Find us on Armonk Cider and Donut …...Coming to Town on September 24 and 25 Armonk Cider and Donut Festival/Jamie’s 5K Run for Love, Sept. 18 Sept/Oct 2016 Find us on Inside the

Coming to Townon September 24 and 25

Cider and Donut Festival/Jamie’s 5K Run for Love, Sept. 18ArmonkSept/Oct 2016www.theinsidepress.com

Find us on

Inside the North Castle Public LibraryNWH’s Junior Leadership CouncilAffordable Housing: A Special Report

Please join us to “Spin for a Cure”In 2015, the William Raveis Charitable Fund expanded its mission to

“Supporting Cutting-Edge Research Against All Forms of Cancer”

Ranked 5th in The Leading Real Estate Companies of The World, The World’s Largest Luxury Real Estate Network, 3,500 Of ces

r a v e i s . c o m" T h e b e s t w e b s i t e i n r e a l e s t a t e "

Please join us at EQUINOX GYM in Armonk onTHURSDAY

SEPTEMBER 15that 5:30 PM

It will be a fun fi lled, energetic SPIN class taught by Lisa Gagliardi,

appropriate for all levels.

The cost is $75 per bike and ALL proceeds go to the

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation was founded in 1946 following the death of Damon Runyon, a writer whose beloved Broadway stories inspired the hit show Guys & Dolls.

Walter Winchell, renowned journalist and radio personality, founded and led the fund with the help of celebrities such as Marlene Dietrich, Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio.

Since 1946, the Foundation has invested over $300 million in more than 3,500 of the best and brightest scientists in the nation. Twelve of their Alumni have received the Nobel Prize.

DAMON RUNYON BROADWAY TICKETSOur unique service offers the best seats to Broad-way’s most popular shows and the opportunity to make a voluntary, tax-deductible donation to cancer research at the same time. To order tickets, simply call 212-455-0550

To learn more, visitwww.damonrunyon.org/broadway

To reserve your bike for “Spin for a Cure”or to donate any amount to our Team Fund, please go to the link below

https://williamraveischaritablefu.regfox.com/spin-for-a-cure-armonk-office-event

395 Main St | Armonk, NY | 914.273.3074 • 1 Palmer Ave | Scarsdale, NY | 914.723.1331

The DelVecchio Scarano Team 914.490.1928 | 914.646.9322

Introducing Our Two New Exceptional Listings

Ranked 5th in The Leading Real Estate Companies of The World, The World’s Largest Luxury Real Estate Network, 3,500 Offi ces


Thornwood Spacious custom built 1928 Colonial privately situated on 1 acre$1,800,000 The DelVecchio Scarano Team

Armonk Stately Colonial bordering Whippoorwill Country Club$1,649,000 The DelVecchio Scarano Team

Lucille Liang 914.447.1024

Introducing My Two New Exceptional Listings



Armonk Spacious and sunbathed brick Colonial on 1.68 acres on cul de sac$1,699,000 Lucille Liang

Armonk Young and exceptional Cedar and Stone Colonial$2,299,000 Lucille Liang

September/October 2016 Inside Armonk 1

Bedford Private gated entrance to this stunning custom built brick Bedford Colonial$2,695,000 Amy Singer

Bedford Immaculate young sun fi lled Colonial great for entertaining$1,399,000 Keri Cipriano



395 Main St | Armonk, NY

ARMONK OFFICE 914.273.3074

2 Inside Armonk September/October 2016





Armonk 7+ private acres with lake views$1,375,000 The Costa/Looney Team

Pleasantville Sun lit Colonial in The Estates$1,325,000 Stacey Sporn

Armonk Warmth & sunshine defi ne this home$495,000 A. Schuler & J. Varvara

Armonk Whippoorwill Hills Gloucester Model$1,175,000 Lauren Goldenberg

Armonk Charming Ranch with open fl oor plan$745,000 Lisa Koh

Bedford New York City sleek & sophisticated$1,295,000 Diane Freedman

Armonk Sunny Contemporary set on over 2 acres$1,150,000 Angela Schuler

Armonk Perfect sunlit Split Level in Windmill Farm$1,399,999 Stacey Sporn

Chappaqua Lakefront property on 5.5 acres$1,850,000 Amy Singer




r a v e i s . c o m" T h e b e s t w e b s i t e i n r e a l


Armonk Robert A.M. Stern masterpiece on 4+ acres$1,950,000 Stacee Massoni

Armonk Elegant open-fl ow entertainer’s paradise$2,699,000 S. Slotnick & A. Manson

Armonk Stately brick Colonial on private 4 acres $1,995,000 The Costa/Looney Team

Bedford Custom built home has dock on lake$1,300,000 Stacey Sporn

Armonk Beautifully maintained and updated$699,000 Lucille Liang

Armonk Turn-key Colonial completely rebuilt$1,125,000 Lucille Liang

Armonk Custom Colonial in Whippoorwill$1,995,000 Amy Singer

Armonk Renovated Whippoorwill Ranch$1,749,000 Nancy Perito

Armonk Rockland model in gated community$1,075,000 Stacee Massoni






Armonk Mini-Estate with Guest cottage on 2 acres$1,499,000 Jeanne Looney

Armonk Prestigious Whippoorwill Ridge$1,325,000 Lisa Theiss

Armonk Stone and shingle home on level acre$849,000 Angela Schuler

Armonk Traditional Colonial on 1.25 acres$1,080,000 Robyn Eckhaus

Armonk Sunlit open fl ow Windmill Farms split$749,900 Amy Singer

Armonk Sunny open Ranch$749,000 A. Schuler & J.Varvara

Bedford Corners

Renovated hideaway on 10.6 acres$2,995,000 Lucille Liang

Armonk Bright updated Contemporary Colonial$939,000 Lucille Liang

Armonk Windmill Farms waterfront home$1,395,000 Amy Singer


Sept/Oct 2016

www.theinsidepress.com

The Magazine for North Castle and Beyond

Departments

10. Cider and DonutsWhether you’re a runner or just into good food and music, the Chamber’s Cider and Donuts Festival

this fall has something for you. By Justin Ellick

18. Summer SoundsThe Summer Concert Series brought a diverse array of

musical acts into the hamlet. Inside Press contributor, photojournalist Marianne Campolongo stopped by one and enjoyed the Swingaroos!

22. More than BooksLibrary Director Edie Martimucci explains what the North Castle Public Library has to offer and how the library fits into the community. By Deborah Raider Notis

26. Special Report on Affordable Housing in our TownsFighting over the housing settlement between HUD and Westchester County has gone on for seven years. We look at how the settlement has affected North Castle and neighbor-ing New Castle. By Andrew Vitelli

32. NWH’s Junior Leadership CouncilDiscovering creative ways to address student anxiety. By Janine Crowley Haynes

35. Let’s Dance Armonk Dance, located just off Old Route 22, has something for all dancers. By Stacey Pfeffer

36. Understanding Evan’s Law An insightful report about the fight for legislation that would help end texting and driving. By Justin Ellick

38. Leaf-SpottingIt’s almost fall; where should you go for the best views once

the leaves start to turn? By Andrew Vitelli

Features

Editor’s Note6. A Local PerspectiveBy Andrew Vitelli

Just Between Us8. The Capacity to Love

Reflections from Philadelphia’s Democratic National Convention

Inside Thoughts24. Mindfulness in a Crazy WorldBy Jodi Baretz

Happenings34. Spirit of the Olympics & The Concert Across America to End Gun Violence

Etcetera40. A Body’s MemoryA visit to a temple in Kyoto triggers memories of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. By Dana Y. Wu

16. Q & A with Anne Curran The Executive Director of the Armonk Art Show explains

what goes into making the show a success. By Andrew Vitelli

COVER PHOTO2016 Armonk Art Show Committee

Photo by Andrew Vitelli

This September, a small village will spring up in Armonk, with some of the region’s best artists displaying their work. By Brian Donnelly

COVER STORY:

Page 13

20 21 31

Sponsor Spotlights33. Division One–Bringing Fun & Positivity to WorkoutsKarl Pfistner explains how to do just that.30. Five Biggest Financial Mistakes in Divorce

By Ilene Amiel34. Paying for College 101By Scott Kahan

26

Rockefeller Preserve 38


L E T T E R F R O M T H E E D I T O RAs readers of the

Inside Press know, summer marks the longest break between issues of both Inside Armonk and Inside Chappaqua, making this our first issue since June.

The theme of the issue is “fun,” and most of our stories go along with this theme. The cover story is on the Armonk Outdoor Art Show, describ-ing how a village of art will arise in the hamlet later this September.

We also feature a preview of the Cider and Donuts Festival, another ex-citing local event to which we can look forward. For nature lovers, we have a feature on where Armonk residents can go to see the leaves change colors, and we’ll also take a look back at some of the fun Armonk had in the summer that just passed, including the Sum-mer Concert Series.

Along with these event previews and look backs, we give readers a look at the North Castle Public Library, a dynamic institution of which every Ar-monk resident should take advantage. And we feature Armonk Dance, one of

the many local businesses that make the hamlet unique.

Finally, I take a look at how a hous-ing settlement signed between the county and the federal government is impacting North Castle as well as neighboring New Castle. Admittedly, this doesn’t really go along with the whole “fun” theme for the issue.

As both a reporter in and resident of Westchester, I’ve covered and followed the county’s battles over the housing settlement for years. After learning this spring that North Castle faced the

threat of litigation under the settle-ment, I began thinking about how I could tell the story of the settlement from a local perspective.

It’s impossible to tell the full story of the settlement in one magazine article–it would probably be impossi-ble to tell it in a book. My hope for this article is that it will give readers a look beyond some of the slogans coming from those for or against the settle-ment and a sense of what the settle-ment has meant for them and their neighbors.

Andrew Vitelli

Enjoying your free copy? To help support us, consider a gift subscription! SIX Issues of Inside Armonk or Inside Chappaqua for $24 each or $36 for both (inc. Shipping & Handling)

Send this form with your payment to: Inside Press, Inc. P.O. Box 643, Millwood, NY 10546Gift From:

Recipient Address:

Choose your publication(s)!

Inside ChappaquaInside Armonk

Don’t forget to visit this year’s Cider & Donut Festival, sponsored by the Armonk Chamber of Commerce. Details, page 10

Armonk Outdoor Art Show

55th AnnuAl

Rain oR Shine • FRee PaRking • no DogS

Sat./Sun. SePtembeR 24 & 25 10am–5pm

Proceeds Benefit The North Castle Public Librarywww.armonkoutdoorartshow.org

toP-RateD Fine aRt & Fine CRaFtS Show

IA-16

205 Business Park Drive • Armonk, NYAdmission: General $12 ($2 Off General Admission with coupon or this ad: up to 2 admissions)

Seniors: $10, 18 and under, FREE.

www.theinsidepress.comSept/Oct 2016 • Volume 13, Number 4

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Grace BennettGraphic Designer

Dina SpalvieriPublisher Associate

Caroline RosengardenEditor

Andrew VitelliWeb Design

Ryan Smith, Rick WatersAccounts Manager

Ilene AmielGeneral Counsel

Brian HandMailing address: Inside Armonk PO Box 643, Millwood, NY 10546 © 2016.

All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Reproduction of any portion is prohibited without permission from the publisher.

Phone Number: 914-238-2600Inside Armonk is not responsible for and does not endorse any advertisers, products or resources referenced in advertisements appearing in this publication. The Inside Press shall not be liable to any party as a result of

any information, services or resources made available through this publication. The Inside Press is published in good faith and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in advertising that appears in this publication. The

views of advertisers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher’s.For Story Ideas or Press Release submissions, please email: [email protected]

For Advertising Inquires, please email: [email protected] more information, rates and advertising calendar, go to www.theinsidepress.com.


Repeat At Family BRitches.

Meet representatives from Repeat on Saturday, October 15 at Family Britches

in Chappaqua and New Canaan.

70 King St., Chappaqua, NY n 914.238.801739 Elm St., New Canaan, CT n 203.966.0518

www.familybritches.com

F A M I L YBRITCHES410 Main Street, Armonk, NY l914.273.3397

www.hickoryandtweed.comMon-Fri, 10-5:30lThurs ‘til 8 lSat, 9:30-5:30lOpen Sun, 12-4

Celebrating our 55th YearSki & Bike

Follow us on

SINCE 1961

W

l Save 50% and more on last winter’s skiwear.l Save up to 50% on last season’s ski equipment and Burton snowboards.l Save up to 40% on bikes for the entire family from Cannondale and Specialized.

Save 15% on ski leasing equipment now thru Sept. 30l Come in now and get first dibs on our best ski and snowboard leasing equipment for the whole family. l No deposit required.

Voted #1Nationwide

Ski Magazine namedHickory & Tweedthe Best Ski Shop

in the Country.

Save up to 50% on skiwear and ski gearat Hickory & Tweed, Sept. 17 & 18 only.

Make Tracks To Our

Tent Sale.


J U S T B E T W E E N U S

The Capacity to LoveAs the

long time publisher of our flagship publica-tion, Inside Chappa-qua–the home-town

magazine for Hillary Clinton–and a life-long Democrat, I was very proud to attend the Demo-cratic National Convention as press, and thought I might offer Inside Armonk readers a glimpse of the experience too.

I was as excited as any friend, family or delegate visitor to Philly’s Wells Fargo Arena to witness first the all-star line-up of our nation’s Democrat Superstars throw their full weight squarely, and often, ever so eloquently into our hometown candidate’s corner. Then, of course, etched in my mind forever…witnessing Hillary make her way to the mic, waving to the crowds in every direction, and fully embracing her party’s historical nomination of her for POTUS.

Midway through her speech, it was no surprise to me that Hillary extend-ed her accomplishment from family to, well, everyone else: “Standing here as my mother’s daughter, and my daugh-ter’s mother, I’m so happy this day has come. I’m happy for grandmothers and little girls and everyone in between. I’m happy for boys and men–because when any barrier falls in America, it clears the way for everyone. After all, when there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit.”

I remember too: the abundance of heartfelt hugs–Hillary hugs. To me, they symbolize Hillary’s ubiquitous “Love Trumps Hate” campaign slogan…hugs for Bill, for Chelsea, for her running mate Tim Kaine, and on the night before, for and from President Obama. And countless other ones for those closest to her and seemingly always plenty to spare for her fans too. When hate gets thrown at her, Hillary Clinton doubles down on her capacity to tap into a bottomless reservoir of love–and hugs!

And daily, inside the Philadelphia Convention Center, dozens of pub-lic service organizations promoted their missions via buttons, literature and animated conversation; at a daily breakfast briefing, caucuses and roundtables, open primarily to del-egates and press, speakers delved into issues near and dear to their hearts. The general public attended rallies or packed “PoliticalFest,” a fun, interac-tive festival related to American his-tory and politics.

Whatever your political leanings, Hillary Clinton’s official nomination represents a huge historical milestone for Chappaqua too. I learned at one point that Hillary Clinton really appre-ciates the nights on the campaign trail when she can sleep in her own bed. So learning of a surprise celebration for her at the Kittle House on the very night following Roll Call in the arena

was very touching; Chappaqua really is home, sweet home to Hillary.

I was also glad to head to Philly with my long-time friend and former classmate at Colum-bia’s ‘J-school,’ Susan Young-wood, a self-described ‘political junkie,’ with both a daily news-paper and magazine background. From the outset, we both agreed that we would focus much less on national-style coverage of the major speeches which our readers would naturally turn to national media for. Instead, we

set out to capture an eclectic ar-

ray of stories that you might not see in other press, particularly anything that could qualify as having a local angle.

Please visit www.theinsidepress.com for links to all our 2016 DNC coverage and Hillary’s Run articles. You can also follow our future coverage of Hillary Clinton’s historical campaign to be-come the first woman POTUS.

I caught up with Governor Martin O’Malley for his reaction immediately following Michelle Obama’s much lauded endorsement of Hillary Clinton. He said Michelle’s words “summed up in a beautiful way why our coun-try is already great.”

Susan Youngwood Photo

Grace Bennett Photo

Grace Bennett Photo

When Barriers Fall


GET BACK TO THELIFE YOU LOVEBURKE REHABILITATION ISNOW OPEN IN ARMONK!

BURKE OUTPATIENT CLINIC99 BUSINESS PARK DRIVEARMONK, NEW YORK(914) 597-2165BURKE .ORG/ OUTPATIENT

Pioneering Rehabilitation™

A member of the Montefiore Health System, Inc.

For more than 100 years, Burke has been a leaderin rehabilitation medicine. Now we've brought ourquality physical therapy to Armonk. We areconveniently located next to White Plains HospitalMedical & Wellness at 99 Business Park Drive. Thesame quality physical therapy you have come toexpect from Burke is now available closer to home.

PHYSICAL THERAPY NOW AVAILABLE

EXCLUSIVELY AT EYE DESIGNS

EYE DESIGNS OF ARMONK575 MAIN STREET ARMONK NY 10504273-7337 – eyedesignsofarmonk.com


Cider, Donuts and Racing Mark Chamber’s

Fall Festival By Justin Ellick

The 5th Annual Cider and Donuts Festival, previously called the Armonk Fall Fes-tival, is coming to Wampus Brook Park. The event, sponsored by the Armonk Chamber of Commerce, will be held Sept. 18 and gathers residents and merchants of Armonk to welcome the changing of seasons and to reflect on yet another spec-tacular summer.

The festival, which brings together the town’s resi-dents for a day of activities each year, focuses on Armonk’s long history as a cider and donut hotbed. Over the years, the festival has grown rapidly, with more events and more guests showing up every year. Last year was the first year the Cider and Donut Festival partnered up with Jamie’s 5K Run for Love, and the Chamber of Commerce is confident that the race’s popularity and participants will sky-rocket this year as a result of the great

success of last year’s festival. This year, the Chamber decided to add on anoth-er wing to the festivities, as the Byram Hills Pre-School Association and its annual carnival will join the fun. With so many activities to get through in so little time, people are excited to see what kind of impact the festival has on the small hamlet of Armonk.

“Ideally we’d like the festival to serve as a way of getting Armonk values and the people who display them out in the open a little more,” said Neal Schwartz, president of the Cham-

ber of Commerce. “Armonk is filled with many small businesses trying to expose themselves to a wider range of consumers. The festival offers a great opportunity for these small-business owners to increase business as well.”

The festival, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is the larg-est it’s ever been. The fun will start with some races,

as the kids will get a chance to test their speed with the Donut Dash (ages 2-8) at 10 a.m., followed by the McIntosh Mile at 10:10 a.m. After the children have had their fun, Jamie’s 5K Run for Love is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. This portion of the festival is a continuation of a popular annual event, with runners coming from all over to honor the late Jamie Love, who was a track and field star at both Byram Hills High School and the

University of Vermont. This year, net proceeds from the run will benefit the North Castle Public Library’s children’s programs along with the Armonk Chamber of Commerce, so that the town can continue to run popular programs and events.

Once the festival and races start at 10 a.m., non-racing attendees can jump right into the Cider and Donut Festival games and activities. These will include donut fishing, as well as pie-eating contests and dunk tanks.

The donuts, from Beascakes Bakery, will be freshly out of the oven, practically melting in festivalgoers’ mouths. To accompany the donuts, there will be plenty of apple cider to go around.

This year, the festival is merging with another popular Armonk event in the Pre-School Association Fall Carnival. This will also get underway at around 10 a.m., with rides and activi-ties for children, as well as pizza and ice cream. The festival has become an Ar-

monk tradition, and one that contin-ues to grow.

“Our first year, all we had was a couple of booths and limited activities, along with the fact that not many peo-ple attended the festival,” continued Schwartz. “In under five years we’ve been able to grow significantly the festival and the events it offers, and in turn have attracted more and more people every year.”

The Cider and Donuts Festival has quickly become one of Armonk’s biggest events of the year, as local merchants and residents of Armonk look forward to coming together as a community.

Greeley grad Justin Ellick, a sophomore

Media and Communications Major at Ursinus College in Philadelphia, is an intern for Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk Magazines this summer.

Mike Dardano Photos


PRIME LOCATIONArmonk | $2,100,000 | Located directly on Main Street in Armonk, this rareproperty includes 3 buildings: ~2,048 sf retail renovated in ‘97 and ‘08 withpermit for food use; ~1,390 sf residential; ~1,296 sf residential. Twodriveways; a must see. Web# 4544161 Armonk Office 914.273.1001

BUILDER’S OWN SMART HOMEArmonk | $1,395,000 | Intelligently and expensively renovated in 2014, this5-bedroom, 4 new bath home offers truly carefee living - you can controlsystems from your SMART phone. Highlights include a true chef's kitchen,heated garage and generator. Web# 4626131 Armonk Office 914.273.1001

CUSTOM DESIGNED HOMEArmonk | $1,280,000 | Gracious ~3,800 sf, 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath residencehas been tastefully rebuilt both inside and out. French doors throughout thefirst level bring the outside in with gorgeous water views from every room.Full length deck. Web# 4620783 Armonk Office 914.273.1001

COVETED ROUND HILL ROADArmonk | $925,000 | Nestled on tranquil, level 2-acre prime propertyoverlooking a pond, this updated, upgraded 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath versatileContemporary lives like a Colonial. Enjoy the deck from the living room, familyroom and young kitchen. Web# 4632618 Armonk Office 914.273.1001

A SPECIAL PROPERTYChappaqua | $799,000 | Enjoy the serene setting of cul-de-sac living set back from a pond in this turn-key, energy efficient, 3-bedroom, 3-bathhome. Doors from living room open to patio overlooking peaceful backyard.Web# 4632836 Chappaqua Office 914.238.3988

ENTERTAINER’S DELIGHTArmonk | $784,000 | Set on 1.72 acres with a level backyard with in-groundpool, this 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath gem offers a light-filled living room withfireplace,dining room, eat-in kitchen and den. Oversized patio is covered witha canopy for outdoor fun. Web# 4617377 Chappaqua Office 914.238.3988

© 2016 DOUGLAS ELLIM

AN REAL ESTATE. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORM

ATION PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE, THIS INFORM

ATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, IT IS REPRESENTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES OR W

ITHDRAWAL W

ITHOUT NOTICE. ALL PROPERTY INFORMATION, INCLUDING,

BUT NOT LIMITED TO SQUARE FOOTAGE, ROOM

COUNT, NUMBER OF BEDROOM

S AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPERTY LISTINGS ARE DEEMED RELIABLE, BUT SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY YOUR OW

N ATTORNEY, ARCHITECT OR ZONING EXPERT. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

MANHATTAN | BROOKLYN | LONG ISLAND | THE HAMPTONS | THE NORTH FORK | RIVERDALE | WESTCHESTER | PUTNAM/DUTCHESS | GREENWICH | ASPEN | LOS ANGELES | FLORIDA

For a complete list of properties, visit elliman.com

KNOWN GLOBALLY. LOVED LOCALLY.

DE Inside Armonk Sept/Oct 2016_Layout 1 7/29/16 3:11 PM Page 1


DIVISIONn e w y o r k

- Specializing in sport specifi c training for student

athletes and injury prevention for all ages

- 40 yards of indoor fi eld turf, top-grade

cardio equipment, advanced weight-training

set up, stride classes and circuit training classes

4 New King Street • White Plains, NY 10604Karl Pfi stner • 914-346-1701

Athletes are made in the off season.

We are here to help.Conveniently located in the heart of Armonk at 99 Business Park Drive, White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness wants to make it easy for you and your family to get the care you need. Whether an annual physical, checkup for your child or help with planning a family, our experienced physicians are available to help.

Call 914-849-7900 or visit us online at wphospital.org/armonk.

W H I T E P L A I N S H O S P I T A L I S A M E M B E R O F T H E M O N T E F I O R E H E A L T H S Y S T E M

Life can be hectic ....Taking care of your health shouldn’t have to be.

A rmonk Outdoor A rt Show


By Brian Donnelly

Every year within the hamlet of Armonk an entire city gets built, only to disappear two days later.

Work always begins on a Thursday. By Friday, an open grassy field flanked by trees is lined with stakes in the ground where 185 vendors then erect tents in symmetrical rows. Lining the old IBM parking lot, nearby roads, and highways are signs directing people to this annual phenomenon. This year those signs will read, “The 55th Annual Armonk Outdoor Art Show.”

“By the end of the day Friday after the artists have erected their tents, it’s like a miniature city,” said Stacy Wilder, one of four co-chairs and 300 volunteers, some of whom work year-round to stage the art show. Slated for Sept. 24 and Sept. 25, rain or shine, the nationally renowned show features

185 artists spanning 33 states, Israel, and Canada. The exhibits run the gamut, including fine arts – paintings, mixed media, printmaking, drawing, pastels, sculpture, photography/digital art, and wearable art – and fine crafts.

“It’s well-selected and juried, and even though it is fine arts and crafts there are things there for people with all different budgets,” Wilder, a 22-year resident of Armonk, said. “Whether you’re looking for a print that’s $50, or a bronze statue for many, many thou-sands of dollars, we’ve got a full range of quality art.”

Armonk resident Lanni Sidoti, 52, exhibits enamel jewelry and wall piec-es. “I kind of consider it the highlight of the year,” she said, looking forward to her fourth time exhibiting at the show, which happens to be within walking distance from her home. “I’m very happy that I’m in it. Just because

I’m in it one year doesn’t mean that I’m in it the next year.”

Even returning artists have to be juried in every year, with the exception of the award winners of the prior year. Hundreds of artists apply to be a part of the show, including more than 600 this year alone. Among those selected, 46 are new to this year’s show.

“We get to look at the cream of the crop and boil it down to who we think is really the best,” Wilder said. “So, we have a reputation for having really great quality work.”

The art show’s executive director, Anne Curran, has been working on the show’s administrative aspects since the beginning of this year. “The art show is a premiere two-day event that has broad appeal for corporate spon-sors,” Curran says. “There is great value in sponsorships for all of us.”

Building the A rmonk Outdoor A rt Show

Photo Courtesy/Tompkins Excavating


Long-time volunteer and interior designer Susan Geffen said the show has, in years past, featured renowned artists like New York wire artist Skye Ferrante and Brooklyn painter Ken Solomon. His work has been shown at the Brooklyn Museum and the Mu-seum of Modern Art (MOMA).

“Some artists do it as a stepping stone to other things. For others this is how they sell their art,” she said.

The latter category includes Sidoti. “It’s my best show,” she said.

Geffen first attended the art show when she moved to Armonk in the early 1970s, a decade after its incep-tion in 1961. The first show featured only a handful of artists displaying their work on the lawn of the Armonk Methodist Church bordering Main Street. As turnout grew through the years the show relocated to the park-ing lot in front of the library, and

then again to the Legion Field behind Town Hall. In 1997 it moved to its current home at Com-munity Park, the old IBM field, according to the art show’s website.

The last move, Gef-fen said, turned a nice community event into a nationally-ranked attraction. "Art Fair Sourcebook," which Wilder called a bible for art fair exhibitors, named it among the “Prime 50” Fine Art and Fine Craft Fairs in the U.S. "Sun-shine Artist Magazine" has consistently named

it among the “Top Fine Art and Design Shows” in the New York Metro Area.

“It was the move that started it be-cause we were able to contain the show so that we had an entrance, and we were able to charge an admission fee,” said Geffen, whose many volunteer roles include offering free personal consults connecting visitors with art that best fits their taste and decor. “So, we started to make more money, more

money for the library.”

The show is sponsored by Friends of the North Castle Public Library, Inc. The proceeds, which Wilder said have topped $100,000 each of the past 15 years, benefit the North Castle and North White Plains libraries. Ap-proximately 8,000 people visit the show every year, Geffen said.

“The Armonk Outdoor Art Show is the largest fundraising event that’s held by the Friends,” said Edie Martimucci, executive

director of the North Castle Public Library. “And the impact that it has on our library is that it enables the Friends to help us with our program-ming.” In addition to supporting programs like the summer reading program, movie series, yoga classes and art lectures, the proceeds from the art show have funded many renova-tions and upgrades to the library. They include a new circulation desk and an interactive play and reading area in the children’s room.

Martimucci re-cently presented to the Friends plans to open an art gallery in the library. She hopes to open it in late 2017.

“We are a library that is a result of the art show and we want to have more cultural programming that reflects art,” she said.

First-time exhibitor Luis Perez, 54, will debut in style with a double booth. He will help run another double booth, which features the Byram Hill High School students exhibiting their work.

“Most high schools have great art programs and we want to pursue this wonderful experience for teenagers to know what it’s like to be a pro artist,” he said. High school artists have been an integral part of the art show for the last few years. This year they more than doubled in number from about 10 to 24. Perez plans to make it even bigger next year by inviting students from Valhalla High School to submit applications, too.

By Denis Leblanc–watercolor

By Christine Mackellar–jewelry

Wesley Rasko–glass

(L to R) Art Show Artist Liaison Judy Moniz; Executive Director Anne Curran; co-chairs Debbie Heidecorn, Marian Hamilton, Stacy Wilder, and David Africk; and co-chair advisor Susan Geffen.

Andrew Vitelli Photo


DISCOVERyour talents, your

friends, your success at The Harvey School

Small School… Big Opportunities… Endless Possibilities.

260 Jay Street • Katonah, NY 10536914.232.3161 • [email protected]

www.harveyschool.org

A coeducational college preparatory school enrolling students in grades 6–12 for day and

in grades 9–12 for five-day boarding.

COME VISIT US AT OUR ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 AT 9 A.M.

“I’ve always enjoyed seeing the show. I think it’s a really well put together show and the fact that I get to be a part of that is really exciting,” said Andrea Conrelius, 18, who was a part

of last year’s high school booth.

While the Armonk Outdoor Art Show has grown into a city of a show in its 55 years, Gef-fen said it’s still the same “great hometown thing to do” that it was when volunteers baked pies, cakes and the much-loved art show brownies in the early days.

Today, the show features a wide

selection of food vendors.

"We all really like each other," Wilder said of her fellow volunteers. "It's a great group of people and it makes you feel good about where you live because you're working with your friends and neighbors for a common cause."

The art show is held at 205 Business Park Drive in Armonk and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 24 and Sept.

25, rain or shine. Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for seniors or with cou-pon, while children under 18 get in for free. Visit www.armonkoutdoorartshow.org for more information.

Andrew Vitelli’s interview with Anne Curran, Executive Director of the Armonk Art Show, appears on the next page.

Marvin Blackmore–clay

Steven Kolodny–jewelry piece

Valerie Bunnell–sculpture

Brian Donnelly was born and raised in Westchester. He is a freelance reporter, videographer and social media specialist, whose hobbies include riding bicycles, waves and rooftop hammocks.


By Andrew Vitelli

When did you first get involved with the Armonk Outdoor Art Show? What made you get involved?

I first attended the show in the early 1990’s when I lived in White Plains. My husband and I became acquainted with Armonk because of coming to the art show, and we still credit the art show as what motivated us to find our home here, 18 years ago. We felt that a community that supports a wonder-ful art show and theatre group (The Armonk Players), as well as the local library, had to be a great place to live, and that is still true today.

Over the past decade, I volunteered at the annual shows and always enjoyed working with neighbors and meeting old and new friends. Early this year, after completing my final term as town clerk, I accepted the position of Executive Director of the Art Show. I work very closely with the co-chairs of the show and others

who have key organizational roles. I’m happy to work for the Friends of the North Castle Public Library, and contribute to the wonderful work done

by so many long serving and dedi-cated volunteers. In many ways, I feel like assum-ing the role of Executive Director of the Art Show has brought me full circle to what originally brought me to Armonk.

Is running the art show a year-round effort? What are some of the biggest chal-lenges in prepar-ing for the show?

The organiza-tional require-ments are tre-mendous and it is very much a year-round effort. Since the show is juried, marketing to exhibitors is important so that we continue to draw a large qual-ity pool of appli-cants. The evalua-

tion of applications is time-consuming and takes place during the early months of the year. Soliciting contri-butions and corporate sponsors is key to successful fundraising and this year we have provided Gold Sponsors with the opportunity to have a booth at the show. This has been very well received and we hope to continue to offer special opportunities for our highest level donors to connect with art show visitors. The planning of all aspects of communications, field operations, vol-unteer committees and volunteer staff for the two-day event is a team effort. Fortunately, the team works very well together and has a good time, too! We are always looking for new volunteers to take on small or larger assignments. The work is rewarding and there is a wonderful community of art show friends that will warmly welcome new volunteers.

What makes the show so unique and valuable for the community?

It is a high quality show that is nationally recognized as one of the top Fine Art and Fine Craft Shows, and while extremely well organized, it maintains a very personal, small com-munity feeling that artists and visitors appreciate. The community benefits from the recognition of hosting such a highly regarded and well attended show in Armonk, while the net pro-ceeds help fund a broad spectrum of library programs, entertainment, new technology, and facility enhancements. Besides that, there is huge satisfaction in putting on the show, now celebrat-ing our 55th year.

How can businesses who want to sup-port the art show get involved?

Corporate Sponsorships are avail-able at three levels: Gold Sponsors ($5,000); Silver Sponsors ($2,500); Bronze Sponsors ($1,000). Business can also support the show as a Com-munity Booster for contributions of $500 and $250. We promote all donors in our communications and maximize corporate visibility for our sponsors. Visit armonkoutdoorartshow.org for more details and to contact me. I would be happy to discuss the unique value to any business by supporting the art show.

Afterschool and SaturdaysPleasantville, NY

CLASSES FOR KIDS, TEENS, ADULTS

for more information

914-238-5252

ARTClasses

ART Westchester

Studio

FALL PROGRAM

2016

WEBSITE:

www.westchesterartstudio.com

ARTREGISTER

NOW!

Question and Answer with Anne Curran


Dream Kitchens & BathsCRAFT-MAID BIRCHCRAFT HOLIDAY CABICO STONE QUARTZ CORIAN DECORATIVE HARDWARE

March/April 2012 Inside Chappaqua 39

T O P T E N A N Y T H I N G !

10. When shopping for kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, be sure to compare apples to apples as to cabinet manufacturer, construc-tion options, and most importantly quality of finish. There are a million cabinet makers out there from low end to the most prestigious; pick one that fits your budget.

9. Find the right salesperson. Work with someone who understands you and can guide you properly. Ask for referrals.

8. Spend a little time researching cabinets and cabinet dealerships. You will feel much better about your purchase decision and you will be armed with information when you enter a showroom. Knowledge is key.

7. Ask around for opinions as far as design and cabinet details (door style, finish, etc.). One idea may lead to another and all of the sudden you have the start of something beautiful!

6. Start a “kitchen ideas” file. When something catches your eye in a magazine (door style, finish, design, counter top, etc.), clip and file it. After awhile you will return to the file and eventually find exactly what you want.

5. Hire a General Contractor to manage the renovation . Unless you have been through a renovation by yourself, the value of a one-stop-shop is priceless. You work with one person who in turn hires the trades.

4. Be sure the contract for any renovation includes a payment schedule. Never give more money than necessary up front; ask for pay-ments to be payable upon completion of job tasks.

3. Make a decision and stick with it. Your first decision about something is usually your best; never second guess yourself.

2. Remember that your renova-tion is an investment! Kitchens and baths are the selling points of a home on the market. On the other hand, if you plan to live in the home after the renovation, what better way to spruce up your house and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

1. First and foremost, avoid being pound wise and dollar foolish. You get what you pay for, so do your home-work and you will definitely make the right deal with the right person.

Richard Mucci is the owner of Eupho-ria Kitchen & Bath LTD.; a family owned and operated business since 1965.

Useful Tips for a Successful Kitchen or Bathroom RenovationBy Richard Mucci

KITCHEN & BATH, LTD.

164 Harris Road, Bedford Hills, NY 10507914.241.3046 | www.euphoriakitchens.com

CRAFT-MAID ■ BIRCHCRAFT ■ HOLIDAY ■ CABICO ■ STONE ■ QUARTZ ■ CORIAN ■ DECORATIVE HARDWARE

F A M I L Y O W N E D A N D O P E R A T E D S I N C E 1 9 6 5

H O U R S : T U E S - F R I 1 0 : 3 0 A M - 5 P M S A T 1 1 A M - 4 P M | G C L I C . # W C - 1 6 2 2 4 - H 0 5

Dream Kitchens and Baths


KITCHEN & BATH, LTD.

164 Harris Road, Bedford Hills, NY 10507914.241.3046 | www.euphoriakitchens.com

CRAFT-MAID ■ BIRCHCRAFT ■ HOLIDAY ■ CABICO ■ STONE ■ QUARTZ ■ CORIAN ■ DECORATIVE HARDWARE

F A M I L Y O W N E D A N D O P E R A T E D S I N C E 1 9 6 5

H O U R S : T U E S - F R I 1 0 : 3 0 A M - 5 P M S A T 1 1 A M - 4 P M | G C L I C . # W C - 1 6 2 2 4 - H 0 5


Custom & Stock Cabinets AvailableAll Wood Construction

Free ShowroomConsultation

Decorative Hardware

Complete Design & Installation Services

CRAFT-MAID BIRCHCRAFT HOLIDAY CABICO GRANITE QUARTZ CORIAN EXPANDED SHOWROOM

From Classic…to ContemporaryWestchester’s Premier Custom Cabinet Maker since 1978

KitchensBuilt-ins

Wall UnitsEntertainment

UnitsBars

Libraries Closet

Contact us today to schedule your free in home consultation or an appointment at our factory/showroom.

401 Claremont Ave. Thornwood, NY • 914-769-9161Email: [email protected]

www.allstarwoodworking.comwww.facebook.com/allstarwoodworking


By Marianne A. Campolongo

Stormy weather did nothing to ham-per the opening night of the Armonk Summer Concert Series. Although they had to postpone their plans for a picnic under the stars at Wampus

Brook Park’s gazebo until the following weekend, a near-capacity crowd turned out at Whippoorwill Hall Theatre to see The Swingaroos, a spirited young band who cover jazz, blues, and pop standards from 1930 to 1945, as well as performing original tunes penned

by the band’s vocalist Kim-berly Hawkey and pianist Assaf Gleizner. The other band members are Dan Glaude on the saxophone and clarinet, Nat Ranson on trombone, Ray Cetta on bass and Uri Zelig on drums.

Hawkey said she and the band actually preferred the

indoor space. “It felt like an

old 1940’s theatre and the sound was great. The audience was really recep-tive. Some of them were grooving in their seats. You need inspiration, espe-cially when you’re playing jazz because much of it is improvised. It was a fun group to play for, a great audience.”

The free Summer Concert Series, held twice a month in July and August, is produced by Sam Morell, a semi-retired chemical engineer, who volun-teers for many town activities, under the aegis of The Small Town Theatre Company.

“We have very gra-cious spon-sors,” said Morell. The Town of North Castle and several local busi-nesses lent financial support, and raffles were held during in-termission.

The summer’s line-up included Char-lie Lagond (jazz), the New Rochelle Opera, and Hager, Ibarra, Schulman, Spielman, and Johnson singing Broad-way show tunes.

“The best social media are people getting together not virtually but bringing a picnic basket, a lawn chair and sharing some food together with friends and listening to a concert,” said Morell. “Saturday evening under the stars and the moon.”

Marianne Campolongo is a professional photographer and writer from Chappa-qua. Visit www.campyphotos.com.

Armonk Summer Concert Series

The Swingaroos (front row from left): Kimberly Hawkey (vocals), Dan Glaude (clarinet), Nat Ranson (trombone), Ray Cetta (upright bass) seen in rear.

Kimberly Hawkey of the Swingaroos performs during a first show in July at the Whippoor-will Hall Theatre.

Sam Morell Photo

The Small Town Theatre Company Summer Concert

Marianne Campolongo Photo

Marianne Campolongo Photo

Jazz and Soul,

Charlie Lagond

Opera, New

Rochelle Opera

Broadway ClassicsHager, Ibarra,

Schulman, Spielman,

and Johnson

More Wonderful Summer Concerts...

A F O N D L O O K B A C K


ARMONK BROKERAGE | 399 MAIN STREET, ARMONK, NY 10504 | CHAPPAQUA BROKERAGE | 45 SOUTH GREELEY AVENUE, CHAPPAQUA, NY 10514

HOULIHANLAWRENCE.COM

48 HAIGHTS CROSS ROAD, CHAPPAQUA, NY $13,750,00017 COWDRAY PARK DRIVE, ARMONK, NY $19,900,000

10 FROG ROCK ROAD, ARMONK, NY $2,950,000NEW CONSTRUCTION, HEATHCOTE ESTATES $2,695,000

56 SARLES STREET, ARMONK, NY $4,295,0006 COWDRAY PARK DRIVE, ARMONK, NY $5,150,000

6 SNIFFEN ROAD, ARMONK, NY $1,799,999 767 KING STREET, CHAPPAQUA, NY $1,395,00023 WRIGHTS MILL ROAD, ARMONK, NY $2,250,000

BRIAN MILTONReal Estate Salesperson

M: (NY) ��.��.�� (CT) ��.��.�� BrianMiltonRealEstate.com

[email protected]

CONGRATULATIONS TO BRIAN MILTON

RANKED IN THE “TOP 200” REALTORS

IN AMERICA BY REAL TRENDS/WSJ 3 YEARS IN A ROW


BEST OF COUNTRY LIVING – Conveniently located, superbly-crafted country Farmhouse on four private acres. Renovated with sophisticated design and fine details. Updates include a gourmet chef’s kitchen, 7 zone heating and generator. WEB# IA1330791 | BEDFORD | $1,495,000

EPITOME OF LUXURYARMONK | WEB# IA1332636 | $4,499,000

Setting a new standard for today’s luxury living, this under-construction shingle-style Colonial offers the finest in craftsmanship with luxury amenities. Beautifully set on two park-like acres on enviable Sterling Road South in Yale Farms with pool site.

NEWLY APPOINTED ESTATE – Chic Colonial, newly appointed, with large rooms and ten-foot ceilings, custom crafted. Features include a luxurious master suite and outdoor kitchen, fireplace and infinity spa. Gated on two private, landscaped acres. WEB# IA1349306 | ARMONK | $3,495,000

CUSTOMIZED TO PERFECTION – Prominently set back with a gated, winding drive in one of the most sought-after locales in Armonk, this spectacular stone and shingle Colonial is the perfect statement for today’s relaxed lifestyle. WEB# IA1338709 | ARMONK | $3,249,000

COUNTRY LIVING – A long drive introduces this private shingled-style Colonial set on 7.7 acres, with a two-bedroom guest house. Quality detailing refines the high-ceilinged spaces, designed for today’s lifestyle. Possible pool site. WEB# IA1340255 | BEDFORD CORNERS | $2,899,999

MAJESTIC BRICK COLONIAL – Sweeping lawns and breathtaking views in Wampus Lakes Estates just minutes from downtown Armonk. This Center Hall Colonial offers a classic floor plan, five bedrooms, and great flow for everyday living. WEB# IA1341858 | ARMONK | $1,950,000

CHIC AND LUXURIOUS – Understated elegance with careful attention to detail are the hallmarks of this residence nestled on a private cul-de-sac with pool, covered porch, built-in grill, spa and park-like property. Chef’s kitchen. Wine cellar. WEB# IA1350744 | THORNWOOD | $1,499,999

HOULIHANLAWRENCE.COM | ARMONK BROKERAGE 914.273.9505

TRUSTED TO SELL MORE HOMES IN ARMONKTHAN ANY OTHER BROKERAGE.


NANTUCKET-STYLE HOMEBEDFORD | WEB# IA1328048 | $3,750,000

Magnificent, Nantucket-inspired masterpiece where old world artistry meets luxurious modern amenities. Grandly proportioned interior highlighted by exquisitely appointed formal rooms, captivating family spaces, sensational gourmet kitchen, and expansive walk-out lower level with home theater, and so much more.

SANDS MILL ESTATES – Excellence in design and construction define this dazzling residence where luxury and elegance meet in perfect balance. Set in a private and elevated location with magnificent distant views and free-form Gunite pool. WEB# IA1341485 | ARMONK | $2,150,000

PRIVACY AND VIEWS – Elegant stone and shingle Colonial built privately in 2009 in bucolic Hammond Ridge. Light filled and beautiful craftsmanship with incredible attention to detail. Stunning views of magnificently landscaped lawns. WEB# IA1345195 | MOUNT KISCO | $2,095,000

HOBBY FARM COLONIAL – Beautifully renovated and maintained five-bedroom home. Amazing light and windows showcase the spacious rooms and open floor plan. Outdoor space features a shoreline pool and gorgeous specimen plantings. WEB# IA1334776 | BEDFORD | $1,999,000

SUNNY AND GRACIOUS – Perfectly sited on over two lush, bucolic acres overlooking sweeping paddocks, horses and barns. This classic Center Hall Colonial, flooded with natural light, features five bedrooms and views from every window. WEB# IA1334903 | BEDFORD | $1,349,000

MAINTENANCE FREE LIVING – Prime location in the gated community of Whippoorwill Ridge. This freestanding Colonial offers abundant light, master suite on first level, flexible floor plan with oversized deck and privacy. Clubhouse, pool and tennis. WEB# IA1345188 | ARMONK | $1,150,000

HOULIHANLAWRENCE.COM | ARMONK BROKERAGE 914.273.9505

AREA’S MOST POWERFUL LOCAL AND GLOBAL NETWORKS.

ONE-OF-A-KIND – Pristine Colonial with Smart Home technology and designer aesthetics. Control many features of this home from your iphone or tablet. Sleek new stainless kitchen with top brand appliances and all new systems and mechanicals. WEB# IA1340264 | BEDFORD | $1,200,000


By Deborah Raider Notis

The North Castle Public Library is much more than a place to borrow books. It is a hub of exciting, innova-tive programming. It is a community center filled with opportunity to grow, flourish, meet new people, and to feel an even greater connection to this community.

“We aim to offer totally compre-hensive programming with the whole interests in mind,” notes North Castle Public Library Director Edie Martimuc-ci. Martimucci, who has worked in the library system for more than 18 years, has been director of the North Castle Public Library since April 2016. She helps to bring the highest quality of free programming to both the Armonk and North White Plains branches of the library.

The creative, intellectual, and community-enhancing programming at The North Castle Public Library has one other added benefit. Nearly all of these programs are free to the public. For the past 70 years, the funding for many of these free programs can be attributed to the Friends of the North Castle Library. The Friends of the North Castle Library funds special programming that makes the library a greater draw for residents of both North Castle and the greater Westch-ester area.

They are responsible for the Sunday Music Concert Series, teen programs including a songwriting program, family programs like Family Chess, and various health and wellness programs. The Friends of the North Castle Library also sponsors bi-annual productions of The Armonk Players, a community theater group. Addition-ally, the Friends of the North Castle

Library provided funding for the original library building, Whippoor-will Hall, and various other building renovations. The Friends of the North Castle Library’s annual Art Show, one of the most prestigious art shows in the United States and their largest fundraiser, helps to support many of these programs.

Over the past year, attendance at library programs went up astronomi-cally, but Martimucci is hoping to spur even greater community participation in library events going forward. She has helped to bring diverse programs into the library, including weekly Tai Chi, art history, and Italian language and culture programs, all of which are exceptionally well-attended. This year, the North Castle Public Library also added weekly Bridge lessons.

For the younger set, the North Castle Public Library offers everything from yoga for mothers with children

ages one to four to sewing to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) programs. According to Megan Dean, Director of Youth Services for the North Castle Public Library, “We are looking at the future of libraries. Thus far libraries have been all about circulating books.

Now we are looking at different programming and circulating other materials that allow for exploration and trial and error. We want to find new things and ways that the library can contribute to the community.” To that end, the library has added maker programs, science labs, Photoshop and print-making programs for middle

It’s All Happening at the North Castle

Public LibraryNorth Castle Public Library Director

Edie Martimucci


schoolers, and 3-D printing workshops for middle and high school students. These programs meet once a week and typically have between 10 and 20 participants.

Dean has also started a program through which maker kits are circulat-ed for two weeks to library members. With so many options, Dean hopes to encourage more members of North Castle’s younger community to become active at the library.

Knowledgeable instructors, includ-ing Pace University professor Val Franco and Alka Kaminer, who runs a weekly Chair Yoga class, give these programs even greater appeal.

“We have quite a few independ-ent teachers who love to teach and enjoy our library community,” states Martimucci. Unique programming, like cooking classes sponsored by the White Plains Hospital in conjunction with the library and the Sunday Music Concert Series, has been a significant draw, and both the “A Taste of Sinatra” and “Love Songs of World War II” con-certs packed the house with approxi-mately 175 attendees each.

Martimucci has great aspirations for the library for the coming year. She hopes to build the library’s academic reputation, making it an educational hub for the North Castle community. Adding four-week continuing educa-tion classes, on any topic from his-tory to science, is a high priority for Martimucci.

She would also like to implement an annual community spelling bee. Struc-turally, she wants to reconfigure the rooms throughout the Armonk branch to allow for programming. “If we cre-ate more dedicated spaces, program-ming won’t interfere with studying,” notes Martimucci. She hopes that this will encourage even greater participa-tion in programming.

But most importantly, Martimucci wants input from the community. She encourages people to provide the powers that be at the library with their ideas and feedback.

Go onto the library’s website and submit suggestions to the virtual sug-gestion box. And show up. The North Castle Public Library is a phenomenal resource that is open to the whole community.

Whether you’re interested in nutri-tion, cooking, physical well-being, music, academics, science, youth programming, or the arts, the North Castle Public Library has something for you.

Deborah Raider Notis lives in Westch-ester with her husband, four boys, and her dog. She is the co-owner of ga-mechangernow, LLC (gamechangernow.com), a free referral service connecting Westchester families to instructors. You can find Deborah’s writing for the Inside Press and on suburbanmisfitmom.com.

Comehome to...

Everyone can find a connection at

Pleasantville Community Synagogue.

Warm and engaged.

Welcomingand inclusive.

www.shalompcs.com

[email protected]

914.769.2672

Join us forBack to Shul Night

Friday, September 9 at 7:30pm

High Holiday TicketsAvailable on l imited basis

Learn about our amazingHebrew SchoolEngage in Tot ShabbatEnjoy expanded Adult Education

Joyful Judaism!

“The library should open up

endless possibili-ties. I want to help to incite people’s desire to learn.”


I N S I D E T H O U G H T S

Mindfulness in a Crazy WorldBy Jodi Baretz, LCSW, CHHC

Lately, it seems like on a weekly basis we are hearing about some awful terrorist attack, or act of gun violence. Our flags are constantly at half mast, and we barely mourn one tragedy before another one hits. This is a constant reminder of how intoler-ance, hate and racism are still present around the world. This unrest adds to the chronic anxiety many of us already feel on a daily basis.

The tragedies we hear about are real, but we have to be mindful of the sto-ries we tell ourselves. It is easy to get carried away with doomsday scenarios, because our hyperactive brains are programmed for survival.

The 24-hour media coverage of shootings, killings and terrorist events perpetuates worry, and creates anxi-ety. The media often seems to thrive on fear because they know you will tune in. The reality is that “we didn’t start the fire, it was always burning since the world’s been turning.” It just seems that the Armageddon is closer now than ever before.

While we are so down on the events of the day, we must remember that our current society is much better off than in the past. For example, look at the changes in the LGBT community. It is much safer now for teens and adults alike to be proud and embrace who they are, without tremendous fear of persecution. Additionally, in the past, children with Down’s Syndrome would be institutionalized, and now they are often mainstreamed and have become valued members of society. Remarkably, there is a black President in the White House, which had been unthinkable just a short time ago. We certainly have come a long way, and hopefully can continue along this path.

Nonetheless, the recent awful news has an effect on us, especially those of us with children. We worry about them growing up in a world that is volatile. We worry when they travel overseas. We worry about them being exposed to hate and violence at such a young age. How do we cope with the weight of the world on our shoulders?

Mindfulness practices are not only ways that we can improve focus and be present, but also ways to cultivate love, compassion and bring peace to ourselves and others. When we practice meditation and mindfulness, we open our hearts and realize that although we have different beliefs, races, and religions, we all share a com-mon thing–humanity. We can begin to notice our judgments and biases. Look at your own life and be curious if there are others you have unfairly judged or rejected because they are different than you.

Listen to your self-talk, and notice without judging yourself how your biases and beliefs have affected you. We each have to do our part to be more understanding of others and accept those who are different than ourselves.

A story I heard at a seminar about a soldier returning from Iraq can speak to compassion and non-judgment. He was having difficulty managing his stress and anger, and enrolled in a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction class. He was at a supermarket behind a woman that was handing over her baby to the cashier and delaying his check out. He would normally have said something, but waited and felt the frustration course through his body. When he got to the front of the line, he asked the cashier about the baby, and she revealed that her husband was killed in Iraq, that was her baby, and her mother was watching her because she couldn't afford child care.

So, what can we do to protect ourselves from sadness, depression and anxiety that the world puts on our shoulders? Shutting off the news every so often, as well as turning off social media, can give our minds a break from the onslaught of negativ-ity. Noticing when your mind races and when you are creating stories that are not facts, help to work with the brains negativity bias. Learning to sit with sadness and grief, without letting it take over our whole beings can be a helpful practice for coping. When compassion and kindness win out we have less hate, anger and intolerance. In addition, being good role models for our children is crucial, because they are watching us all the time. What we say matters. When we engage in these behaviors daily, hopefully, person-by-person, we can change the world, and make a difference.

Jodi Baretz, LCSW, CHHC is a psycho-therapist, mindfulness and holistic health coach at The Center for Health and Heal-ing in Mount Kisco. She is the founder of the program and upcoming book, “Mind-ful is the New Skinny.”

Visit jodibaretz.com for more info or FB group@mindful moms.

“If every eight year old in the world is taught meditation, we

will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.”

–Dalai Lama.


ARMONK SELF STORAGEWHAT’S IN STORE FOR

FALL? PART OF“THE WESTCHESTER

SELF STORAGE GROUP”www.armonkselfstorage.com

273-0077Residential & Commercial Storage

WE ARE A GOLD KEY® FACILITY FREE Pick Up Service Available | Open 7 Days A Week

Is Your Financial Life in Balance?WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT

• We are a fee-only financial planning & investment management firm.

• The relationship we have with each client is personal and unique.

• We are bound by a fiduciary standard, putting your needs and interests above everything else.

• Call for a free consultation.• Call for a free consultation.


As One Town Resolves HUD Dispute, Another Fights On

By Andrew Vitelli

“It’s really mind-boggling, if you think about it,” New Castle Supervisor Rob Greenstein says. Sitting just a stone’s throw from the site of the controversial Chappaqua Station housing project, Greenstein is refer-ring to criticism of the town coming from the U.S. Depart-ment of Housing and Urban Development and from a monitor appointed following a 2009 settlement between HUD and Westchester County. “I think they should be singing our praises and holding us up as an example of do-ing more than our share. And instead, we’re criticized.”

In purely numerical terms, New Cas-tle has more than carried its weight; even without Chappaqua Station, which Greenstein opposes, more than 30 units are in the pipeline. But the fight over Chappaqua Station, built on Hunts Lane between the railroad tracks and a Saw Mill Parkway exit ramp, has dragged on for years and put the town in the middle of a bitter fight between HUD and county leadership.

On Old Route 22 in Armonk, mean-while, a row of freshly-built multifami-ly homes has sprung up, construction equipment sitting outside. In July, North Castle was removed from a list of municipalities facing legal action over their zoning laws and the concen-tration of multi-family housing within the municipality. The town’s presence on the list, the town’s supervisor says, had more to do with the lack of infrastructure throughout much of the town–along with the flooding of Kensico village a century ago–than any discriminatory intent on the town’s part, and in the end the HUD-ap-pointed housing monitor agreed. “I’ve found them to be very receptive to our

communications,” Supervisor Michael Schiliro says.

These towns are just two of more than 30 towns and villages impacted by the settlement, but their stories give a closer look at how the settle-ment has played out in many of these communities.

The SettlementThe housing settlement, which has

cast a shadow over Westchester poli-tics for nearly a decade and brought the county to the center of a battle over federalism, government over-reach, and allegations of modern-day segregation, was signed in August 2009 by then-County Executive Andrew Spano. In 2007, the Anti-Discrimination Center, a Manhattan based non-profit which fights housing discrimination, sued the county over accusations that the county had been collecting federal funds earmarked for low-income housing without meeting the requirements necessary to receive these funds. In February 2009, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Cote ruled that the county had failed to conduct an analysis of impediments to address claims of housing discrimination. Facing the possibility of liabilities of more than $150 million, Spano had

no choice but to agree to the settlement, under which Westchester admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to commit $51.6 million to building 750 afford-able housing units, mostly in municipali-ties, including New Castle and North Castle, with few black or Latino resi-dents.

That Novem-ber, Rob Astori-

no, a Republican and an opponent of the settlement, unseated Spano to become county executive. While Astorino vowed to comply with the settlement, the last six and a half years have been marked by recurring conflict between HUD and the county. There have been spats over which projects should be counted towards the settlement, over legisla-tion banning landlords from reject-ing people with government housing vouchers, and over the county’s effort to press towns and villages to adopt a model zoning ordinance.

A continuing source of strife has been the county’s obligation to conduct an analysis of impediments, including those based on race or resist-ance to affordable housing, to identify exclusionary zoning. The county has submitted eight analyses to HUD, finding no exclusionary zoning regula-tions. HUD has rejected every submis-sion. This dispute has cost the county more than $20 million in grant money from HUD.

For both sides, though, the prin-ciples in play go beyond the sum of the projects and the dollars involved. Astorino has called HUD’s actions “Washington-driven social engineer-ing,” a sentiment echoed by, among

Affordable housing is being built on Old Route 22 in Armonk.

Andrew Vitelli Photos


many others, the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board. On the other side have been allegations of thinly-veiled rac-ism, with The New York Times editorial board accusing the county of “keeping Jim Crow’s spirit alive.”

The Challenge in Chappaqua New Castle is not only one of the

richest communities in the country, but home to both the Clintons and Governor Cuomo. Add to that the town’s role on the wrong side of a wa-tershed 1977 zoning ruling, Berenson v. New Castle, and it’s understandable that Chappaqua would end up in the spotlight, Greenstein says.

“The truth is, it makes it a perfect little town to make an example of, and I think that’s part of the problem,” says the town supervisor. “Because of those three reasons, I think that there are some people biting at the bit to make an example of us, and we have definitely felt that pressure.”

New Castle, which adopted the model zoning ordinance in 2011, has one major affordable housing project that has sailed through with little op-position: a 28-unit affordable housing project called Chappaqua Crossing at the site of what was once the Reader’s Digest building on Roaring Brook Road. Conifer Realty purchased the Chappaqua Station site in Septem-ber 2010. Conifer’s plans for the site (originally 36 units) were at the time backed by Barbara Gerrard, then the town’s supervisor, as well as the town board. One of the proposal’s early crit-ics, as Greenstein now points out, was James Johnson, the HUD-appointed monitor overseeing Westchester’s compliance with the settlement, who in an April 2012 letter to the board suggested that the site was isolated and stigmatizing.

The monitor signed off, however, after the developer made changes to the site’s design to help integrate the project into the community aestheti-cally, created public space within the building, and addressed traffic con-cerns. One change was to downsize the complex from 36 to 28 units.

“Some would say he flip-flopped on the issue,” Greenstein says of the monitor, who recently resigned from the case. “I haven’t changed my opin-ion. I think that site is isolating and stigmatizing.” The town board granted Conifer a special permit in September 2013, contingent on Conifer obtaining

the necessary variances and permits. By then, however, public opposition to the project had begun to take hold. In the 2013 town board elections, Greenstein ran on the Team New Castle ticket along with town board candidates Lisa Katz and Adam Brod-sky. Opposition to Chappaqua Station was a significant factor in Team New Castle’s election to all three positions. With the supervisor and a majority of the town board opposed to the pro-ject at its current location, along with concerns voiced by Building Inspector Bill Maskiell, progress on the develop-ment has slowed in the last two and a half years.

The root of the resistance to Chappa-qua Station–whether born from flaws in the project or a wider resistance to public housing–is much contended. In February 2014, Conifer filed a Hous-ing Discrimination Complaint with HUD, stating that during public debate opponents of the project claimed that “the project would be a stigmatized ghetto, that the children who lived there would be ostracized by children who live in the Village, and that the project would be where the ‘blacks and Hispanics’ live.”

Holly Leicht, HUD’s regional ad-ministrator for New York and New Jersey, says it’s hard to answer with any certainty whether opposition is due to the project itself or reflects a fear of any affordable housing. “There are probably people on both ends of the spectrum,” Leicht explains. “There usually are in these situations, where there’s a controversial project.”

But Greenstein points out that the town’s other major affordable housing project under the settlement, Chap-paqua Crossing, has received little pushback from the community.

“When you look at that building, you’re not going to say, ‘That’s afforda-ble housing.’ You’re going to say, ‘That’s housing,’” Greenstein says, referring to Chappaqua Crossing. Turning his attention to Chappaqua Station, he remarks, “Now compare that to this project over here. That’s on a third of an acre, from lot line to lot line there’s not a blade of grass.”

“There’s no question that people are opposed to this particular location,” Greenstein adds. “I want to make it clear that people are not opposed to affordable housing.”

The battle over the project has also ensnared the county. In December of 2013, the county’s Board of Legislators voted to withhold funding for the pro-ject; a year later, the board approved funding, on the condition that the project must receive all the necessary variances. The monitor faulted the county for counting the units towards the settlement agreement (it needed financing in place for 450 units by the end of 2014) but also blamed the county for failing to push New Castle to end the impasse. This May, Judge Cote said the units could count towards the settlement but also said the county had breached its obligation by not weighing in on behalf of the developer against local opposition.

The proposed site of Chappaqua Station has drawn opposition from a wide segment of New Castle residents and officials.


Mike Kaplowitz, the chairman of the Board of Legislators, says the project has been problematic from the get-go.

“Pretty much, nobody is happy,” Ka-plowitz says. “That project is so messy. I don’t meet many people in New Castle who are happy on either side of that issue.”

Leicht acknowledges that the town has some legitimate concerns over the project, but says HUD is worried that the town is dragging its feet.

“I think that a legitimate back and forth, and focusing on the health and safety issues, is fine. The sense was that this is being protracted for a very long time,” she says. “I think part of the frustration is that things keep coming up sequentially rather than part of one process that is condensed.”

A Solution in North Castle Around a century ago, the Village of

Kensico was flooded due to the crea-tion of the Kensico dam, leading many of the village’s residents to move south to what is now the Hamlet of North White Plains. Supervisor Schiliro be-lieves this piece of history along with the hamlet’s proximity to White Plains has led to a higher population density, and a concentration of the town’s minority population, in North White Plains that exists to this day.

Today, one zoning district in down-town North White Plains has three-and-a-half times the rate of minority

households as the town as a whole. Additionally, large parts of the town are zoned for single-family housing, with these districts primarily white.

For the housing monitor, this itself amounted to prima facie (legal lan-guage meaning presumed until proven otherwise) evidence of clustering un-

der what’s known as the Huntington test (named for the 1988 watershed case Town of Huntington v. NAACP).

“Do I disagree with their findings? No. They’re mathematical. We techni-cally fail the Huntington test,” Schiliro admits. “But part of it is something that happened 100 something years ago, which developed a denser zoning or development here.”

The town’s zoning is based more on the limits of its infrastructure than an-ything else. In the rural northern parts of the city, sewer and water is sparse outside downtown Armonk. This prohibits the kind of housing density seen in North White Plains. Schiliro, a Democrat elected in 2013, met with officials from the monitor’s office his first year in office, giving them a tour of the town to show them the restric-tions preventing multi-family housing throughout most of North Castle.

In May of this year, however, the housing monitor released a report placing North Castle on a list of seven municipalities whose zoning could result in liability under the Hunting-ton test or the related Berenson test (named after the 1977 ruling involv-

ing New Castle). “In the absence of remediation,” the report stated, “the Department of Justice is encouraged to give serious consideration to bring-ing legal action against one or more of these municipalities.”

“I was disappointed because genu-inely I felt that we had made a lot of

progress,” Schiliro says, looking back at the May report. “So our reaction was, let’s sit down with the moni-tor and the monitor’s office again. It wasn’t any animosity, any anger. It was just, let’s communicate.”

Schiliro again met with officials from the monitor’s office in June following the report’s release and pressed the town’s case. A month later, the monitor withdrew his rec-ommendation of legal action, noting progress made by the town and also acknowledging environmental and infrastructural constraints.

While the issue was ultimately resolved, the monitor’s decision to place North Castle on such a list in the first place was viewed by some of HUD’s critics, particularly the Astorino administration, as an ex-ample of “breathtaking” government

overreach. A spokesman for Astorino said the county executive was puzzled by the monitor’s initial decision, as was Westchester Legislator Margaret Cunzio, who represents North Castle.

“I think it was unfair because since day one they had been compliant and they had been working with both the monitor and the HUD office,” says Cunzio, a Conservative. “The town has done nothing since day one but try to fulfill their requirements.”

Schiliro carefully avoids any criti-cism of HUD or the monitor.

“It must be a challenge for them,” he says. “It’s a lot of work to really under-stand all the towns in the county, and each town is very different.”

Schiliro also notes that the town has made progress since the moni-tor’s 2014 visit. North Castle adopted the model zoning ordinance in 2014, and 25 affordable housing units are in development throughout Armonk.

“The town has always had affordable type housing for decades,” Schiliro notes. “We listened to what the latest communications were from the moni-

North Castle Supervisor Michael Schiliro explains restrictions imposed by his town’s infrastructure.


tor and we made some adjustments to our code like creating the model ordinance so the future units would conform with what the parameters of the lawsuit were.”

Light at the End of the Tunnel? At the end of the year, the county

is obligated to have financing in place for the 750 units required under the settlement. But the county’s need for affordable housing has no end date.

“If we get to the end of the settle-ment and 750 units have been built but everyone is saying, ‘I never want to have to deal with the federal govern-ment, or the federal government’s money, or affordable housing, again,’” Leicht explained to legislators at a June meeting, “then we have not really met our goal here.”

Speaking to the Inside Press, Leicht circles back to this idea when asked whether New Castle, with 60 afford-able housing units in the works includ-ing Chappaqua Station, has in fact done more than its share.

“These projects are happening, and I am optimistic that the 750 units will be met, but I don’t really think

anybody would say that’s the entire affordable housing need in the coun-ty,” Leicht comments. “I haven’t had anybody, no matter where they stand on this settlement, not acknowledge that Westchester really has affordable housing needs.”

Even some of Chappaqua Station’s opponents now seem resigned to the likelihood that it will be built.

“I’d like this project not to go forward because it’s a terrible site,” Kaplowitz says. “But unfortunately the wheels are in motion and there’s noth-ing we can do to stop it.”

Greenstein notes that there’s no guarantee the project will meet the conditions required for the building permit, but acknowledges the futility

of risking litigation to try to stop it from moving forward.

With the housing monitor absolving North Castle of its Huntington test failure, this reporter asks the town’s supervisor, is the town in the clear regarding settlement compliance? “I would think we should be,” Schiliro replies diplomatically. “We will just continue on this path,” he continues. “As new developments come about, the model ordinance is in place; we’ll continue to further affordable housing like we’ve been doing for decades.”

At year’s end, the county is set to have the 750 units in the works, theo-retically winding down its obligations under the settlement. But if the past is a guide, nothing is that simple.

In his letter of resignation Johnson, the housing monitor, wrote that his successor should be prepared to deal with the case for some time to come.

Andrew Vitelli, a Westchester native, is the editor of Inside Armonk Magazine.

TWO INDOOR POOLS NURSERY

ENERGY CENTER

KIDS CLASSES

MASSAGE

SPORTS

TRX

GROUP FITNESS

THE

SHO

P

PARISI

RACQUETBALL

TENNIS

CAF

E

SWIM TEAM

PERSONAL TRAINING

PARTIES

SAU

NA

FITNESS CENTEREVENTS

www.clubfit.com

Briarcliff 914-762-3444

584 N. State Road

Jefferson Valley914-245-4040

600 Bank Road

“When people move into that housing [in Chappa-qua], we will do everything in our power to make them feel welcome and part of the community.”

Robert Greenstein


Advertorial

Five Biggest Financial Mistakes Made During a Divorce

By Ilene Amiel

Divorce is a stressful time. It’s hard to think clearly and be organized when your life is turning upside down. Once you decide to divorce, you begin a pro-cess new to you. I tell my clients that getting divorced is like playing a board game that doesn’t come with instruc-tions. You’re not sure what to do, how the game works, what the rules are and how to win (or not lose).

You hire a lawyer or mediator and

hope that he/she will help you get a fair settlement. From a legal standpoint, you may be in good shape. But from a financial standpoint, you really need to understand the game. Not understand-ing your finances can cost you a lot of money and affect you and your chil-dren for the rest of your life.

The five biggest mistakes that people

make involve budgeting, taxes, medical insurance and credit score manage-ment. Here they are:

1. Underestimating BudgetsThe most important documents that

you will be required to prepare are the Financial Affidavit aka Statement of Net Worth and a monthly budget. Your attorney can help you put them together but, ultimately, it’s up to you to provide accurate and complete information in

each category; these will be the basis for negotiations and for the courts. The challenge is to create detailed financial documents based on dozens of line items to properly reflect your assets, liabilities and monthly expenses. You must include every single expense even if it occurs only once or twice a year. Unexpected expenditures that arise such as appliance, home or car repairs along with unforeseen medical expenses have to be included. Although the Statement of Net Worth and budget can be revised, once you have submit-ted your final documents, your lawyers will use them to negotiate a settlement. If you underestimate your monthly expenses, you will have to deal with it once the divorce is completed.

2. Misunderstanding Marital

Status on Tax ReturnsIf you’re in the middle of a divorce

on December 31, and you both agree to the filing, you can file a joint return. However, once the divorce is final, the IRS considers you divorced for the entire year. You must file as single or head of household (if you have cus-tody of the children). The reason this is important is that generally filing jointly provides the most beneficial tax outcome for most couples. If one of the spouses owes taxes, it could be considered a marital liability. I highly recommend that you consult with your CPA or tax preparer. He/she can review your previous returns and evaluate the current situation to choose the best financial option.

3. Forgetting about a

Maintenance TaxThe second issue that is often forgot-

ten is tax on maintenance (aka alimony or marital support). Maintenance is taxable as income to the recipient and tax deductible for the payor. Many people neglect to save a percent of their monthly payment for taxes and then need to come up with a large payment on April 15. You do have a choice and for some couples, the tax consequences are more favorable if they make pay-ments nondeductible and nontaxable because of tax consequences.

Taxes are an ongoing obligation and need to be planned for during the year.

4. Inadequately Researching Medical Insurance

Once your divorce is final, each spouse will be responsible for their own medical insurance. For those indi-viduals whose spouse was insured by an employer sponsored plan, COBRA allows for you to stay on the same plan as you had when while married for three years post divorce. With the costs of insurance changing constantly, it is best to research the options before the divorce is final in order to determine the most cost effective plan to meet your needs.

5. Failing to Check Credit RatingAnd now, the last but not least most

important mistake that divorcing individuals make: not checking and understanding their credit rating.

Your credit rating is used to de-termine what rates you can get on loans, lines of credit, car leases and credit cards. While you were married, anything in a joint account or joint-ly owned will be reflected on your individual credit report and score. Before your divorce is complete, you should get a copy of your credit score and report from all three reporting bureaus--Experian, Equifax and Trans Union. If your credit score is low or contains errors, now is the time to fix it. If you have late payments on your report, they can remain on there for seven years.

You need to fix these mistakes on the reports and learn how to improve your score so you will have the highest rating possible as you move from a married person to a single person with your own identity.

Ilene Amiel is a CDFA (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst) who helps divorcing individuals with the financial aspects of their divorces. For more information about Ilene, please visit divorcefinancialconsultant.com or call (914) 980-0898.


Personally Owned and SupervisedWilliam F. Flooks, Jr., Proprietor

William J. Flooks Karen Lord Funeral Director Funeral Director

Jeffrey S. GoldhornLicensed Manager

Caring for our community since 1928Personal and Complete Funeral Service

418 Bedford RoadPleasantville, NY 10570 • 769-0001www.beecherflooksfh.com

“The place to turn in your time of need!”

BF BEECHER FLOOKS FUNERAL HOME, INC.

“The place to turn in your time of need!“

Personally Owned and Supervised By

William F. Flooks, Jr. & William J. Flooks Proprietor Licensed Funeral Director

Caring for our community since 1928 Personal and Complete Funeral Service

418 Bedford Road…Pleasantville, NY 10570…769-0001

www.beecherflooksfh.com
























170 Hunts Lane · Chappaqua · NY www.worldcupschools.com170 Hunts Lane · Chappaqua · NY www.worldcupschools.com

DISCOVER YOUR INNER CHAMPION At World Cup Gymnastics

Romperee (infant-35 mos.) Pre-school (2-5 yrs.) Girls Recreational (5-14 yrs.) Boys Recreational (5-14 yrs.) Competitive Teams

New York’s Premier

Gymnastics Facility

Register Now for

2016/2017 classes

Private Lessons Cheer Tumbling Open Gym (up to 4 yrs.) Birthday Parties (1-14 yrs.) Special Days Summer Camp

Call 914-238-4967 Or register online at worldcupgymnastics.com

CONGREGATION B’NAI YISRAELOF ARMONKHIGH HOLY DAYS

with our CBY Community

Tickets Available for Prospective Members

Celebrate

2 Banksville Road Armonk, NY 10504

Phone: (914) 273-2220Fax: (914) 273-2285

www.cbyarmonk.org

For more information, visit

cbyarmonk.orgor contact us at (914) 273-2220, [email protected].


NWH’s President’s Junior Leadership Council Sets its Sights on Addressing Anxiety in Students

By Janine Crowley Haynes

Northern Westchester Hospital’s President’s Junior Leadership Council is celebrat-ing its 10-year anniversary. The Council consists of 48 students from various high schools including Horace Greeley, Byram Hills, Pleas-antville, Fox Lane, Somers, John Jay and Yorktown, to name a few.

NWH Director of Com-munity Health Education & Outreach Maria Simonetti oversees the Council along with Amy Rosenfeld, RD. They have been conducting the program for ten years and have watched student participation grow from eight students to an impressive 48.

Each year, the Council decides on a public health pro-ject, like underage drinking, smoking, body im-age, nutri-tion, etc., targeting

peers via social marketing campaigns. The projects are designed to grab the attention of their peers and are jam-packed with vital information.

With the Be Smart Not Sorry cam-paign, the Council created at-a-glance fold-up cards that fit easily into a wal-let, addressing alcohol, alcohol poi-soning, and what to do “when things go awry.” Another campaign targeted smoking with a shockingly graphic handout showing the toxic ingredients in cigarettes.

This year’s campaign targets anxiety. The students on the Council work in groups and pitch creative ways to con-struct an effective campaign to address the anxiety issue all too common in young people. The Council just decided

that the overall campaign tagline will be: There is a World Outside...Branch Out. The Council’s main concern is dismantling the stigma and helping young people to not feel so alone while encouraging them to seek support.

It’s of no surprise that students in Westchester face a heavy workload that can cause stress and anxiety. Stu-dents have enormous pressures placed on them not just to get good grades, but also to join clubs, take music les-sons, be athletes, and volunteer time without having much downtime. They also struggle with social pressures from peers.

For the anxiety project, the Council intends to reach out not only to the students but to act as liaisons and meet with school administrators, teachers, and PTAs to enlighten and communicate the overwhelming issue of anxiety plaguing many students, and to possibly effect change.

In June, all 48 students of the lead-ership Council came together for their end-of-school-year meeting. However, they will also be working over the sum-mer months on the new campaign. By October, they will be ready to unveil its latest project targeting anxiety. The students will come up with creative ideas for the collective project.

One idea comes from Greeley senior Chloe Krugel and sister and sopho-more at Greeley Alexa Krugel. They will be submitting an application to

form a club at Greeley. “When ‘I’ is replaced with ‘We,’ even illness becomes wellness. So, we were thinking the club could be called Mental Wellness,” says Chloe. Although the plan is in its infancy, raising awareness and dismantling the stigma sur-rounding mental health issues is a top priority.

The club will also focus on im-plementing ways of dealing with stress and anxiety by encourag-ing healthy habits and behaviors possibly through yoga, breathing exercises, pet therapy, etc. They would also like to organize a walk

for mental wellness.

Another idea the Council is explor-ing is handing out adult coloring books. There are studies that show when one is feeling anxiety, a distrac-tion can be quite effective in lessening the immediate feelings of anxiety. Another thought is to create a poster and/or handouts addressing anxiety targeting the shame and stigma.

The anxiety project is, no doubt, ambitious and complicated and will be tackled from different angles. At the end-of-year meeting, all 48 students went around the room and introduced themselves and stated what being a member of the NWH President’s Jun-ior Leadership Council means to them personally. Aside from the overwhelm-ing gratefulness to the Director Maria Simonetti and Program Coordinator Amy Rosenfeld, RD, the students ex-pressed feeling more connected to the community and realize the importance of giving back.

Learning the skills of collaborating with students from other high schools gives them an advantage and has given them a sense of making an impact to create positive change. Finding a com-mon bond and taking a pulse on what issues need to be addressed amongst their peers is a worthwhile experience going forward.

Janine Crowley Haynes is a Chappa-qua resident and author of My Kind of Crazy: Living in a Bipolar World.

Maria Simonetti, Director NWH Community Health Education & Outreach, with Program Coordinator, Amy Rosenfeld, RD.

NWH President’s Junior Leadership Council


344 Main Street, Suite 303 • Mount Kisco • (914) 241-6249www.BrionesWeightLoss.com

With 15 years of experience as a specialist in medical weight loss, Dr. Briones is familiar with the problems and frustrations that you face because of your weight. Dr. Briones’ treatment plan will help to identify and correct medical causes of weight gain while helping you achieve a healthy weight and maintain it permanently. At our Westchester County weight loss center, our goal is to empower you to regain control of your life and improve your overall happiness.

Dr. Briones designs treatment protocols that are effective and customized for each patient. Our physician will help to

monitor, support and teach you to maintain your weight loss. Even after you’ve lost your goal weight, our team will continue to offer ongoing support and coaching for as long as is needed.

Clinically Proven, Medically Supervised

Weight Loss• Programs customized for each individual• Programs are structured Behavior Modifi cation• Lifestyle change recommendations• FDA approved appetite suppressants• Bioidentical hormone intervention• Body detoxifi cation• Healthy exercise

www.jodisgym.com • 25 Hubbels Dr. Mt. Kisco • 914.244.8811

Register

now for

SUMMER

CAMP!flexible

scheduling

all summer

long!

32yrs. of

Fun, Friends,& Fitness!

GymnasticsCampsPartiesNinjaMusic

Amazing

Perks for

Members

Free Playtime!

Amazing

Perks for

Members

Free Playtime!

Amazing

Perks for

Members

Free Playtime!

Flexible scheduling all summer long!

353535

Jodi Baretz, LCSW, CHHCIntegrative PsychotherapistHolistic Health CoachMindfulness Teacher & Speaker

[email protected]

4 Smith Avenue, 2nd floorMount Kisco, NY 10549

JodiBaretz.com Center4Healing.net

Holistic Health and Learning

THE CENTER FORHEALTH ANDHEALING

Advertorial

Divison One — Bringing Fun & Positivity into Every WorkoutEvery summer time seems to slow

down just a bit only to pick back up at record speed the morning after Labor Day. Everyone has their own sources of stress during this frenetic time but for our high school athletes it’s often fueled by the worry of another year balancing the pressures of schoolwork and athletic training. Indeed, most parents and administrators would agree that this pressure has only increased over the years as the college recruit-ing process now begins earlier than ever. Some might even argue that the demands of this process have reached a level that has taken the ‘fun’ out of high school athletics.

Division One gym owner and Ar-

monk-based father Karl Pfistner under-stands the unique worries high school athletes face year-round. As a former athlete at the high school, collegiate and Arena Football levels, Pfistner was inspired to open a gym specializing in the type of training that enhances both a student’s athletic skills and their quality of life. He envisioned Division

One as a gym which would bring fun with training back into the workout, for students and adults alike.

“Good

time man-agement is such a vital part of a

well-rounded life for these student ath-letes so we focus on teaching them how to be more effective in their training sessions to better maximize their time,” Karl explains. “When a training routine is done properly a client is achieving the absolute best results as quickly as possible, leaving more time for other areas of daily life.”

To that end, Division One’s staff

includes a Nutritionist and Life Coach

to better serve his high school and adult clients with a true 360-degree approach to their health and well-being. As a trainer, Pfistner believes training methods for student athletes need to go beyond the physical workouts to address the mental toughness necessary for competition. He balances this focus with providing 40-yards of indoor field turf and creative, cutting-edge and workouts which promote positivity. He attributes the success of many of his former clients, who have gone on to compete at the collegiate level, to his unique approach.

High school athletes are certainly

at the prime age to push their bodies during training to discover new levels of potential but it should never come at the cost of happiness and balance dur-ing these key developmental years. As Pfistner watches his own children grow up within today’s competitive athletic climate, Karl continues to help athletes achieve this elusive balance–maximizing physical success and fun during their high school sports career.


H A P P E N I N G S Advertorial

PAYING FOR COLLEGE 101By Scott Kahan

As a financial planner who has worked with many clients over the years figuring out how to pay for college, and as a parent who has sent two Greeley graduates to college, Janu-ary 1st was never a date to look forward to. Just the uttering of the term FAFSA will send many parents into a panic.

For high school seniors who will be enter-ing college in the fall of 2017, the quest for fi-nancial aid is beginning and FAFSA is a term you will get to know quickly.

What is the FAFSA?The short answer is that the Free Applica-

tion for Federal Student Aid forms, common-ly referred to as the FAFSA, are the forms that are filed each year to be eligible for financial aid. Many parents tell me that since their child will not be eligible for aid, they don’t need to bother with the forms. Assuming that you have saved enough for college and will not need to borrow money, then you may not need to file the forms. On the other hand, if you are like many families that will either need finan-cial aid and/or need to borrow, you will still need to file the FAFSA forms to be eligible for some of the loans offered for both parents and students.

Big Changes ComingThe main reason for the struggle each year

is that when you file the forms in January, you have not even filed your tax returns, let alone received your W-2’s, 1099’s and other finan-cial information needed from the prior year.

Beginning with the 2017-2018 college year, the FAFSA forms can now be filed as of October 1, 2016. The good news is that since this is a transition year, you will use your 2015 financial information. For those with re-turning students, you will again use your 2015 financial information that you used when you filed earlier this year. If this is the first time you file the FAFSA, you should already have all the financial information you will need from 2015.

Going forward, you will use the prior year information. For example, for the 2018-2019 school year, the forms will be filed starting October 1, 2017, using 2016 information.

Get started early and don’t panic!

Scott M. Kahan, is a Certified Financial Plan-ner® professional and President of Financial Asset Management Corpo-ration, a fee-only wealth management firm located at 26 South Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua. Call Scott Kahan at 914-238-8900

The Concert Across America to End Gun Violence From here in

New Castle, to the Beacon The-atre in Manhat-tan, to the Top

of the Standard in Los Angeles, and to Lola’s Trailer Park in Fort Worth, Texas, musicians are banding together for The Concert Across America to End Gun Violence on Sunday, Sept.25th.

•At Chappaqua’s First Congrega-

tional Church, Dave Bickler will be singing, Keith Robellard, Minister of Music at FCC will be playing, and other special guests will be perform-ing and speaking. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 4 p.m. at FCC, 210 Orchard Ridge Road.

•Producers of the main event at the

Beacon Theatre include: Live Nation New York; Jerry Foley, former director of “The Late Show with David Letter-

man”; John Rosenthal of SHV, and Donna Dees-Thomases, the founder of the Million Mom March, Mother's Day 2000--still the largest protest against gun violence in U.S. history.

•Woodlands Community Temple

in White Plains will host a participa-tory "Sing-In" from 4 p.m.-6 pm. Folk and contemporary song will be led by Cantors Ellen Dreskin and Jonathan Gordon, and other favorite singers: Kenny Green, Adam Hart, Ira and Julia Levin, Jenny Murphy and more. Free and open to the public. RSVP to wct.org/concertacrossamerica.

Spearheaded by Massachusetts-

based Stop Handgun Violence (SHV), Faiths United to Prevent Gun Vio-lence, and dozens of other organiza-tions committed to reducing gun violence, the concerts will feature a diverse array of artists performing at venues ranging from churches and school gymnasiums to honky-tonks and hotel rooftops. Artists are asked to perform at least one song that gives voice to the more than five million Americans who’ve been murdered by a firearm since the mass shooting at the University of Texas on Aug. 1, 1966.

Artists with pre-existing commit-

ments can still participate with a social media shout-out on their own Facebook fan pages and on their Twit-ter accounts using hashtags, #Concert-AcrossAmerica to #EndGunViolence

I’m inspired by the organizers for the Chappaqua concert, whose hard work has made the message from the Lower Hudson Valley loud and clear: we cannot wait one more day for commonsense gun safety meas-ures that are supported by the vast majority of Americans. I will contin-ue fighting in Congress to keep our families and communities safe. And together, we will win this fight.”

–Congresswoman Nita Lowey

In the Spirit of the 2016 Olympics!Cedar Man-

or Nursing & Rehabilitation Center resi-dents and staff celebrated the 2016 Olympics with an open-ing ceremony of their own on Cedar Lane in Ossining. The Therapeutic Recreation Department staged a festive indoor parade complete with patriotic torch. The health-care facility’s hallways echoed with fanfare and the Olympic anthem–Bugler’s Dream. Employees gladly joined in, showing their support by dressing in their favorite athletic attire. (L-R): Staci Hickey, Georgina Garcia, Catherine Carpenter, Lucille Lopez and Marilyn Hoermann.

On August 6th, Jodi’s Gym cel-ebrated Team U.S.A. Olympic Pride by hosting two hours of team building games, Olympic arts and crafts, gym-nastics (Olympic style!) and a yummy pizza dinner.

The children were invited to dress in red, white and blue; they enjoyed the excitement of the game with Jodi’s Gym teachers and staff.


By Stacey Pfeffer

At the end of a side street off of Old Route 22 in town, there’s a special place called Armonk Dance where chil-dren pirouette, plié and practice their latest hip-hop moves all in a warm, welcom-ing environment where the emphasis is on fun. Owner Cynthia D’Angelo envisioned opening a type of dance studio where anyone from Broadway-bound hopefuls to children with special needs can dance.

D’Angelo strives to make the studio “all inclusive.” Kids with Down syndrome or chil-dren with autism are included in classes and not segregated. “For us our mission state-ment is not just about the teams or medals on the wall, which I think can sometimes take over a school,” D’Angelo says. “Our philosophy is that all kids can dance. You don’t have to be the perfect height or the perfect weight.”

The dance studio has been in its cur-rent location for 13 years and houses

four spacious studios with sprung floors or multipurpose flooring to ensure the dancers’ safety and prevent injury. It also contains a dancewear boutique, which is open for students of the studio as well as the general

public. D’Angelo takes great pride in the fact that the chil-dren from her dance company also designed the murals on display on the studio walls. The space also features a large lobby, homework area, child’s play area and changing rooms and cubbies.

This past season D’Angelo’s studio had more than 600 dancers enrolled and had almost 100 classes to choose from with students ranging in age from three through 18. “I started dancing when I was nine because I was lazy,” laughs D’Angelo, who consid-ers herself a “late bloomer” in the dance world. Despite her late entry into dancing, D’Angelo excelled at ballet and trained with Judi Drozd of the Joffrey Ballet as a teenag-

er. D’Angelo trained addition-ally with the Boston Ballet, Walnut Hill of the Performing Arts and Jacobs Pillow 12 + 12 program, which toured in Russia.

As a student enrolled at the University of Missouri – Kansas City obtaining her fine arts degree, she began to study other forms of dance including hip-hop, contem-porary, flamenco and jazz. D’Angelo eventually became an adjunct professor of dance at the university. She later moved back to the East Coast and taught at Armonk Dance for more than a decade. She was offered the chance to buy the studio after its previous owners decided to relocate. Even as the studio’s owner, she still enjoys teaching sev-eral classes a week there.

D’Angelo ensures that her staff is top-notch and looks for them to have a

dance background or degree “so that they have the pedagogy of dance and understand anatomy and physiology so that we can build healthy dancers.” She also likes to hire local graduates of Manhattanville College in Purchase.

Her staff has obviously been very successful at honing the children’s tal-ents. The school boasts some notable alumni such as Lauryn Ciardullo, who is the swing/Jasmine understudy in Aladdin on Broadway. Another recent alumni was on the national tour of Evita. Although D’Angelo likes to keep the focus on fun in her studio, dancers who yearn for more practice time can join the company or competition team. Interested students can visit www.ar-monkdance.com for more information.

Stacey Pfeffer lives with her husband and three young children in Chappaqua. She has written for Inside Chappaqua, New York Family Magazine, Westchester Parent and Kveller.com.

Armonk Dance: Where Fancy Footwork is Fun

36 Inside Armonk September/October 201616 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2016

Evan’s Law Marks First

Big Step Toward Texting

& Driving ReformIt’s time we started taking the

distracted driving impairment as seriously as the drunk

driving impairment.

By Justin Ellick

When it comes to driv-ing, we can all agree that using your phone while behind the wheel is a no-go. Doing so clearly takes the driver’s attention and eyes away from the road. It’s something we know is unsafe, so why do most of us do it so regularly? The danger phone usage presents while driving is obvious enough to society that laws were put in place to prevent it, but those laws have quickly become outdated and most concerning is that those laws are near impossible to enforce.

With the way technol-ogy has progressed over the past five to ten years, phones are now so much more than just a way of communicating. Smart-phones have taken over the world, and as a result have taken over people’s lives. Most of us can’t go a 15-minute car ride without checking our Insta-gram or taking a Snapchat. The fact that most people can acknowledge this problem and yet are still offend-ers, should be enough of a red flag to pursue additional legal action regard-ing the issue.

After a ten-year decline in auto collisions mainly due to a decrease in drunk driving and better built cars,

road fatali-ties spiked up a staggering 8 percent in 2015. Driver distraction seems the most likely culprit but because po-lice are limited in how they can investigate –the prob-lem remains dramatically underreported and therefore, we remain far away from proper under-standing and far away from a viable solution.

Legislators and public health experts are fighting to change a distinctly modern behavior. One man at the forefront of this fight is Ben Lieber-man, a resident of Chappaqua, who knows all too well the problems and dangers phone use while driving presents. In June of 2011, Ben’s son Evan was asleep in the back of a car when the driver lost control. Evan, 19, ultimately passed away from the inju-ries he suffered in the crash. His father spent the next several months in a

civil lawsuit trying to retrieve phone records, which eventually showed that the driver, who claimed he had fallen asleep, was texting throughout the drive and moments before the crash. The collision happened in a dead cell area so the exact moment remains controversial.

This is where Ben learned there is very little police protocol in place to examine phones or phone records after a crash. He has been an advocate for driving safety ever since, and has been working tirelessly to get peoples’ hands off the phone and back on the wheel. As a result of this effort, Ben, his wife Debbie, and Deborah Becker (whose son was also a surviving pas-senger in the crash) have introduced legislation that would essentially start to treat distracted driving like drunken driving in New York State.

The bill, dubbed Evan’s Law in honor of Lieberman’s son, would give police officers at the scene of a crash roadside tech-nology similar to that of the Breathalyzer, allowing them to tap into any operating sys-tem in order to check for recent illegal activity on the device (as opposed to legal Bluetooth use) all while avoiding any content. Also, if a passenger were using the driver’s

phone, neither person would be penalized.

However, the legislation has raised concerns by privacy organizations. They suggest that phone records can be subpoenaed or a warrant can be ob-tained to examine the phone. Lieber-man understands the concerns but notes that, “Phone records only reveal texting and phone calls which would exclude so many popular activities like social media, selfies and even a com-mon email. Also, a warrant to examine the phone is far more difficult and time consuming to obtain than people

Ben Lieberman speaking at the introduction of Evan’s Law at the State Capitol in Albany. Behind him (left to right) are bi-partisan Bill Sponsors Senator Terrence Murphy (R-Westch-ester) and Assistant Assembly Speaker Felix Ortiz (D-Brooklyn) along with New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein.

September/October 2016 Inside Armonk 37September/October 2016 Inside Chappaqua 17

could ever imagine. It’s also important to note that a phone can be wiped to original ‘store settings’ long before a warrant arrives.”

“The legislation’s intent is to me-ticulously respect privacy by empha-sizing usage over content,” Lieberman continued, “There’s obviously going to be a kneejerk reaction from people that their phone is being looked at. We want to make sure people under-stand that such a device would only report how much you’re touching your cellphone, not what your touch-ing it for.”

The technology behind the legisla-tion has been nicknamed The Texta-lyzer. As for the company that would create such a device, Mr. Lieberman has teamed up with Cellebrite U.S.A., the mobile forensics company that has been reported to have cracked the San Bernardino terrorist’s IPhone when Apple was deadlocked with the FBI. Cellebrite has gone on record that they are confident they can develop the technology. The fact that a highly regarded tech company like Cellebrite vouched for the Textalyzer was huge for the Liebermans when it

came to getting politicians behind the bill.

Democratic assemblyman Félix Ortiz, who is a strong supporter and sponsor of Evan’s Law, said that the Textalyzer would not give officers access to the contents of any emails or texts. It would simply give them a way to catch distracted drivers. If a bill like Evan’s law becomes reality, people are going to be more afraid to put their hands on the cellphone,” concluded Ortiz.

In six short months, Ben and his wife Debbie have made tremendous strides in changing the perspective people have on texting and driving. By bringing Evan’s Law and the Tex-talyzer technology to the forefront, they’re forcing a conversation hoping that people will realize that not only is distracted driving a destructive behav-ior but also, that there is very little in place to deter this.

Distracted driving should be taken just as seriously as drunk driving. They are both dangerous, crippling,

and without a doubt a killer. But for some strange reason–phone usage is still socially acceptable. If we truly understood the scope of the damage, people would have more urgency. It’s time that distracting drivers are viewed with the same stigma as drunk drivers. Passing of Evan’s Law and the development of the Textalyzer are es-sential to that process.

Greeley grad Justin Ellick, a sopho-more Media and Communications Major at Ursinus College in Philadelphia, is an intern for Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk Magazines this summer.

Senator Terrence Murphy (R-Westchester) Speaking at July 26th Evan’s Team outing to detail progress on the legislation and efforts to curtail distracted driving.

Senator Terrence Murphy (R-Westchester) speaking at July 26th Evan’s Team outing to detail progress on the legislation and efforts to curtail distracted driving.


Please join us for an intimate evening withlegendary singer-songwriter Judy Collins, who willprovide audiences with a glimpse into her life asshe shares her story and touches upon alcoholism,

depression, the suicide of her son and her ownrecovery from a suicide attempt.

Proceeds from the event, which also features aspecial VIP reception with Collins, will benefit

MHA's vital mental health services.

AN EVENING OF CONVERSATION ANDSONG WITH LEGENDARY

SINGER-SONGWRITER

The Mental Health Association of Westchesterpresents

Thursday, October 13, 2016 at 7pmEmelin Theatre, Mamaroneck, NY

Call 9142657511 or visitwww.mhawestchester.orgfor information and tickets.

The Inside Press is a proud media partner for this upcoming fundraising event.


Where to go When

the Leaves Change

By Andrew Vitelli For many of us, this writer included,

the fall months are a little bittersweet. With summer over, we know that the refreshingly-moderate temperatures

mean winter is just around the corner. But one saving grace is the beauty of this region’s fall foliage. People come from throughout the U.S. to see the beautiful colors of the Hudson Valley and nearby Catskill Mountains, but Armonk residents can enjoy it without leaving town, or going just a short drive away. Here are a few of the many spots to go this season (the second week of October until the end of the month is usually best) before the leaves fall.

Wampus Brook Park and Betsy Sluder Nature Preserve

These are two places you can see the beauty of autumn without leaving the Town of North Castle. At Wam-

pus Brook Park, you can find a nice day to take advantage of the park’s gazebo and picnic grounds to relax and enjoy the scen-ery. At Betsy Sluder Nature Preserve, located off Old Route 22, you’ll be able to take a walk through the woods to take in the beauty which sur-rounds you.

Rockefeller State Park Preserve

Just a 20-minute drive from Armonk, Rockefeller features 1,600 acres of wood-lands, wetlands and

waterways, made even more beautiful in the fall. Originally purchased by John D. Rockefeller in 1893, the park was deeded to New York State 33 years

ago. You can walk along the 55 miles of carriage roads and enjoy the nature all around. The park is open every day from 7 a.m. to sunset, with a $6 park-ing fee.

Hiking in Cold SpringSo this requires a little bit of a drive

–about 45 minutes. But if you’re the hiking type, a trip up to the Hud-son Highlands is a must. One of our favorite hikes, Anthony’s Nose, offers a great view of the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Hudson River and the highlands surrounding it. A slightly tougher hike is Breakneck Ridge, a few miles north, which will also give you breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley.

Kensico Dam Plaza and Cranberry Lake Preserve

A county park, Valhalla’s Kensico Dam Plaza offers not just views of the dam but of the reservoir and the na-ture around it. The plaza is also perfect for picnicking or anything else requir-ing large, open spaces. If you want to get a little bit into the woods, the plaza is a short drive from Cranberry Lake Preserve, another county park where trees line the edge of the water above the Kensico Reservoir.

Westmoreland Sanctuary

In our last issue, we ran an article on Westmoreland Sanctuary, a 640-acre preserve located on the border of three towns including North Castle. If you didn’t get a chance to make it over there this summer, make sure to get there this fall. Especially beautiful this season is the “Lost Pond,” with the leaves reflecting off the water.

Andrew Vitelli is a Westchester native and editor of Inside Armonk Magazine.

Photos Courtesy of Rockefeller Preserve


E T C E T E R A

8 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2016

I N S I D E T H O U G H T S

By Dana Y. Wu

The mountain-top Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto is dedicated to Dai-zui-gu Bo-sat-su, the mother of Buddha. It is said that she can grant one’s wish, whatever it may be.

Hannah (my then 13 year-old daughter), my husband, Mike and I took off our shoes, paid our donation and started down the stairs under the temple–a “tun-nel” to remind us of the womb of a mother. The sign on the wall sim-ply said to hold onto the railing. It was made of round wooden ball–not a solid wood handrail, but like a string of prayer beads that swayed as we walked. Ap-parently, I hadn’t read the fine (Japanese!) print saying you’d better hold on because it was very, very dark inside…so dark, you couldn’t even see your hand in front of you.

I started to feel my heart pound. I suddenly wanted to bolt backwards and run out. I heard noises and smelled incense, and felt an intense wave of fear. I knew where I was, but I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath. I called out “Mike, I’m having a panic attack” and felt the blood rush from my head. There were a couple of turns to navi-gate, but my feet were stuck. My heart was pounding and I thought I’d pass out. I heard him say, “It’s okay.” I was having a flashback to the first World Trade Center bombing. I couldn’t breathe.

Back in 1993, I was on the 63rd floor when terrorists detonated a truck bomb in the basement garage of One World Trade Center. The power was knocked out immediately, so I just grabbed my purse from my desk

and ran out to the stairwells with my co-workers from the Port Authority of NY/NJ. We had to walk downstairs in darkness, with the smell of smoke and panic swirling as we evacuated the building. It was stop and go as we moved slowly down those stairs.

The stairwells were completely dark after a while–the emergency lights didn’t seem to be working, and we were proceeding down into increas-ingly smoky darkness. Somehow, my colleagues and I managed to get to the World Financial Center where the Red Cross had set up tables. We were covered in soot and dust–we didn’t even realize what we looked like until we reached daylight.

To this day, I can’t remember how I got home from work on February 26, 1993. It must have been cold, but I don’t think I even had my coat. At that point we didn’t yet know that it had been a bomb or imagine that our world would be forever changed by that single act of violence.

So here I was in Kyoto, all these years later, paralyzed with fear in the womb of the female Bodhisattva. My hand gripped the swaying railing ball. I knew this was a memory triggered by the darkness and incense of the temple

“rebirth” but it also triggered some deep fear in me. Mike reassured me that we were coming to some light. “A few more steps.” Well, that’s what the firefighters said to us in 1993 on our way down those smoke-filled flights of stairs.

Near the end of the temple “tunnel,” there was a stone, rotating and bathed in light, on which is written the word “womb” in Sanskrit. I was grateful for the dim light, gasping up the stairs for air. The entire temple tunnel adventure was probably less than 10 minutes in duration. My own daughter was una-ware of my fearful “rebirth” during this sightseeing stop.

When the taxi dropped us off that morning at the Kiyomizu temple, I hadn’t expected to be transported

back 20 years to a memory that I had forgotten. I emerged from that temple experience with a visceral and physical reaction. In a world where we feel the constant threat of terrorism and gun violence, where in every corner of the globe there is disease, war and abuse, hunger and inequality, I was faced with my body’s own memory of how our life can be taken away in an instant.

What did I wish for when I reached that stone and the light? What would you wish for?

Dana Y. Wu, a Chappaqua mom of four, is an author, visual storyteller and local volunteer. Her not-for-profit manage-ment career includes experience at the New York Public Library. A life-long New Yorker, she graduated from Stuyvesant High School and Columbia University. She pursues her writing with the vibrant, creative community at the Jacob Burns Media Arts Center.

A Body’s Memory

The author’s husband and daughter, Mike and Hannah, in Japan in 2013

EXCLUSIVE VIEWS, EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, EXTRAORDINARY LIVING

The Ritz-Carlton Residences Westchester II offers luxurious penthouses-in-the-sky with service and amenities usually

reserved for Park Avenue. All of this in a leafy neighborhood of shops and dining that just a lucky few call ‘home.’

• Spacious 2,500 to 2,900 sq ft floor plans, starting at $1.9 million

• Endless amenities: 24/7 staff, fitness center, swimming pool, and more

• 146 guest bedrooms next door at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel

914. 946. 9200 | rcresidenceswestchester.com

The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton Westchester II, 5 Renaissance Square, White Plains, New York 10601. Marketing & Exclusive Sales Agent: Houlihan Lawrence, Inc. Sponsor: Renaissance Condominium partners II, 7 Renaissance Square, White Plains, New York 10601. The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from Sponsor: CD06-0794. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, II are not owned, developed or sold by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC. Renaissance Condominium Partners II uses the Ritz-Carlton marks under license from The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC. Models do not represent racial preference.

RESIDENTS RAVE ABOUT RITZ-CARLTON RESIDENCES

“We love living at The Ritz-Carlton Residences Westchester. It provides security and tranquility with awesome views.”

Carole and Bert Mitchell

“After living in our spacious home for 40 years, we became empty-nesters and moved to the Ritz-Carlton Residences. The amenities offer a five-star lifestyle.”

Monica and Edward Kaufman

“We are an active retired couple and enjoy traveling around the world. Living here is a dream come true — no hassles, no worries. We just enjoy life.”

In-aie and Edward Kang

“We’re thrilled with the living experience here. The amenities of the building and the attention to detail by the entire staff have lived up to our highest expectations.”

Alyce and Sanford Schwartz

“The services and amenities enhance our busy life. Our grandchildren can’t wait to visit us and play in the playroom, swim in the pool and dine in the lobby lounge.”

Monica Lavin and Rick Ross

“We love our apartment with its beautiful views, the terrific staff, the services and amenities and the convenient location. Living here has exceeded our expectations.”

Dana and Randi Wiston

Documents

Find us on Armonk Cider and Donut …...Coming to Town on September 24 and 25 Armonk Cider and Donut Festival/Jamie’s 5K Run for Love, Sept. 18 Sept/Oct 2016 Find us on Inside the