The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Chappaqua

Horace Greeley High School Presents “The Laramie Project,” A Modern Classic

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Reserve your Tickets for the following performances: March 8th, 9th and 10th at 7 p.m. and March 11th at 8 p.m.

On October 7, 1998, a young gay man was discovered bound to a fence outside of Laramie, Wyoming, savagely beaten and left to die in an act of brutality and hate that shocked the nation. Matthew Shepherd’s death became a national symbol of intolerance, but for the people of the town, the event was deeply personal. In the aftermath, Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project went to Laramie and conducted more than 200 interviews with its citizens. From transcripts, the playwrights constructed an extraordinary chronicle of life in the town after the murder. Since its premiere, The Laramie Project has become a modern classic and one of the most-performed theater pieces in America.

This docu-drama brings to light startling realities about the society we live in and causes audience members to question their own morals and beliefs and those of their fellow Americans.

Due to the subject matter, this production is not recommended for children under 13. ​  

Tickets:

http://greeleytheater.tix.com/Schedule.aspx?OrgNum=5064&framed=true 

Cast and Crew credits, below.

 

CAST & CREW

Cast:

Sarah Bogner: Allison Mears, Tiffany Edwards, E-mail
Writer, Conrad Miller, Jury Foreperson, Cal Rerucha, Shadow

Oliver Bradley: Jonas Slonaker, Matt Galloway, Newsperson, Russell Henderson

Fiona Dubrosa: Andy Paris, Baptist Mininster, Governer Jim Gerringer, Aaron McKinney, Reporter, April Silva

Jackson Gautreau: Doc O’Connor, Harry Woods,
Dr. Cantaway, Shannon

Violet Gautreau: Leigh Fondakowsk, Marge Murray,
Baptist Minister’s Wife, Matt Mickelson, Lucy Thomson, Newsperson

Tova Greene: Barbara Pitts, Romaine Paterson, Reporter

Sam Harasimowicz: Gil Engen, Jedidiah Schultz, Dennis Shepard, Doug Laws

Amanda McHugh: Catherine Connolly, Sherry Aanenson, Jen

Laurel Kastner: Amanda Gronich, Eileen Engen, Sherry Johnson, Rob Debree

David Katz: Greg Pierotti, Jon Peacock, Aaron Kreifels,
Bailiff

Jacob Kaufman-Shalett: Sargeant Hing, Stephen Belbr,
Father Roger Schmidt, Murdock Cooper

Samantha Phillips: Zackie Salmon, Moisés Kaufman,
Newsperson, Phil Labrie, Anonymous, Kerry Drake, Gene Pratt

Gillian Shenkman: Rebecca Hilliker, Zubaida Ula, Judge

Lindsay Shiner: Reggie Fluty, Trish Steger

Kaylee Sparro: Phillip Dubois, Priest at Funeral, Debbie, Bill McKinney, Jeffrey Lockwood

Izzy Thomasses: Stephen Mead Johnson. Kristen Price, Rulon Stacey, Andrew Gomez, Reverend Fred Phelps
 

Crew:

Student Producer/Technical Director/Sound Assistant JAKE O’DONOVAN
Stage Manager/Light board operator COLLIN DAMMANN
Projection  Assistant  GABE EHRLICH​
Camera Operator/ Program Designer VIVIAN ZYMECK
Costume Assistant ASHKA JHAVERI
Makeup KENNY NOHAVICKA

                     
Construction Crew:

MAX AUERBACHER
ASHKA JHAVERI
ISABELLA JOHNSTONE
BEN KAUFMAN-SHALETT
ASHKAY  KRISHNAN
HOJIN LEE
JAKE O’DONOVAN
ETHAN RICH
MOIRA SEMEL
LUKE SMITH
VIVIAN ZYMECK
 

 

First LEGO League Event in Chappaqua Inspires Tomorrow’s Innovators

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Story and Photos by Stacey Pfeffer

The Robert E. Bell Middle School was buzzing with young scientists and computer coders from throughout the county tinkering with their Lego robots and presenting their science experiments before a judging panel. The elementary and middle school students were participating in an international competition called the First Lego League (FLL), which took place for the first time here in Chappaqua in late January.

The event here was one of the preliminary events for FLL and consisted of both junior FLL teams (with participants ranging in age from 6-9 years old) and FLL teams with children ranging in age from 9-14 years old. There are 32,000 FLL teams competing in 88 countries in more than 1,400 events.

John Houston, Co-Director of the Hudson Valley FLL based in Poughkeepsie, estimates that there are about 1,000 students from throughout the Hudson Valley participating in FLL events this year.

At the Bell event, there were 12 FLL teams vying for the championship with towns such as Ossining, Briarcliff Manor, Larchmont and Scarsdale represented along with several teams from Chappaqua.

FLL teams are judged by a panel and participate in the event by programming an autonomous robot to score points on a themed playing field (known as the robot game) and developing a solution to a problem they have identified (called the project), all guided by FLL core values such as teamwork, friendly competition and finding solutions. All FLL teams are mentored by a coach (usually a parent) but the robot and project components are done exclusively by the children.

Team Supernova from Chappaqua gets ready to present their model

Animal Allies: The FLL Theme This Year

This year’s FLL theme for the project component was called Animal Allies, which explored how humans and animals can interact better. Team Gryffindor, a team with participants from Chappaqua and Ardsley chose “ How do we reduce avian fatalities due to human obstacles?” as their project.

The middle school students were pleased to speak with leading experts in the field such as ornithologists, bird enthusiasts and Audubon Society representatives.

The team eventually won the robotic design component and placed second overall this year, advancing to the regional semi-final tournament in Poughkeepsie this February. The team also participated last year in FLL and advanced to the world competition.

“I think that curiosity, enthusiasm and team spirit are the key attributes that differentiate Team Gryffindor. They have come together as a team, complement each others skills and they learn from each other. Curiosity leads them to dig deeper into problems, helping them come out with innovative solutions,’ said Ardsley-based co-coach and parent Rajat Goel. His daughter, Khushi loved being in FLL because “we [Team Gryffindor] get to work together, learn many different life skills, such as programming, research and presentation. All this is done while having fun. This also gives us an opportunity to look at some of the world’s biggest problems and try to solve them.”

There were also several junior teams who participated in the event. Augie DeRose, a third grader at Roaring Brook Elementary School with his team the Chappaqua Minecrafters worked on a project called Stop the Mite. Augie said he enjoyed building the Lego model and working with his team every week led by co-coaches and Chappaqua parents, Rosemary Chi and Gene DeRose. Brenda Kavner DeRose, Augie’s mother commented that “the big lesson was working as a group, incorporating everyone’s ideas and learning how to present it.”

“Kids in the FLL program, do well because they are very motivated, and want to make a difference in the world. For most, it is the first time that they work on a long-term project where they can have an impact.

The robotic part of the competition is also a popular draw. FLL also places a considerable emphasis on collaborative skills, like gracious professionalism, and cooperation/competition, which are some of the most important work skills kids may have,” noted the event’s organizer Alexandre Eichenberger, a Chappaqua father, IBM employee and past FLL team coach and judge.

Following the Robotic design competition at FLL–Team Gryffindor showcases their experiment

Town & PTA Lend Support for FLL Event

Eichenberger noted that the FLL event was a collaborative effort with help from the PTA and the PTA STEM committee, in particular.

The Chappaqua School District also supported the event in terms of logistical help and encouraging students to participate in the competition. Joshua Block, the District’s Director of Mathematics, was instrumental in the success of the event and liaising with the District. Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein and Eric Byrne, the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, both spoke at the event.

Block, who served as a judge at the event noted that, “Besides the valuable skills the students learn from FLL, I admire how persistent they were to overcome challenging obstacles in solving the problems, and produce working robots. That is probably the most important thing any kid can learn, and will help them succeed not only in school, but their careers.”

Currently the district is in the middle of developing K-12 STEAM skills and curriculum and looking to involve the entire school community in their efforts. “The PTA STEM committee has been a huge help in this, especially with their STEM fest that they are hosting on April 29th,”added Block.

“If you have a chance to attend a FLL competition, you will see numerous examples of teams helping each other, from lending each other missing parts, giving each other tips on how to build or program better robots, and generally just helping out.

The goal of FLL is to make a sporting event for children engaged in STEM- related activities and make it fun and encouraging,” said Eichenberger. For more information about FLL, please visit www.firstlegoleague.org.

Stacey Pfeffer lives in Chappaqua with her three children and husband. A frequent Inside Press contributor, her articles have appeared in NY Family Magazine, Westchester Family Magazine, Westchester Parent, and Kveller.com.

How “Habititis is Spreading” Since Habitat for Humanity Arrived in Chappaqua

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HHW CEO Jim Killoran holding hat N.M.U. 30 to 30–standing for No More Ugly, transforming 30 neighborhoods in celebration of Habitat’s 30th anniversary.

We all know Habitat for Humanity for the wonderful things they do around the globe to provide housing for those in need, but Habitat for Humanity of Westchester (HHW) has also been busy working closer to home–at 300 King Street in Chappaqua to be exact. The structure was originally the Orthodox (Quaker) Friends’ Meeting House built in 1885.

I visited the site and was received with a warm, enthusiastic welcome from HHW CEO Jim Killoran. His fervor and passion for what he does is infectious. “New York is the most exited state in the country,” says Killoran, a longtime New Rochelle resident. “We want to create ownership….In-town, affordable homeownership is a vital component in keeping our communities thriving,” he notes.

Killoran has been working with HHW for 30 years in various capacities. He’s a specialist in disaster relief and was involved in mobilizing approximately 9,000 volunteers to help with the vast cleanup after Hurricane Sandy, particularly in the Rockaways and Breezy Point where entire communities were basically submerged. He is also involved in projects providing housing for veterans.

“My assistant is a wounded warrior, my uncles were all in WWII…and my cousin was killed in Vietnam. So, it’s a cause very near and dear to my heart,” says Killoran.

In scale, 300 King Street is a small project.Upon completion, it will be a two-unit condominium, each approximately 1,800 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths. Westchester County purchased 300 King Street via HUD from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer for approximately $300,000, and each unit will sell around $250,000 to $280,000.

Applications are submitted to the Housing Action Council. Applicants must qualify “with incomes at or below 80 percent of the Westchester County’s Area Median Income….” The qualified applicants are then put into a lottery.

Architect Bill Spade of Sasaki + Spade, who has donated his time and talent, notes that 300 King Street will be HHW’s most energy–efficient structure built to date.

Like most construction projects, 300 King Street has not been met without its challenges. They discovered the foundation was unstable and needed to be shored up.

In terms of the design, “Habitat’s acceptance of the Town Historic Designation committed to restore the exterior to its original appearance,” says Spade. “The style, Stick Victorian, is to match the original structure when it was reconstructed on this site in 1885,” he adds. The exterior design will match the original building, and the front porch will remain with all of the original materials. The exterior siding and trim around the remainder of the building will be new but will replicate the original look. The interior will be all new. There will also be green space created in the front of the building for a garden.

Habitat Crew on site at 300 King Street

The target date of completion is September 2017, but a lot depends on fundraising and volunteerism. HHW is kicking off a Buy-a-Brick campaign where donors’ names will be engraved in a brick and incorporated in the structure as well as walkways. Donors can also purchase energy-efficient windows with their names etched in the glass.

Although Westchester County purchased the building for $300,000, it’s HHW’s responsibility, as developer, to raise additional funds for supplies, materials, and volunteer staff to donate their time and professional skills for painting, landscaping, etc. “We ultimately would like to raise an additional $300,000 for the completion,” says Killoran.

Aside from monetary donations, fundraising can also come in the form of companies donating materials. “Franzoso Contracting has donated all the roofing materials, Silverstein Properties donated lumber, and Dow donated insulation,” Killoran notes.

Volunteerism is Habitat’s signature. “We are committed to every youth, from GED to PhD, we teach them to build, to make things, to use their hands….Horace Greeley kids volunteer through the Habitat Club,” says Killoran. “Also, football teams, 50 high schools, 14,000 college students…when kids volunteer, they realize they’ve changed the trajectory of families’ lives by getting involved. It’s an amazing thing!”

The project is not just for the young.

People of all ages offer their time and expertise, like longtime Chappaqua resident David Kellogg. “I kept driving by the site, and the sign would always catch my eye.

I had to check it out,” says Kellogg.

Now retired, Kellogg was the publisher for Foreign Affairs Magazine and an adjunct professor for the Columbia School of Journalism. However, woodworking happens to be his hobby. He now donates his time and woodworking skills, helping with gutting, framing, and, eventually, interior trim work. “I’ve met some incredible people volunteering on this project,” says Kellogg. “Retirees are our heart. They now volunteer on Tuesdays and Thursdays. From 8 to 84 and more, everyone is a youth with Habitat….Habititis is spreading!” says Killoran.

Chappaqua/Pleasantville resident and volunteer Sue Halper commented on how much she has learned about energy efficiency and has implemented many of the energy-saving techniques in her own home. “We’ve reduced our energy consumption by 20 percent,” says Halper.

HHW is also busy building another two-unit home at 437 Saw Mill River Road in Millwood. “We’ve had wonderful support from the surrounding communities….After all, homeownership really is the American Dream,” says Killoran.

To learn more, donate or volunteer, please visit www.habitatwc.org.

Janine Crowley Haynes is a Chappaqua resident and author of My Kind of Crazy: Living in a Bipolar World.

Chappaqua’s Thoughtful ‘Robochaps’ Move into Semi Finals!

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Our Robochaps Team (L-R): Coach Ajay Dhanawade, Neel Roy (5th grade), Arnav Roy (7th grade), Aniruddh Dhanawade (7th grade), Rohan Malik (6th grade), Ellie Slive (6th grade), Jordan Zeiger (6th grade), Benjamin Millerman (5th grade), Daniel Stankiewicz(6th grade), Arjun Dayal (8th grade), Coach Rajeev Malik

An ‘Animal Allies’ Topic for the Group’s Robotic Project Work Brings the Team Closer to the Finish Line

Editor’s Note:  Congratulations to the amazing Chappaqua ‘Robochaps’ for their robotics projects and a recent exciting tournament win that moves them into a semi-final competition!  Here, a note from the participants to Inside Chappaqua:

“We are a group of 5th to 8th graders from Chappaqua, NY who are participating in the FLL. The FLL or First Lego League is an organization where kids from 4th to 8th grade build robots and projects based on a particular topic. This year’s topic is ‘Animal Allies’ (see link below to read more about the project) where we have to find a way to help animals and humans coexist peacefully. We chose coyotes as our project as it is local and affects our residents. Our team won the Sleepy Hollow tournament championship and are moving on to the semifinal with other Hudson Valley FLL teams.”

Animal Allies Brochure