The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

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At a May 12 Festival de Primavera, Neighbors Link to Honor Community Health Partners

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– Celebrating those helping to ensure health equity during the COVID-19 health crisis –

 On the evening of May 12 Neighbors Link, which provides vital services to the immigrant community in Westchester County, will host Festival de Primavera (Spring Festival), a gala event to honor community partners who have made a tangible impact in ensuring health equity during the COVID-19 health crisis. They will be honoring the Community Outreach Department of Northern Westchester Hospital and giving special recognition to the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Legend Pharmacy. There will also be a special presentation of the Gabby Rosenfeld award to Martha Palomino.

The Community Outreach Department of Northern Westchester Hospital will be honored for their work to ensure that all members of the community have access to lifesaving interventions and information during the global pandemic. The Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Legend Pharmacy will receive special recognition for their efforts to provide healthcare services to the immigrant community during these times of heightened need.

The Gabby Rosenfeld “Be a Hero” award will be presented to Martha Palomino in recognition of her 12+ years of service to Neighbors Link as a dedicated board member and later a valued member of our staff. The recognition is named for the late Gabriel Rosenfeld, a WW II combat veteran and consummate volunteer who served on the board of directors of Neighbors Link and also supported many other community organizations throughout Westchester County.

The Festival de Primavera, an evening with “cocktails and strolling dinner under the stars,” is expected to bring together 300 supporters from the Neighbors Link community. The event will take place outdoors in a safe space where guests will be required to show proof of vaccination per current CDC guidelines. Funds raised at the event will be used to support Neighbors Link’s crucial work to build stronger communities through the integration and empowerment of immigrants.

For additional information please contact Adrienne Vogel at 914-666-3410 x114, avogel@neighborslink.org

 

 

 

Re-Discovering the Splendor of Downtown Chappaqua

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By Marianne Campolongo

With chic boutiques, salons for pampering, toys and ice cream cones to keep kids happy, and restaurants to suit every palate, it is fun to shop and dine in downtown Chappaqua. Whether your tastes run to antiques or modern design, practical clothing or the latest fashions, you are sure to find what you need in one of the shops along the village’s tree-lined streets.

Photo by Grace Bennett

With the Chappaqua Downtown Revitalization Project nearing completion, visiting town will soon be even more enjoyable. After tearing up portions of the road and sidewalk to replace crumbling infrastructure, including underground water mains, sewer lines, and stormwater drains, some over 80 years old, the town will look better than ever with new wider sidewalks, improved roadways, pedestrian plazas, beautiful plantings, seating walls, and other amenities to make the village even more inviting and pedestrian-friendly.

The downtown area runs from the top of Bedford Road (Route 117) down King Street and then branches out along North and South Greeley Avenues. On a beautiful spring day, take a moment to enjoy the lush star magnolias in bloom at the small park on the top of King Street before you head toward town. Within a few feet you can purchase clothes, get marketing or spiritual advice, pick up convenience store necessities, wines and spirits, do your banking, get your nails and hair done (and get your furry friends groomed as well), get your clothes dry cleaned, grab a sandwich, pizza, or cup of coffee, and you’ve just started out.

As you travel down the hill, older homes with lush green lawns sit side-by-side with houses repurposed by local businesses such as dentists and doctors, architects and antique shops, making for a pleasant walk. You’ll notice a myriad of professionals you can call on without straying beyond the boundaries of downtown Chappaqua.

Photo by Grace Bennett

For over 65 years now, spring is time for the First Congregational Church’s Barn Sale, so put aside items to donate while you do your spring cleaning, or head to the sale to buy new and gently used items at bargain prices. St. John and Mary Roman Catholic Church’s Spring Festival features games, crafts and wonderful food, and is also fast becoming a new Chappaqua tradition.

Although it is technically spring, the annual Memorial Day Parade marks the official start of the summer season. As a tradition for over 80 years, June brings St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church’s Strawberry Festival with all its crafts, music, games, and great food including scrumptious strawberry shortcake baked by the church’s parishioners. An end of school SummerFest, a newcomer on the scene has activity floats, gymnastic instruction, raffles and live music at the gazebo; it was already a big hit its first year. On Wednesday nights in July, the gazebo is in full swing with the Summer Concert Series. Bring a picnic dinner or buy from pop-ups hosted by local restaurants. And be sure to check out the weekly Chappaqua Farmer’s Market. Also, there’s festivity and deals galore at the annual and much anticipated summer July Sidewalk Sale!

The Northern Westchester Artists Guild (NWAG) is particularly busy in the summer, with outdoor art sales. Throughout the year they also sponsor Art Around Town where local businesses host an artist. Spend the evening going from store to store viewing art and enjoying drinks and hors d’oeuvre. The NWAG just opened a new studio space in town, too.

When the weather gets warmer, many restaurants place tables outside, so it is a great time to meet a friend or take the family out for a meal. The new wider sidewalks are sure to make dining al fresco on any beautiful day or eve even better.

As autumn approaches and the nesting urge takes hold, interior designers, antique dealers, picture framers, and home goods stores can help you find ways to redecorate, or you can simply pop into town for a bouquet of flowers to brighten up your home. Make room for new purchases by donating older items to local consignment shops, pick up a charming find at bargain prices, or get DIY advice at the local hardware store. The fall is also a great time to learn more about your community and Community Day, hosted by the Rotary Club (see below), is a great place to start. Food, fun activities for the kids, and booths sponsored by all manner of town groups and businesses will give you insight. The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival and the Ragamuffin Parade at Halloween round out the fall fun.

Winter is a great time to find a good book at the Chappaqua Library or the wonderful independent bookstore to curl up with by the fire, or buy a sled or shovel for outdoor activity. Warm coats, snow boots and other outdoor gear are easy to find right in town. Beautiful cocktail dresses and finely tailored suits are also on the agenda, with sparkling jewels to round out your outfit. You might even spy one of the Clintons completing their holiday shopping and strike up a conversation. Wander into the charming Horace Greeley House, which houses the New Castle Historical Society, to learn about the town’s beginnings, or simply enjoy the beautiful fir tree outside, lit up for the holiday season. It is also the season for Wine Around Town, sponsored by the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce. Merchants throughout downtown Chappaqua host special sales along with free wine tastings and hors d’oeuvre.

It is only about a mile long, but you can find nearly everything you need from shopping to dining to services in Chappaqua’s downtown district. So, before you trek off to the crowded mall, try shopping local. You will be glad you did!

Editor’s Note: There has been much excitement and patronag e of the supermarkets that have opened. (See our stories on Millwood/West End and about Chappaqua Crossing.) Many ‘Chappaquans’ continue to appreciate the small thriving food markets downtown too and, of course, all the vibrant dining in/take out options. Bon appétit!

Pleasantville Day: Community Fun & Friendship

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The town of Pleasantville was awash with smiles and laughter, the sounds of live music, and the unmistakable scent of funnel cake and popcorn as the community celebrated yet another successful Pleasantville Day festival on Saturday, May 18th. A tradition lasting over thirty years, Pleasantville Day is not only a day of fun and games for the children, but also an important reminder to their parents of the joys of living in a small, close-knit community. Filled with colorful booths, carnival rides, dance showcases, and an impressive selection of food, there truly is something for everyone. This year, the festival boasted a juggling stilt-walker, human statue, and giant inflatable slide in addition to its usual activities to keep it feeling new and exciting despite its long run in the town.

Soon after arriving at Memorial Plaza, children of all ages were gleefully laughing and clutching onto their cotton candy as they played games and won prizes. But Pleasantville Day isn’t just a day for the children–parents enjoyed themselves equally, chatting, enjoying the live jazz music, and entering raffles to win gifts provided by local businesses. Even the pets of Pleasantville seemed to be having a good time with no shortage of furry faces. Besides the expected endless stands filled with games and crafts, Pleasantville Day also hosted a diverse number of tables this year, including a sports equipment swap, town conservation awareness booth, and a variety of fundraising tables for Pleasantville High School clubs. Pleasantville Day is truly a cherished day in the community which provides a unique opportunity for townspeople of all ages to come together and enjoy a day of fun and celebration. This event has become somewhat of an institution in the village, a powerful reminder of the beauty of living in a tight-knit, small town in which every face is a familiar and friendly one. In essence, Pleasantville Day is an embodiment of all the values Pleasantville aims to encapsulate: friendship, fun, and most importantly, community.

The Making of the 45th Annual Fol-De-Rol: A Fun-Filled Event for All

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Lea, a puppy sponsored by the Armonk Lions who partcipates in Puppies Behind Bars
PHOTO COURTESY OF ARMONK LIONS CLUB

This year will be the 45th of that beloved Armonk tradition, the annual Fol-De-Rol. From June 6-9, residents and visitors will flood Wampus Community Park to enjoy rides, food, vendors, entertainment and more – there will even be a pig race–all arranged for and run by the Armonk Lions Club, to raise funds for their many charitable endeavors.

“It takes you back,” North Castle Town Supervisor Michael J. Schiliro, a longtime Armonk resident, said of the Fol-De-Rol. “It’s a throwback–a simple country fair.”

Schiliro said preparation for the event isn’t too demanding for the town. They plan for police presence, and ready the park. The volunteer firefighters make sure a truck is there. The advance work is really done, he said, by the Lions.

“We plan all year,” said Douglas Martino, president of the Armonk Lions Club. “In January we kick into high gear.” Members of the Lions get permits and insurance and get vendors–an extremely time-consuming process, Martino said. “We don’t like to have two of the same type of vendor.”

Categories such as jewelry may have duplicates, because attendees appreciate choice in certain categories, but overall there’s a three-person committee that seeks to find a diverse and interesting group of vendors who sell everything from pet food to local honey.

“During the event itself we man the ticket booths, set up for the vendors and help them, help set up the tables and so on,” Martino said, adding that the Lions also arrange for lavatories. They bring doughnuts and coffee to the vendors early in the morning to show appreciation as well. “We sell raffle tickets throughout the event,” Martino said. First prize will be $1,000.

A Way to Mark the Years…

Stacy Wilder has lived in Armonk for 25 years. And over time, her experience at the Fol-De-Rol has changed. For a while, she took her children to the rides. “It’s nice to have something so local, without having to go to Playland or Great Adventure,” Wilder said.

As Wilder’s children got older, they wanted to go to the Fol-De-Rol with their friends. “It’s like a rite of passage in Armonk, to go at night with your buddies,” Wilder said. Now, Wilder attends by herself. She enjoys seeing the many people she knows in town, and perusing the vendor’s wares.

And Bring in New Faces

Neal Schwartz, owner of Armonk-based College Planning of Westchester and president of the Armonk Chamber of Commerce, always set up as a vendor at the Fol-De-Rol when his business was new and he was looking to get to know people in town and spread the word about his services in a friendly way, without a hard sell. “That was how I connected to the community,” he said.

Schwartz said besides benefitting good causes, “the biggest benefit (of the Fol-De-Rol) is that some people may not have been familiar with Armonk and might never have been here before. It certainly brings people to town and keeps them in town for that particular weekend and there’s natural overflow.” Attendees often seek out local restaurants for a meal before or after, Schwartz said.

The Fol-De-Rol has even caused interest in living in Armonk, Schwartz said. “The hope is–and it’s happened–that they’ll come and then they’ll say, ‘This is where I want to live.’”

“The Armonk Lions Club gets all the credit in the world for putting this thing on–and then they put the money back into the community,” Schiliro said. “It’s a win-win-win-win-win.”

The Armonk Lions Club helps fund scholarships every year, built a gazebo in Wampus Park, and underwrote the North Castle Citizen’s Council Disaster Relief Trailer, among many other local contributions, Martino said, adding that they’re always looking for new people to join the Lions. The Lions also donate to Open Door medical centers, Meals on Wheels, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and many more, especially sight-related charities. The Armonk Lions is sponsoring Lea, a puppy who is part of the program Puppies Behind Bars. Lea will be trained by an inmate at the Bedford Correctional Facility and hopefully one day will become a service dog for an injured veteran or first responder.

“If it’s a nice day–and that’s the risk factor in all this–you’re outside,” Schwartz said of the Fol-De-Rol. “What’s not to like?”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARMONK LIONS CLUB

Nothing Sweeter: The 82nd Annual Strawberry Festival

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There was fun anticipated for all on June 1; there’s also nothing sweeter than the sound of children of all ages enjoying carnival games and rides. And for 82 years, this time-honored tradition has been upheld in Chappaqua at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin’s Strawberry Festival. Live music, a petting zoo and vendors including those selling strawberry shortcake round out the fun-filled day. For so many area residents, it’s always a great way to start your summer fun and stock up on scrumptious strawberry jam.

Church of St. Mary the Virgin

191 South Greeley Avenue

Chappaqua