July|August ‘26 President’s Letter

People often ask how we choose our B&NC Cover Features…

Well, while a lot more goes into it than what ultimately meets your eyes, and aside from the obvious criteria that our Cover Features are among the most notable people who live in the B&NC area… our favorite Cover Features share the trait of showing-up as active, contributing, and supportive members of our community. Whether it’s Clive Davis and his support of the Bedford Playhouse…or Sharon Prince and her creation and support of Grace Farms…or Martha Handler and her creation and support of the Wolf Conservation Center…or Ali Truwit and her creation and support of the Stronger Than You Think Foundation. Or bigwigs who are always hosting a gala or making a big donation at another, and always showing-up at community events like just another member of the community, such as Monte and Angelina Lipman and David and Nicki Pogue.

A primary reason we adore our favorite Cover Feature, Martha Stewart, is because she is a constant friend and supporter of numerous local charities and cultural institutions. She makes a notable effort not just to make an appearance at as many local charitable and community events as possible, but to always be magnanimous about saying and doing just the right thing to engender the support of others in whatever cause she’s uplifting. Even when it’s as informal as when she shows-up on horseback at the John Jay Homestead Farmers Market. She opens up her magnificent estate for good causes, she has a genuine interest in our community’s cultural breadth, and she is a concerned environmentalist and steward of our local open spaces. She contributes to our community!

Our Cover Feature for this July/August 2026 issue, MICHAEL KELLY, is a shining example! He shows-up in and for the community! In fact, we fi rst met Michael and his wife a few years ago at the John Jay Homestead Barn Dance. They are regularly ‘Out and About’, attending local benefits and supporting local charities. And Michael is ‘one of us’, as he quite visibly runs errands around town like every other husband and father in the community. He frequents our local restaurants. And he’s among the regular crowd on the patio at oHHo. He shows-up in and for the community!

It’s our privilege to be able to introduce the B&NC community to our outstanding Cover Features!

Truly Yours,