The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Event

Feed Me Fresh “Edible Evening” Raises Over $312,000 for Mount Kisco Child Care Center

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Mount Kisco Child Care Center (MKCCC) held its 11th Annual Feed Me Fresh: An Edible Evening on Saturday, September 26th. The evening was hosted by Eric Hadar at his Ivanna Farms estate in Bedford Corners, NY and raised more than $312,000. The annual fundraising event benefits the Center’s need-based scholarship program, which helps provide access to quality child care for working families. More than half of the 145 children at the Center receive scholarship support. Event honorees were MKCCC advisory board and board members, Beverley & Sabin Streeter along with friends and neighbors of the Center, Fran & Maarten Steenman of La Tulipe Desserts in Mt. Kisco.

Event Honorees Beverley & Sabin Streeter of Chappaqua
Event Honorees Beverley & Sabin Streeter of Chappaqua

More than four hundred guests enjoyed live jazz music and delicious tasting menus from top local area restaurants. A highlight of the night was an announcement by NY State Assemblyman David Buchwald awarding the Center a $50,000 grant from the New York State Community Capital Assistance Program.

The event was chaired by Kelly Sullivan, former MKCCC parent and owner of Quaker Hill Tavern in Chappaqua. Honorary co-chairs were Twink & Jim Wood and Sara Weale & John Rudge. Jeffrey Cerutti acted as master of ceremonies and Joe DiMauro, of Mt. Kisco Seafood, was the evening’s auctioneer.

Feed Me Fresh is MKCCC’s garden-to-table, sustainable nutrition program designed to increase the level of appreciation for healthy foods and healthy choices for children at an early age. In 2008, based on the innovative Feed Me Fresh program, Mount Kisco Child Care Center was designated the first slow food school in Westchester by Slow Food USA.

MKCCC Board Member Fran Osborne & Nick Markoff of Chappaqua
MKCCC Board Member Fran Osborne & Nick Markoff of Chappaqua
FMF Event Chair Kelly Sullivan and husband Tim, owners of Quaker Hill Tavern in Chappaqua
FMF Event Chair Kelly Sullivan and husband Tim, owners of Quaker Hill Tavern in Chappaqua

Temple Shaaray Tefila and Students and Parents Against Campus Anti-Semitism

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All HS, Confirmation and Post Confirmation Students – Join us on OCTOBER 26th @ 6

CROSSING THE LINE 2

Many people are surprised to learn that anti-Israel and anti-Semitic

activities have increased significantly on campuses across the country. Often, our children are unprepared when they confront BDS, or Students for Social Justice in Palestine (SJP) for the first time, or when they hear a professor speak about Israel as the hostile aggressor, or protagonist in the Middle East.

Understanding the agendas, learning the facts, knowing your rights, learning how to deal with Anti-Semitism on campus, are all essential tools we can give our children now. We invite HS students to an informative evening with a showing of Crossing the Line 2 and special guests from the film and from colleges across the country.

Who: Confirmation and Post-Con students from TST and HS
students from all Westchester schools

When: Monday, October 26th 6:00 P.M.
Where: TST – 89 Baldwin Road, Bedford Corners, NY

Hosted by: Temple Shaaray Tefila and Students and Parents Against
Campus Anti-Semitism

For more information, and to rsvp, contact Robin Weber at rweber@templest.org 666.3133 or Karyn Gallant karyngallant@msn.com

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Fun for all at First Thursday

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Mike Dardano Photos
Mike Dardano Photos

By Sarah Jane Weill

This summer, on the first Thursday of every month Armonk Square comes alive with fun, laughter, and dancing. These nights are appropriately called First Thursday, an event designed by the Armonk Chamber of Commerce to offer “art, music, in-store promotion, dining, wine tastings and more” for the Armonk community and its residents. A First Thursday night, lasting from 5-9 p.m., has occurred in June, July, and August so far. The last one will take place on September 3rd.

With the newly built Armonk Square, the town now has the opportunity to host even more exciting events. “The Chamber had been working to bring some distinctive events to town with the intent to bring more business to the businesses,” explains Armonk Chamber of Commerce President Neal Schwartz. Therefore, the creation of First Thursday seemed a great way to combine Armonk’s wide variety of restaurants with music and art for a whole evening of activity that would appeal to residents and benefit business. “First Thursday was a natural fit during the warmer summer months,” he adds when comparing it to some of the Chamber’s other popular events such as Frosty Day, a Cider and Donut Festival, and Citizen of the Year golf outing and dinners.

So far, it seems that First Thursday is working out great. “Overall the merchants are very happy with the launch of First Thursday this year,” says Schwartz. “All had customers that came in because of First Thursday.” This past First Thursday on Aug. 6th was no exception. “First Thursday was a gutsy move during the summer, when so many students and parents are literally out of town. But, to our delight, this past First Thursday had more attendees and a constant flow of families with strollers and dog walkers; crystal clear indicators that these [visits to the event] were planned in advance,” Schwartz reports.

Visiting the August First Thursday, there was no doubt as to the great success of this event. These are events for all. People can come and go as they please, enjoying the festivities in their own way. Indeed, there is a range of people in the square during the First Thursday: some people are milling about, circling the town, doing errands or going to dinner. Other people are sitting on benches, talking among themselves or just listening to the music, taking in the evening slowly. Waves of more and more people come throughout the night, assuring that the square was never empty during First Thursday.

“I think it’s a great community builder and great that the merchants buy into it. It’s something to do,” Armonk resident Barbara Reiter says as she describes how she thinks First Thursday has added to the community. “Look at all the little kids” she continues, nodding to a group of adorable kids dancing with pure delight in the middle of the square, “when my kids were little I wish they did this!”

Indeed, this is a perfect atmosphere for families. The whole center of the square is filled with thrilled young children: all running around, dancing up close and personal with the live musicians, their faces sticky with frozen yogurt. For them, it seems, this is a perfect opportunity to release that final bit of energy coursing through their veins after a day at camp or playing with friends. Also, this past First Thursday there was a juggling stilt-walker, who turned out to be great entertainment for children, and people, of all ages.

Mike Dardano Photos
Mike Dardano Photos

Just think–this great success has only been achieved in three nights of First Thursday. Looking forward, the possibilities to expand and strengthen the event are numerous. “We know it takes time to further develop First Thursday, but our start in 2015 has been great,” Schwartz concludes when addressing what the future might hold for First Thursday. “We plan on adding more Armonk talent to First Thursday and more art in 2016,” he added.

The effort to put on a successful event like this is enormous, and it shows. Those behind it: Robby Morris, Stacy Wilder, and plenty of others, truly worked hard to create an event that would draw people out of their homes to enjoy all that small town life has to offer while promoting local business. Indeed, all of the necessary ingredients came together in crafting this event. It’s a wonderful way to spend the waning hours of a hot summer’s Thursday, and we can’t wait for the next one.

Sarah Jane Weill attends Bowdoin College. She is a member of the Horace Greeley Class of 2014.