Feed Me Fresh

A Look Back at Fabulous Fall Events PLUS, Next Year’s Dates!

November 12, 2021 by The Inside Press

COMMUNITY DAY

“The Rotary Club of Chappaqua, in collaboration with the Town of New Castle, hosted a successful 2021 New Castle CommunityDay. Success was due to generous sponsors, participating exhibitors, and the New Castle community. Funds raised will benefit local and global charities. We are thrilled we have a great opportunity to help those in need. On Saturday, September 17, 2022, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Community Day will once again blend community, personal enjoyment and giving service to others.” Marlene Canapi, president, Rotary Club of Chappaqua

FEED ME FRESH: AN EDIBLE EVENING

FEED ME FRESH PHOTOS by: (c)Hidenao Abe, StudioAbe

“Mount Kisco Child Care Center’s 17th Annual Feed Me Fresh: An Edible Evening was spectacular on September 25 thanks to all the amazing sponsors and volunteers. Over $220,000 was raised for MKCCC’s Scholarship Program toward high quality, affordable care, and early education to a diverse group of children in a safe, healthy environment through innovative and developmentally appropriate programming. Next year’s date: September 17, 2022!” Helen Bock, Director of Development, mkccc.org

CHAPPAQUA CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL

“The eighth Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival on October 2 was a celebration of coming back together as a community of readers. Our 70 plus authors signed thousands of books and loved talking to area families. We will return on October 15, 2022, at our full capacity of 120 plus authors. We are so grateful to the Town of New Castle, our sponsors, volunteers, partners and friends.” Dawn Greenberg, founder, ccbfestival.org

First Congregational Church COMMUNITY YARD SALE & BOUTIQUE

(L-R): Kathy Thorsberg, Olga Seham, Bill Spade, Jon Russell, Carl Thorsberg, Chrissy Chapin, Jason Chapin, Rev. Martha Jacobs and Bill Swenson. Inside Press Photo

A Community Yard Sale and Boutique on September 25 brought together nearly a dozen boutique vendors and over 30 yard-sellers to the First Congregational Church of Chappaqua. Due to its success, a spring-time sale is anticipated too. “It was a beautiful day, and everyone had a great time … people got to see people they hadn’t seen in a long time.” Rev. Dr. Martha Jacobs, fcc-chappaqua.org/

THE ARMONK OUTDOOR ART SHOW

Photos Courtesy of the Armonk Outdoor Art Festival

“The Armonk Outdoor Art Show on September 25 & 26 was a huge success featuring 160 amazing exhibitors. The show had record high attendance, wonderful support from sponsors and volunteers, strong sales for our amazing artists and lots of positive energy. We’re grateful to all who contributed to a truly wonderful show. Hope to see you next year, October 1 & 2, 2022, for our 60th Anniversary!” Anne Curran, director, armonkoutdoorartshow.org

OKTOBERFEST

Pleasantville Oktoberfest on October 2nd was sponsored by the Pleasantville Chamber of Commerce and the Village to support our local businesses. The event was an incredible success as it brought together families and friends who have not been together since the Covid-19 pandemic started. We thank the Pleasantville Police Department, Department of Public Works, the Village Department, and the Chamber for a joint effort to provide a spectacular event to our great residents. We plan on hosting this event again next year in the first weekend of October 2022.” -W. Paul Alvarez, Pleasantville Village Trustee. pleasantville.com

A wheel of fortune at a booth for the Jacob Burns Film Center during Pleasantville’s first Oktoberfest Inside Press photo

ARMONK CIDER & DONUT FESTIVAL AND 2021 RUN FOR LOVE

Sponsors, volunteers, The Byram Hills Preschool Association, The Love family, and the Town of North Castle all came together to create this year’s Armonk Cider & Donut Festival, the BHPA Fall Carnival and the 2021 Run for LOVE. “What makes the festival unique is the breadth of activities from the Run for Love road races, a kids’ carnival, and our distinctive donut making right in the Park. This year the Food trucks were a big hit. Save the date for next year: September 18th 2022!“ Neal Schwartz, Chamber President armonkchamberofcommerce.com

A happy participant at the Armonk Cider & Donut Festival. Resident photo courtesy to the Inside Press

Byram preteens and teens–all contestants in the 2021 Run for Love Resident photo courtesy to the Inside Press

AND MORE…

Batgirl at an all day family fun festival preceding the New Castle Halloween Ragamuffin Parade Inside Press photo

A craft activity during the New Castle Historical Society’s 1860s themed Family Fun Day Inside Press photo

Feed Me Fresh to Support MKCCC’s Need-Based Scholarships

August 24, 2021 by The Inside Press

Becki Fleischer with the Shaves at a previous Feed Me Fresh: An Edible Evening event.

Mount Kisco Child Care Center (MKCCC) 17th Annual Feed Me Fresh: An Edible Evening event on Saturday, September 25 will benefit MKCCC’s need-based scholarship program. In its 50th year, MKCCC’s Scholarship Initiative, which is a combination of government subsidy, private, family and corporate foundation support, corporate and individual donations, and proceeds from special events, enables MKCCC to fulfill its mission of providing children with access to affordable, safe, high-quality early care and education.

Over the last five decades, MKCCC’s exceptional program has served close to 7,000 area children.The Center is committed to its successful service model–balancing families who can pay the full fee for care with families who require need-based scholarship support to attend. MKCCC is proud of its diversity, which benefits the children, families, and the community, and is committed to creating an environment that fosters the practice of understanding, cooperation, tolerance, and respect.

Feed Me Fresh: An Edible Evening showcases delicious food from local restaurants that subscribe to the same culinary philosophy as MKCCC–serving locally grown and sourced food and supporting local agriculture. Through its Feed Me Fresh seed-to-table nutrition program, MKCCC has created a hands-on curriculum that builds a natural appreciation for fresh, whole food. Tickets are available for $275 per person ($250 each before September 1st). For information about tickets, donations, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit https://mkccc.org/events/17th-annual-feed-me-fresh-an-edible-evening/ or contact Helen Bock, 914.241.2135 or bock@mkccc.org.

‘Feed Me Fresh’ Virtual Fundraiser Raised $100,000 to Support Quality Child Care Access

November 12, 2020 by Inside Press

Proceeds from the 16th Annual Fundraiser for the Mount Kisco Child Care Center to Provide Financial Support for Working Families in Need

L-R: Keira Treanor, Event Chair and Vice President, Board of Directors MKCCC/ Joe DiMauro, Owner, Mt Kisco Seafood/Dawn Meyerski, Executive Director, MKCCC

Mt. Kisco, NY – (October 19, 2020) – Mount Kisco Child Care Center (MKCCC) held its 16th Annual Feed Me Fresh: A Virtual Evening on Saturday, September 26^th. The fundraiser was broadcast virtually for the first time and raised $100,000 for the Center’s need-based scholarship program. Viewers enjoyed a tour of the Center, honoree recognition, guest video appearances from long-time FMF restaurant partners and live raffle drawings. Approximately half of the 195 children who attend the Center receive financial support to help provide access to quality child care for working families.

This year, MKCCC was thrilled to honor its teachers and staff. MKCCC is the only local child care center to have remained open throughout the pandemic, and by sharing best practices helped guide other organizations as they made the decision to re-open. In addition to serving families of essential workers, the Center welcomed enrolled families who needed a safe and nurturing place for their children to be during this unprecedented time. The teachers also engaged remote families so that all students felt connected. Lessons and activities were sent home through Google Classroom while Zoom classes were created for all children including show and tell, music, dance, circle time and story hour. MKCCC’s in-house kitchen staff prepared and packaged 160 meals each week for 8 weeks throughout the summer and distributed them to more than 40 families. MKCCC’s Social Worker continues to be in touch with every family to ensure all their needs are being met – physical, social and emotional. Despite constant and varied challenges, the Center ran a full-day, 8-week summer camp program which also included a swimming component at the town pool.

When public schools reopened in September, a new Remote Learning Program was developed. Dawn Meyerski, Executive Director, explains: “With school districts all having different scheduling, we needed to add a third program for our school-age children. The Early Morning Club and After-School Program will remain, with the addition of the Remote Learning Program. New teachers were hired, classrooms were reconfigured, and schedules were coordinated with the elementary schools, which ensured a smooth transition to the new school year.” MKCCC teachers continue to pivot to meet ever-changing COVID-19 protocols and requirements, while never compromising their high-quality care and attention for the children.

The Center was also pleased to honor Tommy Calandrucci and Gianni Piccolino of Stone Fire, Basilico and Sunset Cove restaurants. Gianni and Tommy are long-time supporters of Mount Kisco Child Care Center through their participation in Feed Me Fresh: An Edible Evening for the past 14 years. Since March, they have been providing meals to the community and directly to MKCCC families needing support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About Mount Kisco Child Care Center:

Mount Kisco Child Care Center is a non-profit, NAEYC-accredited childcare facility serving families in Northern Westchester since 1971. MKCCC provides exceptional and affordable early care and education to a diverse group of children from three months to eleven years of age. Experienced and professional teachers, an innovative curriculum, unique programs, such as the JEWEL Intergenerational Program and Feed Me Fresh, its garden-to-table, sustainable nutrition program, and a state of the art facility contribute to create an incomparable early childhood education experience.

MKCCC is located at 95 Radio Circle, Mount Kisco, NY. For additional information, please visit www.mkccc.org or call (914) 241-2135. Follow MKCCC on www.facebook.com/MKCCC and www.twitter.com/MKCCC10549 for the latest news and updates.

News and Photos Courtesy of the Mount Kisco Child Care Center

10 Reasons Why New Castle is Lucky to Have Dawn Greenberg as a Resident

December 1, 2019 by Beth Besen

Whether you’re a morning person or a never-ever-before-noon (or at least two cups of coffee) type, this is one Dawn you can’t help but notice! And not just notice, but truly and deeply admire.

Like her daybreak namesake, Dawn Greenberg lights up the New Castle community in many wondrous ways. She is a regular and visible presence in town, as well as the founder and ongoing contributing member of many renowned local organizations. Creative, savvy and hard-working, Dawn is a shining example of how one individual can turn great ideas into actionable realities.

Here, Inside Chappaqua’s top ten salute to Dawn Greenberg:

Wife: Paul Greenberg is yang to Dawn’s yin, the sometimes frustrated (so many projects in their home!, so much demand on her time!) but always supportive and proud husband!
Mother: It’s a job/title/hat many proudly wear. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less noteworthy–cheers to the moms in all our incarnations! That said, when your particular incarnation includes a special-needs child, there’s usually some extra sacrifice and work along with the usual growing pains. Dawn has worked tirelessly with both the Chappaqua PTA and Special Education Committees to help enrich the educational experience for her sons,11th grader Jackson who has autism and 8th grader Ben, and their Chappaqua classmates.
Retailer: From 2011-2014, Aurora, Dawn’s name-derivative boutique was many a shopper’s first and last stop for one-of-a-kind gifts. From moms looking for their gal-pal’s perfect birthday present to dads and kids in search of something unexpected for Mother’s Day, the shop offered a treasure trove of options. Aurora inspired Dawn to become more involved with the town–fellow townspeople and merchants alike. When Dawn closed the shop in 2014, she promised it was going to be much more of a “see you later” than “goodbye”.
Founder of The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival: Seven years ago, Dawn heard that one of her favorite seasonal activities, Tarrytown’s Sunnyside children’s book fair, was going to be discontinued. Saddened by what it would mean for her own boys and the countless other young book-lovers, she decided better to embrace this particular closing door by opening an even bigger window. That was in March of 2012 and by September of that very same year, Dawn had put together the inaugural Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival with 60 authors. Although generally very self-effacing, Dawn allows that this was “one of my proudest moments.” This past October 2019, the Festival grew to include some 145 authors, patrons from far and wide and a reputation as one of the pre-eminent book fairs in the country.
Co-Founder of One Book Westchester: Dawn’s newest book-centric project takes reading, literacy awareness and community to the next level. Working with the Westchester County Executive’s Office, the Westchester Library System and BOCES, she expects the concept to unite people through a shared literary experience; from schools and libraries and bookstores, to bookclubs and dinners and historic re-enactments, every community is invited to put their spin on the theme and share with others. While the concept isn’t new, most places have done it with just a single adult-level book. At Dawn’s suggestion, One Book Westchester is also amping up the idea to include elementary-aged story books by Eric Velasquez, a middle-school-level book, The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani and an adult-level book, Dear George, Dear Mary by Mary Calvi.
Founder of…: shhhh – you heard it here first – Not one to rest on her laurels, Dawn’s plans include creating a Children’s Book Festival for Manhattan, perhaps as early as next spring!
National Literacy Award Recipient: As mentioned, Dawn is never one to toot her own horn. So, it is only through word of mouth that this reporter learned of her Daughters of the American Revolution first-place National Literacy Award acknowledging her dedicated years of work. Brava, Dawn!
Co-Founder of (914) Cares: Originally known as Chappaqua Cares, this grassroots organization has expanded to include a fulltime team of directors and officers. The mission is to provide help throughout Westchester to all those struggling with the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, education and medical care.
Feed Me Fresh Award Recipient: Another well-deserved nod of recognition, this time from the Mount Kisco Childcare Center, which honored Dawn at its fall gala for her part in community affairs.
Political Activist: A member of the Democratic Party, Dawn is also a known local activist. She was instrumental in helping to organize the many local Hillary Clinton supporters into a cohesive campaign strategy grassroots group know as Chappaqua Friends of Hillary back in 2016. And, when things didn’t go the way they’d hoped, the group (in keeping with Dawn’s “turn lemons in to lemonade” philosophy”) expanded their platform and rebranded themselves.

Up2Us now has more than 4,000 members and expects to canvass and work tirelessly for the 2020 Democratic nominee. Asked how she became interested in politics, Dawn recounts that her family has always been involved as far back as a grandfather who ran for Governor of Georgia.

More importantly, and coming full circle to her roles as wife/mom/community member, Dawn says that it’s important to model engagement for our kids. They need to see–not just hear lip service to–that “one person CAN make a difference.”

Meet Madeline Finesmith

Like many who move to town, Dawn and Madeline became friends via their children during a Mommy and Meclass, and it is a friendship that has blossomed over time through many mutual interests. It also helps that Madeline, like Dawn, is energy personified. A former Ernst & Young consultant, with a law degree to boot, she knew the rigor and risk-taking aspects of her former corporate life would be a good fit for a start-up festival. So, when Dawn sent an email lamenting the demise of the Tarrytown Fair and suggesting a Chappaqua reboot, Madeline was quick to reply she was “all in” to help make it happen. Her logistics and financial skills were invaluable to the start-up process, and, thanks to those early efforts, more recent festivals have seen sponsors clamoring to participate. Not only did Madeline help to grow the festival, but the festival helped her growth toward a new career path: Volunteer Recruitment and PR Manager for JCY-Westchester Community Partners, one of her early philanthropic research connections for the festival. Sharing “this Book Festival has given me a lot, and I’m very happy to be a part of it.” Madeline, again much like Dawn, is quick to also point out that she’s “just a piece of it, but there are lots of pieces!”

Supporting ‘The Perfect Spot’ at MKCCC’s Feed Me Fresh Gala Fundraiser

September 19, 2017 by Inside Press

Article and Photos by Grace Bennett

(L-R) Kelly Sullivan, Helen Bock, Patty Black and Dawn Meyerski hosting the 13th Annual Feed Me Fresh gala fundraiser for the Mount Kisco Child Care Center

Bedford Hills, September 16–In the warm and bucolic setting of gorgeous Ivanna Farms, a spectacular evening unfolded Saturday night with the singular goal of supporting the Mount Kisco Child Care Center (MKCCC), their efforts to provide quality child care and to make child care affordable to as many working parents as possible. The event was MKCCC’s 13^th annual ‘Feed Me Fresh’ gala fundraiser and it came complete with mingling and learning early on in the ‘lower tent,’ wonderful music by The Shaves and Chappaqua’s own Jon Cobert, a culinary feast featuring samplings from multiple area restaurants and eateries in the ‘upper tent,’ a live auction, and of course a celebration of MKCCC’s 2017 honorees.

The Honorees were: Eric Hadar (long-time supporter and host with honorary co-chairs Margery Hadar and Karen Newman), Fran Osborne (MKCCC board member and honorary co-chairs Toni Kelly and Betsy Towl) and ‘Team Amy’ and honorary co-chairs Madeline Crabtree and John Crabtree.

Kelly Sullivan, chair of Feed Me Fresh, noted the generous time volunteers give to the event both in terms of planning and decorating, “to throw the nicest party of the year.” Board member and child care expert Barbara Klein related to the Inside Press that her grandchild is now being cared for at MKCCC. “Having run the Chappaqua Children’s Workshop for many years where I worked with older children, this is my first experience observing an infant in child care. I was very impressed with the care and commitment. It’s a setting with very special people doing an amazing job. I firmly believe our family picked the perfect spot.”

Attendees Colleen and Ron Pascione of Millwood proudly stated that they had three children cared for at MKCCC and the oldest now volunteers there too. Chappaqua’s Claire Frieder said she supports the event because of the invaluable ‘peace of mind’ available to working parents “and especially those who can’t afford the regular costs of child care.”

More of the Center’s ‘Feed Me Fresh’ news coming soon and will be added here about the generous support raised ‘to help provide access to quality child care for working families’ at the Mount Kisco Child Care Center. To follow updates about the event too, or to donate, visit mkccc.org.