HONORS FOR MAESTRO ANTON COPPOLA Anton Coppola, who celebrated his 100th birthday on March 21, and whose musical career covers more than 90 years, is scheduled to be honored April 21 in an event staged by the New Rochelle Opera at The Fountainhead, 55 Quaker Ridge Road, New Rochelle. The opera’s artistic director Camille Coppola, no relation, said, “He exemplifies the true meaning of being an artist, having worked in all of the major fields of the performing arts – opera, dance, theater and film.” Anton Coppola is the uncle of Academy
Award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola. The maestro started his career at the age of 8 with the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus. He served as an army bandmaster during World War II, and was a conductor at Radio City Music Hall. He was the musical director of six Broadway musicals and conducted the music for films, “The Godfather Part III” and a remake of “Dracula.” He helped found the Tampa Opera. More information from 914-576-1617 or 914-576-0365.
FREE PROM FASHIONS FOR NEW ROCHELLE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS The doors of the Rent the Runway store on West 15th Street in Manhattan were opened for New Rochelle High School senior girls on the evening of March 24. They were invited to select fashions to wear to this year’s senior prom for free. Company co-founder and CEO Jennifer Hyman is a graduate of the school. When she was named to the school’s “Wall of Fame” in October, she said she wanted to express thanks for her education by outfitting the seniors with the designer dresses, shoes and accessories her company usually offers for rent. Rent the Runway offers the fashions online and at its stores in major U.S. cities. Hope Herzog, senior class adviser, was at the store to supervise the young women. Students who were unable to go to the store were offered a computer code that will allow them to rent their dresses and accessories online for a total rental value of
NRHS seniors select prom dresses at Rent the Runway.
$100. Their selections will then be shipped to their homes in time for the June 7 prom at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.
GOOD THINGS HAPPENING BREWING AWARENESS OF AUTISM The latest statistics available from the government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the prevalence of autism in the U.S. has risen to one in every 68 births in 2014, nearly doubling from what it had been 10 years before. It is against that background that the Autism Society of America designates April as National Autism Awareness Month. The Anderson Center for Autism in Staatsburg and Mill House Brewing Co. restaurant and craft brewery in Poughkeepsie are collaborating in April to spotlight autism and raise money for the Anderson Center. The Anderson Center was founded by Dr. Victor V. Anderson in 1924 as the Anderson School. It evolved into the Anderson Center for Autism and now serves more than 200 adults
and children who have a primary diagnosis of the condition. Mill House has created a new brew named “Mr. Anderson Ale,” which is being released to the public in April. The ale was developed by Mill House’s brewers Jamie Bishop and Larry Stock. According to Bishop, “The brew honors the Scottish heritage of Victor V. Anderson. His grandson, Vance Gage, was even our honorary brewmaster when we created the first batch.” which was not only fun, but served to remind us of his grandfather’s legacy and how the organization continues to grow and expand upon that legacy.” For every pint sold during Autism Awareness Month, Mill House Brewing will donate $1 to the Anderson Center.
GIRLS INC. TO HONOR WESTCHESTER WOMEN Girls Inc. of Westchester County will be holding its Strong, Smart & Bold Gala, honoring notable Westchester women on April 4 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown. This year’s honorees are Andrea Gilman, a vice president at MasterCard, Erica Hill of HLN network who hosts “On The Story with Erica Hill,” and Sandra L. Richards, a managing director at Morgan Stanley. Girls Inc. of Westchester offers girls-only programs at schools and community centers throughout Westchester to help girls navigate
the real-life challenges they confront during middle and high school and lay the groundwork for educated, healthy and independent futures. “Since the inception of Girls Inc. of Westchester County, more than 3,000 girls have gone through our programs at low or no cost to them or their families,” said Catherine Lepone, the organization’s executive director. Tickets are available online at StrongSmartBoldGala.org with sponsorship information from Heather Apollonio at 914-419-0764.
WESTCHESTER: READY FOR ITS CLOSE-UP
Left to right: Deputy County Executive Kevin J. Plunkett, Andrea Bloome of Alchemy Post Sound; Lauri Pitkus, television series location manager; Rob Striem, location manager for major motion pictures; Ernie Karpeles, location manager for commercials; and Natasha Caputo, director of the tourism and film office.
It may have been fiction when Gloria Swanson playing silent screen star Norma Desmond delivered the classic line “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille” in the movie “Sunset Boulevard,” but real-life close-ups are being made in front of the movie and television cameras, which are rolling with greater frequency in Westchester. The county has become somewhat of a hotspot for film and television producers seeking to capitalize on the scenery and structures. On March 21, the Westchester County Tourism and Film Office, which is based in County Executive Robert P. Astorino’s office, held a forum for businesses on making their properties attractive for use as movie and television locations. Location scouts who help producers and
directors pick the best places to film appeared along with government officials. The event took place at Doral Arrowwood in Rye Brook and was attended by about 45 representatives from hotels and tourism properties. The location scouts told what they look for when selecting spots to film. Production so far in 2017 has included the motion picture “Bel Canto” starring Julianne Moore and the television shows “Land of Steady Habits” and “Private Life,” which have been filming in White Plains, Tarrytown and Nyack. Other recent shoots in Westchester have included the shows “Madam Secretary,” “The Americans,” and “The Divorce,” and the movie “The Girl on The Train.”
Information for these features has been submitted by the subjects or their delegates.
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APRIL 3, 2017
WCBJ