The Inside Press

Michael J. Schiliro, Leading Armonk into the Future

March 6, 2016 by The Inside Press

Supervisor Michael J. Schiliro

Age: 51

Party: Democrat

Supervisor since: 2014

Town Board since: 2008

Current term ends: 2017

Profession: Banker

Previous Political Office: Councilman 2008-2013

Wife: Lori

Daughters: Paulina, 20; Emma, 17; Gina, 11.

Pets: Two dogs, Rudy and Cosmo

Goals in Office
Macro: Leave the Town better than when he started.
Micro: Provide residents with honest, transparent, fair, and apolitical representation with integrity, and always strive to improve the quality of life in our Town. Listen to residents and be accessible. “There is no purer form of government than local municipalities.”

Mets or Yankees? Mets!

By Deborah Raider Notis

Photos by Cathy Pinsky

From the Miller House, which headquartered George Washington during the Battle of White Plains, to Smith’s Tavern, which housed travelers for over 200 years, North Castle is a thriving town with a rich history. Over the past few years, North Castle, and most notably Armonk, experienced a bold revitalization. Building this enticing new hub required time and teamwork, much of which was led by Town Supervisor Michael J. Schiliro. Yet, as North Castle continues to grow, Schiliro impresses, “We need to move forward, but we cannot forget this town’s legacies.”

Schiliro, who was elected to the position of Town Supervisor in 2013, feels that Armonk was well-planned out in a very methodical way. And while downtown Armonk was substantially developed over the past few years, the town was careful not to overbuild or overgrow. “When I moved to Armonk, people constantly said how different it was from a decade earlier,” Schiliro said. “We have just continued with that growth.”

Supervisor Schiliro (second from left) leads a North Castle Town Board meeting.

Schiliro has been intrinsically involved in town politics, planning, and volunteering since he moved here 17 years ago, when his oldest daughter was three years old. He and his wife raised their three daughters and two dogs in Armonk, in a house that is walking distance from town. He was a founding member of North Castle Citizen Core Council (NC4), a group of North Castle resident-volunteers that was formed in 2003 to assist and protect residents in the event of an emergency. Amongst the many altruistic efforts of NC4, Schiliro and his fellow volunteers at NC4 were responsible for setting up round-the-clock shelter for North Castle residents during Hurricane Sandy. He also served on the North Castle Town Board for more than five years before being elected Town Supervisor of Armonk.

As Town Supervisor, Schiliro is the leader of the Town Board, and essentially, the Chief Executive and Financial Officer of North Castle. He works closely with the newly appointed Town Administrator Joan Goldberg, who is North Castle’s Chief Operating Officer, meeting with her weekly. He meets with town supervisors throughout Westchester County monthly. And the buck stops with him for all budget, zoning, code, and planning decisions. But Schiliro credits the North Castle Town Board with working as a cohesive team on all decisions that impact the area. He is particularly careful about making any major changes in the small business area. “I started out as a member of the North Castle Town Board, and I know the importance of working together as a team and keeping the best interests of the town first.”

Supervisor Schiliro with his dogs, Rudy (L) and Cosmo

Schiliro is particularly careful about making any drastic changes in downtown Armonk. He is exceptionally aware of zoning requirements and served on the Town Board when the middle income housing program was being implemented in Armonk. He is now working with Westchester County to contribute an adequate number of affordable housing units in Armonk. “We always had middle income units, now we are building affordable units. For this program, we are just following the rules,” states Schiliro. Armonk is building affordable housing units in Brynwood, on the old lumber yard, and on Old Route 22, amongst other places.

Building up the town without overdeveloping has been a primary mission for Schiliro, who hopes to create a Vision Committee comprising entrepreneurs, financial experts, and professional firms. When he joined the Town Board, Schiliro played a key role in turning around North Castle’s finances. He helped to make sure that North Castle restored its AAA Moody’s rating, which they lost in 2008. He also helped to re-envision the town’s finances and budget. Today, the North Castle budget is over eight million dollars, up from $800,000 in 2008. Schiliro also worked to put checks in place to prevent future budget crises.

Supervisor Schiliro with Con dential Secretary Mindy Berard

Building up downtown Armonk and opening up Armonk Square was a proud accomplishment for Schiliro, who likes to think of Armonk as a walkable town. Making it a reality required a significant amount of collaboration by residents and town department heads, but the results were well worth the work. “Armonk Square has brought so much life into Armonk. People in other towns talk about it, it’s won awards, and it has drawn people here to visit and dine,” effuses Schiliro, who enjoys doing occasional restaurant “crawls” to get a flavor of the many different and lively restaurants in town. The new development has also made Armonk an even more desirable place to live, as people particularly appreciate the liveliness and accessibility of the town.

Schiliro is hoping to make the same positive changes throughout the rest of North Castle as well. As the Town Board reviews and updates North Castle’s comprehensive plan, Schiliro is hoping to revive commerce in Banksville and tweak the North White Plains business district to enhance profitability. “Banksville is a very rural area that used to have a small but thriving downtown area. I would like to see that area revitalized,” notes Schiliro.

With so much happening throughout North Castle today, Schiliro continues to acknowledge the past. He takes time at every board meeting to acknowledge a past board as well as individual citizens who contributed to the town. Every meeting has “Dori time,” a moment to note positive events in North Castle and named for Town Historian Doris Watson. “A town like this is only as great as the people who put time into it, and all of these people have so much value and historical significance because they helped create what is here today.” Like his predecessors, Schiliro will most definitely be remembered as someone who contributed to North Castle’s growth and prosperity.

Deborah Raider Notis is a writer and co-owner of gamechanger, LLC, a free referral service connecting Westchester families to highly qualified, competitively priced instructors. She lives in Pleasantville with her husband, four boys, and their dog Oscar.

Five Things to Do in Armonk This Spring

March 6, 2016 by The Inside Press

Wampus Brook Park is the perfect location for a picnic this spring.

By Andrew Vitelli

Get outside.

We won’t hold it against you if you spent the winter avoiding the cold outdoors at all costs, but with spring almost here there’s no excuse for not taking advantage of Armonk’s beautiful parks and magnificent nature. First, make the most of the spring weather with a hike at the Betsy Sluder Nature Preserve off Old Route 22. “It’s undisturbed nature,” explained North Castle Recreation and Parks Superintendent Matt Trainor. “So we go in there and clear out debris if we have to, but all in all you’re really just going in there to take a walk and take in the scenery.” If lounging in the sun is your goal, Wampus Pond is the perfect spot. “We just had our brand new Gazebo put up over there,” Trainor said. “So when it gets warmer it’s a great place for a picnic.” After Memorial Day, rowboat rentals are available. If your goal is to play some ball this spring, the John A. Lombardi Park and IBM Community Park in Armonk are your best bets.

Learn about the town’s history.

If you’ve never been to Smith’s Tavern, it’s a great place to start. Built early in the 18th century, Smith’s Tavern was nearly burnt to the ground by British forces during the Revolutionary War. It was successfully defended by local Patriot militias, and has withstood all the changes of the 240 years since.

Tours of historic Smith’s Tavern begin in April.

“A portion of Smith’s Tavern predates the American revolution,” said North Castle Town Co-Historian Sharon Tomback. “Patriot forces marched in what is now the parking lot. French troops marched right in front of the Tavern, down Route 22.” The site also gives children an opportunity to see how previous generations lived, Tomback explained. “There was no pizza or deli or grocery. Where did those families get their food? There was no electricity–no cable stations, no internet, no electric lights. What did they do? There was no shopping mall. How did they get their clothes and shoes?” Tours of the site begin in April. Other historical sites worth visiting include the Bedford Road Historic District, The Middle Patent Rural Cemetery on Bedford-Banksville Road, and the Elijah Miller House in North White Plains.

See a show.

Forget about Broadway; you don’t need to leave the Hamlet to enjoy great theater. For example, The Armonk Players recently performed a reading of One Night With Fanny Brice. The Small Town Theatre’s The Other Side of Now, a series of six short comedies written by Westchester residents, is playing March 12 and 13. Small Town Theatre will also be performing a staged reading of Lanford Wilson’s Talley’s Folly on April 15, 16, 22 and 23. Next, Hudson Stage Company will perform Rajiv Joseph’s Animals Out of Paper. In May, see the on-stage stars of tomorrow in Lighthouse Youth Theatre’s production of Urinetown, which will be performed May 20 and 21.

Join the Easter Egg Hunt.

The Town of North Castle hosts two of the biggest Easter Egg Hunts, both free and held on March 19, the week before Easter Sunday. The first, at 10:30 a.m., is held at Armonk’s IBM Community Park while the second, at 12:30 p.m., is held at Clove Road Community Center in North White Plains. More than 7,000 toy eggs will be hidden in each location, and last year the events drew close to 400 children each. “When we give the signal, when we say go, all the kids can run into those areas and grab the eggs,” Trainor, the Recreation Director, explained. The events are geared for children between kindergarten and fifth grade, and eggs will contain toys, treats or prize tickets.

Take a Class.

It’s always a good time to learn something new, and the Armonk and North White Plains libraries hold a number of classes for children and adults. On the schedule for March and April are classes in Italian language and culture, world history, art and Tai Chi in Armonk and English, Yoga and Mah Jongg in North White Plains. For children, classes range from Gaming and Lego Club (Armonk) to Crafts and No-bake Cooking (North White Plains). For a complete class schedule, visit the libraries or visit northcastlelibrary.org.

A Westchester native, Andrew is guest editor of Inside Armonk magazine.

Pets Make a House a Home

March 6, 2016 by The Inside Press

Kristen Rice, Executive Director of Adopt-A-Dog, a pet rescue, shelter and adoption agency in Armonk, with Petey, one of the dogs currently available for adoption. — Kristen Rice, Executive Director of Adopt-A-Dog, a pet rescue, shelter and adoption agency in Armonk,
with Petey, one of the dogs currently available for adoption.

Article and Photos by Marianne A. Campolongo

Nothing is better after a long day at work or school than coming home to a pet at your door. Whether it’s a dog wagging her tail and waiting to join you on a walk outside or a cat purring as he rubs against your legs waiting for you to pick him up, when you have a pet, coming home is always a treat.

Whether you have a dog or a cat, exotic fish or birds, or some other creature, your home is never empty when you have a pet.

Pet ownership has “a number of benefits,” according to Dr. Mary Padilla, a veterinarian who has owned North Castle Veterinary Hospital in Armonk for more than 30 years. “For some people, it’s companionship; for some people, it’s structure. It’s an easy relationship. There is not as much emotional stuff going on. It can be an undemanding, non-judgmental situation,” she said.

She said that pets are great for children as they both tend to be more “in the moment.” She added, with a laugh, “It’s someone else to blame when something is broken.”

Dr. Padilla said, “Research has been done about the benefits of touch. For some people, it’s the only contact that they have,” she added, stressing that the calming aspects of touch provide both physical and emotional benefits for those of all ages.

“We are an animal ourselves. They [pets] make a family complete.” –Jim Dempsey

Besides treating all kinds of animals in her daily veterinary practice, Dr. Padilla has a small menagerie at home. In addition to two cats, DD and Ludie, she has a small flock of finches in a flight cage, a large piece of furniture filled with plants and birds. It allows them to really stretch their wings. “Birds are social. They like to be with other birds,” she said. Adding to the mix, her husband has two large tanks filled with tropical fish.

Kristen Rice is the Executive Director of Adopt-A-Dog, a non-profit rescue and animal shelter that began in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1981, but has been housed in Armonk since 2002. Though the shelter has housed and found homes for cats as well as dogs in the past, it is currently home to about 35 dogs of all ages seeking homes. “I’m very blessed to have a job I don’t dread going to. I love my work, being around dogs and people who love dogs too,” she said.

Owning a pet “is an opportunity for parents to teach their kids about being kind and respectful, being able to enjoy the presence of someone else in the world,” Rice said. Echoing Dr. Padilla she continued, “There’s no judgment, just natural play. They have a lot of fun together and they’re also buddies.”

Rice has three senior dogs, ages 14-17, that she adopted from the shelter: Kirby, Jillian, and Rusty.

Tyler Zuckerman owns Pleasant Grooming of Armonk with his father, Stu. His dog Nike, a Golden Retriever, comes to work with him each day, greeting customers and acting as the store’s mascot. In addition to grooming, they sell accessories, run a dog training school, a doggie day care, and also connect customers with dog breeders to help them find the right pet. His father has a Cockapoo which he rescued eight years ago. All-in-all, Tyler has had nine dogs over the years, one of whom used to pick him up from the bus stop. “It was a good thing growing up with dogs,” he said. Despite taking Claritin daily due to an allergy to dogs, he wouldn’t be without one in his life.

Armonk resident Jim Dempsey is the editor and publisher of Pet Gazette, a pet magazine he and his wife have published in Armonk since 1998. They now publish four editions of the magazine in Westchester, Long Island, Fairfield, and New York City.

Dempsey said that bringing a pet into your home “is a connection to the natural world. We share the earth with them. We are an animal ourselves. They make a family complete. I’ll never forget watching my cat give birth. I was probably eight years old. Wow! That taught me more about life. That’s just unbelievable. Having a pet in a family allows a family to understand caring for something other than themselves. For a child to understand that in life, it’s important. Especially these days, a pet forces you to put that technology down.” Currently, Dempsey gets his pet fix by playing with a neighbor’s dog. “I just lost the best dog I ever had,” he said. “I’ve had every pet–birds, cats, dogs, bunnies.” He is considering getting a pair of Great Danes, but needs time to mourn the loss of his dog. Pets truly become a member of the family, and their loss can be difficult due to the depth of the bond between human and pet.

This bond is one of the great benefits of bringing a pet into your home. “The beautiful thing about Great Danes–they have a short lifespan–I’m 60 now so since we’re in a transition period I’m thinking about how long I’ll be able to chase after a dog,” said Dempsey.

Dempsey, Rice, and Zuckerman all stressed that people need to think about finding pets that are suitable for their stage in life, their children’s ages, and temperaments. “Because I work so much, having older dogs is good,” said Rice. They sleep all day and just need a shorter walk. I can give them a nice quiet place to spend their golden years. For my lifestyle an older dog is great. If I had kids and was home more, I’d look into a younger dog.”

Adopt-A-Dog always aims to have a mix of dogs of all ages, Rice said, to meet the needs of those looking to adopt. Zuckerman said, “We locate dogs for people from various breeders around the country. Do they have kids, how many, are they active, do the kids have allergies? There’s a lot of different things to look into. They become part of the family.”

When you bring an animal home, said Rice, you will receive “a lifetime of unconditional love. The companionship is unparalleled in my opinion. It’s not just a pet, it’s a member of your family. For me coming home to my dogs makes me happy. It’s just an amazing experience. Overall the experience is just one of happiness.”

Marianne Campolongo is a freelance writer and photographer from Chappaqua. She has had six cats, two dogs and a variety of fish in her life. Having recently lost two cats after 14 years, she gets her pet fix enjoying her daughter’s two new kittens. Visit campyphotos.com.

Byram Hills Senior Discovers Planet 119 Light-Years Away

March 6, 2016 by The Inside Press

Byram Hills student Dominick Rowan was a nalist in the 2015 Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology, presenting his research to a panel in Washington, D.C.

By Brian Donnelly

Are we alone in the universe?

It’s a profound question that has inspired countless science fiction thrillers, star gazers and, of course, 17-year-old Dominick Rowan to discover a planet 119 light-years away. “Exoplanet detection is kind of on the forefront of astronomy research,” he said, explaining that an exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star other than the sun.

Yes, this Byram Hills High School senior and Authentic Science Research Program standout is on the forefront of the forefront; a place that, unlike space, is particularly finite. “It’s kind of a little outside my grasp sometimes to think that, ‘Wow, there’s astrophysicists all over the world looking for planets and I just happened to find one,'” he said, his self-assured tone contradicting his overall youthful sentiment. “In that sense it was a happy accident.”

Intellectual Integrity Wins

Accident or not, it’s impressive. Just ask his teachers. “He’s confirmed my belief that age is not a limitation in accomplishment and that hard work and intellectual integrity win out over almost everything,” said David Keith, director of Byram Hills High School’s Authentic Science Research Program. “Here’s a kid who for all intents and purposes shouldn’t be able to do this level of work at his age, and he did; and he does.”

The program is a three-year science elective course in which students pick a topic, identify and work with a mentor in a related field and produce an original piece of research. The model has caught on in high schools across the country in the last decade, but Byram Hills High School was way out in front, launching its program in 1989.

“This is one of the very first organized science research programs,” Keith touted, “and after it became accredited by the State University of New York well over 100 districts adopted this curriculum. So, while everybody adds their own flavor and changes it to suite their district’s needs, a lot of the schools started it based on the idea put forth by Dr. [Robert] Pavlica. it was an ingenious concept.”

Pavlica founded the program with just one student and used the methods he learned as a Ph.D. candidate in biochemistry at St. John’s University to structure the program, according to a 2001 New York Times article. In its 27-year history the program has produced 96 semifinalists and 18 finalists in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search. That includes five semi-finalists this year: Sela Berenblum, Kevin Chang, Lyndsay Siegle, Sarah Tang and, of course, Rowan. He was also a finalist in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology in late 2015 and presented his research to a panel in Washington D.C. Both competitions offer scholarship money to finalists.

Keith became director of the program, named for its founder, in 2005. Since then, the program has doubled in size with 100 students participating this year. “One of the goals of this kind of program is that, if you’re successful, by the end you’re teaching your teachers,” he said. “That’s a very compelling idea for a student… How wonderful is it to be 17 years old and be able to say, ‘I know more than my teachers about this subject and maybe for a brief moment I was the only person in the world who knew something; who had discovered something.”

When students enter high school they can apply for the program, a process that differs by school district. “We actually have been somewhat unique in that we never consider a student’s grade performance as a final indicator as to whether they qualify or not,” said Keith, who is certified to teach physics and earth science. “It’s really up to the student to engage their own passion in science.” He continued, “For Dominick he came in already having a very strong passion for astronomy. He knew that he loved the physical sciences so he was an easy student to facilitate.”

In his sophomore year while searching through some suggested topics, Rowan came across articles on exoplanet research. “It wasn’t really a lot of work,” he said. “It was more of exploring an interest.” The more he dug up on the topic the more sophisticated his project became. “I wanted to look at planets’ habitability to see if planets would be suitable for life as it is on ours,” he said.

To do that he used statistical analysis to identify planets similar to Jupiter in other solar systems. In the formation of this solar system Jupiter’s migration towards the sun and then back out into its position presently served as a vacuum cleaner and got rid of a lot of debris that could’ve impacted and destroyed the earth, Keith said. Rowan added that discovering how common that is in other solar systems can help determine how common earth-like planets would be and, therefore, how common life is.

One day he noticed a Jupiter-like planet that hadn’t been referenced previously. “The numbers weren’t lying to me,” he recalled. The planet hunter brought the discovery to his mentor, who confirmed it.

“I love the fact that this lucky accident happened to him,” Rowan’s biology teacher, Stephanie Greenwald, said of his discovery. “He is such a humble, endearing young man and was genuinely excited every step of the way.”

For his contribution, Rowan’s mentor, Dr. Stefano Meschiari, made him lead author on the research paper, which was published in late January in The Astrophysical Journal.

“To me it’s not about the age, it’s about the research,” he said, expressing a hope that their research will help further research on the commonality of other solar systems. “Because I think that anyone in my position, anyone who has access to the science research program could have utilized their tools in the same way I could have. And a bunch of students are with other projects.”

In addition to the other four Intel semi-finalists, seniors Brian Singer and Ryan Infante are two more examples of that success. They are two of the four finalists in the country for the American Academy of Neurology Neuroscience Research Prize.

Byram Hills seniors (left to right) Dominick Rowan, Lyndsay Sie- gle, Sarah Tang, Sela Berenblum and Kevin Chang, were named Intel Search seminalists.

“I think the spreading of science research as a curriculum like this to as many schools as possible, even though it may reduce the number of awards that we can get as one school, it’s just so right.” As for the Haverford College-bound Rowan, Keith said he is an “example of things going right in public education, and parenting.” While his planet has been labeled HD32963b–not his first choice–his father, Mike Rowan, seems to think he’ll get another crack at it someday.

“It looks like he’s found something that he’s really interested in and will put all his energy into it,” he said, supporting his son’s aspirations to become an astrophysicist. “And I’m sure he’ll make something out of it and in the end maybe he devotes his time to research and pursuing this and we find another solar system to live in.”

Brian Donnelly is a freelance reporter and public relations specialist. Born in Mamaroneck, he has lived in White Plains and Cortlandt Manor.

Spotlight on Armonk Chamber President Neal Schwartz

March 6, 2016 by The Inside Press

And his Efforts Devoted to Helping Local Businesses Thrive

Mr. Schwartz prepares for First ursdays. — Mr. Schwartz prepares for First Thursdays.

By Stacey Pfeffer

All the merchants and businesses in town seem to know Neal Schwartz, president of the Armonk Chamber of Commerce. He can be spotted at monthly Chamber meetings or patronizing a local coffee shop. What is it about this man who has changed the business landscape of Armonk? Inside Armonk got to sit down with Schwartz and hear how he hopes to make Armonk synonymous with fun while preserving town traditions that help local businesses flourish.

A Westchester native, Schwartz is the owner of College Planning of Westchester, an Armonk-based business that helps students locally and throughout the county with tutoring, ACT/SAT preparation and college counseling. He and his wife, Dr. Arlene Schwartz, an optometrist and owner of Hartsdale Family Eyecare, have lived in Chappaqua for the past 26 years with their three children. Neal Schwartz also heads up the Northern Westchester Business Network, which provides him additional experience in running a successful chamber.

Schwartz has been involved with the Chamber since opening his business in 2004. He clearly remembers one fateful meeting in 2010 as a turning point for the Chamber, which he said was about to disband until he volunteered to take on a leadership role as President. “It was a case of: If you’ll do it, I’ll do it.” Schwartz formed a fully operating board with four of his fellow Chamber members, knowing the importance of having a team in place that could take responsibility and implement changes to benefit the business community and town. In retrospect, “it was very cool because we didn’t know if the Chamber would continue but we [ultimately] decided we have to commit to this and to the town.”

Schwartz pulls out a photo from several years ago when the Chamber was in its infancy. “The only thing the chamber did consistently a few years ago was to have sidewalk sales. There was a brochure to recruit members and there was about one networking event a year. There was no central board or consistency over time. The website was primitive and did not have any potential to quickly communicate to members and the community,” recalls Schwartz.

Fast forward five years and the Chamber has evolved into a roughly 100-member-strong organization with a clear vision and updated website. “The Armonk Chamber of Commerce, under Neal’s direction as president, has dramatically upped its game,” noted Stacy Wilder, the membership liaison at the Armonk Chamber of Commerce. “We have brought in many new members and helped them connect with our community by sponsoring a number of successful events. First Thursdays, the Donut and Cider Festival/Jamie’s Race for Love and the Citizen of the Year outing/dinner give exposure to local businesses through sponsorships and participation, and bring consumers into Armonk.” In addition, the Chamber supports other widely anticipated events in Armonk such as the Frosty Day Parade and the Armonk Outdoor Art Show.

“One of the things I’ve learned along the way is that there are actually more Chamber members that are not on Armonk’s Main Street than there are on Main Street,” said Schwartz. While the town has several long-standing and well-established businesses on Main Street, there are a host of other service industries and small businesses located throughout the hamlet that are also quite essential to its commercial success.

As a local business owner, Schwartz knows firsthand how being a Chamber member has its benefits. When a plumbing emergency faced his business one morning, he knew exactly who to call –another Chamber member, who gave him a referral for a plumber, who fixed the problem immediately, allowing Schwartz to continue business as usual that afternoon. Schwartz could have checked Angie’s List or another website, but Chamber members provide a valuable trusted support network and often refer other Chamber members for services ranging from painting to plumbing to landscaping. Similarly, at a Chamber meeting, another member had a friend in Glastonbury, Conn. looking for college counseling for their child. Although Schwartz’s business serves primarily Byram Hills and other Westchester-based high school students, his company helped that student with Skype and other online tools. “When you are part of the Chamber, you are ‘in the know’ and we can truly help each other’s businesses grow.”

The Schwartz Family (L-R): Stacie, Jodi, Arlene, Zachary & Neal

“I joined the Armonk Chamber of Commerce three years ago and was immediately made to feel very welcome,” said Gordon Josey, the owner and director of Breezemont Day Camp. “It’s amazing how much work Neal and the board does to make the Chamber work. He leads in not a self-serving way but looks out for what is best for Armonk and its small business owners.”

Skip Beitzel, owner of Hickory & Tweed, noted, “Under Neal’s leadership, I feel like a Chamber groupie. Neal has helped pull together a core group of volunteers that affect a lot of things for many merchants and small businesses here in Armonk. We finally have a reason for being.”

“The Chamber has been so supportive of me,” said Connie Petrovich, owner of Armonk House Restaurant. “Their members were checking on me during construction and once I opened. We’ve even had a monthly Chamber meeting at my restaurant.”

Race participants at the 2015 Cider and Donut Festival

One of Schwartz’s main goals as Chamber President is to draw customers to town and ensure Armonk is a place where families can shop locally and have fun. With the opening of
Armonk Square, Schwartz and the Chamber decided to create First Thursdays, offering art, music, in-store promotions, dining and wine tastings in downtown Armonk that occurred the first Thursday evening of each month from June through September. “Each month we learned something about how to improve the event the following month.” The event was so successful and well-received that the Chamber will expand it to five Thursdays this summer spanning from May to September.

Schwartz is keenly aware of Armonk’s heritage and what makes the town unique. “Years ago there was a cider mill on Old Route 22 that people throughout Westchester and even New York City would come to for decades with their children to taste doughnuts and drink cider. We wanted to create another event that was fun for the family so we decided to have a Donut and Cider Festival in the fall.” The festival is now combined with Jamie’s 5K “Run for Love,” a race that is held in memory of Jamie Love, a Byram Hills cross country student who passed away while studying at the University of Vermont of an undetected heart ailment. The number of race participants has increased in recent years and spectators and residents alike enjoy the donuts and cider post-race.

Another Chamber event that has grown in popularity is the Armonk Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Golf Outing and Dinner at Whippoorwill Club. “The event used to be a golf outing exclusively for Chamber members but we [the Chamber] decided to start honoring an individual who has a long-standing commitment to the betterment and enrichment of the community and open up the event to the public,” Schwartz explained. “This year’s honoree is interior designer Susan Geffen, who has been instrumental in bringing theater to the North Castle library, the planning of the Armonk Outdoor Art Show and serving on numerous town boards.” The 2016 event is scheduled to take place on May 23.

Jamie’s Race for Love 2015 participants line up for donuts at the Cider and Donut Festival.

One of the highlights of the town is the annual Frosty Day parade. Schwartz reminisces, “During a Chamber meeting, one of our members mentioned that the ‘Frosty the Snowman’ songwriter was from Armonk. We brainstormed and nurtured the Frosty Day idea.” Although a separate group, Friends of Frosty, organizes the event now, the Chamber first brought the idea to fruition and still supports it. “The greatest thing about Frosty is that I was walking in Armonk Square at a First Thursday event this past summer and this dad goes to his child, ‘That’s where we stood for the parade.’ Want to talk about a local hometown memory?”

Echoing Schwartz’s comments about making memories, Wilder adds, “The Chamber aims to create memories so that people will continue to come back and keep their shopping and services local.” With Schwartz’s leadership and the Chamber hard at work with the business community, look out for more memory-making in Armonk on the horizon.

Stacey Pfeffer lives with her husband and three young children in Chappaqua. While she loves shopping in her hometown, she can often be seen frequenting stores in neighboring Armonk.

The Inside Press

Michael J. Schiliro, Leading Armonk into the Future