The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Armonk Chamber of Commerce.

What book from your childhood had a strong impact on you?

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BY RONNI DIAMONDSTEIN AND ILLUSTRATED BY NAAVA KATZ

Katie Alvarez

“Hatchet by Gary Paulsen had a strong impact on my life. This was one of the first books that gave me that feeling of wanting to read non-stop to find out what happened in the end. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It jump-started my love of reading for the sense of adventure. The book delivered a great lesson on perseverance and the will to survive. It spoke to my spirit of being a problem solver and determination to succeed in the face of adversity.”

Katie Alvarez lives in Pleasantville and works in the White Plains School District.

Jessica Rappaport

“When I was four, my older sister Alyssa taught me to read my first book, Kangaroo Stew. My sister infused within me the belief that I was limitless, even when I was diagnosed with an ocular condition that left me legally blind in one eye. My first book opened me to a world where I would regularly escape. I eventually became an English teacher. Now it was my turn – I opened up worlds through literature for hundreds of students. I have always thought that books are an imagination gateway.”

Jessica Rappaport is an Assistant Principal at Seven Bridges School in Chappaqua.

Judy Willsey

“I was never much of a reader even though I was really good at it. My mom was a kindergarten teacher, and I was surrounded by books. But I loved reading the encyclopedia. I loved the little snippets of information and distinctly recall reading about this stuff called ‘gold leaf.’ So apropos as I am a professional picture framer who deals in gilded gold leaf frames every single day. So, there you have it. Catcher in the Rye. Nope. How to Win Friends and Influence People. Nope. Funk and Wagnalls. You bet.”

Judy Willsey is the owner of Framings in Armonk

David Helfenbein

“The Great Gatsby had a strong impact on me. I read it for the first time at Greeley and was particularly moved by the final line of the book, which discusses the relationship between our past, present and future selves. That line resonates even more now that I have returned to Chappaqua.”

David Helfenbein graduated from Greeley in 2004 and is now the Vice President, Public Relations at Burford Capital, the leading financial firm focused on law. He holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis.

Ronni Diamondstein is a journalist, photographer, retired school librarian and the author of Jackie and the Books She Loved. She lives in Chappaqua with her dog Maggie Mae. ronnidiamondstein.com

Naava Katz is an illustrator who lives with her family in Chappaqua. naavakatz.com

Byram Hills Ranked No. 1 Public High School in Westchester

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Christopher Walsh, Principal, and Dr. Jen Lamia, Superintendent   PHOTO BY Elise Trainor

Receiving well-deserved recognition, Byram Hills High School was ranked as the number one public high school in Westchester County in Westchester Magazine’s March 2024 issue. The Inside Press asked me to explore the “why” behind the ranking. It is particularly noteworthy as Westchester is home to some of the best high schools in the country. Factors considered included college readiness, average class size, student-to-teacher ratio, SAT scores, the number of counselors, the number of AP courses, and more.

“It’s very exciting when the district is recognized for our strong academic and extracurricular programs. An acknowledgement from Westchester Magazine as the #1 high school in Westchester is a credit to a strong school community that places students at the center of what we do,” says Superintendent Dr. Jen Lamia.

Innovative Programs

“I marvel at how the faculty, staff, and administration continue to develop opportunities for students to find their individual passions and excel,” says Lamia.

The opportunities are endless. Students interested in robotics and coding can immerse themselves in the robotics course and participate in competitions. Extensive offerings abound in the Fine Arts department, including metalsmithing, jewelry making, ceramics, and photography. Available to seniors who qualify is “Perspectives in Literature,” an integrated study that includes literature, philosophy, art, and an intensive writing experience.

One of the most recognized programs at Byram Hills is the award-winning Authentic Science Research program, a three-year program in which students complete independent research under the mentorship of professional scientists. Students submit their research to the Regeneron Science Talent Search (“STS”). Byram Hills touts 132 “Top 300 scholars” and 23 national finalists in the Regeneron STS since 1991.

Two other thriving programs that are distinct to our district are the Global Scholars Program and the StartUp Entrepreneurship Program. Both began as pilot programs sponsored by the Byram Hills Education Foundation (the “BHEF”) and have been very well-received.

According to the Byram Hills website, Global Scholars is an “interdisciplinary three-year program…[in which] students investigate global issues, analyze diverse perspectives, communicate ideas effectively in both English and a second language, and take action.”

The StartUp program, which began in 2022, most recently had 35 members of the community acting as mentors to the students in their start-ups. The two-year program allows students to create and launch their own business or social enterprise. Guest speakers are invited to talk to the kids about starting a business. This past year, they held an exciting evening competition à la “Shark Tank” with parents and business owners in the community acting as judges.

“Byram Hills’ number one ranking is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our teachers, faculty, and the entire community,” says BHEF board member Ally Wolland. “The BHEF plays a critical role in this success story. By funding faculty and teacher-written grants across the district, the BHEF addresses specific needs at each grade level and school. Impactful programs like the Global Scholars program and the StartUP program exemplify the BHEF’s influence.”

“For me, as a parent and BHEF board member, what most exemplifies the essential partnership between the BHEF and the district was the BHEF’s facilitation of an emergency meeting during the pandemic to secure funding to purchase Viewsonic technology to aid in reopening and remote learning,” explains Wolland. “A vibrant and supportive education foundation like the BHEF is a rare gem in public schools. I am incredibly grateful for the profound impact the BHEF has on our school district…”

An Engaged Community and Happy Families

“This ranking was an acknowledgment of the strength of our entire district. We have such a wonderful community, and it starts from the great support we get from the Board of Education and District Administrators. We have families who are incredibly supportive of the work we are doing and appreciate the collective efforts that go into educating their children,” says Byram Hills High School Principal Chris Walsh.

“We have students who have been given a great foundation in learning going all the way back to their first day in kindergarten through every grade level and school in the district. I am most happy for our faculty and staff here at the high school that they can take pride in this and know that their professionalism, care, and expertise are recognized on a regional level. Overall, the ranking helps to reinforce that Byram Hills High School is a special place where students benefit from the highest quality educators, supportive district, and collaborative community.”

For area realtors, who promote the positive aspects of living here all the time, the good news about Byram Hills was not surprising. “As an alum of Byram Hills and lifelong resident of Armonk, I am thrilled that our high school has been named #1 in Westchester County,” says Stacey Sporn, Armonk parent and Associate Broker at William Raveis. “This recognition highlights the dedication of our teachers, the enthusiasm of our students, and the unwavering support of our community. Growing up here, I experienced firsthand the exceptional education and the strong sense of community that defines our town. It’s no surprise that more families are choosing to move here, drawn by our top-notch schools and the welcoming, vibrant atmosphere that makes this area a wonderful place to live and raise a family,”

“I think the district’s recognition of talent is what contributes to Byram Hill’s excellence,” says Harriet Libov, Armonk parent and Associate Broker at Houlihan Lawrence. “The district always looks to the best in faculty to promote from within. For example, Superintendent Lamia was my daughter’s middle school teacher back in the day. Similarly, many of the administrators and principals were promoted after proven success in our district. I feel fortunate that both my kids, each with very different interests, soared academically and socially as a result of what Byram Hills had to offer. Moreover, as adults today, they remain friends with their Byram Hills classmates.”

“Byram Hills High School created an environment in which both of my daughters were able to grow and thrive intellectually and socially,” says Stacee Massoni Blatte, Armonk parent and Associate Broker at Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s. “They had the opportunity to take classes that both challenged and interested them. The immense support they received from their teachers enabled them to excel and equipped them with the resources necessary to continue to flourish throughout their college experiences at the University of Pennsylvania.”

Always Moving Forward

Whether advancing the curriculum or the social and emotional well-being of the students, Byram Hills is always thinking how best to serve its students. A recent district-wide vote approved the use of eight million dollars of the capital reserve fund for the “Lights, Learning, Action!” renovation project at the high school to create The Learning Commons, a reconstruction of the library; install a turf field; and add lighting on all fields and courts.

“Our school community is best exemplified by a senior who told me recently that the thought of leaving Byram Hills and graduating makes her cry – that’s the heart of it all – and I think it’s the school community that does it. We are continually on the flywheel of moving forward for kids,” says Lamia.

Fall Fashion Fun: Layers, Textiles, & Scholarly Chic

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The Fall 2024 fashion landscape is a tapestry woven with a harmonious blend of scholastic inspiration and professional elegance. At its core lies the concept of the elevated every day, where layering is an art form enriched by a diverse palette of textures, fabrics, and materials.

On the Autumn/Winter 2024 (A/W’ 24) runway, designers are seen revitalizing traditional staples with modern twists, focusing on timeless pieces and playful textiles that breathe new life into everyday basics. Think cashmere with leather, tweeds with velvet, wool with fur, and cotton with sequins or feathers. Each textile adds depth and complexity, keeping you warm while enhancing the sophistication of any outfit. As designers focus on layering, they encourage experimentation, inviting us to blend various elements to create dynamic and trendy wardrobes.

Statement Collars: The Spotlight Stealers

Leave them up or let them out; statement collars stole the spotlight during the A/W ’24 runway. Collared shirts, integral to the prep aesthetic, are staple pieces for any wardrobe. This fall, designers are seen playing with collars, offering various options from oversized to pointed and embellished designs on sweaters to those adorned with soft ruffles and matching cuff ruffles. Whether you opt for a collar in trend or keep it traditional, collars are an easy and essential garment for layering.

Fun with collars didn’t stop there

Blazers were showcased in various silhouettes, from oversized to relaxed fits, and materials ranging from leather to tweed and herringbone patterns and pinstripes. Blazers are effortlessly sophisticated while keeping simple and comfortable. This season, there’s a nod to the 80’s with a profound emphasis on shoulders. While these may be less practical for everyday wear, a vintage 80’s blazer could be perfect for a night out, elevating your outfit while keeping you warm and on-trend.

The Coveted Pattern of Fall: Plaid

Plaid was overwhelmingly displayed throughout the A/W ’24 runways. Designers have integrated this pattern, providing a vintage-esque vibe. Plaid maxi skirts, trench coats, scarves, and wraps were heavily featured, making it fun to up the antics and get creative. Herringbone, check, and tartan are predominantly showcased on overcoats and maxi skirts, with designers enjoying these beloved, traditional patterns.

Texture, Fabrics, and Materials: Oh My!

Stepping onto the scene to rescue the fashion world, the cape is one of the most exciting features of A/W ’24. The runway was a spectacle draped in layers of luxurious fabrics, evoking a heroic spirit. Designers are placing a modern take on this traditional garment, showcased in an array of shapes, sizes, and fabrics. Long wool capes cascading elegantly, high-low capes in sleek leather, or short cashmere capes add a touch of sophistication over a mini dress.

Capes & Cardigans: The Key to Chic Layering

Captivating the runway and social media, the ever effortless and essential cardigan. Crafted from cashmere, cotton, or wool, cardigans offer an opportunity to play with different textures and fabrics, cuts, and hems. Knits, from cable to chunky oversized, were seen on the runway. Stay in the neutral palette to maximize your possibilities. Lightweight yet warm, relaxed yet refined, cashmere is an investment piece that you will turn to year after year.

Materials: Sequins

Tis the season to sparkle! Sequins are just about everywhere, perfect for a special occasion or a fun night out! Sequins, both large and small, shown in various fun colors, adorn everything from skirts to two-piece sets, adding a playful shimmer to any outfit. Let your style fly with the luxurious feel of feathers. Flutter into this trend and stand out from the crowd with a little plumage.

Enjoy the effortless nature of fashion this season. There are no boundaries–remain comfortable and warm while incorporating textiles. Embrace the elevated every day with personal style and have fun with it!

The Eagle is Back

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PHOTO BY ELISE TRAINOR

On a perfect June day, NY State and Westchester officials, North Castle town officials, town residents, and other guests gathered at the base of the majestic new Eagle that stands at the corner of Route 22 and Route 128 to celebrate the rededication of the beloved landmark.

Why an Eagle? Susan Shimer former Judge of the Town of North Castle said, “An Eagle represents truth, honesty, wisdom, majesty, strength, power, and freedom.”

Why this location? Shimer spoke about the original inspiration of the Eagle which came from several residents who developed the concept and brought it to fruition. “The perfect location required a community effort and on July 4, 1976, with a perfect spot finally chosen, the Eagle soared,” Shimer shared.

Westchester County Legislator Margaret Cunzio, from North Castle shared that her entire life the Eagle was standing. “The Eagle represents so much; it was the way I gave directions to visitors, and it means home for me!” she said.

North Castle Town Supervisor, Joseph Rende spoke about members of the community coming forward when they heard the Eagle was down. “Individuals contacted me and said they’d take care of it, and they did,” Rende said. Michael Ferrari, John Oronzio, and Giulio Monaco all received certificates for donating their time, energy and services to repair the damage.

This was a special day for North Castle residents made brighter with the addition of a brass band that took us back in time perhaps to when the original Eagle was erected.

To quote the wonderfully articulate Former North Castle Town Judge Susan Shimer “The Eagle represents searching for a better future and a better tomorrow.” Everyone that attended the event felt the pride of the community and the hope for a brighter future.

How the Armonk Chamber Helped Businesses Weather the Covid Crisis

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Neal Schwartz, President, Armonk Chamber of Commerce Photo by Chad Kraus

When COVID emerged as a crisis in March 2020, many local businesses were forced to close their doors while others saw their revenues dry up. But for the Armonk Chamber of Commerce, this time was as crucial as any since Neal Schwartz became president more than a decade ago.

The chamber has historically hosted a range of community events, held regular meetings, and published a directory of members. But most chamber members, Schwartz says, are generally passive participants that changed when business owners found themselves in uncharted waters as COVID hit. Suddenly, their businesses’ survival depended on navigating a host of new federal programs and incentives like Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and on finding ways to keep their business running through restrictions and panic over the virus. Some businesses, like dental offices, had help from their industry groups, but others turned to the chamber.

“We became a conduit for using information from the state, the county and the federal government,” Schwartz explains. “It was invaluable to those members who weren’t connected to some of those other associations.”

The chamber helped connect its members to Zoom calls and other events that helped members navigate the new terrain and explore their options. It also created an app to give residents up-to-date information about which businesses were open. 

When necessary, the chamber organized its own events, bringing in chamber-affiliated accountants who were well-versed on the available recourses to answer member questions. 

“A couple of chambers [elsewhere] almost stopped functioning [during Covid], because they had their set activities and those activities didn’t happen, and they were kind of at a loss,” County Executive George Latimer explains. “The Armonk chamber made the transition that you had to make once you realized that Covid was going to shut down the normal activities.”

Latimer continues, “What they did was they morphed into providing the information and to some extent material [such as] PPE that the businesses needed.”

Spotlighting the Armonk Chamber of Commerce, Top Row, L-R: Neal Schwartz, president; Bharti Gupta, board member; Ed Woodyard, member; Shari Ascher, Director of Policy & Programs, Westchester County; George Latimer, Westchester County Executive Second Row, L-R: Ken Sassano, board member; Catherine Censullo, board member; Tammi Ecker, board member    Photo by Chad Kraus

The county government had access to both information and resources to help businesses but did not have the manpower to connect with every business from Yonkers to North Salem. 

“Sitting at the county level looking at 45 communities, how do we reach the business communities and small businesses? We can’t do it on our own. We don’t have the bandwidth,” Latimer says. “But when we know that we’ve got a chamber of commerce that is working–that is having Zoom meetings and exchanging information–then we can channel through the chamber and the chamber has the relationships with the local businesses.”

The county, for example, had access to free masks and sanitizer to give to businesses. But walking up and down every street in every city, town and village in Westchester distributing it was not possible, Latimer says. 

Instead, the chamber determined the local needs and the county dropped off supplies at a central location. The chamber then worked to distribute these supplies throughout Armonk. 

When certain workers such as restaurant servers became eligible for the Covid vaccine before the general population, the county again worked through the Armonk chamber and other local chambers to inform businesses whose employees would qualify.

County Executive George Latimer / Photo by Chad Kraus

But perhaps the biggest role the chamber played was in working with business owners through the federal assistance available.

“The saving grace for a majority of businesses was how they navigated through the loan portion of the federal offerings that were there,” Schwartz says. “Depending where the numbers were for a business, they may have done reasonably okay if they took a PPP loan, which didn’t need to get paid back.”

Despite (or, in a sense, because of) their falling revenues and the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, the chamber saw new businesses joining to take advantage of these offerings.

“We picked up more members than you would expect in the middle of a pandemic,” he says. “There weren’t a ton of them, but there were people who began to appreciate that this chamber stuff has value.”

Haves and Have Nots

The pandemic and resulting shutdown did not hit all industries with the same force, Schwartz says. Some industries thrived even through the lockdowns, while in other fields businesses struggled to stay in business or were forced to close their doors. 

Home improvement was a sector that thrived, he notes. Trapped in their houses all day, local residents decided it was a good time to put in a pool, or redo their lawns, or make long-needed home improvements.

“The businesses that did well were the businesses that supported home life,” Schwartz says. “Some of them saw years that they haven’t seen before.” But many other businesses, particularly those that depended on traffic flow, struggled. It is hard to quantify exactly how many businesses went under, Schwartz says; he estimates some 10% of their members. 

Armonk is now well on its way to recovery, he says. 

“We are seeing these empty spaces get filled pretty quickly, considering everything,” he says. “It is not all doom and gloom at all.”

Latimer sees a similar picture on the county level, with sales tax receipts above where they were in 2019 pre-pandemic. Still, businesses face ongoing challenges.

One is the difficulty hiring workers, which Schwartz attributes in part to generous unemployment benefits distributed under the latest Covid relief bill.

“It went too far, so it was hard for restaurants to keep the staffing everywhere across the country,” Schwartz says. “People said, ‘Listen, I am getting more money to stay home and not go to work.’”

Latimer attributes the labor shortage to several factors, including the unemployment benefits, ongoing concerns about Covid, and an increasing preference for jobs with regular, stable hours. 

A Decade Leading the Chamber

Schwartz, who owns Armonk-based College Planning of Westchester, joined the chamber after opening his business in 2004, looking for the networking benefits the chamber would bring to his then-fledgling franchise. 

“I had bought all this equipment, furniture, systems, and I had no customers,” he remembers.

The chamber was helpful to him as he got his business, which specializes in tutoring, college counseling and ACT/SAT preparation, off the ground. But its activities at the time were limited to a sidewalk sale or two each year. In 2010, he stepped in as president and worked to build the chamber into a bigger player in the community.

Before he took over as president in 2010, he recalls, chamber activity was mostly limited to one or two sidewalk sales each year. When Schwartz stepped into leadership, he and his colleagues on the board scaled up the organization’s activity. 

In 2012, he launched cider and donut events. It’s grown from there, with 11 music events this summer, a “citizen of the year” award, a much larger Cider and Donut Festival, and regular chamber meetings. The chamber’s website has also been greatly improved, and now publishes the “Everything Armonk” community guide and business directory.

To learn more about the Armonk Chamber, please visit www.armonkchamberofcommerce.com