The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Nita Lowey

Horace Greeley High School Junior Victoria Xu Wins 2017 Congressional Art Competition

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Millwood Student to travel to Washington, DC, meet with Congresswoman Lowey, and have art displayed in U.S. Capitol

 Runners up from Pearl River, Tappan and Yorktown Heights

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (Westchester/Rockland), the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that Victoria Xu, a junior at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua is the winner of the 2017 Congressional Art Competition for New York’s 17th Congressional District. Victoria’s acrylic on canvas, “Tonight on the Metro,” was judged to be first of 22 entries.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey with first place winner Victoria Xu together with (L-R): Daly Flanagan, Acting Director at Rockland Center for the Arts in West Nyack; Eileen MacAvery Kane, Instructor and Director of the Graphic Design Program at Rockland Community College in Suffern; and Carole Perry, Artistic Director and Curator at the Edward Hopper House Art Center in Nyack.

“I congratulate Victoria on winning this year’s Congressional Art Competition,” said Lowey. “I’m proud that her outstanding artwork, ‘Tonight on the Metro,’ will represent New York’s 17th Congressional District in the United States Capitol, where millions of visitors may see it.”

“The Chappaqua Central School District and Chappaqua Community are truly thrilled and proud of Victoria,” said Jennifer Schmidt, Art Teacher at Horace Greely High School. “Victoria’s painting is a testament to her technical and aesthetic ability.  She is an extraordinary artist with a strong work ethic, creative spirit and an admirable devotion to the visual arts. We appreciate the efforts of Congresswoman Nita Lowey’s office in recognizing high school artists, and join in honoring Victoria, whose commitment to the artistic process reflects her dedication and respect for this discipline.  Victoria has been an inspiration to all of the Horace Greeley Community.”

Annie McCormack, a Pearl River resident and a junior at Pearl River High School, came in second place for her photograph entitled “Reservoir;” Avery Schwarz, a Tappan resident and junior at Riverview High School, came in third for his “Royal Guards” mixed digital media; and Isobel Watson Ley, a Yorktown Heights resident and a junior at Yorktown High School, received an honorable mention for her watercolor, “The Hoatzin.”  

“Our region is fortunate to be home to so many excellent young artists,” said Lowey. “I congratulate Annie, Avery, Isobel and all of the participants in this year’s Congressional Art Competition. Their artistic talents are excellent contributions to the Lower Hudson Valley’s cultural identity.”

The Congressional Art Competition is a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Each spring, students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in June in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.

Congresswoman Lowey hosted the 17th Congressional District awards ceremony at the Nanuet Public Library on Monday, May 8th. The three judges who chose the winners were Daly Flanagan, Acting Director at Rockland Center for the Arts in West Nyack; Carole Perry, Artistic Director and Curator at the Edward Hopper House Art Center in Nyack, and Eileen MacAvery Kane, Instructor and Director of the Graphic Design Program at Rockland Community College in Suffern.

In addition to promoting arts through the annual Congressional Art Competition, Congresswoman Lowey has been stalwart in her defense of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and served on the prestigious National Council for the Arts in recognition of her leadership.

 

Rep. Lowey Denounces DeVos Appointment, Citing Disqualifying Factors

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Washington, DC – Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the Senate’s confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education:

“Unfortunately, today Betsy DeVos was confirmed by the Senate by the closest margin ever for a cabinet nominee. Our children deserve an Education Secretary who does her homework and aces the test, not one who passes only after being graded on a curve.

“I join New York families, educators, and a bipartisan group of 50 senators in voicing my deep concern about Devos’ ability to adequately do the job.  Her lack of knowledge on education policy and the federal role in promoting the education of students with disabilities, in addition to her extreme desire to gut our nation’s public education system, should have disqualified her from confirmation.

“As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will oversee the Department’s activities and hold Secretary DeVos accountable for providing our students with the education they deserve and our schools with the resources to succeed.”

Gun Violence Prevention Groups Promote Coalition Building

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Congresswoman Nita Lowey:  Act Now Despite ‘Tumultous’ Political Climate

By Stacey Pfeffer

Chappaqua, NY— Several Westchester-based gun violence prevention (GVP) groups yesterday presented key action items that community members can take to reduce gun violence in light of the recent Presidential election.

Speaking at a forum held inside New Castle Town Hall, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, a long-time gun safety advocate, noted that despite a “tumultuous” political climate, it is our responsibility to act now – regardless of the politics – to spare families the pain that gun violence brings. I will continue working with local legislators and activists to stand up for what is right when it matters the most and keep guns out of the wrong hands.”

Inside New Castle Town Hall: Congresswoman Nita Lowey together with members of several Westchester-based gun violence prevention groups during a forum held on Saturday, Feb. 4.

Representatives and members from Million Mom March/Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Moms Demand Action, The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and Prevent Gun Violence Westchester were all in attendance. The event was sponsored by Up2US (an outgrowth of Chappaqua Friends of Hillary) and the New Castle Democratic Committee. Concerned citizenry from the UP2US group were in attendance as were Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein and Town Councilman Adam Brodsky. 

Jessica Meller, one of the leaders of Northern Westchester’s Million Mom March, noted that many of these groups collaborate on efforts and events together but this was the first time that the groups held a forum so that members could get “a clear picture of each group’s unique profile, goals and actions, and how we function both individually and as a coalition.”

Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Mount Kisco) who attended commented that “it’s events like this that help galvanize people to action and to advocate for gun safety legislation.” Buchwald has been a strong advocate for gun safety and noted that Westchester has a gun safety storage law and he is one of the co-sponsors to support that bill so that it is adopted state-wide.

With 91 Americans killed everyday with guns (7 are children), Barry Graubart, the head of Westchester’s Moms Demand Action group noted how important it is to keep this issue front and center even when so many other progressive issues such as immigration and abortion are in peril. 

He explained that women are five times as likely to be shot when there is a gun present at home and that LGBT teens are four times as likely to commit suicide if a gun is available. He urged all in attendance to join Gun Sense Action Network, a group of over 200 gun sense activists from states across the country who spend a daytime hour each week reaching out to voters in battleground states and fighting for stronger gun laws in America. http://everytown.org/act/

While New Castle may seem immune to gun violence, there are areas of gun violence throughout the county. Mount Vernon had several shootings over the holiday period this year. Another particular area of concern for GVP groups locally is the Gun Show that was held two weeks ago at the Westchester County Center (WCC) in White Plains. The gun show was banned from the center for four years by County Executive Rob Astorino following the shootings in Newtown, CT but the ban was lifted this year. 

Prevent Gun Violence Westchester’s Chuck Bell stated community members can work to prevent the show returning next year to a county-owned building like the WCC. He urged those in attendance to call their legislators to override Astorino’s veto. “We also have no way of tracking how the firearms purchased at the show are used,” Bell noted.

Stacey Pfeffer is a frequent contributor to Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk. Her articles have also appeared in NY Family Magazine, Westchester Family Magazine, Westchester Parent and Kveller.com.

 

Burke Medical Receives $475,000 Grant

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Investment will support patients with traumatic brain injuries
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From the office of Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (Westchester/Rockland), the Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, announced a $475,000 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) grant for the Burke Medical Research Institute in White Plains to help improve sight in people with trauma-induced neurological injuries.

“Every day, some of our nation’s most cutting-edge medical research is being performed right here in the Lower Hudson Valley,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey. “I am proud to fight for federal resources for the Burke Medical Research Institute and other outstanding local facilities whose important work keeps New Yorkers healthy while dramatically improving health outcomes across the country. Funding for NIH has nearly tripled since I joined the House Appropriations subcommittee that funds medical research, and I will continue working to increase the $2 billion the NIH pumps into New York’s economy each year.”

The $475,000 grant will be used as seed money for a device that improves sight in people with neurological injuries. This specialized equipment was developed from studies of children who have sustained traumatic brain damage as a result of car accidents or falls from a bike. Patients are shown pictures or other stimulants and asked to visually track them across a screen. Music plays when the images are tracked properly but stops if they are followed incorrectly. Because these patients’ extensive brain damage has left them unable to communicate what they see, the device helps doctors understand what is being perceived visually while also stimulating and improving the patient’s visual system.

“We are thrilled,” said Dr. Rajiv R. Ratan, Executive Director of the Burke Medical Research Institute. “While much of what we are doing here promises improvements in clinical care in five or ten years, this new piece of equipment can improve care almost immediately.”

NINDS is a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) whose mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. It supports and conducts research on the normal and diseased nervous system; fosters the training of investigators in neurosciences; and seeks better understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders. NINDS serves as a prime source of neurological information for scientists, clinicians, and the public.

Lowey fought to include a $2 billion increase in NIH funding in the December 2015 year-end omnibus government spending bill.

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Nita Lowey on the Terror Gap: “Let’s Close this Glaring Loophole Immediately.”

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Article and Photos by Grace Bennett

White Plains — “We are going to win this,” Congresswoman Nita Lowey told fellow speakers and several groups of gun violence prevention (GVP) activists who gathered today at a press conference to address the “terror gap.” While Federal law prohibits the purchase of guns in nine specific categories including to convicted felons, domestic abusers and the seriously mentally ill, those on “terrorism watch lists” are free to purchase firearms–even while they are prohibited from entering ‘no fly zones,’” Lowey explained.

Lowey urged immediate passage of the “Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015,” a bill she co-sponsored together with Republican Peter King of New York. Despite the bill having strong bipartisan support, the majority leadership in the house has failed to bring it to a vote.”

nita and speakers

“We prevent those on terrorism watch lists from boarding planes but they are welcome in gun stores,” Lowey told those gathered.

“Between 2004 and 2014, individuals on the terrorism watch list tried to purchase guns 2,233 times. 2,043 were approved. That’s an astounding 91 percent.

Terrorists and potential terrorists are “knowingly exploiting weaknesses in American gun laws.”

91 percent of the American public, and even the majority of NRA members, 67 percent, agree on the importance of prohibiting sales to suspected terrorists, yet the NRA has prevented the passage of this legislation, pointed out Lowey. “Let’s close this glaring loophole immediately.”

Two mayors attended, both members of Mayors against Ilegal Guns.

White Plains Mayor Tom Roach offered: “A Mayor’s basic role is to keep everyone safe,” Roach said. “If you don’t speak up on this issue, you are just not doing your job. I can’t believe we have to fight to get something like this passed.”

Nyack’s Mayor Jen Laird-White spoke eloquently about being a mother of two children living in major cities and another preparing to leave home for college. “I want my children to board the subway or go out to dinner without fear,” said Laird-White. “I don’t want my college bound son diving under a cafeteria table to avoid gun violence.

“I want every child to grow into a life of adventure and possibility, not a cramped and fearful existence shadowed by the threat of gunfire.

“We all know there are not guarantees of personal safety in life. But there are sensible actions that we can take as parents and public officials to reduce the threats of violence…

“There is no reason why someone on a terrorist watch list should be able to purchase an arsenal of high-powered weaponry and take it home—no questions asked,” she continued. “There is not proper definition of liberty that justifies such a pointless and potentially catastrophic risk. It’s time to put ideology and politics aside and try common sense for a change.”

The final speaker was White Plains Public Safety Commissioner David Chong, standing next to two police officers who he reminded were our “first responders” in criminal situations. The additional protections, he said, would give law enforcement additional resources in ensuring that dangerous weapons do not end up in thae hands of terrorists–domestic or international.

Activists joining the speakers represented New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, Million Mom March, the Brady Campaign and Everytown for Gun Safety
Activists joining the speakers represented New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, Million Mom March, the Brady Campaign and Everytown for Gun Safety

Grace Bennett is publisher and editor of The Inside Press.