By Isabella Aranda Garcia
Design by Justin Negard
1. 3 ways to celebrate 250 years
Celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary this fall in three ways. Join the Westchester County Historical Society’s History Hunt and visit Revolutionary War sites countywide through Oct. 30 to win prizes. On Oct. 24 & 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., watch history come alive at REV FEST 250 in Ward Pound Ridge. Meet 500 historians portraying soldiers and civilians, and catch the Battle of White Plains reenactment at 3 p.m. Peekskill’s Lincoln Depot Museum offers three 2 p.m. events: meet Ben Franklin (Sept. 19), learn about Westchester’s role in the revolution (Oct. 17) and dig into the John André and Benedict Arnold conspiracy (Nov. 21).
2. Downtown in D minor
Downtown White Plains will transform into a five-day jazz destination this fall as JazzFest White Plains celebrates 15 years. From September 23 to 27, the festival features 19 performances across 10 venues throughout the city, headlined by five GRAMMY Award winners and nominees. This year’s bold, artist-driven lineup includes bassist John Patitucci’s trio with Danilo Perez and Adam Crus, saxophonist Ben Wendel’s group and the acclaimed duo of Sylvie Courvoisier and Mary Halvorson. You can also enjoy live jazz music at farmers markets, restaurants and, on the festival’s final day, outdoors on Mamaroneck Avenue.
3. Same mission, bigger home
After over a year of renovations, the Community Center of Northern Westchester has returned home to 84 Bedford Road in Katonah, newly expanded to support its full range of wrap-around services. The expanded food market gives families more room to shop for groceries with dignity and choice, while a larger clothing boutique and donation sorting room help better serve each family’s needs. There’s also a dedicated classroom anchoring the center’s educational and support programs, along with full ADA accessibility, increased parking and improved traffic flow for clients, donors and volunteers who keep the center running.
4. A new showroom, set in stone (literally)
Mark your calendars. On October 3 at 2 p.m., Ecua Stone is cutting the ribbon on its newly renovated showroom in Yorktown Heights, and you’re invited to see it first. While you sip a complimentary cocktail or glass of wine, get a behind-the-scenes tour of their state-of-the-art fabrication facility and view their upgraded showroom displays, featuring premium quartz, quartzite, granite and marble options. Their new modern layout provides a more hands-on experience so you can easily picture exactly how these countertops will look in your own home. Plus, all attendees are automatically entered into a raffle for a chance to win prizes.
5. Big steps for Tiny Dancers
Active little ones ages 2–6 can twirl, tumble and groove their way into The Pulse Performing Arts Studio’s new Tiny Dancers program. There’s “Pirouettes & Princesses” for future ballerinas, a high-energy “Rockin’ Tots” if they’re more into upbeat songs and “Broadway Babies” for the early musical theater lovers. Not sure which one would be best? Your tot can sample them all at a free open house on Sept. 3 while you tour the space, meet instructors and learn about the new all-inclusive Tiny Dancers membership ($469/semester), which bundles classes, costumes, recital tickets and more into one simple package.
This article was published in the September/October 2026 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
Isabella Aranda is a designer, writer and social media specialist with an M.A. in emerging media from the New Media Institute at the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication. Driven by curiosity and inspired by timeless modern design, she blends creativity and strategy to craft compelling narratives that engage diverse audiences.
Her expertise spans digital marketing, content creation and UX design, with notable achievements such as co-creating the Georgia On Your Mind podcast and leading digital campaigns that significantly boosted engagement. A Venezuelan immigrant, Isabella brings a multicultural perspective to her work, enhancing her ability to connect with and inspire others.
Justin is an award-winning designer and photographer. He was the owner and creative director at Future Boy Design, producing work for clients such as National Parks Service, Vintage Cinemas, The Tarrytown Music Hall, and others. His work has appeared in Bloomberg TV, South by Southwest (SXSW), Edible Magazine, Westchester Magazine, Refinery 29, the Art Directors Club, AIGA and more.
Justin is a two-time winner of the International Design Awards, American Photography and Latin America Fotografia. Vice News has called Justin Negard as “one of the best artists working today.”
He is the author of two books, On Design, which discusses principles and the business of design, and Bogotà which is a photographic journey through the Colombian capital.
Additionally, Justin has served as Creative Director at CityMouse Inc., an NYC-based design firm which provides accessible design for people with disabilities, and has been awarded by the City of New York, MIT Media Lab and South By Southwest.
He lives in Katonah with his wonderfully patient wife, son and daughter.
