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Family Fun

Storytellers Unite: Meet the Authors of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival

September 25, 2023 by Inside Press

By Mollie Roth

The upcoming Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival will be an opportunity for young readers and their parents to connect with the authors who make reading hour and bedtime come alive. Local librarians, educators, and volunteers have planned a fantastic event where children can come together with the authors that spark their imaginations.

Headlining the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival is Mary Pope Osborne, author of the beloved Magic Tree House series. Young and old, fans of Jack and Annie’s time-traveling and global-trotting adventures will have the opportunity to speak to Osborne about all their favorite stories, as well as learn about her newest books. Meeting authors like Osborne is an opportunity for children to form personal connections to books new or beloved. Chappaqua Librarian Theresa Bueti looks forward to seeing young people engage with books in a brand new way. When young patrons attend the festival, “they realize that people write books,” says Bueti, turning the solitary act of reading “real, vivid, and approachable.”

The students at Douglas Grafflin Elementary School are particularly excited to meet author Josh Funk. His book My Pet Feet won the 2023 Official March Book Madness Picture Book Bracket after being voted in by the Grafflin community and their nation-wide peers. Kaitlyn Lester, a library media specialist at Grafflin Elementary, says, “students are excited to meet [Funk], tell him how much we love My Pet Feet, and explore his other books that we are sure to love!”

Keep an eye out for Lauren Tarshis, author of the New York Times Bestselling series I Survived. Roaring Brook Elementary School’s Suzanne Stolzenberg and Andrea Schaber from West Orchard Elementary School say their students are very excited to meet the author of this disaster themed collection about children who survive a thrilling historical event. Coming to the festival shows children that “if they have something they want to say, they could write a book about it,” claims Bueti. In the aftermath of a global pandemic, perhaps Tarshis’ work will prove inspiration to young readers.

Many illustrators will also be in attendance at this year’s book festival. Head of children’s services at Chappaqua Library Robbin Friedman is particularly excited to meet Ruth Chan. “Her animal faces are so goofy, adorable, and expressive,” notes Friedman. “Everything about [Chan’s work] is weird and wonderful and exactly the right way.” Chan has a long career as an illustrator, as well as being the sole creator of books like Thank You, Neighbor! For children interested in creating and expressing themselves through art, meeting the illustrators at the festival should be a galvanizing and memorable experience.

There are seven scheduled readings throughout the festival day, where attendees can hear stories read by their authors. This is a wonderful chance for children to connect with their peers and the adults in their lives as they all encounter the same story at the same time. Author Raj Halder will be reading This Book is Banned, a picture book grappling with censorship in a delightfully silly and meaningful manner. However, the experience of being told a story is not limited to our yearly festival. Through the Chappaqua Library, anyone can rent the audiobooks of many books found at the festival. Many children’s authors read their books themselves, so children can have a little slice of the festival all year round.

The books mentioned are available for purchase at the festival, along with many other fascinating reads. However, finding new books does not have to be a once-a-year event. Stoever encourages “every child [to] find the librarians from the children’s room at the Chappaqua Public Library and speak to them.” The librarians are thrilled for this opportunity to further engage with the community, and recommend the book clubs and reading groups for anyone motivated by this year’s festival.

The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival will take place on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at the Chappaqua Train Station, from 10am to 4pm. Along with the author and illustrators, there will be food trucks and a family fun zone. Admission is free, and livestream coverage of the event.  For regular updates, visit www.ccbfestival.org

Inside Press Story Presented in Partnership with the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival.

Filed Under: Happenings Tagged With: Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, Chappaqua library, Douglas Grafflin Elementary School, Family Fun, Josh Funk, Lauren Tarshis, Mary Pope Osborne, Raj Halder, Ruth Chan, Storytellers

Pleasantville Music Festival: A Great Family Experience

August 18, 2023 by Adrianna Cmiel-Walsh

When given the opportunity to visit the 17th annual Pleasantville Music Festival on behalf of the Inside Press, I had to take it! For years, my family has been invited but scheduling issues always arise, and bummer after bummer, for one reason or another, it just didn’t work out! So that I was excited is an understatement given what I already knew about the Festival’s diverse offerings. When I entered, I noted the three performance stages, countless food tents where friends and families gathered for both shade (yes, it was a hot summer’s day) and a really good meal, in coolers from home or purchased. The total picture for me shouted “great family experience”!

But let’s face it, first and foremost, the Festival is about appreciating and enjoying the musical artists, of local, regional and even national significance. You can be certain I sprinted to the main performing stage for the first live performance of the day! It was hard to miss not only because of the sound of the instruments but also on account of the audible anticipation I picked up in comments among festival goers. It was the first show* and the musicians set the tone for a great day!

I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a special shoutout to the food and beverage vendors, who offered something for almost everyone. For kids, there were many inflatable games and attractions! Even if you do not have children don’t fret, the 21+ beer and wine corner is a great time for any adult. Prepare to be carded! I heard about the downpour later in the day and wondered how everyone fared. I was relieved to hear that everyone recouped, and the shows did go on!

Bottom line: The Pleasantville Music Festival will always be a superb opportunity to enjoy live music alongside favorite festival foods and activities! And you will be anything but bored!

*For a full lineup of who played, and to anticipate what you might expect next year, visit pleasantvillemusicfestival.com

Filed Under: Gotta Have Arts Tagged With: Family Fun, Pleasantville, pleasantville music festival, Summer Festival

Celebrate Friday Night Pride on June 2 in Hastings-on Hudson

May 10, 2023 by Inside Press

The Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, Destination Hastings, and Hastings Rainbow Families are excited to host the second annual Friday Night Pride, a free, joyful, family-friendly Pride festival in downtown Hastings on June 2 from 6 – 9 p.m. (rain date June 9th).

The Good Witch Coffee Bar (134 Southside Ave, Hastings-on-Hudson at the Metro North Station) will hold a pre-event from 3:45 to 5:45 with music and supplies for families to make Pride signs. At 5:45 p.m., families can take their creations and join in a march from The Good Witch up to Warburton Avenue to kick off the main event, led by Brooklyn all-female brass band, Brass Queens.

The Friday Night Pride event centers on a concert in the middle of Warburton Avenue, featuring a bevy of musicians, dancers, and performers, ranging from local talent to Broadway stars. The show will be emceed by Broadway vet Jamie Karen and stage and recording artist Amy Lynn of Amy Lynn & the Honey Men, who will both also be performing. Other performers include Brian Harris, Jed Ilany, Sophia Rae, Lexy Casano-Antonellis, Kat Gang, the Hastings High School and Middle School choirs, the students of MK Dance, Marla Louissant from the national tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Obie-award winner James Jackson Jr., fresh off his starring role in Broadway’s Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning A Strange Loop.  Mayor Nicola Armacost will be opening the event, and performances will be interspersed with local LGBTQIA+ community members sharing their stories.

Warburton Avenue will be lined with tables offering free activities, including a giant rainbow slide, face painting, kids’ crafts with Jodi Levine of Supermakeit.com, make-your-own spray paint art with graffiti artist Katie Reidy, a community paper quilt project with the Hastings Library, rainbow bracelet making with the Hastings-on-Hudson PTSA, dance activities with hip hop performers Brianna Luciano and Kiana Davalos, LGBTQIA+ Broadway trivia with Broadway Training Center, and much more. Village restaurants will be out selling dinner as well as Pride-themed specials, from boozy ice pops to rainbow popcorn. Westchester LGBTQIA+ organizations The LOFT, Center Lane, and Pride Works will all be in attendance, and local vendors will be offering rainbow cookie decorating, rainbow hair extensions, Pride flags and swag, and LGBTQIA+ kids’ books, among many other Pride-themed offerings. Plus drag artist Amber Guesa will be working her way through the crowd, ready for selfies, and taking the stage for a special kids’ performance.

All are welcome to join us as we celebrate and strengthen Hastings as a community of love and equity!

For more information, contact: Jen DiBonaventura (917-817-9384) or Brian Harris (646-671-4865)

 

Editor’s Note: The above news release has been republished in its entirety to help support Friday Night Parade in Hastings. It has neither been independently reported or fact checked. All questions should be referred to the sources cited within.

 

Filed Under: Happenings Tagged With: Brass Queens, Family Fun, Friday Night Pride, Hastings-on-Hudson, pride

Armonk Lions Club Hosts the 46th Annual Fol-De-Rol June 2nd thru June 5th, 2022

April 8, 2022 by Phyllis Padow-Sederbaum

The Armonk Lions Club’s Fol-de-Rol is back after a two-year hiatus.This fun-filled family event, to be held in Wampus Brook Park and on Hunter Field on June 2nd to June 5th, will feature rides, entertainment and music as well as food and merchandise vendors. Something for everyone is promised!

This past year the Club faced a major decision. As President Doug Martino remarked, planning for this upcoming Fol-de-Rol almost didn’t happen. “Because of dwindling membership, the Armonk Lions were literally days away from shutting down,” said Martino. “Had that happened, the Fol-de-Rol, a 45-year tradition, would have died forever. We simply had too few members to do the planning and running of such a large event.”

Armonk is a small town with a strong community spirit and word quickly spread about the fate of the Fol-de-Rol. A few days after a meeting in early November in which members discussed closing down the Armonk Lions Club, Matt Milim, who lives in Armonk and was recently elected to the Town Board, asked to meet with Club members. He brought a number of people to the meeting who were passionate about wanting the Fol-de-Rol to continue and who were willing to join the Armonk Lions Club to help make that happen. By the end of December the club was revitalized with enough new members to plan and run the 46th annual Fol-de-Rol.

In early January, Club members, both new and old, swung into acton. The key to the success of the Fol-de-Rol is finding vendors, who provide rides, entertainment, food and merchandise. As a result of this effort, the Lions Club has been able to line up new vendors and and create new entertainment ideas.

Attendees will find lots to do and see. A preliminary list already includes: rides, banjo players, pig races, music, and all sorts of things to buy–lawn ornaments, handmade bags and accessories, home-decor items, clothing, jewelry, jams, baked goods and more. Hungry? Expect pizza, crepes, donuts and coffee, wraps, Italian ices, and even vegan fare.

The Fol-de-Rol is more than a community event; it is the Armonk Lions’ annual fund-raiser in which 100% of the proceeds are donated to local organizations and for people in need. Over the years, the Armonk Lions have funded many projects in North Castle: the Gazebo and Lions Way Bridge in Wampus Park, town camp scholarships for local children, dugouts for the ABL, defibrillators for North Castle Police and Fire Departments, and the NC4 disaster relief trailer.

In Westchester County, it has donated to the Open Door Medical Clinic in Mount Kisco, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and Puppies Behind Bars. It has also contributed relief monies through the International Lions Clubs.

The Armonk Lions Club is still seeking additional vendors. For information, go to armonklions.org.

Save the Dates!!!

The 46th Annual Fol-de-Rol Schedule Rides:
Thursday & Friday, June 2 & 3, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.
Saturday, June 4, 12 p.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday, June 5, 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
Crafts:
Saturday & Sunday, June 4 & 5, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Armonk Lions, Family Fun, Fol de Rol

“A Unique Vibe” as Pleasantville Day RETURNS on May 21

April 8, 2022 by Ben Serebin

Reconnect with Neighbors and Friends on this Family Fun Day

Mayor of Pleasantville, Peter Scherer
Photos by Peter Rogovin

Pleasantville Day is returning Saturday May 21. Come meet your old and new neighbors of Pleasantville that have moved here in the last two years. Our goal for Pleasantville Day is a fun time showing casing the unique vibe for our big personality village. Pleasantville Day is a village event that entices residents of all ages for several hours of fun and sun (hopefully!) and to mingle with their neighbors and friends. It takes place on Memorial Plaza from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be a Kids Zone with a Velcro wall, gaga, archery, and crafts all thanks to Kiwi Camp. 

The adventure zone is for our large activities such as a bungee trampoline, bouncy obstacle course, and more. Open to adults too!

Entertainment will include live band, stilt walker, juggler, my favorite big bubble maker, and crafts. 

Aiming for 75+ vendors/booths, a wide assortment of local organizations, and local food vendors including a pizza truck.

We aim to have a free fun experience for all residents. I have been involved since 2016 as a co-organizer, and this year the number of volunteers as co-organizers has doubled to 6. So, I’m hoping our fun level doubles as well. We’re going to be focused on bring out the best of Pleasantville Day to all the residents.

Pleasantville Day is also about philanthropy. In addition to supporting local organizations such as school groups, the tips for the entertainers are collected to donate to a local organization in the area.

In addition to the Village of Pleasantville, Kiwi Country Day Camp sponsors the Kids Zone activities.

Pleasantville Day will be held in place of the Pleasantville Farmers Market, which will return May 28th.

Looking Back with the Inside Press

Editor’s Note: To discover more of the flavor of the day, see Charlotte Harter’s Inside Press story and pictures about Pleasantville Day 2019: https://www.theinsidepress.com/pleasantville-day-an-annual-celebration-of-fun-friendship-and-community/

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Family Fun, Pleasantville, Pleasantville Day

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