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“…and the Crowd Went Wild.”

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Article and Photo by Dawn Evans Greenberg

With a warm-up act of über hip band, Echosmith, and an army of young volunteers escorting the press and manning walkie talkies like old hands–plus a diverse crowd representing every color, age and background–it was clear on Saturday that Hillary Clinton’s official campaign kickoff on Roosevelt Island was pure 21st century.

Arriving by tram to one of Manhattan’s gems is always a thrill, but on Saturday morning, even more so–crammed in with excited Hillary fans some from as far away as Texas. The new FDR Park is still under construction but looked beautiful against the Manhattan skyline with the UN in view just across the river.

With no further adieu, no warm up speeches, no Cuomo or DeBlasio in sight, Secretary Clinton was announced…and the crowd went wild. Toddlers waved flags from dads’ shoulders and many wondered if they were watching history being made. hillary rally crowd

Clinton spoke of her most passionate causes: preschool for all children, womens’ and immigration rights and inclusion for all members of society. The poignant story of her own mother, abandoned as a child, held the crowd rapt. Dorothy Rodham credited the kindness of others with her survival; a lesson the Secretary made clear she embraces.

The Secretary ended to rapturous applause as she rallied her base for the long fight ahead. Fight is a word that came up often, even in the campaign’s Spotify playlist. One has the sense that she is 100% ready for it.

Dawn Greenberg is the founder and executive director of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival and the executive director of the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce. In her spare time, she’s an avid follower of politics.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey on the Fight for Gun Control: “If Only as Simple as Apple Pie…”

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By Grace Bennett

Congresswoman Nita Lowey expressed her frustration over the lack of progress in protecting children and teens from gun violence, as she accepted an “Apple Pie” Award during a private Bedford event celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Million Mom March and promoting the Brady Campaign, which advocates universal background checks, to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

Million Mom Honorees L-R: Jill Brooke, Donna Dees-Thomases, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, and Elise Richman.
Million Mom Honorees Jill Brooke, Donna Dees-Thomases, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, and Elise Richman.
With Rep. Lowey: (L) Alex Dubroff, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and Jessica Meller, volunteer for Million Moms March.
With Lowey here: (L) Alex Dubroff, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and Jessica Meller, volunteer for Million Moms March.

“We are not seeing progress,” Lowey told those gathered. “It’s hard to believe we are celebrating 15 years.”

Lowey didn’t mince her words regarding mainly Republican legislators (“and the few Democrats who strayed”) voting down key gun control measures, at different points stating they are “fearful of the NRA.”

“After Newtown, we thought that battle was over, but there are members of Congress who are a little thickheaded,” she said.

Lowey also added that the fight was far from over and is the co-sponsor of ever more proposed legislation (see below). “As a mom, I know our voices are powerful,” she stated.

Lowey recalled that the founder of the Million Mom March, Donna Dees-Thomases, had originally imagined a turnout of 10,000.

The group swelled to a whopping 750,000 who assembled in a rally at the National Mall in Washington D.C. on Mother’s Day 2000. A release from Lowey’s office noted Secretary Clinton’s attendance that day too and former Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, and that approximately 200,000 additional activists in more than 70 cities across the country also participated.

Prior to the Congresswoman’s arrival, some 25-30 guests enjoyed tea and lemonade and treats under a tent sharing stories of their activism…or their horrific loss.

Moms honoring Congresswoman Lowey, remembering the Million Mom March...and keeping the heat ON.
Moms honoring Congresswoman Lowey, remembering the Million Mom March…and keeping the heat ON.

A volunteer with Moms Demand Action and Gun Sense in American, Natasha Natalie Christopher, related that her 14-year-old son Akeal Christopher was shot on June 27th, 2012, by indiscriminate gunfire on the streets of Bushwick, in Brooklyn. “He died in the hospital on July 10th, on his 15th birthday…

“No parent should ever know this kind of pain. While other people are planning their kids’ high school graduations, I am planning a June 26th vigil for my son.” She had arrived with her 8-year old son, Christopher, who has become a “Junior Amabassador” sharing his feelings about what it is like to lose a brother at age five.

Lowey with "Junior Ambassador," 8-year-old Christopher.
Lowey with “Junior Ambassador,” 8-year-old Christopher.

Congresswoman Lowey thanked Natasha for “turning your grief into activism,” and commended Christopher, too. “Your personal story maybe can convince some people.”

Po Murray, chairperson of the Newtown Action Alliance, raised four kids who attended Sandy Hook. She works to advocate for legislative changes, and to build awareness, including organizing an annual national vigil in December to remember all victims of gun violence.
“There’s been a total lack of action from Congressional and State Reps given 30,000 gun deaths a year and 700,000 injuries,” she stated. Some wondered what would be “the tipping point,” or wake up call for legislators while others advocated intiating lawsuits against gun manufacturers. “They are always creating little fires to thwart our efforts,” one attendee noted. “Maybe we need to create a few fires for them too.”

Colette Martin, a volunteer from Queens, described a “silent majority” of gun owners who want to see common sense measures passed. “I have more guns in my home than people,” she stated. “The NRA does not represent me. People leave loaded guns lying around like umbrellas. What the hell does that have to do with the Second Amendment?”

Along with Lowey, also honored during the Bedford event were three individuals central to the first Million Mom March in Washington, DC:

• Donna Dees-Thomases established the original Million Mom March in 2000 after she was deeply affected by coverage of the Los Angeles Jewish Community Center day camp shooting in Grenada Hills, CA, in which five people, including three small children, were killed.

• Jill Brooke, aauthor of “The Need to Say No” and the Editor in Chief of Premier Traveler.

• Elise Richman was an original organizer of the Million Mom March.

Gun violence prevention and gun control are important issues for the New York City area. Suspects on the terrorist watch list tried to buy guns from licensed dealers 2,233 times between 2004 and 2014, threatening national security. Gang members used Metro-North trains to engage in a gun-running scheme to bring weapons bought in Port Chester into New York City for resale. A four-year-old Westchester girl recently accidentally shot herself in the face with a handgun.

In the 114th Congress, Lowey is a cosponsor of:

• The Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act (H.R. 752) that would ban the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition;

• The Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act (H.R. 2283) that would require federally licensed dealers to confirm the identity of individuals who arrange to purchase ammunition over the internet by verifying a photo I.D.; and

• The Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015 (H.R. 1076) that would give the Attorney General the authority block suspects on the terror watch list from purchasing firearms.

Greyston Honors Falkenberg and Karp at 2015 Annual Gala

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Erika, Mike,Deborah, Betty, Ed
Erika, Mike,Deborah, Betty, Ed

Greyston celebrated the success of its programs providing individuals with jobs and the tools to lead self-sustaining lives at its 2015 annual benefit on May 20th at X20 in downtown Yonkers.  Over 300 people attended the event and $380,000 was raised in support of Greyston’s holistic approach to alleviate poverty.

Special honorees this year were Edward Falkenberg, Greyston Board Member, and Erika Karp, Founder and CEO of Cornerstone Capital Group. Both honorees have demonstrated a life-long commitment in support of sustainable business and social enterprise.  Like Greyston, Ed and Erika are committed to providing opportunities for individuals and families as they move forward on their paths to self-sufficiency.

Janet, Mike
Janet, Mike

“I was thrilled to honor two inspiring individuals, Ed and Erika, for all they have done in support of and advocacy for Greyston,” said Mike Brady, Greyston’s President and CEO. “They have both worked tirelessly to institute sustainable enterprises that offer solutions to our country’s most pressing problems.”

Ed and Erika were among a host of inspiring activists, business and philanthropic leaders who attended the gala. State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins, Assembly Woman Shelley Mayer, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore joined in celebrating the success of the country’s leading social enterprise.

About Greyston

Greyston serves more than 5,000 residents in Yonkers and other Westchester County communities by supporting individuals and families as they forge a path to self-sufficiency and community transformation.  Greyston is an entrepreneurial organization that provides jobs, workforce development, housing, youth services and community gardens. Greyston is best known for its bakery, which provides the brownies in Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and offers a complete line of baked goods while providing jobs for the hard to employ. For more information, visit www.Greyston.org

Building Community and More at KMA’s SuperStructure Sunday

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Article and Photos by Matt Smith

Katon-ians young and old, and visitors from near and far, flocked to the Katonah Museum of Art on May 3 to partake in SuperStructure Sunday, the Spring offering of the museum’s three seasonal exhibition events. In an attempt to encourage a “vibrancy within the community,” these events are held once every season—with the exception of bitter, cold winter—to coincide with the launch of a major exhibition at the museum.

“We come up with activities for all ages to create a family-friendly event,” commented KMA’s Manager of Public Programs Margaret Moulton. And, said Education Programs Manager Margaret Adasko, of the day’s specific architectural theme: “Every activity activates the community to make use of the [architectural] tools at their disposal.”

Katonah Museum of ArtThese activities included a Build-A-Village “Design Challenge”, sponsored by Arch-for-Kids, in which children created their own villages out of recycled cardboard boxes and other craft materials. Event participants also had the option of constructing edible architecture by connecting marshmallows and toothpicks.

Those who preferred pen and paper were given the opportunity to visually express how the environment inspires them. Completed drawings were hung by clothespins on the “treehouse,” an exact replica of modernist architect (and designer of KMA’s building), Edward Larrabee Barnes’ private Mt. Kisco home, as designed by famed multimedia artist Chris Larson. William A. Kelley & Company also donated a construction vehicle for the day which kids could climb into and explore.

Additionally, in an effort to “get kids surrounded by these architectural tools,” each of the interior galleries were outfitted with benches containing a variety of TinkerToys, Lincoln Logs, and Legos. Reiterated Adasko, “Our hope is that,” like architects, “it gets them inspired to build.”

KMA art eventA common theme for the day, in conjunction with the central subject of architecture, was that of home — “a small, one-syllable word that has infinite connotations,” to quote guest speaker Pam Hart — and specifically, the idea of “What makes a house a home?”

Of related note, an activity for the older guests was the Oral History Booth, spearheaded by Moulton, wherein participants can share their stories and memories of what a home means to them. “Story sessions can be made with a trained facilitator,” Moulton explained, “or we have DIY interview packets, based on [those used by] StoryCorps.”

This project is not exclusive to Sunday’s event; “it is ongoing through June,” continued Moulton. “So, if you feel inspired, come on in and sign up!” The Katonah Village Library will archive all of the interviews in the Town of Bedford Oral History Project, which has been collecting oral histories since 2007. Participants will also receive a CD with a copy of their individual interview.

IMG_3785Toward the end of the afternoon, Arch-for-Kids hosted a treehouse-making workshop for those guests aged six and under, while the adults took part in a discussion about what makes a home, arranged to generate interest in the aforementioned Oral History project. The discussion was led by local poet Pam Hart, historian and Chair of Bedford Planning Board Dierdre Courtney-Batson, and acclaimed writer Akiko Busch.

Throughout the day, Ladle of Love and Penny Lick Ice Cream Company provided sandwiches, salads, and other treats for the various guests.

At the end of the day, Moulton and Adasko had a goal that the event would strengthen the bond between Katonah residents, reiterating their hope for “a communal village feeling in town.” They also wish to extend special thanks to the event’s main sponsors: The Diebold Institute for Public Policy Studies and William Raveis Real Estate.

Added Adasko, with a smile, “We just hope it’s a really fun day for everyone.” No worries, ladies. That goal was indeed accomplished. You both constructed (no pun intended) a wonderful day.

The Katonah Museum of Art is located just off of Route 22, at 134 Jay Street, in Katonah, NY. KMA mounts ten exhibitions a year throughout its main galleries, Learning Centers, and Sculpture Gardens. The current exhibition, known as Chris Larson: The Katonah Relocation Project, runs through June 28th. For further information, please visit www.katonahmuseum.org. #katonahmuseumofart

Matt Smith, a graduate of Skidmore College, is a regular contributor to The Inside Press, Inc.

Get Ready, Get Set: Discover “Live Action Role Play” at ARC Stages

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Looking for a singular way to commemorate a lifetime milestone? Or a noteworthy evening with friends? There’s a new game in town, literally.

For the first time, a theatrical experience game–a bit of theater-style live-action roleplay (LARP)–is coming to Westchester.

Briarcliff native Warren Tusk, a theatrical experience game designer, will run his popular game, The Dance and the Dawn, a gothic fairy tale for 15 players who waltz and duel while in a search for true love, on Sat., May 2, from 6 p.m.-11 p.m., at ARC Stages, 175 Tompkins Avenue in Pleasantville.

To register to participate, visit www.paracelsus-games.com.
Cost is $25 (students, $15) for the evening.

Warren Tusk
Warren Tusk

There are boffer-style (physical combat) groups at Sarah Lawrence College and scattered throughout the county, but no groups running theatrical LARPS.

Dance, which was funded by a Kickstarter campaign, has been played at The Brick Theatre in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and dozens of times around the world.

Participants fill out a brief casting survey to be fit to the best role for them. There are seven female and six male parts available.

“I’m excited to help people live out their own theatrical narratives through this fun and social medium,” said Tusk. “Dance is the kind of game that makes it easy for new players to get swept up in the action; it’s introduced many to the hobby.”

Dance and other games he has written are also available on his website so people can run a game on their own. Included is a game written by Betsy Isaacson, daughter of author Walter Isaacson, and as well as a private event service for those hoping to feature one of his games at a celebration or simply to engineer a memorable evening in the NY metro area.

While role-play has its roots in early make-believe games, today’s more modern role-playing hobby can be attributed to the mega-popular game Dungeons & Dragons, which, since the 1970’s, spawned worldwide interest in the medium. Live action role play was influenced by D&D, but also includes elements of theater and historical reenactment.

Tusk fell in love, as he puts it, “pretty hard and fast,” with theater LARPing in 2003, when introduced to the medium as a member of the Harvard-Radcliffe Science Fiction Association (HRSFA). “I joined up for the whiz-bang fantasy-fulfillment element of it all,” he says, “but I stuck around for the power and the complexity of the stories that got told.”

As a 17-year-old college sophomore, Tusk was inspired by the opportunity to combine his interests in gaming and theater. He had often performed onstage in his youth and in Harvard student theater. And he was deeply involved playing many kinds of games, from board games and video games to tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons.

Theatrical experience games generally feature a story with pre-written characters, each with their own personality, motivations and goals, but no script. Participants interact with each other while improvisationally playing their characters, choosing their own actions and dialogue. Similar to murder mystery games, a LARP can vary in length from less than an hour to a weekend or longer.

There are various styles of LARPs. Theater LARPs center on improvisational play with elaborate stories and complex characters. Boffer-style, because they focus on physical combat using foam weapons, are most prevalent and best known. Freeform (often “Nordic LARPs”) games emphasize emotional intensity in realistic and minimalist settings and are a game design particular to Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Dozens of college campuses across the country have active groups. There is a strong community in the Northeast and are manifold role-play groups around the world.

Tusk wrote his first game in 2003, but his career as a LARP creator truly began in 2006, when he wrote Dance, based on an innovative tabletop game written by a friend; it draws on sources from philosophy-of-gender theorists to Japanese anime. His study of religion, folklore, bioethics and the law (Harvard ‘05, U Penn ’09) and varied media influences inform his creative work.

“It never really occurred to me, once I knew about these games, that I wouldn’t try my hand at writing them,” says Tusk. “I was embedded in a creative and motivated circle of people; if you cared about something, in that crowd, you’d find a way to try and make it your own.”

Tusk has run his games at Intercon, the annual LARP convention in Massachusetts, and all over the Northeast. His wife, a middle school teacher and fellow Harvard-vintage LARPer, will use a theater LARP in her classroom this spring to teach about the Age of Exploration.