A highlight of recent events in our community
Gracie’s Fund Combine
Grace is a 13 year old in New Canaan who is battling Leukemia. When she and her parents learned about other kids going through treatment alongside Grace who weren’t receiving necessary treatment because of a lack of insurance coverage, they took matters into their own hands and started Gracie’s Fund. Alongside the Police, Fire, and EMT departments, they hosted a Combine at Dunning Field this October and raised $175k!!!
1New Canaanite Chris Russo (aka The Mad Dog) MCed the event, here he’s standing with NC Athletic Director Jay Egan
2The Falsettas (L: Brigette and Grace, R: Chris) with Senator Richard Blumenthal
3New Canaan EMT, Sloane Griffiths
4The winning team from the New Canaan Fire Department: Solomon Asare, Garrett Cantrell, Silvanna Cardona, Jordan Ceraso, Oliver Dennis, Abbie Dymond, Jennifer Fittipaldi, Edel Flynn, Lauren Freeland, Will Garbus, Pete Giannone, Sloane Griffiths, Michael Jackson, Kaitlyn Lowe, Michael Mauro, Connor May, Andrew Peake, Manda Riggs, Devon Russell, Damien Sheerin, Mike Stewart, and Bill Tucker, with Rebecca Kimball and Team Manager Dan Welch
Happenings at the Ridgefield Playhouse
1Pete Davidson performed four sold-out shows at the Ridgefield Playhouse in September, seen here on stage
2The Annual Bernie Williams Charity Softball Game and Concert in Ridgefield raised $23k kicking off a campaign for 20 for 20: Ashley Paltauf, Bernie Williams, First Selectman Rudy Marconi, Steve Fortunato, Jared Shahid
3Bill Cowher dropped into the ‘America’ concert at the Ridgefield Playhouse, seen here backstage with Exec Director, Jared Shahid
4Harvey Fierstein, Chasten Buttigieg, Richie Jackson, Jared Shahid, Alex Kelleher at a Pride Event
Aldrich Undercover
This lively art sale—featuring work by alumni artists whose identity is only revealed after it has been purchased—raises critical funds that directly support the Museum’s mission to serve as a leading incubator for artists at critical creative junctures, providing a collaborative platform that engages and inspires.
1The Pitts Family
2Darius William, Jiajia Fei, Dov Friedman, Susi Kenna
Jacob Burns Film Center Film & Community Celebration
1Armonk residents, Nancy and Roger Strong (JBFC Board Member), with Laureen Barber from Pound Ridge (JBFC Board Vice Chair)
2Janet Maslin (C) JBFC Board President from Pleasantville, with her children Jennifer Reese (L) and John Cheever (R)
Bedford Hoppfest
Bedford Hoppfest was a huge success on the Green as a large tent was turned into an Oktoberfest inspired beer hall complete with some guests even sporting German Dirndls and Lederhosen!
1Michael Kaplan, Daniel Boulud, Casey Kaplan
2Herbie and Ellen Calves, Chris Owles, Ray and Marie Scanlan, Sherri Owles, Jodi Kimmel, Sam Hollander
3Katherine Boulud, a board member of the Historical Society, serves her husband, Daniel Boulud, a beer.
4The Breuer Family: Anthony, Russell, Bonny, Molly
Bedford Music Festival
The Wailers headlined the event held at the John Jay Homestead and produced by town beautification committee, Destination 39.3. Despite a rainy evening, lots of people came out for a good time! In addition to thanking Destination 39.3 for putting on the event, Bedford-ites also have Martha Stewart to thank… hours before the event was set to kick off, key pieces of equipment got stuck in the mud that had accumulated from heavy rain. Event sponsor, Wendy Belzberg, kicked into action and called her friend Martha who sent over a tractor and a team to free the equipment so the show could go on!
1Bill and Diane Bradsell
2Lindsay and Ty Hearon
3Paul Llanos, Megan Libby, Antoinette and Jeff Muti
Tata Harper x Andy Yu Back Yard Beauty Class
New Canaanite, Tata Harper, and her team hosted a party at the home of Andy Yu in Bedford to bring together a group of powerful and influential women to enjoy an afternoon of relaxation, beauty, and pampering.
1Kerry Karangelen, Emma Sainz, Juana Burga
2Maya Faucher, Tata Harper, Kristy Hinze-Clark, Andy Yu
Heather Gaudio Fine Art Gallery Opening on Greenwich Ave
1New Canaanites, Tim and Samantha Davenport with Helen Richards
2Heather Gaudio with her kids
Westchester Land Trust, Bluegrass at the Farm in North Salem
1Matt and Zan Young, Casey Kaplan, Sam Ring, Hannelore Kaplan, Stacy Geisinger, Michael Kaplan
Bluemercury
Bluemercury reopened its doors in New Canaan this month with multiple members of the executive team coming to celebrate.
1Betsen Philip, Tracy Kline, Maly Bernstein, and Jenna Goldberg
The Bedford Fire Department Centennial
The Bedford Fire Department celebrated their centennial this September and the town came out to celebrate with a parade past the historical buildings and the Bedford Green, and into the Bedford Memorial Park for a BBQ (donated by The Market at Pound Ridge Square) and fireworks.
Bedford Coffee and Cars
1Alex Thrane, Jordan Vogel, Michael Kaplan, Ced Gairard
The 25th Annual Barn Dance
The 25th Annual Barn Dance at the John Jay Homestead did not disappoint! Complete with pig races, cowboy hats, and great live music, the Friends of the John Jay Homestead partied the night away.
1The Fertik Family: Julie, Emily and Sam
2Laura Yaggy Harris and Emily Grand
3Steve Schwartz, Jonny Cournoyer, Jenn Streicher, Jennifer Sarkilahti
Armonk Outdoor Art Show
Despite a first-day rain out cancellation, people turned out big time for the second scheduled day of the Armonk Outdoor Art Show – a once a year event that raises money for the North Castle Public Library.
1Michael Kaplan and artist Stuart Yankell
Community Center of Northern Westchester Annual Fundraiser
1Bedford Town Justice Jody Kimmel, Clare Murray, NY State Assemblyman Chris Burdick, Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg and Lewisboro Town Supervisor Anthony Goncalves
2Anne and Jesse Mayhew, owners of LMNOP in Katonah
Hilltop Hanover Farm Dinner
1Jayni Chase, Michaela Babuskova, Chevy Chase (... and you’re not!)
2Emily Fisher, Janet Harkham, Murray Fisher
Darien Chamber Jam
1Amy Benedict, Lucy Hackman, Jennifer Lia, Lynne Somerville
BRLA Hunter Pace & Duck Derby
1BRLA Hunter Pace: Team Half Halter - Laura Evans, Sandra Holden, Caroll Rayner
2BRLA Duck Derby: BRLA members released rubber ducks into the Beaver Dam and watched them race to the finish line!
The Endeavor Family BBQ
1Bedford resident and dad, Pete Kenny, shows the kids who’s #1 on the mechanical bull.
2Executive Director Emily Bushnell, Director Rob Jones, co-chair Elizabeth Langel, Board President Jaclene Ginnel, Board Member Alex Hamer, co-chair Alexandra Lawrence, co-chair Mackenzie Mas, Board Member Ashley Allatt
Pound Ridge Labor Day Weekend Fair
1Sam Hollander, Kelly and Shep Goodman, Brian Gordner & Pamela Lawson
As featured in the November/December 2023 issue of Bedford & New Canaan Magazine