Ariane Von Kamp

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Ariane Von Kamp

From Concept to First Draft

Tuesdays Oct 25,  Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

At Scattered Books in Chappaqua

What we will do:  From creative brain-storming techniques to high or low concept development, to outline, treatment and first draft, you will come out with a working first draft for a feature narrative screenplay, TV Pilot or short film script.

How we will do it: This workshop introduces students to utilizing techniques for story development, formatting, problem-shooting and scriptwriting. By the freedom of the unconscious mind, in a relaxed, open and receptive state, we are able to hear and create authentic, unique story. This workshops’ aim is to develop confidence in finding one’s inner voice by which to begin telling story. Then, we will introduce story components vital to story structure, write outlines, treatments and scenes, culminating into viable, completed first drafts.

What to bring: Students are invited to bring story notes, a focused mind, sense of humor, H2O, a journal and writing instruments. Tuition $300 per student, maximum 16 students. If the student wishes to take an advanced workshop, starting in Mid-October (recommended), there is a $100 discount for both. 50% Deposit required prior to class to secure spot, 50% due at time of the first class.

About Ariane: Ariane is a native New Yorker and Los Angeles transplant. She studied acting and writing at the New School for Social Research’s MFA program with the Actors Studio in New York City, Yale School of Drama in London and The Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-Upon-Avon.  She is a member of SAG-AFTRA, WGA and The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. She has been seen on The Late Show with Jay Leno, Anchorman with Will Ferrell and the comedy series STRIP MALL.

Her mentors include, Mitzi Shore of the Comedy Store,  Charlie Laughton, Elizabeth Kemp and Martin Landau of the Actor’s Studio and Screenwriter/Director Shane Black (IRONMAN 3, LETHAL WEAPON).

After success of her play “Trials of the Fire,” which premiered in NY, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue film studies as a Screenwriting Fellow at the American Film Institute, were she was mentored by Frank Pierson (DOG DAY AFTERNOON) and Leonard B. Stern (GET SMART).

Ariane has worked for Creative Screenwriting Magazine, The Screenwriting Expo and Random House Books. Conversely, Ariane is Co-Founder of Theatre ARK in Manhattan, NY with James Kloiber of the Actors Studio. Ariane is a private Script Coach and WGA Writer For Hire. She has held improv workshops at Groundlings School Training Center and taught Improv Comedy to kids at Hollygrove Children’s Home, with Diane Keaton’s Dream Street’s Summer Camp for Kids and Lincoln High School’s after school writing program. As a natural Producer, Ariane has produced and performed comedy in Los Angeles at The Improv, The Comedy Store, Stand-Up NY and, produces webisodes and short films.

Ariane currently lives with her Papillion, Gigi and is a Judge for NATAS Emmys 2016. She has worked on NBC’s Maya & Marty in Manhattan with Maya Rudolf and Martin Short, and while on haunts is drafting a comedy feature film for Anna Farris and a collection of comedy industry adventures, “Call me Dagmar, Please.”

Ariane grew up in Chappaqua and went to Horace Greeley High School, SUNY Albany and Yale School of Drama at Oxford University’s British American Drama Academy. She is excited to be back home to work with creative minds and fellow writers in Chappaqua. THE SUBLIME, her first book, a treatise on the Nature of the Sublime from Longinus to Van Gogh will be available in Barnes & Noble in December, and, can be purchased in First Edition, at Lulu, Press, Inc.

“The first time I saw Dead Poet’s Society and Breakfast Club, I think it was while I was a Junior at Greeley. I thought, that’s the job I wanted to do, but where do you go to write for movie school? Is that even a thing? Do movies come out of the woods or magically appear out of thin air? So, I started studying acting at the Actor’s Studio and I was reading for parts where the women’s dialogue was so unnatural or stereotyped. Women were one-dimensional and unintelligent. There was a horrible gap between the women I personally knew and the women portrayed on TV and in Film. That’s really why I started writing. To share my perspectives and find an authentic voice, not only for only women characters, but to create complex, whole, sometimes tarnished, but always genuine voices. I find no better place to write and ponder than Chappaqua, looking out into the woods by Whippoorwill Pond, sipping a freshly brewed Cappuccino from Susan Lawrence  and taking a stroll through Gedney Park. What more inspiration do you need? ”

 

Child Hunger Rountable Highlights Hunger in County

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Lowey, USDA Official, and Food Bank for Westchester Hold Child Hunger Roundtable and Food Bank Tour in Hottest and Hungriest Season

66,000 children in Westchester are food insecure; 13,600 in Rockland enrolled in school nutrition programs

Families of kids receiving free and reduced lunch in school face hundreds in additional costs in summer

Congress must save and strengthen child nutrition programs

Elmsford, NY – Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) and United States Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon yesterday toured Food Bank for Westchester’s distribution center and held a roundtable on helping children at risk of hunger during the summer.

“The dog days of summer shouldn’t also be the hungry days of summer,” said Lowey, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Yet tens of thousands of children in the Lower Hudson Valley are hungry in the months they don’t attend school where they receive vital meals. We can’t expect children to grow, thrive, and succeed if they are hungry. That’s why I’m working with Food Bank for Westchester and USDA Under Secretary Concannon to pass legislation to save and expand summer feeding programs and other nutrition initiatives for millions of American children and families.”

Under Secretary Concannon said, “The USDA has long recognized summer as a vulnerable time for kids and has been focused on closing the food security gap that occurs during the months when school is out of session. Since 2009, more than 1.2 billion meals have been served through the Summer Meal Programs, fueling kids and teens throughout the summer and helping to ensure they are healthy and ready to learn when the school year begins. Alongside Congresswoman Lowey, New York State, the Food Bank for Westchester, and other partners, we will continue our commitment to the New Yorkers most in need.”

President and CEO of the Food Bank for Westchester Ellen Lynch added, “One in five people in Westchester County are food insecure, and 33 percent of those people are children. We thank Congresswoman Nita Lowey and USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon for their visit today and are grateful for their efforts on behalf of children and families. With their help, we are optimistic that we will be able to expand our summer feeding programs and make sure that more children receive the nutritious food they need and deserve.’’

Millions of American children are food insecure, including 66,000 in Westchester County, according to the Food Bank for Westchester. Many go without the nutritional support they receive at school during the summer months, including up to 25,000 Westchester students in grades five and under who receive free or reduced lunches in school. In Rockland County, according to People to People for Rockland, food insecurity affects 9.5 percent of the population, including 13,641 children enrolled in school nutrition programs. The Food Bank of Westchester officials said that, based on Feeding America estimates, families need an additional $318 for meals in the summer for each child who loses the benefit of free or reduced school lunch programs while school is out.

Following a tour of the Food Bank for Westchester’s impressive distribution center, Lowey and Concannon heard from hunger relief advocates, youth agency and nutrition program representatives, and school officials about the dire circumstances facing many local families and proposals to close the meal gap.

Joe Allen, Chairman of the Board for People to People for Rockland, which served nearly 47,000 individuals last year, said, “Since the recession began in 2008, the number of Rocklanders needing the services of the People to People pantry increases virtually every single month. In the throes of summer, the situation gets more severe. Too many parents now dread the financial strain that comes with feeding their families in the summer, traditionally the season of rest and relaxation.”

Elmsford Union Free School District Superintendent Joseph Ricca said, “Too many of our children are living in a constant state of uncertainty and anxiety about finding their next nutritious meal. During the summer months or holiday school recesses, these concerns are exacerbated. We must continue to work hard to support our neediest children and their families by providing them with opportunities to secure the food that they need during these challenging times. We are grateful to Congresswoman Lowey, Under Secretary Concannon and the Food Bank for Westchester for continuing to bring these dire circumstances affecting our children to the forefront.”

Congress is overdue to pass a Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill. Many related programs expired last summer, were temporarily extended, and will expire on September 30th. The bill Republicans passed in the House Education and Workforce Committee in May to reauthorize the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 would put more children at risk of hunger year-round.

The partisan bill’s shortcomings include:
· A higher threshold for the Community Eligibility Provision, which helps schools with high poverty rates provide free breakfast and lunch to all students;
· Block grants and decreased funding for states in place of vital and successful initiatives like the Summer Food Service Program and school lunch and breakfast programs; and
· No permanent authorization and less funding than is currently provided for the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) for Children pilot project.

As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Lowey has strongly supported the Summer EBT program since 2010 and President Obama’s proposal to expand it nationwide, including for New York families. It provides debit-like cards for food purchases during the summer to families with children in free and reduced lunch school feeding programs. Concannon said Summer EBT has helped reduce the most severe food insecurity by one-third during the summer months and enabled children at risk of hunger to eat more nutritious meals in the eight states where it operates.

“Thankfully we have great organizations like People to People for Rockland and the Food Bank for Westchester to fill the hunger gap,” said Lowey. “Our communities are strongest when our economy helps Americans secure good jobs that fully support their families and when the government safety net is sufficient to help when they need it. When Congress returns to Washington in September, ending hunger for millions of young Americans must be a top priority. Our children are counting on us to put food on the table, and we cannot let them down.”

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The Joy of Reading and Playing Music to Sunshine Kids

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Visiting the Scattered Books bookstore for a special “Reading with Rabbit Storytime” in downtown Chappaqua was the highlight this week for a group of children from the Sunshine Children’s Home–a full-time residential care facility for children with medically complex needs or life-threatening illnesses, located in the Town of New Castle and nearby Ossining.

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Simple pleasures that many kids take for granted — like visiting a book shop — can be harder to come by for the kids at Sunshine, many of whom have very limited mobility. Fortunately, a growing number of local businesses and charities in New Castle and Ossining are showing their commitment to finding creative ways to bring these enriching experiences to their most vulnerable young neighbors – the children at the Sunshine Children’s Home.

Says Jeannine Killenberger, a Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES teacher at the Sunshine Children’s Home: “It’s so wonderful for the children to have these opportunities to be exposed to a new and different environment where they can feel like they’re part of a neighborhood and have a connection to their community (Town of New Castle).”

The Mike Risko Music School-Band also joins this growing number of local businesses and community members in New Castle and Ossining that have been showing their support, kindness and generosity to Sunshine. Nine very special preschool graduates enjoyed a very special performance this month when Ossining’s Mike Risko Band gave a live musical performance for their preschool graduation ceremony.

Sunshine2 (2)“When we realized that the Sunshine Children’s Home preschool graduation would fall on Make Music Day, which is a global celebration of music, we knew we had to do something really special,” says Miriam Risko. “While we had musicians doing pop-up concerts all over the community that day, I knew this was one performance I wanted to do myself. It was an honor for me and our band to be able to perform for these kids.”

Recently the trendy Chappaqua retailer Hip Kids Lounge held its first “Creative Kids’ Market” featuring the arts, crafts, jewelry created by local artists, which benefited the Sunshine Children’s Home aquatics program.

The Chappaqua Cares community group that supports a variety of charitable causes, planted flower boxes at the home last spring. And, many residents of the surrounding communities are active volunteers at Sunshine.

“We are so appreciative to be part of the warm, generous and supportive community of New Castle,” says Linda Mosiello, Sunshine Children’s Home administrator. “Many of the businesses here have been reaching out to us, and many residents of neighboring communities volunteer here.”

“It feels so good to all of us, especially to the children and staff, to be accepted as an integral part of this wonderful Westchester community of kind-hearted people,” she added.

The mission of the Sunshine Children’s Home and Rehab Center is to create a loving and supportive environment that provides the highest level of quality pediatric care for children who require post-acute medical care and/or rehabilitative therapy, combined with psychological and developmental interventions. For more information, visit www.sunshinechildrenshome.org.

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