The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

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Just Between Us – Reflecting on Hillary & to your GOOD HEALTH!

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new grace pixIn the midst of closing editions and approaching the New York primary–and with Chappaqua being understandably a place of such keen interest–I was interviewed by two very inquisitive reporters; the opportunity allowed me to reflect a bit on why I support Hillary Clinton so much. The fact is: The presence of Secretary Hillary Clinton in Chappaqua, New York, in New Castle, has made publishing in her hometown both joy and challenge; at times, I take a deep breath to retain my courage in doing so. Not everyone is for Hillary here after all. But I only want to tell them this: Hillary Clinton has had a profound impact on my life and I want others to benefit from the magic that is Hillary too.

I was thrilled to first get a more intimate sense of her in 2006 in a gracious sit down interview at Lange’s Deli, and over the years have observed her style and manner at so many local events; they are of the kind any one of us would do well to emulate. And then there was that precious, extraordinary 10-day trip to Africa. I watched her engage in diplomacy and exhibit a warm, mutual respect with leaders facing many challenges. It was stunning to see a lone woman leader at any number of conference tables and inside palace suites seated with mostly men tackling global issues. Not in the middle. At the helm. In charge. The spotlight was naturally hers. So comfortable in her own skin. So confident.

Secretary Hillary Clinton in conference in Kenya during a 2012 State Department mission.
Secretary Hillary Clinton in conference in Kenya during a 2012 State Department mission. Photo by Grace Bennett

I am hardly alone in my awe of this world leader! Hundreds of Hillary’s neighbors and most ardent area supporters inlcuding moi recently attended a wonderfully successful fundraiser on her behalf in the Mount Kisco home of Tracy Stein and Marco Masotti. We sat, or stood, inside a heated tent on the chilly morning of April 11, listening to Hillary Clinton share details of her platform; most notably, she seemed to place a particular emphasis on her commitment to gun violence prevention. Congresswoman Nita Lowey, who has spent a good portion of her political career fighting the gun lobby, was there too.

Tracy Stein with Hillary Clinton
Tracy Stein with Hillary Clinton

Our May print edition, arriving in homes soon, has 34 other pages with a comprehensive spotlight on 100 years of care at Northern Westchester Hospital. In the last couple months, I attended grand opening ceremonies there, one as a general celebration of 100 years and another to announce the opening of a spanking new, state of the art Surgical Suite. I asked Janine Crowley Haynes to report about 100 years of care and in her article, I was glad to read that the experience was so meaningful for her. This edition also spotlights four other extraordinary women for their genuine expertise.

We are also proud to soon share wonderful essays for your reading pleasure. I know you’ll enjoy our “Women and Good Health” theme throughout.

Rally for Hillary Clinton Outside Grafflin: 7 a.m. on Primary Day

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Volunteers for the Campaign Offer Passionate Statements Regarding their Support

A rally to support voting for Hillary Clinton will take place outside the Grafflin Elementary School at 7 a.m. on the morning of the New York primary. Chappaqua Friends of Hill (CFOH) has organized the event and are inviting supporters to turn out in as large a number as possible. The Clintons both vote at Grafflin too.

Marie Hollinger Short, a volunteer with the grassroots group, said CFOH mobilized to help canvass and make phone calls throughout Westchester because of “what is at stake…our reputation as a true global superpower for good, our national security, our relations with other countries, our safety and response to gun violence.”

Hollinger Short called Hillary Clinton “an extraordinary human being…and also the candidate who can best run our country and understands its needs. I can think of no better role model for my two daughters than a woman who has been attacked nearly every day of her adult life, and yet keeps plugging on and doing good in the world because she feels a duty.”

CFOH volunteers Randee Glaser, Marie Hollinger Short and Jason Lichtenthal at Chappaqua Station recently to recruit volunteers for phone banking and canvassing for HIllary's campaign in Westchester.
CFOH volunteers Randee Glaser, Marie Hollinger Short and Jason Lichtenthal at Chappaqua Station recently to recruit volunteers for phone banking and canvassing for HIllary’s campaign in Westchester.

Lori Gowen Morton, also a CFOH volunteer, told the Inside Press that the legislature has become increasingly ineffective, and even quite recently, seems prohibitive to governing. We need a leader that can be most effective in restoring a collaborative environment.

“Additionally, I believe there has been a backsliding on civil rights issues, and a growing permissive environment for xenophobia and fear. I want a future in which my daughters can feel confident that their work is equally rewarded, their bodies are their own, and their friends need not fear discrimination or limited opportunities. I want a leader that will not only set a positive tone for our children’s future, but has a plan of action to protect it,” stated Gowen Morton.

“Hillary Clinton has been my candidate because beyond rhetoric, she has outlined specific and detailed plans to move the country forward, on all fronts: social, economic and diplomatic.”

Gowen Morton described her first experience with Hillary Clinton. “It was at a campaign speech at my college during Bill Clinton’s first presidential campaign in 1992. I was so impressed with her expertise on the issues and her presence…as a woman who was a force to be reckoned with in her own right, not simply window-dressing and a cheerleader for someone else.

“I remember thinking “She should be running!” I have been a fan ever since.She’s been a kind and generous neighbor, and well known locally for “behind the scenes” advocacy for those in need. I was so proud of her efforts to globally address women and children’s issues during her time as Secretary of State I believe that she has literally changed the world, shining a light on inequity, empowering women and families to fight for change, and increasing the pressure for reform in more oppressive countries.”

The discourse in this campaign has been so hateful and divisive, Gowen Morton also noted. “I continue in daily disbelief at the chauvinist, racist, discriminatory and simply offensive statements coming from other campaigns. I respect Hillary Clinton for continuing to take the high road, keeping the dialogue on topic, fighting her battles with fact and plan, rather than outburst and insult. I started supporting her because of my deep respect for her, but my commitment has been solidified by my belief that the country is in serious peril, and there is simply no other candidate with equal promise to be a sensible and effective leader.”

Byram Hills Music Education Program Honored

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Byram Hills has been honored with the “Best Communities for Music Education” designation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Byram Hills is one of seven Westchester County school districts – and just 476 districts nationwide – to receive the prestigious designation from the NAMM Foundation. The district’s excellent music program spans all four district schools and includes instruction that builds as students grow. Students can begin studying one of 10 instruments in the fourth grade. By the time they reach the high school, students can participate in a variety of choral, band and orchestra groups and continue their music education with courses that range from introductory guitar to Advanced Placement Music Theory. Byram Hills students have been chosen for All-County, All-State and National Music Honor ensembles.

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“Although I am new in my position, it didn’t take long for me to see just how special our music program is at Byram Hills,” said Director of Fine Arts Deepak Marwah. “We have a dedicated music faculty of passionate educators, and the work they do in the classroom inspires high levels of musicianship and creativity in our students each day.”

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The Best Communities Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in their music program, including providing all students with access to music education. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Byram Hills provided NAMM with information about district funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community-music-making programs.

The NAMM Foundation, which began as the National Association of Music Merchants, is an international association representing the music products industry and championing the intrinsic value of music education.

UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK’S J-1-1 INFORMATION & REFERRAL CENTER CONNECTS THE NEW YORK JEWISH COMMUNITY WITH LOCAL PASSOVER SEDERS

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Have-You-Ever-Attended-Passover-Seder

UJA-Federation of New York’s Find-a-Seder resource is back for 2016, listing pre-Passover celebrations and Seders on the first two nights of Passover at local community centers and synagogues of all denominations throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, and Westchester.

For more than 25 years, UJA-Federation’s J-1-1 Information and Referral Center has been working to match Jewish families with communal Seders in the area. This resource details more than 75 community Seders that are open to families looking to observe the tradition–rich holiday.

The list of Seders can be found here: http://www.ujafedny.org/passover/find-a-seder/.

Individuals or families looking to Find-a-Seder can contact UJA-Federation’s J-1-1 Information and Referral Center Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 877.852.6951 or J11@ujafedny.org.  J-1-1 is a free information and referral service that connects the New York Jewish community with available programs and resources. Space for Passover Seders may be limited. Fees vary by venue, and not all venues offer a Seder on both nights. Please note that J-1-1 will be closed starting at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 22, 2016, and will be closed all day on Friday, April 29, 2016. UJA-Federation of New York is working to make the Jewish holidays a warm and welcoming experience for all.

About UJA-Federation of New York
For nearly 100 years, UJA-Federation has inspired New Yorkers to act on their values and invest in our community for the biggest impact. Through UJA-Federation, more than 50,000 donors address issues that matter most to them, pooling their resources to care for New Yorkers of all backgrounds and Jews everywhere, to connect people to their Jewish communities, and to respond to crises close to home and around the globe. Working with nearly 100 beneficiary agencies, synagogues, and other Jewish organizations, UJA-Federation is the world’s largest local philanthropy; our reach spans from New York to Israel to more than 70 other countries around the world, touching 4.5 million people each year. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, please visit our website at www.ujafedny.org.

Assemblyman Buchwald Helps Secure Significant School Aid Increase for Local School Districts

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“Ending Era of Gap Elimination Adjustment”

For release, from Assemblyman David Buchwald’s office:

After years of suburban school districts in New York State falling victim to state budget cuts, Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-White Plains) announced that public schools in his State Assembly District will see a substantial increase in state aid for the 2016-17 school year. The increase in state aid was led by the end of the Gap Elimination Adjustment (also known as the GEA). Of the nearly $1.5 billion in overall additional state education aid in the budget, $434 million has been appropriated for the end of the GEA. In addition to ending the GEA, $627 million has been included in the state budget to boost Foundation Aid, a broad-based level of aid for school districts. In total, there is an additional $8.9 million in new state aid earmarked for public schools based in Buchwald’s Assembly District, which encompasses all or part of nine school districts in central and northern Westchester.

“Since I entered the State Assembly three years ago, I have made it my mission to make sure that our local schools are appropriately funded and that our children can get the education they deserve,” said Assemblyman Buchwald. “With the full restoration of the GEA, school districts can more confidently plan their yearly budgets, thereby ending an era of uncertainty for the education community and taxpayers. I have received thousands of letters solely on this issue, and I am happy to report back to my constituents that we have repealed the GEA. Although we have scored this major victory for students, parents, educators and taxpayers across the state, I will always be fighting on behalf of our local schools.”

A breakdown of school aid increases within Buchwald’s Assembly District are as follows:

· Bedford Central School District – $754,077, a 13.2 % increase in aid.
· Byram Hills School District – $ 272,189, a 8.3% increase in aid.
· Chappaqua School District -$954,262, a 15.0% increase in aid.
· Harrison School District – $498,032, a 13.3% increase in aid.
· Katonah-Lewisboro School District – $1,112,813, a 17.7% increase in aid.
· North Salem School District – $206,997, a 10.2% increase in aid.
· Ossining School District – $1,150,904, a 7.0% increase in aid.
· Valhalla School District – $140,486, a 3.1 % increase in aid (a $379,000 increase from ending of GEA, less changes in expense-based school aids).
· White Plains School District – $231,119, a 1.1% increase in aid (a $401,000 increase from ending of GEA, plus a $104,000 increase in Foundation Aid, less changes in expense-based school aids).

The above amounts and percentages do not include building aid, which is focused on capital expenditures and fluctuates from year to year. For some districts, additional building aid significantly increases the total aid amounts – for example in Ossining, where total aid including building aid went up $2.9 million, or 16.7%. Jumps in building aid also bring up the Valhalla and White Plains total aid figures.

Assemblyman Buchwald co-sponsored two pieces of legislation in the State Assembly that would have repealed the GEA: Assembly bills A.2271-C and A.5365. Buchwald has also attended various school board meetings and education forums across his Assembly District where he spoke on developments within the legislature on school funding issues.

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