The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Contributors

Off The Record…

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PHOTO BY DONNA MUELLER

Here I am – writing my first The Inside Scoop for Inside Press. Elise Trainor is taking off the training wheels! Having spent many years in the media and advertising world, I’m excited to take these skills and enter the fast paced, creative, and ever-changing business of publishing.

My family and I have lived in Armonk for 23 years and I’m still learning more about our vibrant community and the surrounding towns every day. I intend to highlight as many extraordinary people and events as I can and will always be open to new ideas.

As I reflect on the past three months, I’d like to express my gratitude to the exceptionally gifted Grace Bennett. Grace has had tremendous patience while imparting her invaluable wisdom about the publishing business. It is an honor learning from someone who has inspired, informed, and entertained her readers for 21 years. So, a heartfelt thanks to Grace and to the entire talented Inside Press team – Lisa Samkoff, art director; Ryan Smith, host at insidepress.com; and Tara Madden, account manager. Here’s to our continued success together in the years to come.

To our many remarkable contributors: Your hard work, creativity, and dedication have made my start at The Inside Press exceptional. From thought-provoking articles to stunning visuals, your contributions enrich our publications and provide our readers with engaging content that goes beyond expectations. To our advertisers: We can’t do it without you, and I’m enjoying getting to know each of you personally.

To our moms, dads, & grads – this one is for you! Celebrate the season and be mindful to cherish, appreciate, and connect with your loved ones.

Family is everything!

A special shout out to my mom and dad, whose support knows no bounds. To my kids who make me a proud mom every day. And to my husband – who makes the journey of life full of laughs. Much love and many thanks to you all!

Meet The Inside Press Contributing Team!

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PHOTO BY CHRISTINA SCHOONMAKER

I hope these pages make it clear that ‘the secret sauce’ to the Inside Press is very much our valued contributors. I knew from the start, to succeed, I’d need editor/contributor relationships to offer a regular roster of compelling voices whose professional work I could also rely on. Over the years, so many wonderfully talented individuals have approached me to help me produce all ‘the Creative’. I had just the right space available here to bring out ‘the faces’ and descriptors of the individuals who have been part of our team over the last two years, to paint the picture. Please know I’m forever grateful to every past, present and future contributor. – Grace

The Inside Team…

Grace Bennett

Publisher, editor & writer Grace Bennett, proud mom to Anna and Ari, launched Inside Press two decades ago. A child of Holocaust survivors, Grace is a former board, and now advisory board, member of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center. She enjoys walking and the arts.

 

Beth Besen

Beth, a former Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk editor, is a freelance writer and essay coach. She, along with her husband, two children and dogs, called Chappaqua home for 27 years, but they now split their time between Tarrytown, NY and Park City, Utah.

 

Pamela Brown

Pamela, a resident of Connecticut, is a 20+-year journalist and founder of PMB Writing & Consulting.  In her free time, Pamela plays tennis, gardens, cooks, and spends time with her daughter, Alexis, and their dogs, Rafa and Andy.

 

Cathy Deutsch

Cathy is a freelance writer, essayist, and former restaurant columnist. She is a regular contributor to Inside Press Magazines and to other platforms supporting essay writing. Formerly the owner of Tiger Lily boutique, she is also a private shopping/stylist and closet rehabber.

 

More Inside Players…

Vicki deVries

Vicki is a local freelance writer/editor and a former adjunct Associate Professor of English (Pace University), Editorial Director for a Manhattan marketing agency, and in-house magazine and book editor for several companies. Vicki has contributed to Inside Press publications since 2009 and enjoys wordsmithing.

Ronni Diamondstein

Ronni is a journalist, photographer and the author of her debut picture book biography “Jackie and the Books She Loved”. She lives in Chappaqua with her dog Maggie Mae. Follow her at www.ronnidiamondstein.com

 

John Fisher

John joined Inside Press in October 2021 as Director of Business Development to help re-launch Inside Pleasantville & Briarcliff Manor. A long-time resident of Pleasantville, John heads up his own marketing consulting firm, John Fisher & Associates. John’s clients have been concentrated in the fields of health, education & publishing.

 

Michael Gold

Pleasantville-based writer Michael Gold’s articles have appeared in numerous publications here and abroad. A Queens native, Michael also loves the New York Mets more than can possibly be warranted by their long record of futility. A kidney donor, he regrets he only had one kidney to give to his country.

 

Pia Haas

Pia is a long-time performer/director and artistic director of academic, community, and regional theatres, including The Theatre Connection at Westchester Community College and The Armonk Players. She was the director of press and public relations at Westchester Broadway Theatre. Pia also writes about the arts and other subjects.

 

Janine Crowley Haynes

Janine is a freelance writer and author of My Kind of Crazy–Living in a Bipolar World. Her book is used in AP Psych classes and in colleges. She has been a guest speaker for various mental health organizations and has helped raise funds for Silver Hill Hospital.

 

Ella Ilan

Ella is a frequent contributor to the Inside Press. She is a former attorney who has always had a passion for writing, a knack for editing, and a love of interviewing interesting people. Her favorite pastimes include family time with her husband and kids, reading, cooking, and traveling.

 

Megan Klein

Megan graduated from Boston University in May 2022 and has found the perfect combination of sports and communications in her job with the Boston Red Sox. In her free time, she freelances for local Boston publications as well as the Inside Press.

 

Tara Madden

Millwood resident Tara Madden, a graduate of Greeley High School (2017) and Chapman University (2021), is an accounts manager for the Inside Press. She appreciates all the experience she has gained from this opportunity! She loves spending free time outdoors, specifically at the beach or on a hike with her dog!

 

Donna Mueller

Capturing treasured moments is what fuels Donna Mueller’s soul, and it’s what she does best! Mueller loves photographing events such as Sweet 16’s, Mitzvahs and small Weddings. Despite being a 3x Best of Westchester winner specializing in Family Photography, Donna still considers herself ‘Just a Girl with a Camera’.

 

Christine Pasqueralle

Christine is a freelance writer, wife and mom of two who makes her home in Hawthorne, NY. She has worked in the marketing and public relations fields. Christine enjoys reading, travel and the arts. She also works part-time at the Briarcliff Manor Public Library.

 

Stacey Pfeffer

Stacey, a Chappaqua-based freelance writer, lives in a noisy household with her husband, Larry, plus three kids and three dogs. She can be spotted walking her dogs on the North County Trailway or swimming laps at Club Fit. She writes for many regional publications and local businesses.

 

Lisa Samkoff

Lisa has been The Inside Press contributing Art Director since 2016. It was then she designed and introduced new branding and style formats for the publication. She is a freelance graphic designer and also Founding Partner and Creative Director for the local media collaborative–King Street Creatives.

 

Jean Sheff

Jean is an award-winning writer, editor, and Pilates instructor. Her local roots are deep. She grew up in Yorktown Heights and raised her daughter in Chappaqua. She writes for a variety of industries including healthcare, manufacturing, education, and retail. Her Pilates studio, INSPIRE: Personalized Pilates, is in Briarcliff Manor.

Carolyn Simpson

Carolyn has been a professional photographer for over 30 years. She is the owner of Chappaqua-based Doublevision Photographers which specializes in family portraits, lifestyle/corporate headshots, and events.She strives to capture the moment and works closely with clients to create beautiful and natural photos.

 

Ryan Smith

Ryan is the founder of Play Nice Together, Inc., a full-service digital design agency based in Westchester County. The company serves local businesses with branding, graphic design, website development, website hosting, and systems integration services. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and ballroom dancing.

 

Nolan Thornton

Nolan is a journalist and screenwriter based in New York’s Hudson Valley. When not writing, he enjoys creating music. He dreams of one day writing his own television show or movie–maybe even based on an original article. More than anything, he enjoys a good story.

 

Irene Unger

A retired English teacher and now freelance writer, Irene Unger has been living with MS for 24 years. Irene volunteers with the NY Southern Chapter of the MS Society and captains the 2Steppers WalkMS team. She resides in Briarcliff Manor with her husband Geoff, son Ben and dog, Jesse.

 

Andrew Vitelli

Andrew has been a journalist in Westchester since 2009 and has served as editor of Inside Armonk and as editor-in-chief of The Putnam Examiner and The White Plains Examiner. A Hastings-on-Hudson native, he now lives in White Plains with his wife Zeynep, daughter Zoe, and dog Beasley.

Enjoy Our Debut Edition

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Grace’s cut and blow dry by Lisa Koebbe Bevan, owner and Master colorist at BELIEVE Beauty Lounge, a full service salon on 95 Manville Road in Pleasantville, believebeautysalon.com Makeup (and photo!) by Kara Delfino, karadelfino.com.

Please know that a lot of heart and soul went into producing this first issue of Inside Pleasantville! If you have lived in the area long enough, many of you may already have seen an Inside Press publication in a neighbor’s home, or perhaps at a real estate office–where the magazines make a giant impression (I’m told!) with area visitors considering a move here.

I’ve been publishing for 16 years after launching the first edition of Inside Chappaqua, The Magazine for New Castle and Beyond in April 2003. Five years ago, following that success, I decided to get two Castle pubs underway and produced our first Inside Armonk. And now here we are delighted to be covering your vibrant Mount Pleasant communities too with this first edition of an Inside Pleasantville!

I’m always grateful to my Inside Press team, including Caroline Rosengarden who lives ‘Inside Pleasantville’ with her beautiful family. She is positively a most enthusiastic proponent for the community.

Also, enjoy the work here by Lisa Samkoff, our consummate professional designer who brings a special flair to every page. Wonderful Stacey Pfeffer edits our Chappaqua and Armonk editions from which you may see some relevant articles appearing here too. First and foremost, as a publisher, I understand no community’s residents live in a bubble, so I do share from other communities, and will continue to as much as I can.

I also so appreciate Ryan Smith and Rick Waters, who designed and maintain our site theinsidepress.com. You can find all the stories here online too, a downloadable edition, along with other ‘in between postings,’ all as much as time and energy permit! Behind the scenes, we have Analia Boltuch, our invaluable account manager, and always a rotating group of talented ‘regular’ freelance writers and photographers. This issue’s cover work plus the photos for the Pleasantville Music Festival, for example, are from Pleasantville’s very own Lynda Shenkman, who shot many of my first Inside editions too.

Ultimately, this pub comes to you after 22 years of happy Westchester living, having raised two terrific children: my daughter, Anna, 26, and son Ari, 22, both living in the city. I also visit my dad a lot in Yonkers. He’s going on 97 and still in good health at a senior residence. Being empty nest, and having this amazing Inside Press team in place, I’m expanding our publishing efforts.

Chappaqua’s also is just a hop, skip and jump to Pleasantville. In fact, when I think of ‘fun times’ in Westchester, Pleasantville elicits those feelings enormously, whether it’s at gorgeous Rockefeller Preserve, or enjoying countless movies at the incomparable Jacob Burns Film Center, or even acting classes I discovered with Rachel Jones at the Howard Meyer Acting Studio/Axial Theater! In the meantime I can live vicariously enjoying others performing in stellar shows such as those at Arc Stages, or setting aside a day to dance or sing along with the mega talented musicians at the Pleasantville Music Festival.

All these places and institutions and more – don’t miss a terrific story on Cycle for Survival! – are covered in this debut edition, which I hope you will treasure and keep as a collector’s item. We will be ‘back again’ with a back to school September/October 2019 edition arriving in your home by late August too. Remember, you can read us online too at theinsidepress.com and follow our assorted musings primarily on Facebook and Instagram.

I am aiming for at least four editions in 2020, so stay tuned for more fun and meaningful coverage in which we will keep on ‘Sharing the Heart of Your Community.” And I’d be remiss if I didn’t also communicate a resounding THANK YOU to all the generous sponsors and contributors who made this edition and future ones possible. ENJOY!


Grace Bennett
Inside Press Publisher & Editor-in-Chief