The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

New Castle Releases

“Legally Blonde” Composer Lawrence O’Keefe Returns to Greeley High School

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Laurence O'KeefeHorace Greeley’s Senior Class Musical, Legally Blonde, is thrilled to announce that Class of 1989 alumnus Legally Blonde composer Lawrence O’Keefe will be coming back to his Alma Mater for a special event tomorrow, March 2nd from 1-3 pm in the Greeley Auditorium.  Mr. O’Keefe, composer of Legally Blonde and Batboy: The Musical comes to Greeley to discuss his latest project, Heathers: The Musical, with the cast of Greeley’s Senior Musical Legally Blonde.

O’Keefe, along with his co-writers, collaborators, and cast members of Heathers, will discuss the process of mounting a new production, as well as preview numbers from his new show, opening in NYC later in March.  Members of the Senior Class Musical cast will also have the opportunity to preview numbers from their production of Legally Blonde for Mr. O’Keefe.

Travis Amiel, a student producer and performer for the Senior Musical said, “Mr. O’Keefe is a part of the theater world I hope to join one day, and having this opportunity to learn from him is a total dream.”  Said fellow student producer and performer, Ella Vanderbilt-Fried, “I’m so excited to see what Mr. O’Keefe is working on now.  It’s a great opportunity for the cast to be able to meet the person who wrote the music we’ve been singing for months.”

The Senior Class Musical production of Legally Blonde will be April 3, 4 and 5.  Proceeds from ticket sales go to the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund.

Victorious Change for Women in DMV Policy

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Assemblyman Buchwald DMV Press Conference1In a victory particularly important for women, Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Westchester) announced at a press conference that, in response to his inquiry and subsequent efforts, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will now provide a much simpler process to change middle names to maiden names on an individual’s driver’s license upon marriage. The DMV will only require a marriage certificate to make this change. Previously, the process had proven to be costly and time consuming.

“This is a victory for women and married couples across New York,” said Assemblyman Buchwald. “I am pleased the DMV has modernized their procedures to the benefit of newlyweds, especially the growing number of women who choose to keep their maiden name as their middle name. We do not need to be filling up court dockets with routine name change applications. Clarifying this long-standing policy will not only make this process easier and more affordable for couples across the state, but it will reinforce the equality of both partners in a marriage while simplifying the lives of professional woman.” .

This is a practice that has grown over the past few decades, with famous examples including former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and civil rights leader Coretta Scott King. The trend has particularly increased in recent years. The new policy recognizes that middle names now often change at the time of marriage, and such changes should be just as easy for newlyweds as altering their last name. Prior to Assemblyman Buchwald’s inquiry, the DMV often only recognized a change of middle name when the individual pursued one of two difficult pathways. One possibility was to provide a series of documents that was sometimes impossible to obtain. Alternatively, an individual could change their name legally through the court system, a burdensome process that would take several months and cost at least $100 in fees. Assemblyman Buchwald’s inquiry updates the much-needed system so that a middle name can be changed to a maiden name simply by providing a valid marriage certificate.

According to a recent Chicago Tribune article,[1] the practice of women keeping their last name as a middle name after they marry has quietly taken hold in the U.S., where studies show that 90 to 95 percent of married women take their husbands’ last names. Studies indicate that between 3 and 25 percent of married women nationwide are using their maiden names as middle names. And about 18 percent of women at the marital-name-change website, MissNowMrs.com, have taken their maiden names as middle names in the past six years.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for 40 years,” said Danielle DiBiase Esposito, a resident of the 93rd Assembly District. “After I married my husband, I was able to change my middle name to my maiden name in every aspect of my life – in business, on travel documents and on my credit cards – except on my New York State driver’s license. My daughter-in-law, recently married to my son, has also been successful in changing her name in all other facets of her life except her New York State driver’s license. The State policy was confusing, burdensome, and quite frankly, too much of a hassle for working parents like myself and my daughter-in-law to continue pursuing. Because of the efforts of Assemblyman Buchwald, New York State will finally recognize my maiden name, and in doing so, simplify my professional life and honor the legacy of my family.”

“On behalf of the Professional Women of Westchester, we would like to thank Assemblyman Buchwald and the DMV for addressing this practical issue that affects professional women in Westchester and across the State,” said Professional Women of Westchester Vice President Rose Colonna. “As professional women, many of us start our careers while we are single and, in many cases, it becomes a dilemma as to which name to use professionally once we are married. With this sensible change in State policy, we can focus our time and energy on our businesses, career and families. This is one less cumbersome obstacle for professional woman.”

“I personally recall arguing with an employee at the DMV forty years ago trying to use my maiden name as my middle name, and being told that it was simply not possible, and illegal,” said League of Women Voters of Bedford, Lewisboro and North Salem Co-President Katherine Flannery Dering. “It’s hard to believe that it has taken this long to resolve the right of women to carry their own maiden name as their middle name. I express my thanks to Assemblyman Buchwald and the DMV that this change has finally happened in New York.”

“This is a no brainer,” said Women’s Enterprise Development Center Executive Director Anne Janiak. “My daughter, who works part time and has two small children to raise, recently tried to change her middle name to her maiden name on her driver’s license, and she found the process was just too time-consuming and burdensome.  These are the kinds of common-sense policy changes our legislators should be focusing on, and I thank Assemblyman Buchwald and the DMV for simplifying and streamlining this process for women.”

“Today is a great day for women in New York,” said American Association of University Women Westchester Branch President Jane Pendergast. “This change in State policy, prompted by Assemblyman Buchwald and implemented by the DMV, is a reflection of the increasing number of women in our contemporary society who wish to hold onto their family identities as a student, in the workplace and at home. Times have changed for women in New York, and I’m proud our state policies are changing with it.”

“The fact that a married woman is now able to use her maiden name as her middle name on her driver’s license without a court order process and a hefty fee is an important victory for women,” said Woman’s Club of White Plains Co-President Cathy Schauber. “Thank you Assemblyman Buchwald and the New York State DMV for updating this long-needed policy.”

“The League of Women Voters of New Castle heartily supports this new streamlined procedure making it easier for married persons to change their name on their driver’s license,” said League of Women Voters of New Castle Co-Presidents Sheila Miller Bernson and Jennifer Mebes Flagg. “We thank Assemblyman Buchwald and the DMV for adopting this new simplified system.”

Assemblyman Buchwald heard of these unnecessarily burdensome requirements regarding name changes from personal friends who shared their marriage stories. The Assemblyman and his fiancée, Lara, are set to be married this March.

Temple Beth El Appoints New Senior Rabbi

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rabbi jaffe headshotThe Board of Trustees of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester has announced the hiring of Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe as its new Senior Rabbi effective July 1, 2014.  Rabbi Jaffe will succeed Rabbi Joshua Davidson, who left Temple Beth El over the summer to become the Senior Rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York. Interim Senior Rabbi Alan Fuchs will continue to lead the congregation until June.

Rabbi Jaffe will assume responsibility for a congregation of over 520 member families, with a growing Nursery School, a vibrant Religious School, and a commitment to innovative worship, lifelong learning and social justice.

He has served Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco as Rabbi since 2006.  In 2010, he took on the oversight of the synagogue’s educational programming, from Preschool through adult education.

Jaffe was born in Hawaii where he was raised amid the multi-cultural backdrop of Honolulu.  He received his BA in philosophy from Duke University and studied at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem.  Before his ordination from Hebrew Union College, he served as the Education Director for URJ Camp Newman in Santa Rosa.  He also pursued a pre-MBA career at Gap Inc. in San Francisco before realizing his true passion lay in teaching within the Jewish community.

He looks forward to becoming part of our Chappaqua community.  As he stated at today’s congregational meeting, “this is the optimal opportunity for me and my family – to work with the clergy and the families at Temple Beth El.”

According to Temple Beth El president, Lisa Davis, “with his intellect, spirituality, and warm, engaging personality, Rabbi Jaffe energized the (search) committee and the board in a way we only imagined possible.  We are confident that he is the right person to lead Temple Beth El into a bright, exciting future.”

 

 

 

 

At UJA’s “Sports Talk:” New York Yankees Radio Voice Suzyn Waldman

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Ken Fuirst of Chappaqua, David Perlmutter of Chappaqua, Suzyn Waldman, Barbara Bel of Scarsdale, and Richard Leroy of Briarcliff
Ken Fuirst of Chappaqua, David Perlmutter of Chappaqua, Suzyn Waldman, Barbara Bel of Scarsdale, and Richard Leroy of Briarcliff

Radio personality Suzyn Waldman, the radio voice of the New York Yankees, was the featured speaker at UJA-Federation of New York in Westchester’s Eighth Annual Sports Talk on Tuesday, January 28, 2014. The event, which drew more than 175 guests, took place at the Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, in White Plains.

When Suzyn Waldman became part of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s “Women in Baseball” exhibit as the first full-time female color commentator in the Major Leagues in the spring of 2006, it was another “first” for the award-winning journalist and sports commentator. During the evening, Waldman spoke about spending more than two and a half decades overcoming the obstacles that go along with being a female sports broadcaster. She also shared an insider’s stories about Major League Baseball, the Yankees, and issues facing baseball today.

Guests also had the opportunity to learn about the work of UJA-Federation, the world’s largest local philanthropy, which cares for New Yorkers of all backgrounds and for Jews everywhere, connects people to their Jewish communities, and responds to crises — in New York, in Israel and around the world. To highlight the organization’s mission, Event Chair Ken Fuirst of Chappaqua told stories of three individuals whose lives were changed by its work.

“If you’ve ever wondered how you make a difference through UJA-Federation, now you know,” he said. “These are three out of the more than 4 million people who we touch each year.”

Event chairs were Barbara Bel of Scarsdale, Ken Fuirst, Wayne Josel of Larchmont, Steve Marlowe of Scarsdale, and David Perlmutter of Chappaqua. Richard Leroy of Briarcliff Manor served as auction chair.

About UJA-Federation of New York
For more than 95 years, UJA-Federation has inspired New Yorkers to act on their values and invest in our community for the biggest impact. Through UJA-Federation, nearly 60,000 donors address issues that matter most to them, pooling their resources to care for New Yorkers of all backgrounds and Jews everywhere, to connect people to their Jewish communities, and to respond to crises close to home and around the globe. Working with nearly 100 network beneficiary agencies, synagogues, and other Jewish organizations, UJA-Federation is the world’s largest local philanthropy; our reach spans from New York to Israel to more than 70 other countries around the world, touching 4.5 million people each year. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, please visit our website at www.ujafedny.org.

Art Garfunkel to Perform in Katonah

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Art Garfunkel
Art Garfunkel

Katonah – The Harvey School announces it is hosting a special evening with the iconic and incomparable Art Garfunkel who continues his highly anticipated comeback to the stage in 2014 with a performance in Katonah billed as Harvey Presents: An Intimate Evening with Art Garfunkel Friday, March 14, at 8 p.m.  The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member and diamond-selling artist had taken time off to recover from a vocal ailment.

“The voice is back. I’m in flight again,” says Garfunkel. “I believe I have grown through adversity. A new creation has emerged that is truly exciting me–my stage show.”

Garfunkel has begun performing a series of intimate warm-up shows since late 2013. The Columbus (OH) Dispatch said, “His achievement was considerable…One of the evening’s singing highlights came as he added a beautiful vibrato to the rich mid-range part of the lovely original ‘Perfect Moment.’ More often, the singer concentrated on the song, scoring with a romantic take on Antonio Carlos Jobim’s ‘mature love song’ ‘Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars).’ ‘Someone To Watch Over Me’ displayed the continuing rightness of Garfunkel’s interpretation of durable standards (12/13/13).”

The Cleveland Plain-Dealer addressed the show’s format, saying, “For 90 short minutes, Garfunkel enthralled the capacity crowd with songs, stories and even a question-and-answer period. Some of the tales and questions focused on the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s partner, Paul Simon. Some were about his young son, Beau. Some were about his party days in California. Some were about his distaste for texting and technology, and all elicited rapt, hear-a-pin-drop attention…It’s a joy to hear and share the contentment in his songs and stories (12/14/13).”

In a recent interview on “CBS This Morning,” the legendary performer did a reading of his “Letter to Myself,” where he looked back at his younger self:  http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/art-garfunkel-writes-a-note-to-his-younger-self/.

Fans can also visit the singer’s website, where he chronicles–in order–every book he has read since 1968, his 60 favorite songs of all time, acting credits, poetry and discography: www.artgarfunkel.com

Blessed with what The New York Times described as a “beautiful countertenor,” Garfunkel has made an indelible mark on the music world as both a solo artist and half of the unrivaled Simon & Garfunkel. He has also enjoyed a successful film career, published a book of poetry and released 12 original solo albums, including the most recent Some Enchanted Evening in 2007. Since then, he has been busy as a husband and father to his two sons, 23-year-old Arthur Junior and 5-year-old Beau Daniel. He is also an avid walker who has walked across Japan, the US (celebrated in the 1997 concert DVD Across America and now Europe.

Tickets for Harvey Presents: An Intimate Evening with Art Garfunkel in the Lasdon Theater of The Walker Center for the Arts cost $65. Seating is extremely limited. To purchase tickets, fans should go to www.harveyschool.org to “Harvey Presents: An Intimate Evening with Art Garfunkel” and click on the link to the ticket site.