The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Cover Stories

John Berman: A Father/CNN Anchor in Turbulent Times

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For most American news consumers, the past decade or so has felt like a never-ending rollercoaster ride. For a news anchor and correspondent like Armonk resident John Berman, who co-anchors CNN’s morning news program, it has made the last few years downright frenetic.

“I can’t remember the last time things were slow. Every time something unprecedented happens, as soon as that thing is over, something else unprecedented happens,” Berman tells Inside Armonk. “It’s tiring, but on the other hand, it’s exhilarating.”

Berman has been covering the news for roughly three decades – beginning his career with ABC News in 1995 and joining CNN in 2012. In 2011, Berman and his family – he and his wife have 18-year-old twin boys – moved to Armonk from New York City.

The news business has changed dramatically – and continuously – over Berman’s career. When he joined ABC News as a desk assistant in 1995, the network did not yet have a website. When he joined CNN in 2012, few had heard of a podcast. And even in 2018, when Berman appeared on the cover of this magazine, Substack was still an unknown newcomer to the industry.

Today, Berman resides in a media environment in which the options are endless, and consumers can always find a news source to support their views. This, Berman acknowledges, can make it harder to reach people.

“People do retreat to their silos much more quickly than they ever have before,” Berman says. “When they are there, they’re in a little bit of an echo chamber and they don’t hear any differing opinions.”

Berman, who co-anchors CNN News Central from 7-10 a.m. weekdays with Kate Bolduan and Sara Sidner, sees his job as mostly unchanged. While his network – and both cable news and linear television more broadly – have had to find ways to adjust to changing news habits, Berman’s job remains focused on the journalistic output.

“Our job is to try to just tell people what’s going on and present it as is, and then let them absorb it how they like,” he explains. “If I could hold down the fort with the news every day from 7 to 10, then it lets the people who are trying to figure out how to reach new audiences do that.”

‘Straight News Doesn’t Have to be Boring’

While news consumers’ shift towards news sources that reflect their worldview is a real trend, Berman believes it only tells part of the story.

“CNN’s bread and butter is breaking news,” Berman says. “When things really are happening and it is breaking, for better or worse, people do want to come to CNN still. No matter what Substack they read, no matter what newsletters they’re associated with, no matter which TikTok videos, if there’s something live-breaking, and we have cameras there, they will still come to us in big numbers.”

As a news journalist, Berman sees his role as simply to inform, not opine, on the topics of the day.

“One of the things that my show does well is focus on what’s new when people wake up in the morning without spending lots of time complaining about something that happened three or four days ago,” he says. “We’re trying to look forward as much as we can.”

But unopinionated does not mean uninteresting, he adds.

“Straight news doesn’t have to be boring,” he says. “I think news is inherently compelling, and our job is to present it in a compelling way.”

A New Perspective

When Berman’s family moved to Armonk, his twin sons were preparing to enter kindergarten. Both recently turned 18, and hearing how they process the news and world events has become another source of insight for Berman.

“It actually helps because I start seeing the world through their eyes more,” Berman says. “They give me a new perspective. They weren’t old enough to vote in the last election because they just turned 18, but I was very much interested in how they were seeing it and what they were hearing.”

Berman has no plans to leave Armonk once his boys have graduated. An avid runner, he enjoys being a bit removed from city life.

“I love the woods. I love the hills,” he says. “I should add, when I say I love the hills, I mostly love the concept of the hills. I live in Windmill, which is a beautiful, close-knit community, but it is like the Alps. I might be getting too old to run up and down the hills every day. Can’t there be somewhere flat around here?”

And professionally, Berman says he looks forward to continuing in the morning spot. The role has allowed him to cover history-changing events in recent years, from wars to elections.

“I was in Ukraine not long after Russia invaded, and I was in awe of the determination and the resilience of the Ukrainian people,” he says. “We’ve had some absolutely compelling elections and wild swings in politics, and that’s always thrilling.”

Berman was briefly moved from the morning timeslot after Chris Licht was named CEO of the network in February 2022. Licht’s tenure didn’t last long – he parted ways with the network in June 2023 – and Berman was returned to the 7 a.m. slot last year.

CNN News Central is now in one of its better stretches, Berman says, noting that his show beat MSNBC’s Morning Joe in the 25-to-54-year-old demographic in January and February.

“If you look at the cable news landscape, I think we are the one most committed to actually presenting the news and presenting the news in a fairly unvarnished way,” Berman says.

With a new administration in office this year, Berman says he is fascinated to see how the economy responds to a period of uncertainty. And he looks forward to covering the outcome of truce negotiations in Ukraine, as well as how both parties and the electorate respond to Trump’s presidency.

“I’m actually having one of the better times of my life right now,” says Berman. “So, I just want to hang on for dear life and savor the moment and keep it going as long as I can.”

What’s New & Noteworthy in Armonk

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With Town Supervisor Joe Rende at the helm, North Castle is thriving.

Rendering of new Armonk restaurant Wren of the Woods

Born and raised in Westchester County, North Castle Town Supervisor Rende ran his family’s home heating oil business until 1989, served as a Trustee and Deputy Mayor in Port Chester, and worked for the Westchester County Government in the mid-1990’s to the early 2000’s. He’s lived in North Castle for almost 15 years. With his background in business and his deep understanding of the Westchester political landscape, he’s been able to make a meaningful impact as Town Supervisor since taking office in January 2024. Rende’s committed to impacting positive change throughout North Castle, and he’s taken over and taken on various projects that will improve the community.

“We’ve really become a destination for restaurants and for shopping in the town square,” Rende says enthusiastically. So, it’s not surprising that one of most highly anticipated projects in North Castle is the opening of the new restaurant, Wren of the Woods at 12 Maple Street. “The building has been vacant for quite a while,” notes Rende, who says that the architectural review board approved plans for a renovation and an addition on the building. Armonk residents are enthusiastically supporting this project, which will enhance Armonk’s social scene while adding to the already diverse restaurant offerings in town. Wren of the Woods is planning a farm to table menu and hopes to draw a younger crowd by staying open a little later on certain nights and weekends.

To make room for the larger crowds heading to Armonk, the parking lot around the North Castle Public Library is being renovated and expanded. The land surrounding the current parking lot was owned by Verizon. The town of North Castle purchased additional land and put together a plan to expand parking in this area a while ago. Rende fast-tracked the plan, completing the engineering, putting the project out to bid and launching the construction project. Construction is currently underway, and the project should be completed this spring. In this first phase of this project, there will be approximately 60 new parking spaces.

“Increased parking is going to help the library, the business community, and local restaurants. It’s going to make it easier to access everything Armonk has to offer,” says Rende. The next phase of this project will include a redesign of a larger area along the west side of Main Street. The plan is to also make additional improvements to the Kent Place parking lot. Ultimately, the goal is to double the number of parking spaces in Armonk proper.

Besides enhancing businesses and building new restaurants around town, Rende is also overseeing the construction of new condominiums, projects that were planned and approved before he took office. The first project, the Lumberyard Project at the end of Bedford Road, will offer the community 20 condominium units. This project includes 18 market rate units and two affordable housing units, complying with Westchester’s affordable housing guidelines. On the Mariani site, the town received approval to build 34 new condominiums. While the demolition of the grounds is complete, there is no start date for this project. The condominiums on the Mariani lot will be taxed as individual homes, providing a greater financial benefit to the community and the Byram Hills School District.

New parking lot behind North Castle Public Library under construction

To further benefit the community, Rende is making re-configuring and expanding the administrative offices a priority. “I feel a sense of urgency to complete this renovation. The police department is working under poor conditions and there’s no room to increase the number of police personnel. The configuration and size of the courtroom doesn’t meet state requirements,” says Rende.

When he first came into office, he recognized that the Town of North Castle had various departments operating out of different buildings. It was difficult for a town administrator to manage town operations when everything was so spread out. “From a management standpoint, it becomes somewhat of a hinderance,” explains Rende, who suggests that the current space is cramped and isn’t serving the public well. Since there’s little room to expand at the current location, Rende is looking into alternatives, including 333 Main Street, and conferring with architects to figure out if this space can be appropriately retrofitted to accommodate all administrative offices.

Looking forward, Rende hopes to find or build a proper facility for the town’s highway department. “All of our expensive machinery is housed outdoors now.” Mechanics are working on equipment outdoors in environments that aren’t ideal. Plus, the town is spending money to replace unfixable equipment since the storage conditions have shortened the lifespan of these extremely pricey necessities. “This has been discussed for over 20 years now, and the can’s been kicked down the road, with everyone suggesting that we address it someday. That someday is now,” asserts Rende, whose plan to modernize North Castle’s resources and revolutionize the town is now in motion.

 

Off The Air: Pleasantville’s PCTV To Go Dark

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Pleasantville Community Television (PCTV) has filmed important moments in the village during the past 25 years. Its studio on Lake Street, and for many years before at its Jackson Alley space, has attracted the likes of actor Rob Lowe, bestselling author Stephen King and many other celebrities and highly accomplished figures.

One of the most prolific community access stations in the area, PCTV has amassed an archive of more than 10,000 programs, most of which were hosted or produced by local residents on a dizzying array of topics. There is Ben Cheever’s “About Writing” where he talks to authors, exercise shows from the Clinton Street Senior Center and more than 300 episodes of “The Listening Place” featuring discussions about healing that was launched by Nancy Rosanoff after 9/11.

It has regularly filmed the Pleasantville Music Festival each July and its cameras have captured Village Board, Planning Commission and Board of Education meetings and ribbon-cutting ceremonies for countless local businesses.

Longtime station manager Shane McGaffey, 54, who has run PCTV for the past-quarter century in the community where he moved to as a child with his parents and where he has raised his two children, said it isn’t a coincidence that PCTV has been a magnet for well-known guests. He’s convinced that having a local community access station that also covers live events figured into part of the calculus for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to come to Pleasantville to sign the state’s property tax cap legislation into law in 2011 and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins many presentations.

“The fact that Pleasantville was on the map enough for these people to come here and be interviewed and be filmed to give a message to the community members here, I think it makes a difference,” McGaffey said.

However, the days of making a difference are quickly dwindling. This spring PCTV, a non-profit village entity, is closing operations, a victim of evolving technology and persistent funding challenges throughout the station’s history. While there was no official closing date given when local officials made the announcement early this year, Pleasantville Mayor Peter Scherer said the goal is to have the station cease operations by or before the end of the village’s fiscal year on May 31.

Bringing Pleasantville Together

For 12 years, operations manager Evelyn Latella took on multiple responsibilities for PCTV, handling many of its administrative tasks. In her estimation, PCTV has helped bind the community with programming that cannot be found elsewhere. PCTV would not only film the Memorial Day parade and the ceremony that followed along with Veterans Day recognition, but it also highlighted stories of local veterans.

Its close relationship with the Pleasantville Chamber of Commerce where the station would collaborate on the organization’s annual Person of the Year, was another example of helping integrate PCTV into the community.

“It was really very successful, and it really brought the community together, it brought the village together, the people in the community together,” Latella said. “It kind of helped raise our fundraising, our arts donations every year, and it was just the planning and execution of making a difference, I thought.”

When McGaffey returned home after five years in Russia, he soon learned there was a fledgling local television studio and sought to lend his talents. He was quickly attracted to the community-minded approach and the ability for community members to bring unique programming to residents.

“I started to get a real high from that and I felt that what I was doing was important,” he said.

Consistent Headwinds

Despite being an asset for many years, there was always the hurdle of village funding. In the current fiscal year, the village budgeted about $120,000 for the station, Scherer said. But at a time where costs continue to rise and modes of communication have made it easier for the public to produce and post content themselves, what was once a groundbreaking model has in many ways been surpassed by social media.

“I think we’re in an environment now where so many people have so many different ways of creating the content they might once have found tethered to a public access station,” Scherer said. “Now, to the extent that they want to put together a show, they can do it with limited equipment in their living room and get it up on YouTube and all of those places and honestly get broader distribution than they were getting through PCTV.”

The village will continue to record its meetings through technology and post them on the village’s website, he said.

But for McGaffey, a graduate of the All-Russian University of Cinematography in Moscow after earning his bachelor’s degree at the University of Rochester, PCTV’s looming closure will leave a void that cannot yet be calculated for the roughly 55,000 households who could access the channel in Pleasantville and in neighboring towns. The recordings comprise a catalogue of Pleasantville’s recent history, at least since the archives were established in 2009. While many viewers have become used to the quick hits of seconds-long videos on TikTok and Instagram, there is still demand for long-form interviews and programs that extensively delve into a topic, he said.

McGaffey also predicts that it will make communication more difficult for the residents. “I still think you need the full story so people can take a deep dive (on an issue), and make up their own mind,” McGaffey said. “I think you may have some five-minute things, but they’re not going to be able to delve deeper anymore.”

Good News, Bad News

The likelihood of a closure caught McGaffey by surprise at PCTV budget meetings last fall. PCTV had secured several grants to help offset funding, including $50,000 and $20,000 state grants related to educational purposes and $8,500 and $10,000 county grants. Only the $8,500 was a grant that required a match from the village.

“We had identified what we wanted to do,” McGaffey explained. “The Village Board at our last budget meeting was really happy with the direction we were providing. They were really thrilled, and then the grants starting rolling in. All that work was starting to pay off. We had a real vision and everybody was on the same page.”

The grants would augment extra revenue the station had been pulling in from commercial work, a concerted effort that was made several years earlier to offset costs. McGaffey thought they were in an improving position.

“If there was ever a time, this wasn’t it, just because we had an agreed upon mission, or so we thought, and we were bringing in a lot of revenue to make that happen,” McGaffey said.

Michael Inglis, the PCTV board president, said in a statement that with the village pulling funding for the station, there did not seem to be a path forward.

“The PCTV board thanks the Village for its funding over the years, and all the past board members who have been involved with this public endeavor. We also wish to acknowledge all the producers who have created so much outstanding local content over the last 25 years and thank our partners and sponsors for their support,” the statement read in part.

Scherer said with continued rising expenses, including an estimated $265,000 to replace the roof on the water district building where the studio is housed, the Village Board needed to decide. Plus, village officials were concerned about any ongoing obligations from the grants.

“You arrive at a point every year with the budget season right now with a challenge to figure out what needs more money and what needs less,” Scherer said.

“We felt that the number of people taking advantage of it was small enough where we needed to invest that money in other more effective ways in communicating,” he added.

“So many of these shows were really like a college education,” McGaffey said. “The depth and breadth of programming created through the station will be difficult to replicate. For example, I never would have known that Pleasantville was part of the Underground Railroad if not for PCTV. I got to meet a lot of really cool people and filmed a lot of interviews where I learned a lot.”

Reflections on the Greeley Class of 2025

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“Resilience and a strong sense of community has truly defined the Class of 2025” – Principal, Dr. Sandra Sepe

The Horace Greeley High School graduating class of 2025 entered Greeley during COVID-19, a time of chaos and uncertainty. This class began its high school journey under such abnormal circumstances, navigating hybrid learning and restrictions on social interactions with peers. In the wake of overcoming these challenges, the students were able to engage their sense of adaptability and persistence.

In an interview, Horace Greeley Principal, Dr. Sandra Sepe, said “Resilience and a strong sense of community has truly defined the Class of 2025.”

The Class of 2025 continues to shape and strengthen the school’s culture, traditions and achievements, fostering an enduring sense of unity within the community. Horace Greeley’s thriving science research program has flourished, in part, due to the exceptional accomplishments of this class. Many seniors have emerged as leaders in regional science competitions, earning prestigious awards and securing spots as finalists, further paving their legacy for excellence.

The Class of 2025 has reintroduced unity and school pride to Greeley, after being disconnected. Dr. Sepe remarked “These students have shown an unmatched commitment to being part of something bigger than themselves. Whether by filling the stands at home sports games or fostering a culture of community and passion for togetherness.”

These students added a sports broadcasting club to Greeley, further emphasizing this class’s commitment to display their teamwork and take advantage of the school’s resources to strengthen the student body. This dedication is especially notable given that they entered high school in a time of separation and restrictions, making their perseverance and resilience as leaders of Greeley even more inspiring.

During the challenges of COVID-19, both the academics and sports program faced disruptions, where anxiety for students was at a peak. Yet, the Class of 2025 rose in the wake of this, adapting and helping to rebuild a sense of community that defines Greeley’s athletic program.

In addition to athletics, the arts and theater programs have flourished tremendously under the leadership of this graduating class. The success of Greeley’s fall production of Little Women and the excitement surrounding the upcoming production of Anastasia reflect the seniors’ dedication to showcase excellence and collaboration. Their passion for the arts, much like their commitment to athletics, underscore the importance of coming together to create something meaningful. Greeley’s seniors are leaders and lay the foundation for Greeley’s future that coming together with a mix of peers is essential for a thriving school community.

Furthermore, 15 senior students from the creative arts program represented Horace Greeley at the Katonah Museum of Art’s 42nd Annual Young Artists Exhibition, showcasing the brilliance of the graduating students by creating media with a domain of concepts, and expression. Greeley recognizes the numerous accolades in every class, however, this class’s contributions stand out by the lasting difference they make.

The 2025 Horace Greeley commencement ceremony is set for June 21st and follows the tradition of being outside on the lawn underneath the giant white tent. The ceremony will include several student speakers. Tradition is significant at Greeley, especially during the lead up to graduation where each year they introduce the winners for the student speaker contest. The graduation is a great example of students using their voice to bring people together.

Dr. Sepe has characterized the Class of 2025 as “warm and friendly students who are focused on community. These students continue to go out of their way and promote the thriving community that defines Greeley.”

This generation is dealing with the constant effects of social media, facing the everyday challenge of negative content exposure and censoring. In today’s society, it is generally challenging to maneuver through the depths and domains of social media content. However, this generation’s ability to overcome and conquer these modern-day issues sets forth their leadership and adaption to take on challenges in the future.

In summary, Dr. Sepe shares that “Accolades are wonderful, but it’s the difference you make in the lives of others. They have the skills to maneuver generational challenges, paving their path for a bright future.” The countdown to graduation has begun, just 100 days to go! Dr. Sepe emphasized the importance of “making the most of this time, making good decisions, cherishing every moment and enjoying it.”

As the Class of 2025 prepares to turn the page they leave behind a legacy of resilience, leadership and unity. One which will continue to shape Greeley for years to come.

 

Thriving Through Challenges: Pleasantville Class of 2025

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Pleasantville HS Senior Juliana Kaley & Principal Joe Palumbo

“Enter to learn, go forth to serve.”

As Pleasantville High School (PHS) students enter the front door of their school building each day, they see these words proudly displayed. This phrase is reflected in all of the experiences and opportunities each student is given during their time at PHS. The administrators, faculty, and staff of the school are dedicated to creating a supportive academic environment where students can grow into active learners, curious intellectuals and compassionate individuals. As the Class of 2025 prepares to graduate and enter the next chapter of their lives, the impact of this mission statement is beyond evident.

In 2017, the Class of 2025 was about to graduate Bedford Road School and prepared to embark on the highly anticipated fourth grade Bronx Zoo Trip. Despite their high hopes, the trip was rained out several times and eventually cancelled. Seven years later, as juniors, they chose to use the money they had fundraised to finally take a trip to the zoo. This anecdote perfectly encapsulates this year’s senior class. Beginning their freshman year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Class of 2025 experienced the already challenging adjustment to high school in an even more unfamiliar way. They have overcome any obstacle set before them with grace and community spirit.

One noteworthy aspect of PHS is the administration’s commitment to helping students thrive within “the three A’s” – academics, arts and athletics. The Class of 2025 has fearlessly and enthusiastically explored passions in all three areas. Within the academic sphere, many students have challenged themselves in course offerings, such as Syracuse University Project Advance courses and the AP Capstone program, which includes AP Seminar and AP Research. Last year, Science Research students were even able to travel to France. Athletically, the school’s teams have prospered, achieving outstanding records and advancing far in playoffs. In the Arts sphere, the Class of 2025 has participated in several amazing play productions, this year’s being a showstopping rendition of The Music Man. Many students are also NYSSMA musicians and take part in the school’s incredibly talented music groups. “It’s really going to be a proud moment for me in June when we pass out diplomas, because this class is really special. They’ve contributed to all of the A’s and have really impressed us with the work they’re doing,” says PHS Principal Mr. Palumbo.

The future is certainly bright for the Class of 2025. Students have committed to universities and colleges across the country varying in size, academic programs, and geographic location. Boston College, Washington University, Barnard College, Williams College, the United States Naval Academy, Northwestern University and New York University are all on the growing list of schools that graduating seniors will be attending in the fall. Reflecting PHS’s ability to foster a diverse range of academic and extracurricular interests, students have also chosen a wide variety of majors. These selections include but are not limited to Biology, English, Psychology, Political Science, Mechanical Engineering, Theatre and Business.

Students are expected to explore a variety of post-high school options such as four-year colleges, two-year colleges, vocational programs and taking a gap year. Mr. Palumbo, however, has a special hope for how his students will pursue the future. “When people come back and they talk to me about everything that they’re doing in their lives, I’m also going to want to hear about the relationships [and] the experiences that they’ve had, the lives that they’ve created, and the way that they found meaning in whatever it is that they choose to do when they leave here,” he shared.

Much of the success of the Class of 2025 can be attributed to the inspiring guidance and leadership of Mr. Palumbo. He serves as a constant source of positivity, support and encouragement, as he helps his students grow not just as intellectuals but also as people. When asked what advice he has for this year’s graduating seniors, he stated, “I feel like you can work so hard for a goal that you have and maybe not enjoy the days, the weeks, the months, and the years that led you there and that would be a terrible mistake. You need to enjoy the time that you have [and] find balance. Experiencing life one day at a time is a big piece of advice I’d give folks… Your priorities when you’re younger are different than your priorities when you’re older, and that’s why I speak with kids here about doing the best that they can to enjoy the journey, not just look at the results at the end.”

Graduation is scheduled for June 20, 2025, in the school’s front circle. A unique and special PHS graduation tradition is that, rather than including a keynote speaker, PHS shines the spotlight on a graduating student in addition to the traditional valedictorian and salutatorian speeches. Mr. Palumbo explained, “We offer all of our students an opportunity to submit a speech and then potentially speak at the commencement ceremony. It gives each and every one of our students, regardless of where they may stand in the class academically, an opportunity to potentially be involved in the ceremony. So that’s a really nice tradition that we have each year.”

Mr. Palumbo continued, “If there is a characteristic that’s common among all of those different activities, it would be the camaraderie, the relationships, and the extent to which people help each other and work together to achieve a goal. When I think about the class of 2025, whether it be on the stage, the athletic field, as part of a research project, a trip to Italy… these are the moments that I enjoy reflecting on the most.”

Congratulations to the Class of 2025! This year’s graduating seniors are sure to take on the world with courage, determination, and a passion for inspiring change. They will undoubtedly carry the countless lessons that they have learned at PHS, especially the importance of working hard while remembering to enjoy the journey.