The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Armonk

Friends of the North Castle Public Library Presents Author ZIBBY OWENS on October 12

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October 12, via ZOOM:

Zibby Owens, author of the very moving and timely Bookends; A Memoir of Love, Loss and Literature, moderated by award-winning screenwriter, playwright and author of This Is Not a Pity Memoir, Abi Morgan.         

Zibby Owens has become a well-known personality in the publishing world with her infectious energy, authenticity and steadfast support of authors.  She is a podcaster, author, CEO, and mother of four. Zibby founded Zibby Media which includes Zibby Books, a publishing home for fiction and memoir, Zibby Mag, a literary lifestyle destination, and Zibby Audio, a podcast network, which includes her own award-winning daily show Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books. Named “NYC’s Most Powerful Book-fluencer” by Vulture, Zibby is a regular contributor to “Good Morning America,” a media personality, and an avid essayist.

But after losing her closest friend on 9/11 and later becoming overwhelmed by motherhood, she turned to books for help.  Zibby soon fell in love with a tennis pro turned movie producer who guided her away from type-A perfectionism, food issues and grief. What unfolded was a meaningful career, a great love, and a voice, now heard by millions of listeners.   

To register for this event, go to:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/author-talk-with-zibby-owens-author-of-bookends-moderated-by-abi-morgan-tickets-404768753237

Please consider donating to the Friends of the North Castle Public Library to support its exceptional programming:  www.friendsncpl.org/donation.html

News Courtesy of the North Castle Public Library

The Celebrated Armonk Outdoor Art Show Celebrates SIXTY with a Special Emphasis on StoryTelling!

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One of the many hallmarks of this town, and one of the best reasons to live here, or visit here, is the opportunity to attend the beloved Armonk Outdoor Art Show! This year’s show has ‘special’ written all over it as it marks the show’s 60th anniversary, after all. The Art Show is a fun experience for all ages and get ready, get set… it’s happening October 1st and 2nd!

The newly appointed director of the show, Nicole Blum stated: “People have told me they moved to the town from the city because of the art show.” There is something for everyone of all ages: there will be children’s activities such as clay workshops, drink and food vendors, and artists of all different mediums will be represented. Some food vendors will be Captain Lawrence serving beer and wine, DeCicco & Sons serving salads and sandwiches, Penny Licks dishing out ice cream, Fortina doing pizza and burgers, and several more! Expect a return of the Byram Hills High School tent too–a really fun spot where many local talented high schoolers proudly display their artwork.

Ultimately, the show is about the artists! This year, expect about 140 different artists–many favorites are returning and exciting new ones are debuting for the first time.

Artist Michel Delgado.

The Armonk Outdoor Art Show is a nonprofit event that raises money for the Friends of North Castle Public Library, Inc. For over 60 years, the money raised thanks to the show has been earmarked to help support our local library’s programs, theater groups and to build upgrades for Armonk and North White Plains locations. All the work is performed by volunteers and that holds a special place in the town’s heart too because, as Blum noted, “it is a small-town community event put on by the community.”

To help celebrate 60 years, a special exhibit with the theme called Art of Storytelling will be offered for the first time. The artists were told to use a book as their canvas and create a piece of artwork. The instructions were very open-ended, the idea being to leave it to the artist’s creativity to interpret the theme. Artists may deconstruct, reimagine, or recycle a book in any way they want, for example. The theme is aimed to help highlight the work of the foundation and that of the Friends of North Castle Public Library, Inc.

As Blum said: “Authors take you on a journey–it’s an escape. The same is true for art: artists take the viewer on a journey.” Many people may think art is very different from reading, however both mediums engage the viewer in a pleasurable, memory making experience. They will be unveiling the Art of Storytelling pieces on September 29. The works will be auctioned that same night, but the show’s producers will not be passing them along to the winners until after the art show. First, a tent at the show will display all the works of the exhibit.

To help raise money for the Friends of North Castle Public Library, Inc, and gather momentum for the upcoming show, the art show had also set up a tent set up during the Fol De Rol. There, anyone who donated a minimum of $35 received a tote bag as a “thank you”. The tote bags are “bright, cheerful and a great way to show support for the art show,” said Blum. The tote bags were designed by local artist Rachel Forman, who is a co-chair of the Art Show! Thankfully, they are still available for purchase! For those who are interested in receiving one, please email info@armonkoutdoorartshow.org or check the link at the Armonk Outdoor Art Show on Instagram.

The Armonk Outdoor Art Show requires enormous behind the scenes work and love to help it run smoothly. With over 32 committees, the considerable effort of all the volunteers pays off handsomely to help make it an event at which the whole community can come together for an enjoyable time. As Nicole Blum said beautifully, it is a day of “wonderful feelings of tradition and excitement.” So come on out and browse gorgeous art pieces, consider a purchase that can complete your home, all the while enjoying your friends and neighbors, and of course, any of your favorite treats!

For more information and to keep up with all its awesome plans, please visit, armonkoutdoorartshow.org, or check them out on any of your favorite social media.

The Art Show’s tote bags.

Surviving and Thriving in a Hamlet’s Pandemic: How Breezemont Rose to the Occasion

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The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world entirely. Across the globe, we saw people take initiative and ensure the safety of others with the use of masks, social distancing, and other protocols when the pandemic was still young. However, as time had passed and quarantine mandates began to lighten, there was a call to action for a safer sense of normalcy. Armonk, just like the rest of the world, faced the pandemic head on. Restaurants were only dining out, stores had limited space for consumers, and (almost) everyone wore masks. In a time of uncertainty, our town managed to come together and place the health and well-being of Armonkians above all else. 

In particular, the extraordinary initiatives put in place by places like the Byram Hills School District (which has been reported on here in a previous issue), and at Breezemont Day Camp (the focus of this article) were perfect examples of how any institution could take strides to help manage in a pandemic, even thrive, and help others thrive.  In the fall of 2020, the pandemic was at one of its many peaks.

With more people falling ill, there was a push for things to return as they once were…

Schools began to teach in person again, but the risk of exposure was high. As a way of making ends meet, Breezemont set up  up day care for children of teachers within our district! Within this facility, there were rooms students could take online classes, a playground for recess, and various other utilities that allowed these children to have a good time even if the world felt bleak. Although it might not seem like much, this opportunity allowed for those children to return to a sense of normalcy for the time being. Amongst the chaos of this pandemic, it was a trying time to be alive. Though options were slim and everyone had been waiting for a vaccination, these children could experience somewhat of a regular classroom experience. Within the nurturing walls of Breezemont, these children grew, experienced a once and a lifetime pandemic, and made friends with others they wouldn’t have met otherwise. 

Working amongst these children during this time was extremely valuable, personally. Seeing how the pandemic had affected people from ages 10 to 12 allowed me to step back and look at this pandemic from a different perspective. Most notably, I saw how their relationships developed with one another; most of them came into this program not knowing the other kids who were involved. Some had siblings, but others didn’t. Watching them adapt to their environment and create friendships with strangers was not only endearing to watch, but provided an escape from the daily dread that resulted from the  pandemic.

I remember when I was working with one of the children, it had been their first day, and it was scary. Being placed in an environment where you know no one can be intimidating, so being able to provide a sense of comfort to those kids made it all worthwhile.

As a community, Armonk came together and that type of unity is what got us through the pandemic. Without each other, who knows what would have happened.

Armonk Fire Chief: “The More Volunteers, The Better”

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Photos Courtesy of the Armonk Fire Department

The Armonk Fire Department is one of a handful of fire departments in Westchester County which combine fire and EMS services into one department – which makes regular recruitment efforts indeed critical. With that dual role in mind, Armonk Fire Chief Carlos Cano stressed the importance of regularly recruiting volunteers with varying schedules to efficiently serve the town.

“The more volunteers you have, the better,” Cano said. “Then you have a variety of people that work in different fields, and their schedules are different, so it becomes easier [for the department] to cover calls.”

Already, Cano says that the department has had to hire a paid EMT to cover weekdays while most volunteers are busy with work or other commitments. This shortage of work makes finding volunteers with varied availability even more important.

For the most part, however, Cano says that the Armonk Fire Department has been faring very well as far as recruitment. The department consists at the time of this writing of over 20 EMTs including one who just joined this summer.

“We have people who come in that want to become either EMTs or firefighters, and sometimes our fire guys serve as ambulance drivers and run it as attendants and catch a little bug; they say, ‘you know what, I can do this,’ and they become EMTs,” Cano said. “Or vice versa, we have some people who come in as EMTs and go on fire calls, then think, ‘that looks like fun’ and they want to take a fire class.”

The department, he shared, sees upwards of 1,100 emergency calls per year, averaging to three or four calls per day. Cano calls it “demanding,” but the more volunteers who can respond to calls, the better.

Interested? Here’s what to do ‘Next’

How then can one become a volunteer firefighter or EMT? Cano says that there is no prior experience required for those who are interested in becoming members, and that the department provides training for whichever path volunteers choose to follow.

“You can take the Firefighter 1 class at the training center in Valhalla or sign up for an EMT class at one of the different venues where it’s offered,” he explained. “For firefighting, once you become a member, we will help you or tell you where to go. You can also sign up for updates from the county, and then every time there’s a class offered, you’ll get notified via email to come in for a class. The same goes for EMTs.”

Firefighter 1, the training course for firefighters, amounts to roughly 137 hours of training. For EMTs, Cano says the training is closer to 210 hours. These are typically completed on two or three nights during the week and occasional full days on Saturday for about four months total.

To enroll for a volunteer role in the department, visit the department site, armonkfd.com, for an application. Or consider talking to representatives from the department first at one of their popular outreach events such as EMS Week or Fire Prevention Week. These are announced via posters hung up about town, and on social media.

Fire Safety Lessons in the School District

The Armonk Fire Department has also worked with some of the Byram Hills district schools to emphasize the importance of fire safety measures in the home for Armonk families. Cano says that schools will sometimes bring kids to visit the firehouse and learn from the firefighters.

“When I do those tours for the kids, I use those 45 minutes to talk to the parents and educate them about us, because a lot of people think that we’re a paid department. We tell them that we’re always looking for people, and if you want to volunteer, here we are!”

Other ways that the department reaches out to the community and promotes safety in the home is through free CPR courses on the first Thursday of each month led by H. C. Crittenden Middle School nurse Julie Gallagher. Classes take place at the firehouse from 7-9 p.m.. The classes themselves are free and it’s $22 to purchase a certification card from the American Heart Association. The email to register for CPR training is cpr@armonkfd.com.

As far as volunteer work with the department itself, Gallagher shared a similar sentiment to Cano regarding balancing outside commitments. “Although it is a volunteer position, most of our members spend between 10 to 20 hours per week responding to calls, training with other members, and cleaning and inventorying the apparatus,” she said.

“Everyone has a ‘pay job’, so it can be a very tricky balance,” she continued. “Often, the time commitment to the fire department eats into our home lives because emergencies happen at all hours of the night and day. Our spouses and family members need to be very understanding! Most EMS calls last an hour, but a working fire could keep you away from home the entire night!”

‘A Second Family’

Working together so often, and in such stressful conditions, makes for a unique bond between members of the firehouse. Gallagher feels that the relationship is like “a second family.”

“We work together helping people, their homes and local businesses and to do this, we need to work as a team,” she explained. “Firefighting and EMS are jobs that you cannot do single-handedly! No-one can lift a patient onto a stretcher or put out a fire by themselves. We truly need each other to take care of emergencies. We trust each other with our lives, because many situations that we are involved in are dangerous. When you join our fire department family, you should be open to making new friends, learning many new skills, and doing physically demanding work as a team.”

Indeed, the Armonk Fire Department emphasizes the role in protecting one’s community and picking up new skills on their website, noting that you can expect “a little hard work, a strong sense of community, the benefits and excitement of learning new skills and… a desire to help neighbors in a time of need.”

Members of the Armonk community interested in joining the department can also stop by the firehouse on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. to watch their weekly cleanup and drills and speak to volunteers and firehouse staff about what membership entails.

Armonk’s Pizza Scene Surprises

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Pizza, although a simple dish, can be cooked in a variety of ways. The essentials usually remain the same: marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pizza dough. Universally loved, pizza is ubiquitous fare in many corners of the world.

 In our corner called Armonk, we’re lucky enough to have multiple pizzerias within our small hamlet. From Nick’s Pizzeria to Broadway Pizzeria, each restaurant has their own recipe for the same dish–a regular slice of pizza.

 I, being the investigative journalist I am, ventured out into the streets of Armonk in hopes to find the perfect slice of pizza. On my journey, I came across remarkable slices that were just waiting for someone to review them, and that is where I come in.

 To begin, the first pizzeria I flirted with was Nick’s Pizza and Ice Cream. For $4.16 per regular slice, the individual slice of pizza is ginormous; it’s also a firm slice, which I happen to prefer when eating pizza. Sometimes, when a piece of pizza is too flimsy, it immediately reveals to the consumer the amount of grease in the dish.

 Happily biting into my firm regular slice, I am met with a balanced combination of marinara sauce, cheese, and oregano. The sauce was sweet with a distinct flavor that separated this slice of pizza from the rest. The crust was crunchy, yet soft, which is a very important quality to look for. Bonus points for the air bubbles in the dough; they’re delicious and my favorite part of a slice.

 The next Pizzeria I visited was Amore Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen. This restaurant has called Armonk a home for years. Originally located in Armonk Town Center, they relocated to Main Street and revamped their aesthetic. At Amore, a regular slice goes for $3.94. The cheese and sauce complemented one another nicely. The crust offers a generously saucy bite and adds to the overall flavor combination, leaving the consumer with yet another positive pizza eating experience. Additionally, the slice was a big one, which surprised me. I didn’t realize how often the idea of giant slices of pizza had been visited, but at least you get more out of your purchase that way!

 The grand finale of my town-wide hunt for the perfect slice of pizza ends with Broadway Pizzeria, the heart of Armonk’s Main Street. This slice of pizza, to everyone’s surprise, is yet another successful preparation of a plain slice of pizza., Broadway’s pizza is a cheesey delight–the cheese to sauce ratio is weighed heavily on the cheese side, which can be seen in the lighter coloration of the pizza. The crust was a refreshing reminder of my Italian roots, reminding me that Nonno isn’t the only one who can make a magnificent pizza. Their crust, as always, is light and fluffy. A satisfying finish to a satisfying meal.

 With my research concluded, I can confidently determine that these slices don’t have a clear winner. Each slice of pizza provided a different experience than the last; in Armonk, I did conclude, you can never go wrong with which pizzeria you go to; they’re all delicious!