Fly on the Wall

SUNY Purchase gala

Gov. Eliot Spitzer, singer Jessye Norman and Purchase College President Thomas J. Schwarz.

The 40th anniversary of the founding of Purchase College by Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller was celebrated with a gala event Nov. 12 at the Millennium Hotel in New York City.

The Nelson A. Rockefeller Awards were given to individuals who have excelled in their professions and gone on to contribute to the shape of contemporary culture. Honorees were: Douglas Durst, arts philanthropist and environmentalist; Ming Cho Lee, theater set designer, Jessye Norman, opera singer; Merce Cunningham, choreographer, and Helen Frankenthaler, artist.

State Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer and Douglas Durst.

 

Gov. Eliot Spitzer and State Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer were on hand to congratulate the honorees and celebrate the 40-year existence of an institution that has served as a beacon of the arts to Westchester residents.

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Happy birthday!

Rose Cornacchio recently celebrated her 107th birthday. A resident of United Hebrew Geriatric Center, Rose was 3 years old when she arrived in New York City from Italy. Four generations of the Cornacchio family were by her side to commemorate this milestone. Happy birthday, and congratulations, Rose!

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Itzhak Perlman heads philharmonic

Violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman will take over as artistic director of the Westchester Philharmonic next fall, giving lovers of classical music further cause to celebrate the orchestra’s 25th anniversary year.

The Israeli-born musician will debut in Westchester on Oct. 11, 2008 at the Purchase College Performing Arts Center. Perlman will conduct the philharmonic at three of its five programs for each of the next three seasons and will perform occasionally as a soloist.

“His virtuosity on the violin, his humanity and his charm have made Mr. Perlman perhaps the most-admired musician of our time,” said Neil Aaron, president of the orchestra’s board of directors. “He has conducted the finest orchestras in the world, and is the ideal choice to lead the Westchester Philharmonic into the next chapter of its history.”

Perlman succeeds Paul Lustig Dunkel, who co-founded the Westchester Philharmonic 25 years ago. Dunkel, who plans to step down as music director and conductor in May 2008, said the orchestra under Perlman “will be in the hands of an absolute master.”

“Evolving from a ‘founders’ orchestra’ to a new regime can sometimes engender concern and resistance. But bringing maestro Perlman to our podium erases any worries, among patrons and musicians,” said Philharmonic Executive Director Joshua Worby.

Perlman said his choice of orchestral programs “is going to surprise, stimulate and ultimately satisfy Westchester’s demanding and sophisticated audiences.”

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Where the air is sweet Gary Knell, president and CEO of Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization that produces Sesame Street, was at the Ossining Public Library Nov. 13 for the Westchester Library System’s 48th annual meeting.   Knell was there to discuss the ABCs of children’s educational programming and how educators, specifically libraries, can stay competitive in a technologically savvy world. To embrace the youtube.com generation, Sesame Workshop produced a video with celebrity hip-hop star Chris Brown who, along with Elmo, teaches kids about street signs. News Anchor Brian Williams does his part with a special newscast titled “Word on the Street.” Brown’s video has more than 2 million hits.

 

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What’s in a name?

For the record, these new business names are listed in this week’s On the Record section.

Fifth most-interesting new business name:

Romancing the Woods, Saugerties. (When love is a force of nature, two buddies decide to go green or go home. Starring Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio.)

Fourth most-interesting new business name:

Leg Knee Knee Music, West Shokan. (The knee bone is connected to the hambone.)

Third most-interesting new business name:

Mustang Annees Vintage Clothing, Accord. (Handed down from Mustang Sally.)

Second most-interesting new business name:

Salt of the Earth and Sea Green Burial, Highland. (Even in death waterfront property is pricier.)

The most-interesting new business name of the week:

The Smell of Comics, Hurley. (When you’ve run out of glue, magic markers, double espresso, Red Bull, whipped cream cans and cleaning solution.)

 

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