• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

  • Home
  • Advertise
    • Advertise in One or All of our Magazines
    • Advertising Payment Form
  • Print Subscription
  • Digital Subscription
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Login
  • Contact Us

talent

Local Conservation Leaders: Making a Difference Toward Protecting our Natural Environment

August 24, 2019 by Charlotte Harter

The Conservation Advisory Council of Pleasantville (CAC) is a local committee dedicated to the preservation and improvement of our village’s beautiful natural environment. Made up of knowledgeable members with a variety of strengths and skill sets, council members pool their collective talent, make recommendations, jumpstart projects or otherwise help to assist the Village Board with matters regarding the preservation and protection of the town’s natural resources.

This may sound daunting, but by tackling specific challenges, real progress is made. Individual members share their knowledge and skills on everything from wetlands mapping to clean-ups and sustainability efforts–all of which help maintain the beauty and integrity of our village’s natural surroundings.

As chairperson Helen Meurer puts it, the CAC exists to “protect natural habitats and water quality” and is made up of “members [who] are enthusiastic about the wonders of nature.”

Minding the Landscape

Many in the community embrace the Conservation Advisory Council and recognize its work as a very valuable asset to the town. This ensures that Pleasantville’s natural environment is always being considered when making town decisions. Essentially, their job is to advise the Village Board how potential upcoming projects and initiatives may affect the landscape.

Meurer explains that its function “offers checks and balances with regard to building proposals to ensure that our environment will still support wildlife and allow proper filtration of rainwater.”

New ideas and projects are constantly being brought up by and executed by the council.  In just the past three years, the CAC has mapped and submitted an open space inventory to the Village Board, created a new wetlands map, hosted Saw Mill River clean ups, and introduced a 50/50 tree planting program to help residents get a tree planted in their yard for half the wholesale price- just to name a few.

‘Tree Walk’ in the Works

Currently, the council is working on a tree walk at Nannahagen Park as well as a tree photography competition in which the winning pieces will be shown in a gallery to celebrate the diverse, beautiful trees all over the town.

According to Meurer, the hope of these two projects is to not just tell people what they shouldn’t be doing and what they’re doing “wrong,” but to instead help them appreciate and celebrate the environment around them. She says the projects’ aims are “to help people appreciate and love their trees,” as well as to “celebrate our local trees both for their beauty and the health of our environment.”

Getting Involved

Council meetings are open to all community members which presents a great opportunity to get involved. It is a great committee to invest time and interest in. They are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Village Hall.

The council’s efforts to preserve and protect our local environment range from educating the community with fun activities like “guess the tree” on Pleasantville Day to getting composting bins and rain barrels placed throughout the town.

They also strongly encourage local tree planting and maintenance through their 50/50 program, in which the Village will share the wholesale cost of a tree and help to plant it too! The CAC is currently encouraging residents to participate in their photography competition as an easy way to get involved and get outdoors!

To enter, follow @pleasantville_village on Instagram and tag them in your tree photo with the caption “I love #mypleasantvilletree because…” Entries are accepted until September 1st!

Filed Under: Pleasantville Community Tagged With: conservation, natural environment, natural habitats, Pleasantville, Preservation, talent, water quality

Byram Students Shine in Music & Art

October 22, 2017 by The Inside Press

The Byram Hills school district has many good reasons to tout the accomplishments of its music and art students.


BHHS senior John Skiera was recently invited to play the cello as a member of the All-National Symphony Orchestra.

“It is an honor to be selected for this group and I understand it is somewhat rare. I am looking forward to playing in the orchestra and with other students from around the country. It will be quite an experience,” he said recently.

This year’s students (L-R) are Shea Gordon (Mixed Chorus), Dominique Karanfilian (Treble Chorus), and Brent Perlman (Symphonic Band).

The All-National Honor Ensembles performers represent collaboration and creativity in its highest musical form. The All-National Honor Ensembles consist of a concert band, symphony orchestra, mixed choir and jazz ensem-ble. Students were chosen through an audition process.

Three BHHS students have also been selected to participate in New York State School Music Association All-State Ensembles. They will perform in concerts to be held at the Eastman Theatre in Rochester, New York and work with renowned conductors and educators during the annual Winter Conference of the NYSSMA to be held from December 1-4. Students were selected based on their All-State solo performances which were adjudicated by music professionals from throughout New York State.

Some of the selected art students are shown above

Finally, adjudicators from the Armonk Outdoor Art Show, a juried show of artists, selected 22 BHHS students to display their artwork at the popular annual event, which was held Sept. 23 & 24 in

All of the students selected by the AOASH are listed here: Abby Kaiser, Angelique Sarro, Kyra Aronne, Gillian Banaszek, Ben Matza, Cameron Bremner, Carley Hershaft, Chloe Perline, Sofia Corpina, Farran Horowitz, Taylor Kirkwood, Jason Knoop, Lily Moss, Michaela Milano, Olivia Johnson, Jason Roden, Rachel Ruscigno, Sarah Huang, Dina Sokol, Danielle Stein, Sydney Chilewich, Danielle Fliegel.

Filed Under: Gotta Have Arts Tagged With: Byram Hills, music, Student Artists, Student Excellence, Student Musicians, Students, talent

2nd Annual Art Around Town Chappaqua: Thursday, June 2

May 27, 2016 by The Inside Press

Artists to show their recent works at over 30 merchants in Chappaqua

This Side of the Tracks. An 18 x22 ink, watercolor and acrylic monotype with painting on paper. By Leslie Weissman.
This Side of the Tracks. An 18 x22 ink, watercolor and acrylic monotype with painting on paper. By Leslie Weissman.

CHAPPAQUA, NY – Every art lover will find a work to enjoy in the Northern Westchester Artists Guild show this June as Art Around Town comes to Chappaqua. Art Around Town features some of the best local art in Northern Westchester hosted by the generosity of 30 plus merchants in Chappaqua. and highlights the diversity of local talent.

The event kicks off on Thursday June 2nd at 5pm and the opening night festivities will go till 8:30pm. One of HGHS’s talented acapella groups “The Enchords” will be preforming and all the participating merchants will have mini receptions in their stores.

Visitors can pick up an event map of participating merchants and artists at the main tent in front of Desires By Mikolay.

The art will be available for viewing and purchase during June and in conjunction with each establishment’s business hours, or by appointment. The event will conclude at the end June.

 
Nightfall. By Peg Kafka Sackler.
Nightfall. By Peg Kafka Sackler.

The Northern Westchester Artists Guild is a group of local artists bringing their creative arts to venues around Westchester’s neighborhoods. Both emerging and established local artists present their work allowing both art lovers and buyers the opportunity to appreciate and purchase quality art one can truly love to live with.

NWAG is a non profit organization, and a proud member of the Chappaqua/Millwood Chamber of Commerce. The Northern Westchester Artists Guild supports and encourages artists in their endeavors. We see all forms of art as a vital expression of our voice in the community.

 

55447_MapFlyerFront-HQ

Participating Merchants

Filed Under: New Castle Releases Tagged With: Art, Art Around Town, Chappaqua, Inside Press, merchants, talent, theinsidepress.com, Westchester

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Over 350 Students From 31 Schools Attend 21st Annual Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center High School Institute at Iona University
  • Greeley Boys Swim & Dive Team Wins State Championship Title Second Year in a Row
  • Chabad Center Invitation to a Community Passover Seder: “Don’t Pass Over Passover!”
  • New Castle Fire District No. 1 Announces Bond Referendum to be Held April 25
  • Don’t Resist JUST DESSERTS at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center April 28-30
  • When There’s A Dog in Your Life

Please Visit

Chappaqua School Foundation
White Plains Hospital
William Raveis – Armonk
William Raveis – Chappaqua
Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival
Houlihan Lawrence – Chappaqua
Houlihan Lawrence – Armonk
Houlihan Lawrence – Briarcliff
Westchester Table Tennis
Compass: Miller-Goldenberg Team
Armonk Tennis Club
Raveis: Stacey Sporn
Compass: Natalia Wixom
Kevin Roberts Painting & Design
Raveis: Sena Baron
Beecher Flooks Funeral Home
Stacee Massoni
Eye Designs of Armonk
Wags & Whiskers Dog Grooming
Briarcliff Manor Dentist – Allan Miller
Houlihan: Tara Seigel

Follow our Social Media

The Inside Press

Our Latest Issues

For a full reading of our current edition, or to obtain a copy or subscription, please contact us.

Inside Chappaqua Inside Armonk Inside Pleasantville

Join Our Mailing List


Search Inside Press

Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Subscription
  • Print Subscription

Footer

Support The Inside Press

Advertising

Print Subscription

Digital Subscription

Categories

Archives

Subscribe

Did you know you can subscribe anytime to our print editions?

Voluntary subscriptions are most welcome, if you've moved outside the area, or a subscription is a great present idea for an elderly parent, for a neighbor who is moving or for your graduating high school student or any college student who may enjoy keeping up with hometown stories.

Subscribe Today

Copyright © 2023 The Inside Press, Inc. · Log in