Community Corner

Mt. Kisco Chamber to Honor Judith Simon, Drug Council at Dinner

The chamber of commerce will honor its 2013 citizen of the year and outstanding non-profit organization of the year.

On Wednesday, the Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce will hold its 46th annual dinner dance, one of its most significant annual events. There, it will honor Judith Simon as its 2013 citizen of the year and the Mount Kisco Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Council as its outstanding non-profit organization of the year.

Simon, who is executive director at A&J Home Care, said she was "overwhelmed and very surprised to be honored." She originally moved to the area in the 1970s and also helps Careseekers, which is a Mount Kisco-based companion care agency. Her other local volunteer work includes sitting on the zoning board of appeals, the chamber's board and that of the Mount Kisco Public Library's foundation.

Simon's more recent work includes teaming up with Andrey Savenko, a teacher at the Bedford Hills-based Fred Astaire dancing studio, on a program to use ballroom dancing as a method to support people with Alzheimer’s disease. This initiative, the chamber notes in its announcement, has support from National Dance Council of America and the Alzheimer’s Association. In addition, Simon is at the forefront of helping to launch a new local arts council, which has received support from Mayor Michael Cindrich and intends to support art in the village.

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In the case of the drug council, it is being cited for work on three programs: drug court, which serves as a treatment-based alternative for people convicted of non-violent misdemeanors and violations connected to drugs; the Latino Providers Group, which providing support and networking from people who help the village's Latino community; and the Emergency Shelter Partnership, which provides housing to the homeless during cold months.

"We feel really honored," said Nan Miller, who is a member of the council, who noted the work of the people who make the programs possible.

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This year is also important for the drug council being it is implementing a $125,000 Drug Free Community Grant, which is given out by the federal government and can be used for promoting awareness.

The chamber's night starts at 6:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and wine, with the dinner itself at 7:30 p.m. It will be held at the Holiday Inn (1 Holiday Inn Drive) and tickets are $135. People can register for the event by emailing mtkiscochamber@aol.com or calling 914-666-7525.


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