• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

  • Home
  • Advertise
    • Advertise in One or All of our Magazines
    • Advertising Payment Form
  • Digital Subscription
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Login
  • Print Subscription
  • Contact Us

Armonk Indoor Sports Center

#CommunityStrong Inspirations

August 24, 2020 by Lauren Rosh

From embracing a social justice movement to volunteerism and businesses adapting in a pandemic, the many ways New Castle stayed strong!

At a rally in downtown Chappaqua in August. Photo by Grace Bennett/Inside Press

In June, New York protestors told NBC News that they were fighting two pandemics: the coronavirus and racism. During these difficult times, New Castle residents have banded together to stay #CommunityStrong.

At the foot of the Quaker Road Bridge, there have been local peaceful protests and “parades” in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. On June 13, over 100 people committed to sparking change in New Castle attended “A Rally for Change-Stand Up Against Racial Injustice,” an event held by New Castle Against Racism, a group of Horace Greeley students and alumni.

Members of the community created several Facebook pages to combat racism. One, for example, Chappaqua Anti-Racism Dialogue Group: Reconciling Privilege, provides a space for people to educate themselves, their friends and their families, according to the group’s page description.

Additionally, on Monday, August 3, dozens of community members congregated downtown for a peaceful Black Lives Matter march. People marched with such signs as “SAY THEIR NAMES,” “BLACK LIVES MATTER,” and “YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE BLACK TO BE OUTRAGED.”

Also looking to ignite change in New Castle are sisters and former Horace Greeley High School students, Bhavya and Divya Gopinath They collected video accounts from current students and alumni who shared stories about racism they faced within the school district.

They edited the stories into a compilation and sent the video to the Board of Education and Chappaqua Central School District administrators. Said the Gopinath sisters: “It’s easy to turn a blind eye to this and say that racism doesn’t exist in this privileged community, so we made this video, so the stories don’t go unnoticed.”

These efforts to combat racism in New Castle will continue to strengthen this community.

Chappaqua Central School District Superintendent Christine Ackerman sent an email to all members of the district that said, “The events described by our former students are appalling and illustrate why we must continue to take meaningful and deliberate action to effectuate change to address racism in our society. We understand there is a gap between our espoused values and current reality. We are committed to change.”

Bhavya and Divya Gopinath also received an email from Board of Education President Victoria Tipp on behalf of the Board of Education. The Board authorized the formation of a Community Advisory Committee on Anti-Racism, Equity and Social Justice to enact change in the district.

“We believe that these steps will make a significant and positive difference, and we are committed to seeing these actions through as we keep social justice at the center of our work moving forward,” said Ackerman.

Simultaneously, Chappaqua residents have been coping with the coronavirus pandemic and the challenges that the virus presents. However, throughout it, small businesses, families and individuals have found ways to stay strong.

Telehealth Sessions

“In over 13 years of business, we have never faced a more challenging and uncertain time as this past March. What kept us strong was the commitment and passion of our team and the loyalty of our patients. In a matter of days, we were able to pivot the practice to Telehealth,” said Matt Marucci of New Castle Physical Therapy & Personal Training. “This took persistence and ingenuity on the part of therapists and patients alike. We are up and running now with stringent COVID-19 precautions, but we continue to offer the Telehealth sessions we developed back in March. We are deeply grateful for all of the community support we have received during this challenging time.”

Safety First

Another local business trying to provide access to physical activity while also staying safe is Armonk Tennis Club/Armonk Indoor. They modified their protocols with the safety of their clients as their top priority.

“We at Armonk Tennis Club and Armonk Indoor Sports Center realized soon into the quarantine how important sports are to our physical and mental well-being. As summer approached, we knew that people would want to get active again but in a safe manner. The rules and guidelines we implemented showed our tennis players and campers that their safety is our top priority, and the result has been a great summer. We understand that procedures must be modified in the fall as people come indoors, but we’re still excited about providing a safe environment for the community to learn, play, and compete in,” said Armonk Indoor representative Beau Shea.

Ultimately staying safe is a priority for many businesses. Bill Flooks from Beecher Funeral Home said that despite all the special challenges, “We have managed to get this far with Covid-19.”  On behalf of the Flooks Family, he stated: “Keep up the good work, be smart, be prudent, be safe.”

Several area photographers including Donna Mueller, Carolyn Simpson and Randi Childs are still bringing smiles to families’ faces through the acclaimed #TheFrontPorchProject.

Local chambers throughout the area have been sharing news from the county regarding federal and regional grant and loan options, about available personal protective equipment (‘PPE’) and producing e-newsletters to the community in which businesses post their services. The Chappaqua Millwood Chamber most recently launched ‘New Castle Restart’ to fundraise for grants to small businesses impacted.

Reaching Out

Additionally, during the spike in the number of coronavirus cases in Westchester County, community members banded together and rose to the occasion. Individuals and groups made masks for essential workers, those on the frontlines and the immunocompromised. A series of articles for theinsidepress.com spotlighted these extraordinary efforts.

There was also never a shortage of pizza and other welcome meals distributed to front line health care workers at local hospitals and to first responders thanks to an extraordinary response to a Chappaqua Moms fundraiser.

The Food Pantry at the Community Center of Northern Westchester donated over 7,400 pounds of food and necessities to those in need since late March according to Reverend Martha Jacobs, Senior Minister at the First Congregational Church in Chappaqua.

To stay community strong during the thick of the coronavirus pandemic, people searched for ways to help.

“I am deeply grateful to serve such a caring and engaged community as ours.  While we clergy are used to checking in on our congregants, I have been humbled by the number of congregants who have turned the tables and reached out to inquire how we staff members are holding up,” said Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester Jonathan Jaffe. “Similarly, we were overwhelmed with offers by individuals seeking to volunteer and help in any way possible.  Such moments underscore the sense of covenantal relationship within our community.”

Smart, Agile Community

New Castle Town Supervisor Ivy Pool is impressed by the leadership she has seen both at town hall and among the residents.

“New Castle is a smart, agile community that has time and again demonstrated our leadership in a range of areas. The coronavirus cluster that occurred at the HGHS graduation and related events was a wakeup call for all of us. To defeat the outbreak, we needed to come together as a community and double-down on our social distancing efforts and enforcement,” said Pool. “The outbreak didn’t happen just anywhere–it happened in New Castle, a community of leaders and achievers who were determined to do something.”

Determined to stop the spread, Pool and the rest of the town board passed the first local legislation in the state that required people to wear face masks whenever social distancing is not possible.

“With this new law in place, our police officers have a tool to enforce social distancing, and our community has responded beautifully to our calls to “mask up!” said Pool. “Coming together in the face of adversity is who we are; leading by example is what we do. We are #CommunityStrong.”

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: #CommunityStrong, Armonk Indoor Sports Center, Beecher Funeral Home, Bhavya and Divya Gopinath, Black Lives Matter, Community Strong, COVID-19, Food Pantry of Northern Westchester, Horace Greeley High School, leadership, Masked, Masks, Mental health, New Castle, New Castle Against Racism, New Castle Physical Therapy, Pandemic, Quarantine, Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, Reverend Martha Jacobs, safety, sports, Supervisor Ivy Pool, Telehealth Sessions, Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, Tennis, Town of New Castle

Armonk Indoor Sports Center: A Great Place to Brush Up Your Tennis Skills & Other Athletic Pursuits

March 8, 2019 by Deborah Raider Notis

On any given day, carloads, even busloads, of people, young and old, are arriving at Armonk Indoor Sports Center. Because at Armonk Indoor Sports Center, the sports season never ends. With two bubbles, Armonk Indoor Sports gives baseball, field hockey, football, lacrosse, and soccer players a year-round turf field to compete and hone their skills all under one roof.

“This is one of the most versatile facilities around,” notes Stuart Smith, the Director of Sports Programs at the Center. “We cater to everyone, from birthday parties for two and three-year-olds to activities for senior citizens. This is a great place to come in and get active, whether you’re playing on the turf or on the tennis courts.”

On the other side, in the second bubble, Armonk Indoor Sports Center’s premier tennis facility affords players their own space on which to perfect their game. Since the early 2000’s, Armonk Indoor Sports Center has been training tennis players and giving them a competitive edge. Offering everything from development programs for juniors and adults to competitive league play, Armonk Indoor Sports Center caters to every potential tennis player. Additionally, Armonk Indoor’s tennis boasts five of the most effective tennis pros around, including Kevin Anderson, who is ranked as the fifth best tennis player in the world.

Armonk Indoor Sports Center, along with its sister facility a few miles down the road, Armonk Tennis, offers players a total of eight indoor and 10 outdoor tennis courts at the two locations. Armonk Tennis, one of the oldest tennis facilities in Westchester County, employs five additional tennis pros.

These facilities are home to the Armonk International Tennis Academy, run by Kevin’s brother, Greg Anderson. Their program, the Armonk International Tennis Academy Pathway offers a Beginners course at Armonk Tennis. Players graduate to Armonk Indoor Sports Center’s more competitive program. “Throughout the program, we are not only teaching tennis, we are building athletes,” notes Facility Manager Lisa Marie Bastardi. “We take our youngest players and foster their athletic growth, giving them a home throughout their junior tennis career and often times preparing them to play in college.”

The adult program includes high intensity clinics, a variety of USTA teams, and ample court time for open play. “We encourage tennis to be a family sport, helping everyone to achieve their individual tennis goals,” says Bastardi.

Tennis Pro, Webster Munyenyembe, who has worked as a High Performance and Ten & Under Tennis Professional for the past four years, believes that Armonk Indoor and Armonk Tennis’s program is an ideal environment for tennis lovers to achieve their goals. He has several suggestions to players who want to brush up on their tennis skills.

1. Work on your backhand.

Backhand strokes can be key in competitive match situations. Whether you use a one-handed or two-handed backhand, technique is the secret to mastering the backhand. The most powerful backhand strokes are most effective when the player’s body does more of the work than the racket. There is almost no swinging in a powerful backhand, and to master this technique, improve accuracy, and generate topspin, players should do repetitive drills.

2. Work on your serve.

To practice serving, try playing an extended game in which one person serves for the entire game. The “server” only gets one serve or loses the point. This is a great way to build up serving stamina, and after playing a few games this way, serving will become second nature.

3. Work on your footwork and line drills.

The most effective way to improve your footwork is to jump rope. Jumping rope helps people to improve balance and build stamina. Munyenyembe believes that this activity is essential to improving concentration.

4. Work on volleys and doubles skills.

If you are interested in playing high school tennis, playing an effective doubles game is essential. Learning how to move efficiently and effectively on the court prepares players to be on the attack. Skilled doubles teams are in the right place at the right time and can readily intercept a shot to back up a partner. If players practice moving forwards, backwards, and side to side together on the court, they will be more in sync.

5. Join a group lesson.

Munyenyembe feels that this activity has multiple benefits for junior players. From building social skills to competing with peers, group lessons also give players a chance to observe others’ techniques.

Ultimately, enjoying the game is essential to a great tennis match. And Munyenyembe thinks Armonk Indoor and Armonk Tennis both “strive to maintain a fun atmosphere,” making these facilities ideal for a competitive yet fun experience.

Filed Under: Health and Wellness with our Sponsors Tagged With: advice, Armonk Indoor Sports Center, Athletic training, sports, Tennis, Tennis instruction, Tennis pros

Primary Sidebar

Please Visit

William Raveis – Armonk
William Raveis – Chappaqua
White Plains Hospital
Houlihan Lawrence – Armonk
Houlihan Lawrence – Briarcliff
Houlihan Lawrence – Chappaqua
NYOMIS – Dr. Andrew Horowitz
Raveis: Lisa Koh and Allison Coviello
Purple Plains
Compass: Miller-Goldenberg Team
Korth & Shannahan
Douglas Elliman: Chappaqua
Compass: Aurora Banaszek
Wonder food hall
Armonk Tennis Club
CPW Vein & Aesthetic Center
Dr. Briones Medical Weight Loss Center
Pinksky Studio
New Castle Physical Therapy
King Street Creatives

Follow our Social Media

The Inside Press

Our Latest Issues

For a full reading of our current edition, or to obtain a copy or subscription, please contact us.

Inside Armonk Inside Chappaqua and Millwood Inside Pleasantville and Briarcliff Manor

Join Our Mailing List


Search Inside Press

Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Subscription
  • Print Subscription

Publisher’s Note Regarding Our Valued Sponsors

Inside Press is not responsible for and does not necessarily endorse or not endorse any advertisers, products or resources referenced in either sponsor-driven stories or in advertisements appearing in this publication. The Inside Press shall not be liable to any party as a result of any information, services or resources made available through this publication.The Inside Press is published in good faith and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in advertising or sponsor driven stories that appear in this publication. The views of advertisers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher’s.

Opinions and information presented in all Inside Press articles, such as in the arena of health and medicine, strictly reflect the experiences, expertise and/or views of those interviewed, and are not necessarily recommended or endorsed by the Inside Press. Please consult your own doctor for diagnosis and/or treatment.

Footer

Support The Inside Press

Advertising

Print Subscription

Digital Subscription

Categories

Archives

Subscribe

Did you know you can subscribe anytime to our print editions?

Voluntary subscriptions are most welcome, if you've moved outside the area, or a subscription is a great present idea for an elderly parent, for a neighbor who is moving or for your graduating high school student or any college student who may enjoy keeping up with hometown stories.

Subscribe Today

Copyright © 2025 The Inside Press, Inc. · Log in