Bill Clinton

Chappaqua Cares Third Empty Bowls Event to Fight Hunger & Food Insecurity

November 24, 2017 by Inside Press

Last year’s event raised $100,000 and Helped Feed 17,000 People in Northern Westchester

Celebrity Bowl Auction on Dec. 3 to Include Bowls Signed By Bill and Hillary Clinton & Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda

Chappaqua Cares, an organization dedicated to connecting local residents with philanthropic opportunities for volunteering, fundraising and donating, announces its 3rd annual Empty Bowls Westchester event to fight hunger in Westchester County. The fundraiser, which includes a celebrity bowl auction with bowls signed by President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bette Midler, the cast of Hello, Dolly, Pinkalicious and New York Met’s players, will take place on Sunday, December 3rd at Crabtree’s Kittle House from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

This year’s event will benefit five area nonprofits who help feed families in Northern Westchester county: The Mt. Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry, The Community Center of Northern Westchester, the Pleasantville Interfaith Emergency Food Pantry, Hillside Food Outreach and the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester. Event tickets are $150 and can be purchased online at http://www.chappaquacares.org/empty-bowls. For more information about sponsorship opportunities and donations, contact Empty Bowls Westchester at chappaquacares@gmail.com or on Facebook at: EmptyBowlsWestchester and Twitter @chappaquacares

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In Two Key Ceremonies, Vets Honored During Chappaqua’s Memorial Day Parade

June 2, 2017 by Inside Press

By Justin Ellick

Despite the rain on Monday, visitors and residents of Chappaqua gathered with great anticipation and excitement along King Street and Greeley Avenue for the annual Memorial Day Parade. The rain worried some parade attendees that the festivities might be cancelled, but after the green light was given, all systems were GO!

The Victory Corners Ceremony kicked off the parade at around 10:45 a.m. from the corner of Ridgewood Terrace and Bedford Road, with Grand Marshal James McCauley calling the attendees to attention followed by Rabbi Maura Linzer’s opening prayer. The Presentation of the Wreath was next, as Girl Scout Troop 2395 came to the podium. The ceremony closed with the playing of “Taps” by the Horace Greeley High School Buglers, along with one final appearance by Reverend Holland for the closing prayer.

Following the closing of the Victory Corners ceremony, the line of March was set and ready to begin its trek down King Street and into the heart of Chappaqua. The question of whether the Clintons would be in attendance had been answered earlier when the Clintons emerged from their limousine for their traditional meet up with the town board and greeting of avid fans and longtime supporters, all pre-March, so as not to upset the parade schedule. The Secret Service and New Castle Police Officers directed the parade past the Chappaqua Fire Department and onto King Street, with former President Clinton–former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton-Governor Andrew Cuomo, and State Assemblyman David Buchwald, Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein, and town board members Lisa Katz and Adam Brodsky.

Grand Marshal James McCauley leading the parade. PHOTO BY Grace Bennett/Inside Press

The parade moved through the middle of town to the delight of everyone along the way, with iPhones and cameras ready to support the marchers in every category, whether they were Brownie Troops, our First Responders, or the Clintons, all along the route leading to the Chappaqua Train Station, the parade’s final stop.

The Marshal then called the parade to attention for the Memorial Plaza Ceremony. Right around noon, the sizeable crowd, still well into the hundreds or more gathered around the Memorial at the Chappaqua train station, where a small podium was set up, along with a few chairs for the parade’s esteemed guests and veterans. Invocation would follow with the help of Reverend Dr. Martha Jacobs from the First Congregational Church.

Next, the students of Horace Greeley High School band flawlessly performed their renditions of the “Star Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful. Kevin Moore and the Kerry Pipers followed the performance with their rendition of “Amazing Grace,” which acted as an opening for the two readings that would follow, each of which an oral history of a New Castle veteran who had passed.

Samantha Morrison, from Girl Scout Troop 1033, recited the first reading in honor of Gerald Helm who was formerly a part of the U.S. Air Force.

“On November 24^th, 1943, Gerald’s family received word from the Air Force that their son was reported missing after taking off from Shaw Airfield on a basic training mission,” read Morrison. “On September 23^rd, 1946, over two years after Gerald had gone missing, a skeleton was found near Shaw Airfield and it had been identified as Cadet Gerard Helm.”

Following the readings was the traditional Honor Roll of names that were added to the Memorial at the train station, as the Marshal and a few of his fellow veterans recited the additions to the Memorial.

To conclude the festivities, Girl Scout Troop 2320 approached the front of the podium for one final Presentation of the Wreath and the 5^th New York Regiment—Revolutionary War Squad, executed the Musket Volley. It was at this point, after one final rendition of “Taps,” that the Marshal brought the parade back to attention to conclude the ceremony. This marked the end of what was another wildly successful and fun Memorial Day Parade here in Chappaqua.

Greeley grad Justin Ellick, who has completed a junior year majoring in Media and Communications Major at Ursinus College in Philadelphia, joins Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk Magazines for a second internship this summer.

For a full gallery of our photos of the 2017 New Castle Memorial Day Parade, please visit us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/theinsidepress/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10155358951498669

Prevention Advice Regarding Ticks and Lyme Disease

May 25, 2017 by Inside Press (Edit)

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from a Global Lyme Alliance Forum held at the Chappaqua Library to Spread Awareness

By Justin Ellick

Chappaqua, NY—The Global Lyme Alliance recently held a forum at the Chappaqua Library offering tips to the audience on how to prevent Lyme disease from the get-go. The forum was sponsored by the Town of New Castle’s recently formed Health and Wellness Committee.

The Global Lyme Alliance, which was originally formed by the merger between the Lyme Research Alliance and the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance, is a leading private nonprofit organization across the United States that is dedicated to finding a cure and more accurate testing for the disease. Today, the Global Lyme Alliance has gained national recognition for its commitment to shifting the course of Lyme disease. They’ve accomplished this by funding ground-breaking research, while also expanding education programs for the public and physicians.

While it’s possible to to catch the subtle disease in its early stages,” said Global Lyme Alliance Board Member Derin Walden, “in many cases, the disease can be active for months before it becomes noticeable.”

“Lyme disease wasn’t even a thought,” continued Walden when she spoke at the forum. “There was no tick-bite or rash and it just did not occur to either myself or my doctor. After three to four months of my symptoms just rapidly increasing, with the help of the internet, I finally approached my doctor and asked her to test me for Lyme disease.”

As Walden pointed out when she spoke, there was no rash or infamous bulls-eye mark to provide her with a red flag. As a matter of fact, fewer than half of the people who contract the disease ever develop a rash or a bulls-eye, which has historically served as the universal way to tell whether you’ve caught Lyme or not.

Because of this, it’s important for people to be somewhat educated when it comes to the several possible symptoms of Lyme besides just the rash, as well as adopting safe and efficient techniques to prevent the disease altogether.

The forum was of special import to parents in Chappaqua, as attendees learned from the Global Lyme Alliance presentation that children are at the greatest risk for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. The presentation also offered several prevention tips for parents to implement into their daily lives, as ticks can be a problem all year round, not just in the spring and summer months. One technique the Alliance recommended was to apply EPA-approved repellents like DEET or permethrin to clothing, skin, and shoes as directed. One audience member at the forum shared her experience using one of these repellents, which she says works great for her and her kids.

“I spray my kids’ baseball bags, knapsacks, winter coats, basically their entire wardrobe”, said the Chappaqua mother. “Once it’s dry, the repellent can last up to six weeks. It’s really saved me and my family a lot of stress when it comes to ticks and Lyme disease.”

Besides equipping parents with prevention techniques and tips, the Global Lyme Alliance has also developed a curriculum called “It’s Time to Be Lyme Alert” so that kids of all ages can learn about the disease in a fun and interactive way. The curriculum was designed by the Alliance in partnership with educators to be shared with kids while in the classroom, at camp, or any other youth-focused organizations. The program, available in three age-group levels, includes a student workbook that outlines the objectives and key talking points, along with a supporting teachers’ guide.

Parents and children alike need to learn more about Lyme disease, how to recognize early symptoms and how to prevent it, especially because medical professionals are still learning about it themselves; it’s vital to be vigilant or yourself and your children, the speaker urged. “We want people to be able to recognize early symptoms so that they can be their own advocate when it comes to the disease. Medical professionals are now learning more and more about these tick-borne illnesses, but you have to be your own advocate for yourself and for your kids.” For more information, visit www.globallymealliance.org

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Remembrance and Celebration Encouraged During Keynote Speech of Chappaqua’s Memorial Day Parade

May 31, 2017 by Inside Press

Memorial Day is not a day of mourning, Captain Melkon told those gathered, but instead a day of celebration in which we honor those who fought and fell for the United States, championing their selflessness, loyalty, and courage.

By Gillian Hand

U.S. Army Captain John Malkon with a visitor following the conclusion of his keynote speech. PHOTO BY Grace Bennett/Inside Press

The Memorial Day Parade is among the most cherished of Chappaqua traditions. In honor and remembrance of those who have fought for our nation, residents line the streets of downtown Chappaqua, following the parade from its start at the top of King Street to the concluding Memorial Plaza Ceremony in front of the Chappaqua Train Station. Each year, the community comes together in this celebration of American servicemen and women.

Despite mediocre weather conditions, Chappaqua residents came out in full force for the 2017 Memorial Day Parade. Throughout the light rains most of the morning, supporters brandishing American flags cheered on the marchers and attended the moving closing ceremony. This year, the parade featured many familiar appearances, from AYSO soccer teams, to girl and boy scout troops, to school district bands, to Chappaqua and New Castle administrative board members. Also present were first responders from the Chappaqua Fire Department and the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps, as well as members of the 5^th New York Regiment Revolutionary War Squad, among many others.

Grand Marshal James McCauley and Girl Scouts in a Wreath Laying Ceremony PHOTO BY Grace Bennett/Inside Press

In a greatly anticipated appearance, Hillary and Bill Clinton as well as Governor Andrew Cuomo also marched in the parade together with Town of New Castle’s board and regional leaders as they have done in prior years. Although the rain made this Memorial Day different than it has been in the past, the parade still obtained the important attendance and spirit levels which make the tradition so important to Chappaqua historical identity. As marchers completed the parade route, attendees convened at the Memorial Plaza Ceremony.

Veterans present at the parade were recognized and honored by speakers, and the stories of local servicemen were conveyed to listeners. Among the presenters was keynote speaker, the Army’s U.S. Captain John Melkon of the Center for the Study of Civil Military Operations at West Point. After being introduced by Grand Marshal James McCauley, Melkon discussed the men and women who have lost their lives in service to our nation. He remarked that Memorial Day is not a day of mourning, but instead a day of celebration in which we honor those who fought and fell for the United States, championing their selflessness, loyalty, and courage.

“Their lives are dedicated not to conflict or to death, but to compassion and to light,” said Melkon, tearing up in remembrance of fallen soldiers, including comrades of his own who gave their lives in the line of duty. Melkon’s words were passionate and deeply personal, urging attendees to commemorate the honorable service of those who have fought for the safety of the United States.

The Memorial Day Parade embodies the meaning of community, bringing together Chappaqua residents young and old. Each year, families, neighbors, and friends come out in celebration of servicemen and women and the sacrifices they have made for our nation.

Inside Press intern Gillian Hand is a senior at Horace Greeley High School.

For a full gallery of our photos of the 2017 New Castle Memorial Day Parade, please visit us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/theinsidepress/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10155358951498669

Strong Starts

March 5, 2017 by Inside Press

By Grace Bennett

For the March/April ’17 Spring edition, I focused on ‘strong starts’ in different community arenas—in particular with a special cover story on area libraries written by past Inside Press Editor Beth Besen and photographed by Gary Sapolin. I so admire how our libraries rose to the ‘virtual world’ challenge with a hyper-focus on programming to become safe, nurturing havens for human contact and lively exchanges.

Another strong start includes Habitat for Humanity’s amazing efforts in Chappaqua, so I’m grateful for Janine Crowley Haynes’ interview with the devoted Jim Killoran, too.

Spring cleaning efforts are always a strong start to the season; I think you’ll appreciate the E-tools Dana Wu suggests we consider toward that goal.

We even tackle the topic of marriage! After pondering her own experiences, Miriam Longobardi offers different experts’ advice on navigating a ‘marriage in limbo,’ while, on our final etcetera page, Danika Altman, Ph.D., shares sound marriage-saving advice. And, there’s the usual ‘more!’

Just Between Us again, as time permits, I keep up with political posts and assorted other stories ‘in between editions,’ at theinsidepress.com, and in social media on Facebook, primarily, at Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk Magazines (on both our ‘business’ or ‘group’ pages) which link to Twitter; you can follow my tweets on Twitter https://twitter.com/TheInsidePress . Many insiders also follow my general ‘Grace Bennett’ Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/InsidePress. These posts combined (a single one striking a chord can reach thousands upon thousands of ‘viewers,’) I hope portray many neighbors’ resolve for staying true to ourselves both at home and outside our community.

For such posts (and other news that doesn’t make it into print), please visit the New Castle News, Inside Thoughts and other links at our (I’m proud to say) newly re-designed Inside Press site which you’re in right now, of course! 🙂 Examples include stories on Up2Us sponsored events, including that of a meeting at New Castle Town Hall where several gun violence protection groups met with Congresswoman Nita Lowey to strategize. http://theinsidepress.com/gun-violence-prevention-groups-promote-coalition-building/I assigned the Habitat story to Janine following our social media coverage of a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser which was attended by both Hillary and Bill Clinton for a wonderful jazz night with Daniel Lauter, et al, performing at Chappaqua Station. See pics below!

Online too: my interview with Susan Chatzky who chaired a Planned Parenthood Comedy Night fundraiser; Kelly Leonard’s story about a teenage, interfaith effort on Martin Luther King Day–the teens packaged humanitarian aid to send to Syrian refugees; Up2Us Dawn Evans Greenberg’s profile of the Hudson Valley Justice Center which provides legal guidance to immigrants http://theinsidepress.com/hudson-valley-justice-center-describes-impact-of-trumps-policies-on-immigrant-communities/and a story about a Chappaqua graphic artist, Alex de Janosi, whose anti Trump ‘No’ logo has taken off. http://theinsidepress.com/chappaqua-artists-no-logo-graphic-strikes-a-chord/http://theinsidepress.com/chappaqua-artists-no-logo-graphic-strikes-a-chord/

There’s also nothing quite like the energy and conviction in young people voices, so particularly firing up our site recently were essays by Greeley sophomore Julia Bialek, http://theinsidepress.com/thank-you-mr-president and Aemilia Phillips, HGHS, class of ‘12 and Harvard class of ’16 http://theinsidepress.com/greeley-grads-passionate-plea-to-reject-choice-of-trump-national-for-senior-prom/

Three New Castle young men and a young lady spoke eloquently at a late winter rally organized by the town’s Inclusion and Diversity Committee to protest the travel ban. Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein, Dr. Rev. Martha Jacobs of the First Congregational Church, and Temple Beth El’s Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, each addressed hundreds gathered around the Gazebo. Footage from that inspiring event can also be found on the aforementioned Facebook pages.

And of course, there will be much more appearing online from the time I’m writing this ‘for print.’ Chappaqua is my home, where I raised my children, so I’m proud to and love feeling its vibe and monitoring its pulse.

Shortly before press time too, I was gearing up to moderate a panel of esteemed journalists on March 3 called “Separating Truth from Fiction in the Age of Trump” in a Left of Main Street sponsored forum at Town Hall. Coverage is online now! http://theinsidepress.com/the-fourth-estate-covering-the-trump-administration/

Note too: a non-partisan forum, “Media and Politics: The Impact on our Democracy,” sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New Castle, will take place at the Chappaqua Library on April 6th, 7-9 p.m.

I will continue to embrace community activism and outreach in my heart and in my soul. On a most personal level, that’s a strong enough start for me. -Grace

Bill Clinton in San Francisco: “Hillary will Bring Shared Prosperity”

June 7, 2016 by Inside Press

From his final stop in a California tour, Bill Clinton commended California for its “innovative” successes, and urged supporters to “roll up our sleeves” for GOTV. “You [Californian citizens] have a chance not only to bring primary season to a close by giving Hillary a victory, but to end the general election,” he petitioned, observing that “California has the most innovative Assembly in the country: you gave us a $15 minimum wage, you gave us paid leave.” Local leaders emphasized Hillary Clinton’s commitment to tolerance and diversity and called Bill Clinton’s final stop “a greatest sign of respect to our city,” and rallied for an end to fear of Muslims and Latino immigrant families.

Article and Photos By Skye Hersh

Bayview, San Francisco– Bill Clinton arrived to impassioned applause at the Joseph Lee Recreation Center on Monday evening—the last of 12 stops on his three-day Get Out the Vote tour of California.

“I got caught up in traffic, so I apologize,” the former president offered. The diverse swarm of several hundred—boisterous and packed elbow-to-elbow—didn’t seem to mind his tardiness.

While the former President Clinton was held up, several speakers extended prefatory remarks. Among them, San Francisco Supervisor Scott Weiner and CA Assembly member David Chiu professed their support for Hillary as an undying loyalty to the Clinton family, resolute since Bill Clinton’s tenure in office: “I voted for my first winning presidential candidate in 1992, [and] I’m gonna vote for another winning president this year,”

Weiner declared to enthusiastic cheer, while Chiu insisted that “the fact that the Hillary Clinton campaign has sent the former President of the United States on the last night before election day [in California] to come to Bayview is the greatest sign of respect he can give to our city… [Under his leadership,] we had the longest time period of prosperity and peace.”

These and other speakers hailed Hillary’s ongoing commitment to diversity and tolerance, with only the occasional allusion to a certain Republican presumptive nominee: “We know that other guy is saying that we should fear our Muslim brothers and sisters—that we should fear our Latino immigrant families,” Assembly member Chiu warned. On the eve of the California primary, there was clear concern for a certain enemy, and that enemy wasn’t Donald Trump: throughout, the speakers denounced the ills of Democratic voter apathy.

“Today we will continue to roll up our sleeves and continue to make calls ‘til the polls close; today we will stand on the corner with Hillary signs; today we will make sure people know why she is the best choice as President of the United States,” ¬¬¬¬campaign leaders called out to the horde of Hillary devotees—maybe more of an entreaty than a proclamation.

When Mr. Clinton spoke, he first confirmed California’s stake in his wife’s success: “You [Californian citizens] have a chance not only to bring primary season to a close by giving Hillary a victory, but to end the general election,” he petitioned, observing that “California has the most innovative Assembly in the country: you gave us a $15 minimum wage, you gave us paid leave.”

But breaking from an appeal to voters to hit the booths, Mr. Clinton affirmed Hillary’s suitability as the President of a contemporary America, noting (with another allusion to a certain Republican contender), “You know, America wasn’t so hot for a lot of people 50 years ago. It wasn’t so good for members of a lot of religious minorities. It was really not so good for the LGBT community.”

He vowed that Hillary is committed to a unique 21st century greatness, to a vision of “shared prosperity” and “rising together.” And what’s more, “Hillary should be President because she has an uncanny ability to get Republicans to do things they didn’t think they would do.”

He cited three pillars of Hillary’s promise: a future economy with communal gain; a society in which diversity creates unity, not division; and a world in which we build bridges, not walls.

The First Gentleman hopeful ended his California tour by greeting fans and supporters, working the crowd with the jovial patience of someone who’s worked a crowd or two before.

As of today, an AP tally indicates that Hillary Clinton has reached the required number of delegates to snag the democratic nomination.

Skye Hersh attends the experimental and interdisciplinary Minerva Schools at KGI, where she will be a member of the first graduating class. A student of humanities and data science, she plans to pursue a career in journalism.