The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Grace Bennett

How ‘Bout That?

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Photo by Mia Brown

Age may be just a number, but the shelf life of a print publication these days is most decidedly not. It speaks volumes, and I am owning that! When I published a first edition in 2003, I was fully prepared for it to be a one-hit wonder. I let go of my fear and gave it the old college try. And then, lo and behold, it took hold, and I had more than enough sponsors to keep it going. And going, and going it positively did… and here I am, with a 20th year commemorative edition in print and online. Well, how ‘bout that?

Throughout the Inside Press journey, I have navigated and published (always delivering on time… a point of pride!) through different personal crises, and in these most recent years, a world crisis. I write this in fact with some long Covid symptoms unfortunately still plaguing me. Nothing too dire. Hopefully, that all clears up soon. I have my May/June issues to work on next after all!

Being a tad insecure, as well, I have always thought that any issue could be my last. Chalk that up to my being a child of Holocaust survivors. Maybe it’s hard for us to trust the universe entirely.

It didn’t matter that those closest to me would roll their eyes at all my angst. No one close to me ever believed me, not for a Chappaqua minute. I’m hand wringing less these days, I’m glad to report.

Fortunately, I’ve reached an age that if I went belly up, or bottom down, you know what? I’d be ok, too. More than ok. It might even be ‘a choice’ I make one day. A ‘Next Act’ could have its very own silver linings.  I expect I’ll be as excited for that one day as I was about launching a hyperlocal publishing company.

It’s a ‘good head space’ to be in, and a ‘Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” ‘tude is a terrific confidence builder (ask any Gone with the Wind fan). I would not have shared these most inner thoughts at the 10-year mark, but at my 20th, I do feel more free. I have earned that privilege, thank you very much.

No man or woman is an island, and that couldn’t be more true in publishing either. It’s fairly obvious that the real estate community is an enthusiastic supporter of the Inside Press, and I’m of course indebted to their collective generosity! A group of eminently kind testimonials from an interesting cross section of other businesses are also going to my head!  I’m hoping their words, occasionally shared, are an enticement for past advertisers to collaborate with me again, or for new ones to come knocking.

Finally, I couldn’t publish successfully without a group of contributor pros (their faces and bios are in each edition!).   https://www.theinsidepress.com/meet-the-inside-press-contributing-team/If my 20th year stands for anything, it’s for the considerable talent of our past, present and future creative ensemble!

For the Armonk edition, which turns 10 next year, (how ’bout that, too!) I engaged a great local talent, Illeana Baquero, to put her own spin on Spring.

In the Pleasantville & Briarcliff edition,  now in its third year, I chose to cover spotlight a prominent local author, Ben Cheever. After all, I’m celebrating the power of writing in many ways right now with these editions, too.

I hope you enjoy all the new ‘content’ online including some first time Advertiser Testimonials. https://www.theinsidepress.com/20-years-of-inside-press-what-makes-us-stand-out/I’m eternally grateful for the sponsor support, as without it, I couldn’t gather all the wonderful stories! Or pay my bills, but I digress. Aside from the 20th year drum roll, we’ve included compelling artist profiles, Maggie Mae love, sweet essays, spring-themed pieces (get your planters and hiking shoes ready!), an artists’ residency, and more. I would love your feedback too and your story ideas. If I’m known for anything, I hope it has been for my openness to you, dear reader, here, and beyond.

The Grace in Grace

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Way back in 2008, I was in the middle of writing a memoir about my struggle with bipolar disorder. I also began writing humorous essays about my observations on life. I submitted one of them to Grace of Inside Chappaqua magazine. My essay, ‘The Creation of a Radical Baseball Evolutionist,’ was my first published piece.

A little after that, Grace and I met for lunch. I must admit, I was a bit nervous to meet a publisher. It was a warm spring day, so we decided to meet at a local restaurant and sat outside. I didn’t know anything about Grace or editing or publishing. I arrived extra early and began to imagine who Grace was. Did she wear corporate pantsuits? Pencil skirts? Or dresses? Was she approachable? Conversational or reserved? What am I doing here??? I feel like a fraud! I’ve never published anything!!!

As my inner-voice began to spiral and play on my insecurities, I looked up and saw this curly-haired woman with a warm smile headed my way. She was dressed in a whimsical pastel floral skirt with a white tee. She looked a bit harried and apologized for being a whole five minutes late. She said she had a crazy morning. Grace spoke in a soft, casual tone that immediately made me feel comfortable. We talked about the start of her magazine, and I shared that I was writing a memoir on my struggle with bipolar disorder. She immediately was interested and asked me a bunch of questions, and said she’d love to read it when it came out. When it was published a year later, Grace reached out and said she read my book while sitting on a beach and wanted to assign one of her writers to interview me.

Over the past 15 years, Grace has been gracious enough to publish 16 of my articles. She has championed my cause and has given me a platform highlighting mental health. She has sent me on assignments to cover local events. She even gave me my first cover story. Grace was and still is open to reading anything I submit, including a few humorous essays. Although I’ve never experienced what it’s like to work with other editors or publishers, what I will say is that if you’re a writer, Grace is the kind of editor/publisher who allows a writer to write in their own voice. She is very much hands-off and respects the writer’s perspective and creativity. When she does interject, it’s usually more of gentle guidance on slight revisions and word count.

Over the years, not only do we share a professional relationship, but we’ve become good friends and confidants. Above all, Grace is a playful spirit, and it doesn’t hurt that she enjoys my warped sense of humor. I admire her independent spirit. She’ll go to movies and restaurants by herself and travel solo to far-away places. Once upon a time, though less so now, she’d even visit karaoke joints and sing, too.

What’s wonderful about our friendship is that we can go from sheer silliness to deep, meaningful conversations about what’s happening in each other’s lives. Grace shares her insecurities, her flaws, her mistakes. She’s not afraid to be vulnerable. When I say vulnerable, I mean in a good way–in a strong, brave way. So, when she asked me to write something for this 20th anniversary edition, I said only if I could write something on her. At first, she wasn’t sure, but I insisted she let me try, and, of course, she’s the one who could nix it.

So, if you’re reading this, it’s because Grace, once again, was open to being beautifully vulnerable. That truly is the grace in Grace.

Dorothy Wickenden Sheds Light on the Strength & Perseverance of Three Women Who Fought for Abolition & Women’s Rights

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PHOTOS by Kendall Hammes  To watch the interview, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWcSlStw8_E

Wickenden Urges a Visit to Auburn, NY, to Help Support a Bicentennial Event Celebrating Harriet Tubman’s Birth.

Plus other Highlights from a Chappaqua Library Author Talk

On Tuesday, March 8th, the Chappaqua Library invited Dorothy Wickenden, executive editor of The New Yorker and author of a new book, The Agitators, to a virtual discussion with Grace Bennett, editor and publisher of Inside Press Magazines. In her book, Wickenden successfully weaves the lives of three women in the mid-1800s whose outrage about the lack of rights for women propelled them to act, sometimes against all odds.  

During the abolition movement–Francis A. Seward, Martha Coffin Wright, and Harriet Tubman–positively channeled their anger and resentment to having their voices heard. The Agitators: Three Friends Who Fought for Abolition and Human Rights illustrates how the women leaned on each other for support and with their strength and perseverance helped abolish slavery and gain the right to divorce and to vote. 

Wickenden who is also a moderator for The New Yorker weekly’s podcasts admitted proudly that her book was a labor of love that took seven years to complete. She spoke about the importance of writing books about women’s struggles with social justice and she is hoping to shed some light on the forgotten who were the women of that epic historical time in America.

In addition to her extensive research, Wickenden told Bennett that she found her inspiration from reading her grandmother’s letters which depicted a period when women were seeking work outside the home. Coincidentally, her grandmother grew up in Auburn, NY, which is the very same place where Harriett Tubman resided for over 50 years, shepherding and housing former slaves. She urges her readers to go and visit Auburn which has since been revitalized and, this year, is honoring the Bicentennial of Harriet Tubman’s birth. 

Joan Kuhn, program coordinator for the Chappaqua Library, welcomed Wickenden and Bennett to the Author Talk. Considering Chappaqua’s own history, Bennett noted the many references in the book made to Horace Greeley who founded The New York Tribune newspaper, an important vehicle for promoting abolition. Wickenden discussed the Tribune’s influence on the women and also the deep division of the nation’s media in those times, too! She also offered an explanation about the Quakers’ influence on those who made it their moral obligation to speak about the abolition of slavery.

You can still get a signed copy of Wickenden’s book at Scattered Books in Chappaqua. It would make a perfect gift for many young women who are interested in learning about the women’s suffrage movement!   

To listen to the entire interview, visit:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWcSlStw8_E

Kendall Hammes, a junior at Horace Greeley High School, lives with her parents and two sisters in Chappaqua. She spends her time playing tennis, swimming and photographing. This is her first contribution to the Inside Press.

Chappaqua Library Author Talk with Dorothy Wickenden, Author of The Agitators: Three Friends Who Fought For Abolition and Women’s Rights

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March 8 @ 7pm

Dorothy Wickenden Photo by Jayme Grodi

From the executive editor of The New Yorker, comes The Agitators: Three Friends Who Fought for Abolition and Women’s Rights, a riveting, provocative and revelatory history of abolition and women’s rights, told through the story of 3 women–Harriet Tubman, Frances Seward and Martha Wright–in the years before, during and after the Civil War.

“These friends are the examples we need right now–another time of divisiveness and dissension over our nation’s purpose ‘to form a more perfect union.’” –Hillary Rodham Clinton

Ms. Wickenden has offered to visit Scattered Books ahead of the event to sign copies which you can pre-order at  info@scatteredbooks.com

Grace Bennett, publisher and editor, Inside Press, will interview Ms. Wickenden.

Please register at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KJ6nv9HYRVS6VrlH-z2i5Q

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