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Armonk Cover Stories

The History behind the Hamlet

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A look at back at the changing face of downtown Armonk: Photos were taken from a similar vantage point looking south from the corner of Main Street and Maple Avenue; both courtesy of the Westchester Historical Society. Photo, circa 1900.
A look at back at the changing face of downtown Armonk: Photos were taken from a similar vantage point looking south from the corner of Main Street and Maple Avenue; both courtesy of the Westchester Historical Society. Photo, circa 1900.

By Sarah Ellen Rindsberg

The roots of the tree that is Armonk run deep. Traces of ancestors pervade every aspect of the community and are gratefully embraced. Today’s inhabitants reside in some of the very structures occupied by their predecessors and the town’s children are schooled in the way it was, long before their arrival.

The first glimpse into the history of the area is visible in the names of Armonk and the Town of North Castle. Both monikers are derived from words used to denote places by the Native Americans known as the Siwanoys. Armonk, which means “the fishing place between the hills,” was founded in 1842, and is based on Armonck, the name conferred by the Siwanoys on the Byram River. The Siwanoys constructed a fort on top of the hill where IBM presides today. As settlers in lower Westchester gazed to the north they saw a castle-like structure and dubbed the area 
North Castle.

The Town of North Castle was founded by Quakers in 1736. Their original meeting house, built in 1791, still stands. “It’s a magnificent building,” Ed Woodyard relates. Woodyard, an Armonk resident who is particularly enthusiastic about recounting historical facts and anecdotes, is a vice president of the Town of North Castle Historical Society. He goes on to describe the dowels still present in the structure and the sliding door of yesteryear, used to separate men and women during prayer.

The Historical Society is an active organization in town. It is open for tours on Wednesday and Sunday and invites students from the Valhalla and Byram Hills school districts periodically. By learning about candle making, butter, herbs, blacksmithing and playing colonial games, they acquire “a hands-on idea of what life was like 250 years ago.”

In addition, the Historical Society is working in conjunction with the North Castle Public Library on a project to digitize historic newspapers. These will become a valuable resource for historians of today 
and tomorrow.

Town Historian Doris Finch Watson highlights an important structure across from the library. “It was a school, used for many years, by 
many who still live in Armonk,” she relates. This building, the former Whippoorwill School, is now an apartment building.

Woodyard is also president of a group whose mission is to “restore and resurrect” the Elijah Miller house. This building’s claim to fame is that it served as Washington’s headquarters during the Battle of White Plains.

Photo, circa 1950.
Photo, circa 1950.

An interesting story lies behind the site of IBM’s worldwide headquarters in Armonk. In 1947, the land was being considered by the U.N. as a location for its new home. Woodyard surmises that the lack of a train line nearby may have served as a deterrent. IBM’s founder, Thomas J. Watson, started building the offices in 1951.

Today, IBM is considered 
“a benevolent friend, [having] helped fund the restoration of Smith’s Tavern which dates back to 1691.” The meeting room inside the tavern–the Historical Society’s home–is “where our town fathers met in the colonial and post colonial era.”

Woodyard, a resident since 1987, fondly recalls a former town tradition–that of community luncheon. During every presidential election, townspeople would come into town to vote, and then proceed to the Methodist church to have a memorable meal which included homemade chowder, bread, pies and cakes. This began in 1860 during Lincoln’s victory and was discontinued after George Bush’s election.

Suddenly the name of Anne Hutchinson pops up in a recent conversation with Woodyard. This ardent female was “banished by the Puritans in Boston because of her radical views,” Woodward recounts. And guess where she sought refuge: in a cave, known as Anne Hutchinson’s cave, on Pond Lane in Windmill Farm.

Sarah Ellen Rindsberg enjoys gaining a wealth of historical knowledge about the hamlet of Armonk.

We Can Work it Out…How Fitness Fosters Friendship

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Kristen Levy (front, 3rd from left) among her friends from the Byram Hills High School tennis team.
Kristen Levy (front, 3rd from left) among her friends from the Byram Hills High School tennis team.

by Heather Skolnick

It’s been said that people make a town a community, and nowhere is this more evident than in the burgeoning town of Armonk. With new health and fitness businesses cropping up left and right, it’s easy to see that Armonk has become a community of people who are health conscious. And what better way to meet similar people with shared interests than being in a town that makes health and fitness readily available. So, as Olivia Newton-John would say, “Let’s Get Physical!”–while making new friends!

Armonk has a large gym facility under new ownership in town, a studio devoted to yoga, another to the barre method, a tennis club and an indoor sports facility–and that’s just naming a few. Meanwhile, greater North Castle offers a multitude of hiking and biking trails, as well as fishing options for the outdoor enthusiast. It’s easy to see that there are a lot of health and fitness choices for a relatively small hamlet of about 4,300 residents!

Whether a large gym or smaller specialty studio, workout facilities make it easy to meet people. New Armonk resident Randi Felton recalls that she met one of her closest friends at the gym. Randi says, “She noticed that I was pregnant and told me she was too. We talked each day about our pregnancies while doing Yoga and Pilates–and now our children have regular play dates together!” She recently joined Equinox in Armonk and has found that not only is she working on her fitness, but she’s connecting with other women in the community. Randi says, “In just a few weeks, I’ve become friendly with other women taking the same class. We not only live in the same town, but we also share common interests in staying healthy.”

The Town of North Castle Rec Center offers many fitness/athletic classes and is a popular option among residents. Armonk mom Megan Elkowitz enrolled her son in a soccer class through the Rec Center this past fall. While watching from the sideline, Megan developed a new friendship with another mom whom she now sees regularly. She says “The weekly soccer games gave me the opportunity to develop friendships with other parents who had really been only acquaintances before.” In fact, one of the moms coordinated a subsequent class for all the kids that had become friendly–now that’s friendship! Those that loved toddler soccer often progress into AYSO soccer, allowing friendships to flourish for children and parents.

Fitness and friendship start early for 2 ½ year old pals Benjamin Elkowitz (center), Samuel Milim (left) and Ryan Aizenstain (right); here in an Equinox Multi-Sports class with instructor Matt Spallina.
Fitness and friendship start early for 2 ½ year old pals Benjamin Elkowitz (center), Samuel Milim (left) and Ryan Aizenstain (right); here in an Equinox Multi-Sports class with instructor Matt Spallina.

Another popular fitness activity among local men is nighttime basketball games. Both relaxed pickup games and more structured, competitive leagues exist in Armonk. While most men know someone on the team when they join, many also find that they develop new friendships. In fact, Armonk resident and local orthopedist Dr. Stuart Elkowitz counts many of his teammates as good friends.

Some people have made truly forever friends while pursuing physical fitness. Cindy Shmerler Levy, a lifelong tennis player, has found incredible bonding through a shared love of the game, a passion for competition and pursuit of fitness. She says, “I have been playing tennis for more than 45 years. Some of my best friends in the world have, at some point, served as either partner or an opponent.

Three women who played on the college team with me at the University of Pennsylvania in the late seventies and early eighties now live in Westchester and you should see how competitive our so-called ‘social’ games can get. My Thursday morning game at Club Fit in Briarcliff has been around for more than a decade and we have all seen each other through births, deaths, surgeries (mostly knees!), high school graduations, illnesses and weddings.”

She continued, “My kids, Kristen and Max Levy, both grew up playing tennis in Armonk. They have made incredible, life-long friends even though their competitive careers ended at the high school level. Max, a senior at Byram Hills, played at the Armonk Tennis Academy for five years and counts his court-mates as some of his best friends; they laugh as hard as they compete and have learned life lessons that extend well beyond the white lines that define the courts.”

So not only is fitness good for 
the body, it turns out that it’s good for your social life too! With Spring’s welcome warm weather, there’s no time like the present to get out there, get some exercise and make some 
new friends!

Heather Skolnick, her husband Neal and their three children have been Westchester residents for seven years. Their favorite family fitness activity is taking advantage of the area trails with their dog Freddie. 

 

Learning at the Library

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The stately North Castle Public Library on Whippoorwill Road East.
The stately North Castle Public Library on Whippoorwill Road East.

By Sarah Ellen Rindsberg

The bastion of knowledge, commonly referred to as the library, in the Town of North Castle, is a beacon to one and all. As literary tastes change and technology develops, the library is constantly evolving. When tots need entertaining, young adults clamor for dystopian fiction and adults yearn to master a computer program, their needs are met at the library. To provide exemplary service to all residents in the Town of North Castle, there are two physical locations: the main one in Armonk and the second in North White Plains.

When Director Scott Jarzombek was in library school, the internet was entrenched in everyone’s lives and the demise of the very institutions he aspired to lead was predicted far and wide. He took the contrarian viewpoint and persevered, undeterred. Today he sits at the helm of an engaging place of learning. “It [the internet] made libraries that weren’t being used into vibrant centers [of] technology and technological instruction,” he observes.

Jarzombek points to a feature which renders libraries unique and appealing to all: “We’re the one educational institution in the community that’s open to the public, for all ages.” The vast array of programs offered is a testament to this philosophy. The following is a sampling of the classes and activities on the calendar in April: appointments with a NY State of Health Navigator–designed to examine options and demystify the Affordable Health Care Act, Bridge and Italian lessons, Defensive Driving classes, chair and family yoga.

The Children’s calendar is busy, too, with interactive programs that entertain and teach. One novel program, Play and Learn, helps parents “figure out their kids’ learning styles” says Jarzombek. Another class, Bounce the Baby, engages little ones through use of song, movement and story. The Miller family recently enjoyed a three-generation outing to just such a class led by part-time Children’s Librarian, L.J. Cox. Said Armonk native and grandmother Sandy Miller, “We started coming in September and have come every week since; Sofie (two years old) talks about L.J. all the time!”

Patron Kenneth Dinkel is a huge proponent of the library. He is on site every day, accompanied on a regular basis by his two children and his wife. “What the library is to the Dinkels is a home away from home, an extension of our home,” he says. His kids come after school to do their homework and take advantage of tutoring offered by teens. On Saturday mornings, he and his wife attend Tai Chi. They also enjoy the art history classes offered in the evening by Valerie Franco.

And yes, supplying reading material remains a top priority for the library. For nonfiction, Jarzombek is adamant that everyone should read “Command and Control” by Eric Schlosser. This tome describes the country’s nuclear arsenal. “A pretty relevant topic,” Jarzombek adds. In fiction, “The Goldfinch,” by Donna Tartt, is in high demand. For young adults, Jarzombek recommends the “Divergent” series by Veronica Roth, and for the younger set, “‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ still rules.Although many titles are available as e-books, Jarzombek finds that “digitally literate people often prefer to read a regular book.”

The Friends of the Library are extremely active. They fund all of the programs and are the driving force behind the ever popular theatrical group, known as The Armonk Players.

The latest additions to the library are a self-checkout unit and a section for new material. A co-working space, equipped with technological devices,
is being created for use by the public. Future plans include changes to the children’s room and teen services.

Bibliophile Sarah Ellen Rindsberg devoured a copy of Donna Tartt’s latest oeuvre from the library.

Celebrating the Men We Love

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John Sinon with daughter Samantha, sons Skylar (front) and Matteo, and wife Gina.
John Sinon with daughter Samantha, sons Skylar (front) and Matteo, and wife Gina.

by Miriam Longobardi

Every Father’s Day, I’d always select the “What is a father?” card. Inside, I’d find a list of fatherly attributes–patient, loving, dependable–all of which applied to my dad. He taught me qualities and family values that, as a single mother to daughters ages sixteen and fourteen, I strive daily to demonstrate.

My father was very involved in my girls’ lives from the moment they were born until he passed away last October. He and my mother went to all their games, dance recitals, concerts, plays and graduations. Ever since my oldest was three months old, my parents kindly helped me raise the girls by driving an hour to my home each morning, then caring for and staying with them until I returned home from work. 
I cannot imagine our lives under any other circumstances, and I am forever grateful that my daughters had that experience and relationship with 
their grandparents.

My dad was the embodiment of fatherhood and, as we approach our first Father’s Day without him, we treasure the many happy years we were blessed with him. I continue to hear his voice of reason in my head. And, despite our loss, we feel his loving presence constantly as we remember things that would have made him laugh.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to a few Armonk dads about their Father’s Day memories and traditions. Stewart Kovensky said that the most important thing on Father’s Day is being together, wherever that is. A favorite memory is when he and a friend, their sons and dogs went rock-climbing upstate. This trip was coordinated by Armonk resident Bobby Ferrari, whose company High Exposure Adventures organizes such rock-climbing tours. Although most years are more relaxed, he recalls that as a Father’s Day he will never forget.

John Sinon, Director of the CYO Program at Saint Patrick’s Church in Armonk, attributes his dedication to volunteering to his mother, whom he describes as his role model. “Seeing my mother volunteer regularly inspired me. The more [that] kids see their parents volunteer, the more likely they are to grow up and volunteer themselves,” he said. Sinon continues his mother’s tradition of giving back to the community by teaching the value of volunteering and service to his own three children and to the over two hundred twenty children that participate in the CYO basketball program annually. “CYO is not just basketball.

Stewart Kovensky pictured with his sons Ryan, Jack and Luke (L-R) and wife Nicole on a family ski vacation.
Stewart Kovensky pictured with his sons Ryan, Jack and Luke (L-R) and wife Nicole on a family ski vacation.

Teaching kids the importance of giving back helps them realize how fortunate they are,” he said. CYO kids participate in many fundraisers throughout the year, and there is a strong bond among their families. Sinon loves greeting families around town; families he never would have gotten to know well were it not for CYO. Family is important to Sinon, and his Father’s Day typically includes going to his brother-in-law’s for a family barbeque which is fun, relaxing and a great summer kick-off.

For the past nine years, John Walsh has coached a variety of sports, and is a positive role model for many children in Armonk. His coaching philosophy encourages kids to try a variety of sports and enjoy themselves. “These days there seems to be a lot of pressure for kids to pick a single sport around age ten and completely commit to it,” he said. “Some sports run twelve months leaving almost no opportunity to play another. My feeling is, let’s have fun and come back next year.” His wife Barb said it is John’s down-to-earth attitude that makes him approachable to kids. He feels it is important to give all kids equal playing time instead of focusing on playing stronger players solely for the purpose of winning. Around town, kids come up to him and call out “Hey, Coach!” giving him a warm feeling with which no winning score can compare.

John and Barb Walsh after apple-picking with their children Maggie and Jake.
John and Barb Walsh after apple-picking with their children Maggie and Jake.

John and Barb feel that family time together is what Father’s Day is all about. Their children, Jake, fourteen and Maggie, thirteen, look forward to making them breakfast in bed. The only change to this tradition over the years has been the sophistication of the food. Bagels and cream cheese have been replaced with dishes like eggs with bacon or fruit-filled pancakes. Just relaxing and enjoying one another’s company is what is most valued. Barb summed it up best saying, “Father’s Day is about being with dad and making him feel special and loved.”

Miriam Longobardi is a freelance writer, fourth grade teacher and single mother of two daughters living in Westchester. A breast cancer survivor, she volunteers for the American Cancer Society, has completed four marathons and travels the world. Follow her on Twitter@writerMimiLong.

The ABC’s of Educational Success in the Byram Hills School District

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Dr. William Donohue cites “coherent plans and leadership” as critical factors for the district’s educational success.
Dr. William Donohue cites “coherent plans and leadership” as critical factors for the district’s educational success.

by Vicki de Vries

Only the cognoscenti know that in 2006, H.C. Crittenden Middle School received the Blue Ribbon Award for its outstanding performance and effective programs, or that science students at Bryam Hills High School are consistent semi-finalists in Intel’s Science Talent Search. Not to mention the numerous awards in athletics, music and other areas of achievement.

Clearly, the Byram Hills Central School District must be doing “something right.” What’s its formula for educational success? To ferret out the answer, Inside Armonk interviewed some of the shakers and movers inside the educational enterprise.

Hail to the Chief

Dr. Bill Donohue, Superintendent of Schools for almost two years, and an administrator in the district’s school system since 1990, says, “Besides having students who are eager to learn, we have a winning chemistry of supportive parents who care about their children’s educational achievement and well-being. Combine that with smart, caring teachers who see each child as an individual and work hard to help that child develop individual talents.

“Another important formula to ensure success is to have coherent plans and leadership throughout grades K through 12. This means that the goals, values and priorities are the same at every school building. Also, we work hard to ensure that the curriculum builds logically from one grade to another. As a result, you will not hear our teachers say, ‘I have to re-teach my students the things they should have learned last year.’

“I am extremely proud to be able to say that Byram Hills strives to achieve excellence in every program we create for our students. We want all of our students, no matter their interest or ability, to realize their potential and goals to the fullest extent possible. One of the most exciting things an educator can experience is a student who discovers a new interest and runs with it. With our resources we are able to provide such opportunities in an array of areas from the arts to science research to computer programming.”

Donohue is also proud that “so many of our teachers go out of their way to provide ‘TLC.’ For example, when a student moves into our system, the teachers work closely with that student to help him or her acclimate, transfer their successes, and strengthen any areas of academic weakness. Likewise, when a student or family member is in crisis, we feel that parents can count on our staff to rally 
and respond.”

Breaking Down the Formula for 
Byram Hills’ Success

Coman Hill School
Coman Hill School

Now that we know Donohue’s special formula for educational success, what is the four principals’ take on it? As one would expect, they each interpreted it in a way that resonates with their individual schools and the kind of students they serve.

So, for example, Principal Peggy McInerney said, “At Coman Hill School, we’re committed to educating the whole child, not just academically but as a person. We’ve been focusing on the three pillars of learning behaviors: respect, responsibility, and safety. We’re helping our K-2 kids see these three topics in different contexts.”

Another type of formula that McInerney, teachers and staff rely upon deals with “the three C’s”–care, courage and compassion. Care refers to the need to listen to others, whether it’s children, parents, or colleagues. One needs courage to stay focused and resolute in achieving one’s goals whether they’re for the school, for the children, or for the teachers and staff. Compassion implies showing empathy and emotional support.

“Without these three C’s, McInerney said, “it is very difficult to acquire wisdom for dealing with all the situations that come up in the typical school day let alone in terms of long-range planning.”

Principal Debra Cagliostro at The Wampus School oversees teachers and students in grades three through five. For her, the formula for success revolves around the sense of community that the teachers create with each other and with the students. “Everyone takes pride in being part of a team,” she said, “whether it is the whole Wampus team, grade-level teams or interdisciplinary teams. Our teachers work together in designing units and assessments as well as in ‘tweaking and fixing’ areas in the learning experience that need adjusting. This type of collaborative dialogue impacts our students in a big way.”

Byram Hills High School
Byram Hills High School

Another factor that impacts Wampus students is the emphasis on the whole child. “We’re dealing with emotional wellness as well as academics,” Cagliostro said. “We’re examining what kinds of stress elementary children are prone to have and ways in which we can support these children…. Our students need to feel cared about, they need to be allowed to be curious, and they need to feel part of a community of learners.”

Upon leaving Wampus, students say good-bye to the self-contained classroom. Helping “tweens” in the challenging transition through early adolescence at H.C. Crittenden Middle School’s more independent environment are interdisciplinary teams of teachers in the content areas of math, English, social studies, science, and world language. Each team of students shares the same schedule, same teachers, and same activities, but sameness does not characterize the learning
experience at H.C. Crittenden.

Though the formula for success must now account for the needs and interests of middle-school students, the basics remain the same. Dr. H. Evan Powderly, principal at H.C. Crittenden Middle School, summarized the formula this way: “The success of any school is a complex mixture of great teachers, good students from homes that support education, and continual effort to improve our performance as educators. We have high expectations for our students, along with high support from teachers and staff.”

Dr. Powderly, like all of the principals, is proud of the awards, programs and initiatives that are distinctive to his school. Last year, H.C. Crittenden was recognized as a Reward School in New York State for its educational excellence through an increase in student achievement and closing the gap in student performance. Besides the annual Shakespeare Festival in late spring at which eighth-grade students memorize parts of “A Mid-summer’s Night Dream” in both Elizabethan and contemporary English and perform in period costumes, Powderly is pleased with the many activities, such as Revolutionary War Period dramatic monologues, mock trials, GoBots, and travel portfolio, which “are a great deal of fun combined with educational impact.”

The Wampus School
The Wampus School

For Byram Hills High School Principal Chris Borsari, the success formula also includes the way the school district is organized around a K-12 perspective with all the students of the same age attending the same school. The curriculum is mapped to provide continuity and a step-by-step foundation for student learning. Better known as the “Princeton Plan,” it seems to have worked well in the Byram Hills School District.

Compared to the Middle School where the learning experience focuses on “convergence, team organization and shared activities,” students at Byram Hills High School begin to experience the phenomenon known as divergence.

“Divergence,” Borsari explained, “simply refers to the idea that students are given opportunities to develop and follow their passions and interests.” Students have greater freedom to take the types of courses they want to, all of which is in keeping with “the emergence of teenagers as independent individuals.”

Borsari is particularly pleased not only with the excellent faculty that are so supportive of the students, but also with the students themselves. “We have a most unusual student body–they’re actually kind to each other.” He partially credits that to the character education program the School District initiated over 10 years ago on the elementary-school level.

The Buck Stops Here–Not!

Achievement doesn’t end with graduation. Donohue shared, “…Two of our recent graduates are about to open on Broadway: Pulitzer-prize winner Tom Kitt’s new musical is If /Then, while actress Lauryn Ciardullo is in Disney’s Aladdin.” Then, there’s the record 96-99% of graduating seniors who enroll in colleges immediately following graduation; over 70% of whom are accepted by Tier 1 and Tier 2 colleges.

Parents interviewed agree that the formula seems to be working. Pam Lynn, whose two sons graduated from BHHS in 2008 and 2012 respectively, says, “There’s something for everyone in the school district, and I am quite pleased with the level of rigor and challenge that my two sons experienced. It definitely prepared them 
for college.”

H.C. Crittenden Middle School
H.C. Crittenden Middle School

Lynn said that both the academic side and the extracurricular side were excellent. What made her sons’ education truly outstanding, however, were the transformative mentor experiences they had with faculty, and the fine help they received from knowledgeable guidance counselors. The mentors helped to motivate her sons to achieve and work as hard as they could. Today, the older son is a senior software developer, while the younger son is a sophomore in college.

There is even outside validation: Donohue said that the School District is a member of the TriState Consortium of Schools and is thus “required to be evaluated by teams from similar school districts. These evaluations help us to determine if we are achieving our own goals and give us suggestions for improvement.” [Readers are encouraged to check out “Why Byram Hills is a Great Place to Learn” at http://www.byramhills.org/curriculum.cfm]

It’s hard to argue with success. Hats (and mortar boards) off to the Byram Hills Central School District!

Vicki de Vries is a freelance writer, editor and educator who enjoys living in Westchester “country.”