The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Armonk

Judy Gilmartin-Willsey of Framings Named Armonk Citizen of the Year

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                                         ‘Judy’      PHOTO BY ROSS EAGLE

The Armonk Chamber of Commerce has chosen Judy Gilmartin-Willsey as its 2018 Citizen of the Year. Judy will be honored at the annual Citizen of the Year golf outing and dinner at The Whippoorwill Club on Tuesday, May 15.

If Judy’s face looks familiar, it’s probably because you know her from Framings of Armonk. Judy and her husband Carter Willsey started the business 28 years ago after working in advertising; the timing was perfect because they wanted to be able to bring their young daughter to work with them. Framings was originally housed on Bedford Road, next to the old lumberyard, and moved to a building located on what is now the DeCicco’s parking lot. The business was then resituated to its current location on the corner of Main Street, where its creative and whimsical windows have been adding character and beauty to downtown Armonk for the past 22 years.

Judy, a graduate of Parsons School of Design, likes to be known as a “yes” person and said she feels it’s her “responsibility to do the best work and contribute to the community.” With a reputation for helping out in any way she can, Judy is involved in a myriad of activities. She is a member of the Grace Notes, an acappella group that performs at nursing homes and assisted living facilities (including the Bristol, located in Armonk), libraries, elementary schools and senior citizen centers throughout the area. Over the years, Judy has mentored the dozens of high school students she has hired to work at Framings. In addition, Judy has helped sponsor and promote the Friends of the North Castle Public Library’s annual Armonk Outdoor Art Show and is committed to helping Armonk businesses grow and thrive. She even leaves used frames and other objects outside her store free for the taking. Her energy and enthusiasm for everything she does is readily apparent to everyone she meets.

One of the things that strikes you when you talk to Judy is her wonderful sense of humor; she loves to laugh and make others laugh as well. It’s a little-known fact that Judy selected Framings’ phone number, 273-4242, because it’s also 273-HAHA. The store used to offer a five percent discount to anyone who came in and told a good joke. Judy said she is considering reinstating the practice despite the fact that customers occasionally tried to take advantage of the offer; she recounted with a chuckle the time someone asked if he could get a 20 percent discount if he told her four jokes.

A co-founder of the Armonk Chamber of Commerce, which was started 15 years ago, Judy is also a co-founder of Friends of Frosty. Originally started as a holiday stroll to celebrate America’s favorite snowman, the Frosty parade has helped put Armonk on the map, with over three thousand people attending the parade this past year. The New York State Department of Tourism named it “one of the holiday events not to miss.”

On being named Citizen of the Year, the humble Judy says that she is “grateful on a lot of levels. I am grateful to be in a town that can support a creative business. At first, I was embarrassed when they told me I had won. But now I think it’s fantastic to be in such good company with the other people who’ve been honored. I will take Carter’s advice and accept [the award] graciously.”

Ed Woodyard, the Chamber’s 2017 Citizen of the Year, said, “Judy’s more than 25 years of dedicated service to the Armonk community make her more than worthy to receive the 2018 Citizen of the Year Award. She and her husband Carter exemplify the personal qualities and provide the outstanding service necessary to build strong customer loyalty and a successful business. Her upbeat energy, good works and positive attitude extend beyond the store itself and into the wider community. Whether it’s her riding her bicycle around town, stopping to chat or waving to friends, Judy’s big smile brings a smile to the lives of everyone who knows her. This award is so well-deserved. Honoring Judy honors all of us.” We couldn’t agree more.

For more information and to purchase tickets to the golf outing, cocktail party and events visit http://www.armonkchamberofcommerce.com/ or call 914-273-2353. All are invited to attend the day of celebration.

An Invite to: 2018 Citizens of the Year

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The Armonk Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year–Judy Gilmartin-Willsey and the Armonk Independent Fire Department–will be honored at a Golf Outing and Dinner on May 15th at the Whippoorwill Club in Armonk.

The Chamber described Judy, the owner of Framings for over 30 years, as “a vivacious and endearing presence,” who has also “committed herself to civic life here, as co-founder of the Chamber…  Judy helped create the Armonk Winter Walk in 1991, which evolved into the wildly popular Frosty Day in 2008. She has lent her windows and expertise to the beautification and betterment of the town and its events, including support of the current Chamber of Commerce and the Armonk Outdoor Art Show.”

Current members and long-time veterans of the Armonk Independent Fire Department

“The Armonk Independent Fire Department–its men and women volunteers–are town heroes who have given selflessly over the past 85 years. As such, they are the first organization to receive this honor by the Chamber. All firefighters and emergency responders undertake extensive training, with 140 hours needed to become a firefighter and 160 hours for an EMT. In addition to fighting fires and providing emergency medical care to area residents and businesses, the AIFD also teaches fire safety to community, school and youth groups. Members are required to participate in multi-agency drills in case of large scale emergencies, such as aircraft rescue and triage preparation for medical personnel.

Two veterans and ex-chiefs, John Heimerdinger and Mitch Sime, have more than 120 years of service between them. The department’s first and only female fire chief was Luci Labriola-Cuffe (she is not currently serving in that position). Long-time resident Tommy Cox has been an associate member of the department since elementary school. The current fire chief is Phil Goulet. To sponsor a firefighter’s dinner/tee hole or contribute to the local Stayin’ Alive Charity, register or find additional details, please visit: armonkchamberofcommerce.com.

 

It’s a…Yummy’s Jessica Meyrowitz Takes Knitting to the Extreme

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Photos Courtesy of Jessica Meyrowitz
The first thing you notice when you walk into Chappaqua resident Jessica Meyrowitz’ home office are the plastic bins. Big bins, stacked high, lining almost every inch of wall space. And all of them are filled to the rim with colorful handmade knits that call out to be held and touched. They look cozy. They look warm. They look delicious. They look, well, yummy.

Meyrowitz is the founder of It’s a…Yummy, a company devoted to the creation of handmade throws, pillows, baby blankets, hats, scarves, wraps and belts. But these are not your ordinary knit products. They are made with a specially sourced, 100 percent merino wool yarn called core spun yarn, and they are knit using a technique called extreme knitting. The result is a product that not only looks and feels good, but is durable too.

“I wanted the yarn to feel like a cloud,” she said. “When people feel (the products) I want them to say it’s so yummy … so soft.”

Meyrowitz’ path to launching It’s a …Yummy is as interesting as her products. After graduating from Boston University, she pursued acting in New York City, landing roles in Off-Broadway productions, commercials and television. Though she achieved enough success to support herself, she decided to switch gears when her husband was transferred to Maryland. While there, she worked in radio sales and advertising, eventually opening her own ad agency, called JSM Media, in Washington, D.C. In 2011, her husband Eric accepted a New York City-based job, and her family, which now included sons Jake and Alec, moved to Chappaqua.

“The agency was very successful, but it became more and more of a challenge to go back and forth to D.C. with young kids,” she said. As such, in 2016, she closed the agency and decided to take a break from the working world. To fill her time, she signed up for two classes: a pottery class at the Chappaqua Arts Center and a knitting class at Katonah Yoga.

“I wanted to expand my horizons and do something creative,” she remembered. During class, her pottery teacher encouraged all of the students to look online for project ideas. Deciding to search for knitting projects too, Meyrowitz came across a blanket she wanted to make for her family room. The only catch was the blanket was made with extreme knitting, a method Meyrowitz was not familiar with.

As Meyrowitz discovered, extreme knitting is knitting with very large yarn and large needles. The result is chunkier stitches that are looser than conventional knitting stitches, giving the pieces a distinctive look. Most extreme knitting projects use roving, which is basically what yarn is before it is spun. Though roving is very soft, it is not as durable as traditional spun yarn.

“I wanted to make my blanket with yarn that wouldn’t fall apart,” she said. After calling several yarn stores, she realized that the type of yarn she wanted to use for her blanket was not readily available. She then began calling mills directly to find what she wanted. As she searched, she realized she had happened upon a business opportunity.

“I didn’t start this to make a business,” she laughed. “I started it to make a blanket. But I said to myself, there must be other people who want this big, soft durable yarn.” After doing more research, including visiting local farms to learn more about sheep, shearing and yarn creation, she had developed a plan to source her specialized yarn.

Soon, It’s a…Yummy was off and running. Meyrowitz launched the company in October 2016 on Facebook with three products in 13 different colors. The response was immediately positive.

“The outpouring of support from the Chappaqua and Armonk communities was really special,” Meyrowitz said. By February 2017, Meyrowitz had added several more products and colors to the line.  Currently, It’s a…Yummy offers more than 25 products in 38 colors, as well as limitless amounts of custom options.

Once the orders started coming in, Meyrowitz hired a knitting team to keep up with the demand. The knitting force, as she refers to it, is composed of eight moms, all from Chappaqua and Armonk. Though some already knew knitting basics, she taught all of them the extreme knitting technique. This sparked another idea: offering do-it-yourself knitting kits and knitting parties. Both have been extremely successful; the kits were featured on the Today show’s holiday gift episode, and the parties have morphed into knitting workshops and seminars held all over the tristate area and beyond.

“Knitting is so mindful and meditative; it really gives me joy to teach people because it is so relaxing and easy,” she said. “After an hour knitting workshop or party, you leave with a skill and a scarf. And you will have both forever.”

 

Weaving Together: Armonk Knitting Circle Inspires Women

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Members of the Knitting Circle
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NORTH CASTLE LIBRARY
Camaraderie and creativity are the cornerstones of the Armonk Knitting Circle, a group of like-minded women who bond over a love of fiber arts. “Knitting is meditative, therapeutic. We’ve built friendships with people who share at least one thing in common with us,” says Suzanne Percello, circulation clerk at the North Castle Public Library who helps organize the Knitting Circle.

The group welcomes any age at any skill level. All that’s required is an interest in some form of needlework, such as knitting, quilting, crocheting, and weaving. The Knitting Circle began six years ago when a Westchester County resident posted a thread on Ravelry, a popular social media site for crafters, seeking fellow knitters interested in forming a group near Pleasantville. What began as a handful of women meeting at a local coffee shop now averages 60 members, ranging in ages from 20 to over 45. They meet every Wednesday at the Pleasantville Library in Pleasantville and every Monday and Thursday at the North Castle Public Library in Armonk. Suzanne credits Linda Hellisum, a charter member, for keeping the group flourishing. “She spent many Wednesday afternoons knitting by herself at the Black Cow in Pleasantville. It took several months for people to make the commitment to the group, but once that happened, we quickly outgrew the coffee shop. We went from meeting twice per month to weekly meetings, and have been meeting three times per week for the past two years,” explains Suzanne.     

Art brings people together, and The Knitting Circle is a gathering where members feel comfortable being themselves while  sharing ideas and exploring new techniques. “We keep the conversation light and pleasant.  Knitting in a group allows us to work on our own knitting and offer inspiration for each other.  We teach each other what we know,” she says. “For a beginner, this is a terrific way to build skills and get inspiration in a more personal and intimate way than watching YouTube videos or reading craft blogs. For the person teaching the skill, it’s empowering to see someone benefit from sharing the skills that you have to offer.”      

Janet Eiger, of Pleasantville, has been a member since its beginning when she wanted to refresh her fiber arts skills and expand her knowledge base in spinning. “I knew a lot about knitting but I never knew anyone who could spin so I learned about the different twists of the yarn and how it affected the finished knitting project. This helped inform my yarn choices from the ready-made yarns available. We all learned from someone,” says Janet, appreciating how the women inspire each other.

“When you sit around the table and see what others are turning out it’s easy to tackle a skill you don’t have experience with. If you get stuck there are people to help. People who did that last week and it came out great. Or, you can teach someone who just decided to learn to try a simple cable or more complex stitch and watch the sense of accomplishment when they create something they thought was way beyond their ability,” she says.

“No pressure, no judgments.” Janet appreciates the Zen of knitting. “You can lose yourself in the complexity of it for a while and take a break from whatever you need a break from,” she explains. “It’s an interesting collection of women who have interesting conversations, sometimes about knitting sometimes about anything or everything else.”

Field trips to local events in the Hudson Valley are an added bonus. The group recently attended the Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, New York and six knitters are planning a trip to the Shetland Islands. During the summer, Suzanne organized six Yarn Crawls to over 25 local yarn shops in CT, NJ, and the Hudson Valley. “They’re meant to be fun and educational,” she says. Additionally, some of the members contribute their knitted projects to charitable organizations such as Project Linus.          

Crafting is a fulfilling endeavor. “Women bond with knitting. People enjoy knitting/crocheting because it’s a creative outlet that’s enjoyed individually, yet it unites you to a community,” says Felicia Lonigro, owner of Pick Up Every Stitch, a knitting shop in Mt. Kisco, New York. “The social aspect of group knitting is definitely appealing.  Creativity is nurtured and enhanced and ideas and techniques are naturally shared among knitting groups. Every project is a new adventure and it’s wonderful when the adventure is shared!”

Felicia mentions the popular trends are embellished yarns in addition to hand-dyed and speckled yarns used for ponchos, ruanas, shawls, and cowl head scarves. She notes knitters are moving away from basic scarves and blankets. “They’re working with various stitches on shawls, ponchos, and loose-fitting sweaters in luxurious fibers,” says Felicia. “If they’re knitting a blanket, it’s not ordinary. They’re working in multi-colors, stripes or working with exaggerated super chunky yarn.”     

Knitting offers immeasurable benefits to its paticipants. “It’s an affordable hobby that builds self-esteem. Improved health, social inclusion, networking, and friendship are just some of the reasons we get together as often as we do,” says Suzanne. “I really value the friendships I’ve made because of these knitting groups.”

The Armonk Knitting Circle meets every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Pleasantville Library in Pleasantville and every Monday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the North Castle Public Library in Armonk. For more information, visit ravelry.com/groups/armonk-knitting-circle and ravelry.com/groups/ply.

With the Pinwheel Project, an Armonk Resident Devotes Herself to Helping Others

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Pinwheel Project founder Sandee Martensen with a nurse and her pinwheel cart
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PINWHEEL PROJECT
When Sandee Martensen started volunteering at Westchester Medical Center 15 years ago, she had no idea how drastically it would change her life. An Armonk resident for almost 27 years, Martensen started the nonprofit Pinwheel Project in 2002 to provide support and comfort to children and families in the hospital during a pediatric hospital stay. After a few years volunteering in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Westchester Medical, Martensen branched out and now volunteers at a children’s hospital in the Bronx and provides support at many children’s hospitals in the Greater New York Area. In Martensen’s words, the Pinwheel Project, now equipped with a staff and volunteers, is like “the fairy godmother in the hospital.”

 

How It All Began

During a volunteer shift at Westchester Medical, Martensen offered to get a cup of tea for a mother sitting with her sick son. The mother was extremely grateful, and Martensen realized that this was exactly what she wanted to do, and how much it meant to parents of ill children. She soon found herself bringing tea and coffee to other families, eventually bringing a volunteer cart from room to room in the hospital with drinks and snacks she brought. She happened to see pinwheels at a supermarket, thought they would be fun to put on the cart, and the rest is history.

Martensen immediately fell in love with the work, noticing how necessary these small gestures of kindness and small bits of love were to these families. Working with sick children is not easy, especially when there is a terminal illness involved, but Martensen truly found her calling. “God gave me the grace somehow to be able to deal with it,” she says, “and to let these parents know that their child mattered, that they would not be forgotten, and that somebody cared about them and their family.” The organization focuses on quality of life for these children; Martensen realized that no matter how serious the illness, children need to simply keep smiling. “I’m a big believer in if you keep the spirit up, you have a much better shot at recovery,” she explains. “I can’t cure them, I can only try to make whatever time they have as wonderful as it can possibly [be].”

Bringing “A Little Sunshine”

The Pinwheel Project cart has become “Willy Wonka on wheels” and “transcends all languages, all cultures.” Martensen sees this as a different kind of medicine, and really takes advantage of the opportunity to get to know the kids and their families and do all she can to provide love, support, and comfort to them, no matter how long their hospital stay. For longer stays, the kids are often trapped in a plain white room for extended periods of time; to make this a little less dreary, Martensen started another program within the Pinwheel Project called My Comfort Zone. This program gives kids a budget and allows them to pick out room décor on Amazon, from sheets and blankets to toys and themed decorations, and then has the objects sent straight to the hospital – allowing the program to work anywhere, not just locally.

The Pinwheel Project also provides meal vouchers for services like GrubHub so children who don’t like hospital food but need the calories can eat in addition to birthday supplies and small requests like special necklaces or hats. “When there’s a perceived need, we’re right there to fill it,” explains Martensen. Martensen knows that people want to help and has created a mechanism whereby individuals can make donations and sponsor a child. Hospitals are scary places, and Martensen notes that “we have to put the humanity back into it.” And that’s exactly what she’s doing. Moving into the future, Martensen hopes to expand programming to an extent, while still maintaining a personal level of support.

Martensen pours so much love and passion into what she does, and it does not go unappreciated. She meets these families at what is often the worst, most traumatic time in their lives, and their response to what she does for them has been remarkable. “I get so much love back from them,” she says. “I get so much kindness and so much gratitude.” She has dozens of incredible stories about the joy she has been able to bring to children during such dark times in their lives, from sending a 19-year-old skydiving to decorating a room in a Hawaiian theme. She simply loves what she does, and loves knowing how much it helps people. “It’s 15 years now and I’m still excited every time I walk in,” she explains. “For me, this is where I’m supposed to be. I know that.”

For more information about this nonprofit, visit www.thepinwheelproject.org. Volunteers with special skills such as jewelry making or puppetry are especially needed.