The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Publisher

May & June: My Sweet Spot

by

Peter Kelly and I in front of Basso by PXK
PHOTO BY CAROLYN SIMPSON

As spring gives way to summer, May and June emerge as months of profound celebration, marking both personal and cultural milestones. These months are filled with transitions, and moments of joy that bring people together. From academic achievements to weddings, from honoring parents to commemorating history, May and June remind us of life’s important passages and the beauty of shared experiences. 

In May, we honor our moms on Mother’s Day, observe the official start to summer on Memorial Day and let’s not forget Cinco de Mayo! 

In my family, June is a huge month of celebration! It’s every family member’s birthday, including mine, except for my son who refused to join us until July. My parents will be married for 60 years this June – a big milestone! There’s also Father’s Day, Juneteenth a variety of graduation ceremonies.  

Our Armonk cover story introduces us to the Livanos’s, owners of Armonk’s Moderne Barn Restaurant. Writer Abby Luby spoke with Livanos siblings Nick, Bill, and Corina who shared stories of their journey in the food business, the importance of family and their love of Armonk. Thanks to Cathy Pinsky www.pinskystudio.com for capturing beautiful shots of this remarkable family. 

What a thrill to meet the extraordinary chef Peter Kelly, now of Basso by PXK in Chappaqua. Stacey Pfeffer wrote a great article about the culinary genius who is as nice as he is talented. The best part was sitting with Stacey to sample some of Chef Kelly’s dishes. Thanks to Carolyn Simpson www.doublevisionphotographers.com for her gorgeous photos. 

Martin Wilbur, who had been the long-time editor-in-chief for The Examiner, took on a few assignments with us and we were lucky to have him. Our cover story takes us to the bustling streets of Pleasantville where the village has welcomed Wonder – a fast-food delivery, take out and dine in service combining multiple restaurants in one place. Thanks to Donna Mueller www.greatkeepsakes.com for her wonderful photos of the event. 

As the days grow longer and summer approaches, May and June invite us to pause and appreciate life’s milestones, both big and small. Whether celebrating academic success, love, family, or historical progress, these months remind us of the importance of honoring achievements, cherishing connections and embracing the spirit of celebration. 

A huge thanks to our incredible contributors! I love these issues – my first as Publisher/Editor-in-Chief. A final thank you to Grace Bennett, Inside Press Founder, for sharing her wisdom and trusting me with her prized possession. I promise to make you proud! 

Have a joyful spring season! 

Elise Trainor
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

This Wild and Precious Life

by

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Mary Oliver, The Summer Day

Grace Bennett
PHOTO BY DONNA MUELLER

Many ponder that question as time marches on. As goals and desires unrealized gnaw at me, I’m taking Oliver’s challenge to heart. On our home page, you will find a genealogy story, a real-life cousin who found me doing research of family lost in the Holocaust! The revelation further inspired me to revisit yellowing documents from my dad’s horrific experiences surviving Auschwitz, and to hopefully undertake translating my grandfather’s manuscript of surviving that horrendous war in hiding, and reuniting with my dad in Israel, after the rest of his family was killed. And about growing up ‘in the shadow’. I may have a memoir in the making if I can do my best to stay focused.

In time for Mother’s and Father’s Day and graduations, enjoy stories about new & expectant families, a second ‘Portraits and Profiles’ column sharing peace-enhancing practices plus a lovely essay about a special mother/daughter bond.

Here too are spotlights on two great County leaders. A cover story by Alexa Troob emphasizes Vedat Gashi’s focus on cooperation and collaboration. Via Deborah Notis’s interview with Westchester County Executive George Latimer, we learn about a hardworking, results-achieving leader! Other stories include ones about a local rock band, The Station Agents, and another, about a humble World War II vet, Sargent Dan Santagata.

A second cover story (by yours truly!) is about a local dad who just happens to also be a two-time Grammy winner and mastering engineer — Joe LaPorta! Joe’s latest Grammy was for Miley Cyrus’s FLOWERS! I had fun learning how LaPorta, and those in his field of expertise, enhance a song’s sound so that its melody really sticks!

I’m particularly excited to present the indomitable Benjamin Cheever’s engaging cover story about the globe-trotting adventures of award-winning documentary team Susan Todd and Andrew Young. We also think you will appreciate a close-up of Pleasantville High School’s beloved Principal Joseph Palumbo. Two articles by Christine Pasqueralle are one about the Briarcliff Manor Library’s Poetry Café, and a second about the much beloved Briarcliff Manor fundraiser – affectionately called Mezzapalooza. Please also don’t miss our update about the upcoming lineup at the ever-beautiful Caramoor, or the breaking news about the Jacob Burns Film Center’s opening of Take 3, a new Wine Bar and Cafe! Here too is an announcement of the lineup of the Pleasantville Music Festival which we are lending a helping hand to this year, too, as a media sponsor.

Plus, as always, there’s ‘much more’.  Just take a look!

If I’ve missed anyone or anything, we will surely catch up with you one day, as we love to do!

I’m forever grateful to all our contributors and advertisers — I’d like you to know that advertising revenue remains vital for bringing these independently-produced editions to a wide swath of Northern Westchester ‘and beyond’  (to some 75,000 readers not even counting the internet reach of many thousands more with each publishing cycle), so in our 21st year of publishing that includes some true milestones including a recent 20-year anniversary or Inside Chappaqua, a current 10-year anniversary for Inside Armonk and five-year one for Inside Briarcliff Manor & Pleasantville, please contact us ‘for the first time’ if you have ever contemplated a print plus online (a powerful combo!) sponsorship, or ‘revisit’ us if you have in the past! 

We’re still cooking, but make no mistake about it, we need you!

More than ever, in fact, we also appreciate reader support. Another way to help us keep the issues coming is a digital subscription that opens up a decade of content to you (ask us how to unlock a story permanently too, or over the long term): https://www.theinsidepress.com/subscriptions/

It’s truly a privilege producing well regarded magazines in the beautiful hills of Northern Westchester. So, as I retreat to behind-the-scenes projects and pursuits, please know I’m still very much here, and confident that our magazines’ ‘day to day’ responsibilities are in capable hands with associate publisher/editor, Elise Trainor. Elise will be giving you The Inside Scoop each issue.

Here’s wishing you warm, bright days ahead in your own precious lives.  

 

Fresh Beginnings

by

Grace Bennett
PHOTO BY DONNA MUELLER
When I conjured up the theme of “fresh beginnings,” I had hoped we’d see the hostages come home… with that, a new peace in a troubled region, and a collective sigh of relief everywhere! I’m sad that wasn’t the case, at least not at press time, but I remain, I know we all remain, ever hopeful.

Holding onto hope in the battle against cancer is the reigning sentiment for all the participants of Chappaqua’s always amazing Relay for Life, our Inside Chappaqua cover story by Mia Brown. Kudos to all the Greeley volunteers!

The historic inaugurations in January seemed to promise a bright, new future for our residents, with Victoria Bayard Tipp now at the helm as the Town of New Castle’s first BIPOC Town Supervisor. We are proud to present Zoya Nabeel’s poignant coverage, and my own report of all the newly sworn in public officials, in our first 2024 edition, kicking off a 21st year of publishing.

Elise Trainor
In the meantime, some fresh beginnings have taken place Inside the Inside Press. In December, we extended a warm welcome to our new Associate Publisher and Editor Elise Trainor, a consummate media pro who has been busy gearing up to assume many of my current responsibilities (my goal is to pursue special projects long put on hold!). Elise, an Armonk resident who has raised her family in North Castle together with her husband John, rolled up her sleeves right away getting to know our present sponsors and securing new ones in our vital print/online market. She is also already bringing us great stories including the Inside Armonk cover story written by Stacey Pfeffer about Stayin’ Alive, a gift to First Responders and the residents in Armonk, but also in nearby towns. To reach Elise, write to elise@insidepress.com.

Speaking of gifts, we celebrate spring in a debut of Ronni Diamondstein and Naava Katz’s fun new column, Portraits & Profiles. We hope you enjoy it.

Ella Ilan’s article about newly elected Town Supervisor Joseph Rende offers our readers an opportunity to ‘get to know’ him a little better, and offers some insight into his priorities for North Castle. As a prime example, look for a remounting of the Armonk Eagle with details to follow about the beloved landmark. 

We are also thrilled to hear that the Byram Hills Varley Players are gearing up to present Mamma Mia!, a personal Broadway favorite. So, mark your calendar for an event the entire community will surely enjoy.

Music is always a great salve during challenging times, so we are very proud to bring you Marco Lamberti’s story, the Inside Pleasantville and Briarcliff Manor cover story, as told by Christine Pasqueralle. A 10-year-old drummer rocking venues around the county felt inspiring to us, and we’d like our readers to perhaps one day say ‘they knew him when’ as they recall Marco’s ‘beginning’ 15 minutes of fame in their favorite local magazine.

In entirely different arenas, Michael Gold continues to bring stories to local presses intended to protect our precious planet, this time in a conversation with Nicole Asquith on the future of renewable energy. Fran Goldstein’s interview with Briarcliff Manor’s Audrey Birnbaum about her extraordinary new Holocaust memoir is a must read, and we wish Audrey well on her publishing journey. You’ll also find sage ‘midlife’ advice from the one and only René Syler. Also, if winter sniffles strike again, check out our new roving food reviewer interns who sampled hot soups in the area, and report their favorite to take out.

Please take time to check out all our new stories. Wishing you all fresh beginnings!

How ‘Bout That?

by

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.

Moms of the World

by

A ‘selfie’ before the Chappaqua Library author talk. I was ‘hair ready’ too thanks to Carolyn Vento and Miranda at the King Street Salon!

A picture of strollers left on the Poland/Ukraine border to greet the massive influx of refugees pulled heartstrings internationally. So many good moms of the world, parents & non-parents alike, are reeling from what has befallen Ukraine especially knowing that children have been killed and in harm’s way. One child victim is one too many. As I wrote this column while closing editions on March 19th, I hoped by the time you read this, a peace, however imperfect, would have arrived. But here in my update, I’m sad to state this brutal war goes on. However, no surprise to me, local moms and non-moms alike are stepping up to do what they can.

I was especially grateful to hear about an effort by two area humanitarians–Ivana Denniston (an aesthetician formerly of the Chappaqua Wellness Center) and Kristen Salomon–who were with an on the ground team working furiously at press time to help Ukrainian refugees into Slovakia. I shared their efforts online in case you missed it.

Meanwhile, strolling along Armonk’s Main Street one day, I came upon two young ladies, both freshmen at Byram Hills High School, selling baked goods on behalf of the Ukranian Crisis Mission Relief. Adrianna Zawojek had asked her friend Ariana Foreman to join her in baking some 200 items to sell. Adult friends also dropped off coffee & cake to their table. They raised close to $3000!!!, including what was donated to their Venmo, @helpingukraine914

The girls offered this statement: “When you have no political power (for example, high school freshmen), and the world is in dire need, you often feel helpless. You think, ‘Oh, I’m not a politician, I’m not a huge business owner, what influence can I have to make this better?’ It is humanity’s obligation to help each other when the time calls for it. When we heard the appalling & terrible news of what was happening in Ukraine, we knew that we had to do something!”

‘Mom’s World’ happened to be a theme developed months ago before this war began. Of all the issues published each year in the last 19 years, preparing Mother’s Day editions is always my favorite. After all, nothing has brought me more joy in my own life than being a mom, even with its challenges sometimes. I loved gathering the heartfelt essays and stories you’ll find in the current editions and here online from talented contributors who I count as dear friends now too.

For our Mother’s Day coverage, I was thrilled to include a touching cover love story about two Chappaqua Rotary Citizens of the Year, the indomitable Frank and Suzanne Shiner! Plus, please check out our more up close and personal interview with New Castle’s dynamic new Town Supervisor Lisa Katz. Please also don’t miss the spotlight on the Chappaqua School Foundation and consider supporting their efforts for innovation in education at the upcoming Tacos & Tequila night on April 29! It’s sounding like a rollicking great time is in store. In Armonk, we were struck by the enthusiastic response to the Armonk Fire Department’s CPR education offered free to local residents, thanks to the department’s awesome Julie Gallagher, assisted by Rich Greenwald. We were also delighted to learn about the return of the Fol-de-Rol!

A side note: while producing these editions, I thoroughly enjoyed and learned a lot from my interview with author Dorothy Wickenden during a Chappaqua Library Author Talk: Dorothy Wickenden Sheds Light on the Strength & Perseverance of Three Women Who Fought for Abolition & Women’s Rights (theinsidepress.com)  For  the next edition, I’m looking forward to sharing future events the library has planned to celebrate 100 years of serving the New Castle community; indeed, we plan to explore the future of libraries in general!

All three editions offer a substantial nod to the considerable gardening and beautification efforts around town–a maternal endeavor if ever there was one considering the many moms involved. Their efforts are spotlighted in each edition, and the upcoming Mother’s Day Plant Sales, but we also ‘packaged’ them altogether for a special Mother’s Day floral celebration of sorts in Inside Pleasantville & Briarcliff Manor. In that edition, you’ll also find info about the upcoming Pleasantville Day, an animated conversation with two key community leaders about all things spring and summer in Briarcliff Manor, plus a colorful ‘mom profile,’ Stacey Winnick, a compassionate local volunteer and businesswoman.

We have additional articles for your reading pleasure as always. We have also been actively promoting the idea of subscriptions in print and/or online if you’d like to support our efforts! Finally, the balmy weather arrived early, so we spotlight three fabulous locales for spring strolling on Mother’s Day, or any day! Enjoy!