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Benefiting Mental Health And Music Education: A Call for Entries Announced

November 12, 2017 by The Inside Press

For ‘Living Proof’: A New Multi-Arts Evening of Performances

TARRYTOWN, NY (November 2017)—The Mental Health Association of Westchester (MHA), The Lagond Music School, and Music & Miles: Changing Minds are pleased to announce a call-for-entries for Living Proof, a new multi-arts evening of energizing performances.

To be held on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, Living Proof will feature individuals sharing their personal and inspiring stories of resilience, recovery and mental health issues. The evening of expressive arts will benefit the Miles Applebaum Music Scholarship Fund and The Mental Health Association of Westchester while demonstrating the power of the arts as a vehicle in sharing one’s story of healing in the face of adversity, as well as a significant tool for recovery.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Miles Applebaum Music Scholarship Fund, established to honor and remember Miles Applebaum, a guitar student who majored in music performance at Lagond Music School and later the Boyer School of Music and Dance at Temple University. During Miles’ year studying music abroad, his studies were interrupted by an onset of symptoms associated with trauma and depression. Ultimately, the depth of his emotional pain proved too powerful for his gentle soul, causing him to take his life in 2014 at age 21. The Scholarship Fund was established last year to carry on Miles’ dream of providing aspiring musicians the opportunity to ignite their passion and study music at Lagond Music School, a nonprofit musical haven for students of all ages.

Proceeds will also benefit The Mental Health Association of Westchester (MHA), a community-based non-profit that provides behavioral health services for more than 12,000 children, teenagers, adults and families each year. In addition to its direct services and advocacy work, MHA hosts numerous suicide prevention, intervention and post-vention trainings and discussions throughout the year.

Expressive arts submissions may be in the form of a monologue, essay, music, dance, poetry, improvisation, photography, drawing or painting. Applicants who wish to be considered for the performance may find more details and the application form at www.musicandmiles.org. The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2017. Applicants who are chosen to advance will be notified, and, if selected, an interview will be scheduled to meet with representatives from the agencies.


For more than 70 years, The Mental Health Association of Westchester has promoted mental health in Westchester through advocacy, community education and direct services. MHA offers a range of services that are recovery-oriented, trauma-informed and individualized to promote recovery and wellness. To learn more, visit www.mhawestchester.org.

Lagond Music School is a charitable organization dedicated to music education and live music performance. Lagond seeks to identify and serve a diverse community of students, and provide a stimulating, creative environment that generates enthusiasm and motivation for music. It is innovative and dynamic, taking a professional approach in teaching not only the technical and theoretical knowledge of music, but the application of it in the professional world. For more information, visit www.lagondmusic.org.

Music & Miles: Changing Minds celebrates life and supports music education and performance while raising awareness for mental health and suicide prevention among teens and young adults. Proceeds raised by Music & Miles: Changing Minds benefit The Miles Applebaum Music Scholarship Fund at Lagond Music School, as well as behavioral health nonprofits. For more information, visit www.musicandmiles.org.

Filed Under: Westchester Tagged With: Lagond School of Music, Living Proof, Mental health, Mental Health Association of Westchester, Miles Appelbaum, Music & Miles Changing Minds

A Summer Solstice and ‘Interconnected’ Energy at the On Your Mat For Mental Health Yoga Event!

June 22, 2017 by Inside Press

 ‘A calm, peaceful, introspective evening’ lead by Beryl Bender Birch continued MHA of Westchester’s work in spreading awareness and removing the stigma

By Amanda Kraus

Nearly one in five Americans experience mental illness first hand. Considering this staggering fact, it is likely that everyone is affected by psychological diseases in one way or another. We all know someone–a sister or brother, parent, friend, or coworker–who struggles with one or more of the myriad of mental illnesses. But if mental illness is so prevalent in our society, then why are we so reluctant to talk about it?

In order to get Westchester County thinking, The Mental Health Association of Westchester (MHA) hosted an “On Your Mat For Mental Health” yoga event, in which Beryl Bender Birch, a renowned yoga instructor, lead a yoga class for all ages and abilities, in White Plains’ J Harvey Turnure Memorial Park.

It was meant to be; the rain held out, giving way to a beautiful, temperate evening, that also happened to be the summer solstice and the International Day of Yoga. The park was graced by the soothing, unique sounds of the Brooklyn-based group, House of Waters, preceding the yoga class, as well as a Yoga Marketplace, which featured local vendors, businesses, and organizations.

Before handing over the stage to Beryl, Charlotte Ostman, the CEO of MHA shared a few words. The purpose of hosting this event was to raise awareness of the issues surrounding mental illness as well as funds for their organization, and most importantly, to start a conversation within the community. “Shame, stigma, and discrimination have no place in our organization,” said Ostman. What better way to bring the community together than through yoga, a practice that not only benefits us physically, but also mentally and spiritually.

“Yoga isn’t just what you do on the mat, it’s what you do in your community to keep mentally and physically healthy,” remarked Birch upon gracing the stage. She spoke about the mental and spiritual benefits of yoga, and how it can help us keep in touch with ourselves and the present moment. Accompanying the conversation of mental health is the spread of practicing yoga. When we can acknowledge that yoga and health are undeniably connected, we can make more progress in our communities and our lives.

Even Beryl couldn’t deny the incredibly interconnected energy that was flowing throughout the park.  I even forgot that we were in the middle of a bustling city. It was a calm, peaceful, introspective evening, that unfortunately had to draw to a close. But it doesn’t have to end there; the conversation is just starting. It takes one to influence many, to influence many more. A community is only great if it supports everyone in it. Since everyone is affected by mental illness, it is important that we get everyone talking about it. Once we normalize mental illness, we can begin to rid of its stigma.

Inside Press summer intern Amanda Kraus is a rising junior at Tulane University studying English, Philosophy, and Psychology.

Filed Under: New Castle News, Westchester Tagged With: Beryl Bender Birch, Get on your Mat for Mental Health, Mental Health Awareness, The Mental Health Association of Westchester, Yoga

Seeds of Giving and Sharing Grow too at the Pleasantville Community Garden

June 17, 2017 by Inside Press

By Molly Alexander

Community is defined as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.” While it’s not hard to find in many places, it can be easier to grow. David Juros and his son, Devon Juros, were eager to change lives through such a simple concept: a community garden.

Pleasantville Community Garden. Photos by Molly Alexander

Most people don’t know that at least one fifth of Westchester County needed food assistance about three or four years ago. Thanks to Devon and David, this number has most likely gone down as the food availability goes up. When Devon, age 11 at the time, heard this statistic in school, he felt the need to take action. Devon and his family had always volunteered together, helped with food preparation for Midnight Run and worked in soup kitchens but it just wasn’t enough. He came up with the idea to make a community garden so that everyone would have food because the garden’s harvests would go to local food pantries.

 It took about three years to learn exactly what was needed to garden, let alone funding tasks. Devon and his father had very little experience gardening besides Devon’s grandfather having a veggie garden and other family history of farming. Although Devon did have some knowledge under his belt, there was plenty of learning to do for a larger garden.

David and Devon also had to raise money and apply for grants, as well as create an organization and gain support from the community all from nothing. Finally, in June of 2014, 100 supporters came together and built the garden and planted the first seeds of the future.

In the community garden, they mostly grow simple foods because people who can’t usually afford such extravagant vegetables don’t really know how to cook with them in the first place. For example, kale is an example because it is both hard to work with, and those who don’t have enough to eat won’t bother their time with it. Good examples include green peas, sugar snap peas, tomatoes, squashes, peppers, and lettuces. They plant peas in early March, which grow until November depending upon the weather. Spinach and carrots can grow in the cold weather.

However, David and Devon don’t do this planting solo. While they usually maintain the garden, they host big events for the community where people can bring their kids and come help out. The community also has the opportunity to “own” the garden for week, meaning they manage it from Sunday to Friday, checking the water levels, weeding and/or harvesting the garden if necessary. David said that this is a good opportunity for families with children, seniors who want gardens but may not have the time or the room, and plenty of teenagers have signed up on their own. “It really teaches the community about growing,” David added.

 David has described his work with Devon as an incredible learning process, and is grateful for all the support they’ve received and for the 200 people working in a year who gather food every Saturday and attend food donation events. Together, they have grown over 34,000 pounds of organically grown food, and there are still more people to get involved. The American Community Gardening Association highlights some of the most important purposes of a community garden to be community development, stimulating social interaction, beautifying neighborhoods, producing healthy food, conserving resources and creating opportunities for recreation, exercise and education. “It does so many important things,” David agreed. “It creates a sense of community, adds green to our environment which is very important and it helps to get people more involved in the growing system.” His advice to anyone interested in having a community garden or even their own garden is to go through with it.

David’s last piece of advice to other communities considering a garden: “Devon and I started with no knowledge and I think we’re pretty successful in the way we’ve done it. It only took a few conversations. It’s important for communities to plant fresh food for those who can’t afford it.”

Molly Alexander, a junior in the LIFE School at Horace Greeley High School, is an intern for Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk Magazines.

Filed Under: Westchester Tagged With: Community gardens, Feeding the Hungry', Midnight Run, Pleasantville, Pleasantville Community Garden, Westchester community garden

MHA of Westchester’s YOGA Mega-Event: ‘Get On Your Mat For Mental Health’ is June 21

May 5, 2017 by The Inside Press

“One of The World’s Most Inspiring Mega-Yoga Events” Returns to White Plains This Summer to Raise Funds For Mental Health

The Mental Health Association of Westchester to Host Get On Your Mat For Mental Health

WHAT: Get On Your Mat For Mental Health is an outdoor mega-yoga event that raises vital funds for The Mental Health Association of Westchester. The event is expected to welcome more than 500 guests and will feature live music from House of Waters (“a sight to behold” – Time Out New York) and an hour-long yoga class suitable for all levels, taught by renowned yoga teacher Beryl Bender Birch. Get On Your Mat for Mental Health is a “Best of Westchester” award-winner and has been named “one of the world’s most inspiring mega-yoga events” by Well + Good.

WHO: 

      • Beryl Bender Birch, legendary yoga instructor who has been teaching yoga for more than 40 years. Bender Birch founded the Give Back Yoga Foundation, created the concept of “Power Yoga” and has been hailed as the “perfect guide to help us all appreciate the rewards of yoga” by Katie Couric
      • Lorin Richardson, Fios1 Reporter and Emcee of Event
      • Charlotte Ostman, LCSW-R CEO of MHA as of June 5, 2017
      • Dr. Adam Elias, MHA Psychiatrist
      • MHA Client, to speak about how MHA has supported him through his recovery journey.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 21, 2017

5:30 p.m.  Check-In and Registration open; live music; yoga marketplace

Remarks from Special Guests

6:30 p.m. Yoga Class with Beryl Bender Birch

WHERE: Turnure Park, 26 Lake Street, White Plains, NY 10603

WHY: Get On Your Mat For Mental Health is an energetic and empowering community-driven event that illustrates the positive impact of yoga on mental wellness while raising critical funds to benefit The Mental Health Association of Westchester, which provides vital support to more than 10,000 children, teenagers and adults each year through a variety of person-centered and trauma-informed services and programs. By attending this event, community members join our #MentalHealthMatters campaign, which raises awareness for mental health issues and helps end discrimination and stigma.

###

For more than 70 years, The Mental Health Association of Westchester has promoted mental health in Westchester through advocacy, community education and direct services. MHA offers a range of services that are recovery-oriented, trauma-informed and individualized to promote recovery and wellness. To learn more, visit www.mhawestchester.org.

The Inside Press is a proud Media Sponsor for this event.

Filed Under: Westchester Tagged With: Event, Get on your Mat for Mental Health, mental heath, MHA of Westchester, Yoga

New IPic Theater in Dobbs Ferry Aims to “Redefine the Movie-Going Experience”

April 30, 2017 by Inside Press

By Nancy Huehnergarth and Grace Bennett

Dobbs Ferry, NY, April 29— Couples who are looking for an extraordinary night out at the movies may wish to consider the premium plus seating at the new iPic theater, which will open in Dobbs Ferry on May 5th. The words plush, luxurious and romantic barely do justice to this innovative, dine-in movie theater that offers intimate two-person pod seating with reclining chaise lounge chairs, blankets, pillows and exotic cocktails and delicious food ordered at the touch of a button.

Fully reclining premium chairs (personally designed by IPic’s CEO Hamid Hashemi) in the two seat ‘pods’ each come with a cushy blanket, and a box of popcorn awaits you too. IPic describes how it wishes to give theater goers as comfortable an experience watching movies out as they would have staying home. “No more sticky floors or crying babies or wondering if you will have a seat,” said one IPic representative. It was indeed a very comfy, pleasurable and delicious theater going experience for two Inside Press visitors.

iPic’s “Dining in the Dark” menu (which requires little or no cutlery) has been created by a James Beard award winning chef, Sherry Yard, and the cocktails by one of the country’s top mixologists, Adam Seger. CEO Hamid Hashemi, Yard and Serge were all on hand to answer questions to press who were invited to experience IPic and share news about the opening and offer a sense of the experience with our readers. The American/International menu includes vegetarian and gluten-free items too plus a carry in option: just leave enough time before the show.

IPic, headquartered in Boca Raton, has 16 million members already in their 15 locations in the country.  In this 16th venture into Westchester, IPic’ staff say they are continuing the company’s mission to eliminate all the reasons people have stopped going to the movies, “whether it’s the sticky floors or crying babies. We want to present an experience like no other.”

Seats should be reserved in advance and if you join one of iPic’s membership programs, you’ll get first dibs at tickets to upcoming blockbuster movies as well as discounts. While you’ll pay a steeper price for your iPic seats, the sumptuous surroundings and staff pampering are well worth it. Just make sure you don’t get too cozy in your pod seating. It’s so comfortable and relaxing, you may doze off and miss half of the feature film!  Visit IPictheatres.com for membership and price information.

 

 PHOTOS BY Grace Bennett

Master Mixologist Adam Seger uses hefty amounts of Ginger, made from scratch, in several of the cocktails.


Ready to dine as you enjoy the movies? ‘Ninja’ wait staff are just a button call away. “They will speak softly and take your order.”
Had dinner already? IPic offers an innovative cocktail menu if you simply want to enjoy a drink with your popcorn. P.S. A box of popcorn is included with premium plus seats too.

Filed Under: Westchester Tagged With: Dobbs Ferry, IPic, Movie Experience, Movies

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