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Armonk

Five Things to Do in Armonk This Spring

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Wampus Brook Park is the perfect location for a picnic this spring.
Wampus Brook Park is the perfect location for a picnic this spring.

By Andrew Vitelli

Get outside.

We won’t hold it against you if you spent the winter avoiding the cold outdoors at all costs, but with spring almost here there’s no excuse for not taking advantage of Armonk’s beautiful parks and magnificent nature. First, make the most of the spring weather with a hike at the Betsy Sluder Nature Preserve off Old Route 22. “It’s undisturbed nature,” explained North Castle Recreation and Parks Superintendent Matt Trainor. “So we go in there and clear out debris if we have to, but all in all you’re really just going in there to take a walk and take in the scenery.” If lounging in the sun is your goal, Wampus Pond is the perfect spot. “We just had our brand new Gazebo put up over there,” Trainor said. “So when it gets warmer it’s a great place for a picnic.” After Memorial Day, rowboat rentals are available. If your goal is to play some ball this spring, the John A. Lombardi Park and IBM Community Park in Armonk are your best bets.

Learn about the town’s history.

If you’ve never been to Smith’s Tavern, it’s a great place to start. Built early in the 18th century, Smith’s Tavern was nearly burnt to the ground by British forces during the Revolutionary War. It was successfully defended by local Patriot militias, and has withstood all the changes of the 240 years since.

Tours of historic Smith’s Tavern begin in April.
Tours of historic Smith’s Tavern begin in April.

“A portion of Smith’s Tavern predates the American revolution,” said North Castle Town Co-Historian Sharon Tomback. “Patriot forces marched in what is now the parking lot. French troops marched right in front of the Tavern, down Route 22.” The site also gives children an opportunity to see how previous generations lived, Tomback explained. “There was no pizza or deli or grocery. Where did those families get their food? There was no electricity–no cable stations, no internet, no electric lights. What did they do? There was no shopping mall. How did they get their clothes and shoes?” Tours of the site begin in April. Other historical sites worth visiting include the Bedford Road Historic District, The Middle Patent Rural Cemetery on Bedford-Banksville Road, and the Elijah Miller House in North White Plains.

See a show.

Forget about Broadway; you don’t need to leave the Hamlet to enjoy great theater. For example, The Armonk Players recently performed a reading of One Night With Fanny Brice. The Small Town Theatre’s The Other Side of Now, a series of six short comedies written by Westchester residents, is playing March 12 and 13. Small Town Theatre will also be performing a staged reading of Lanford Wilson’s Talley’s Folly on April 15, 16, 22 and 23. Next, Hudson Stage Company will perform Rajiv Joseph’s Animals Out of Paper. In May, see the on-stage stars of tomorrow in Lighthouse Youth Theatre’s production of Urinetown, which will be performed May 20 and 21.

Join the Easter Egg Hunt.

The Town of North Castle hosts two of the biggest Easter Egg Hunts, both free and held on March 19, the week before Easter Sunday. The first, at 10:30 a.m., is held at Armonk’s IBM Community Park while the second, at 12:30 p.m., is held at Clove Road Community Center in North White Plains. More than 7,000 toy eggs will be hidden in each location, and last year the events drew close to 400 children each. “When we give the signal, when we say go, all the kids can run into those areas and grab the eggs,” Trainor, the Recreation Director, explained. The events are geared for children between kindergarten and fifth grade, and eggs will contain toys, treats or prize tickets.

Take a Class.

It’s always a good time to learn something new, and the Armonk and North White Plains libraries hold a number of classes for children and adults. On the schedule for March and April are classes in Italian language and culture, world history, art and Tai Chi in Armonk and English, Yoga and Mah Jongg in North White Plains. For children, classes range from Gaming and Lego Club (Armonk) to Crafts and No-bake Cooking (North White Plains). For a complete class schedule, visit the libraries or visit northcastlelibrary.org.

A Westchester native, Andrew is guest editor of Inside Armonk magazine.

Byram Hills Senior Discovers Planet 119 Light-Years Away

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Byram Hills student Dominick Rowan was a nalist in the 2015 Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology, presenting his research to a panel in Washington, D.C.
Byram Hills student Dominick Rowan was a nalist in the 2015 Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology, presenting his research to a panel in Washington, D.C.

By Brian Donnelly

Are we alone in the universe?

It’s a profound question that has inspired countless science fiction thrillers, star gazers and, of course, 17-year-old Dominick Rowan to discover a planet 119 light-years away. “Exoplanet detection is kind of on the forefront of astronomy research,” he said, explaining that an exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star other than the sun.

Yes, this Byram Hills High School senior and Authentic Science Research Program standout is on the forefront of the forefront; a place that, unlike space, is particularly finite. “It’s kind of a little outside my grasp sometimes to think that, ‘Wow, there’s astrophysicists all over the world looking for planets and I just happened to find one,'” he said, his self-assured tone contradicting his overall youthful sentiment. “In that sense it was a happy accident.”

Intellectual Integrity Wins

Accident or not, it’s impressive. Just ask his teachers. “He’s confirmed my belief that age is not a limitation in accomplishment and that hard work and intellectual integrity win out over almost everything,” said David Keith, director of Byram Hills High School’s Authentic Science Research Program. “Here’s a kid who for all intents and purposes shouldn’t be able to do this level of work at his age, and he did; and he does.”

The program is a three-year science elective course in which students pick a topic, identify and work with a mentor in a related field and produce an original piece of research. The model has caught on in high schools across the country in the last decade, but Byram Hills High School was way out in front, launching its program in 1989.

“This is one of the very first organized science research programs,” Keith touted, “and after it became accredited by the State University of New York well over 100 districts adopted this curriculum. So, while everybody adds their own flavor and changes it to suite their district’s needs, a lot of the schools started it based on the idea put forth by Dr. [Robert] Pavlica. it was an ingenious concept.”

Pavlica founded the program with just one student and used the methods he learned as a Ph.D. candidate in biochemistry at St. John’s University to structure the program, according to a 2001 New York Times article. In its 27-year history the program has produced 96 semifinalists and 18 finalists in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search. That includes five semi-finalists this year: Sela Berenblum, Kevin Chang, Lyndsay Siegle, Sarah Tang and, of course, Rowan. He was also a finalist in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology in late 2015 and presented his research to a panel in Washington D.C. Both competitions offer scholarship money to finalists.

Keith became director of the program, named for its founder, in 2005. Since then, the program has doubled in size with 100 students participating this year. “One of the goals of this kind of program is that, if you’re successful, by the end you’re teaching your teachers,” he said. “That’s a very compelling idea for a student… How wonderful is it to be 17 years old and be able to say, ‘I know more than my teachers about this subject and maybe for a brief moment I was the only person in the world who knew something; who had discovered something.”

When students enter high school they can apply for the program, a process that differs by school district. “We actually have been somewhat unique in that we never consider a student’s grade performance as a final indicator as to whether they qualify or not,” said Keith, who is certified to teach physics and earth science. “It’s really up to the student to engage their own passion in science.” He continued, “For Dominick he came in already having a very strong passion for astronomy. He knew that he loved the physical sciences so he was an easy student to facilitate.”

In his sophomore year while searching through some suggested topics, Rowan came across articles on exoplanet research. “It wasn’t really a lot of work,” he said. “It was more of exploring an interest.” The more he dug up on the topic the more sophisticated his project became. “I wanted to look at planets’ habitability to see if planets would be suitable for life as it is on ours,” he said.

To do that he used statistical analysis to identify planets similar to Jupiter in other solar systems. In the formation of this solar system Jupiter’s migration towards the sun and then back out into its position presently served as a vacuum cleaner and got rid of a lot of debris that could’ve impacted and destroyed the earth, Keith said. Rowan added that discovering how common that is in other solar systems can help determine how common earth-like planets would be and, therefore, how common life is.

One day he noticed a Jupiter-like planet that hadn’t been referenced previously. “The numbers weren’t lying to me,” he recalled. The planet hunter brought the discovery to his mentor, who confirmed it.

“I love the fact that this lucky accident happened to him,” Rowan’s biology teacher, Stephanie Greenwald, said of his discovery. “He is such a humble, endearing young man and was genuinely excited every step of the way.”

For his contribution, Rowan’s mentor, Dr. Stefano Meschiari, made him lead author on the research paper, which was published in late January in The Astrophysical Journal.

“To me it’s not about the age, it’s about the research,” he said, expressing a hope that their research will help further research on the commonality of other solar systems. “Because I think that anyone in my position, anyone who has access to the science research program could have utilized their tools in the same way I could have. And a bunch of students are with other projects.”

In addition to the other four Intel semi-finalists, seniors Brian Singer and Ryan Infante are two more examples of that success. They are two of the four finalists in the country for the American Academy of Neurology Neuroscience Research Prize.

Byram Hills seniors (left to right) Dominick Rowan, Lyndsay Sie- gle, Sarah Tang, Sela Berenblum and Kevin Chang, were named Intel Search seminalists.
Byram Hills seniors (left to right) Dominick Rowan, Lyndsay Sie- gle, Sarah Tang, Sela Berenblum and Kevin Chang, were named Intel Search seminalists.

“I think the spreading of science research as a curriculum like this to as many schools as possible, even though it may reduce the number of awards that we can get as one school, it’s just so right.” As for the Haverford College-bound Rowan, Keith said he is an “example of things going right in public education, and parenting.” While his planet has been labeled HD32963b–not his first choice–his father, Mike Rowan, seems to think he’ll get another crack at it someday.

“It looks like he’s found something that he’s really interested in and will put all his energy into it,” he said, supporting his son’s aspirations to become an astrophysicist. “And I’m sure he’ll make something out of it and in the end maybe he devotes his time to research and pursuing this and we find another solar system to live in.”

Brian Donnelly is a freelance reporter and public relations specialist. Born in Mamaroneck, he has lived in White Plains and Cortlandt Manor.

 

Spotlight on Armonk Chamber President Neal Schwartz

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And his Efforts Devoted to Helping Local Businesses Thrive

Mr. Schwartz prepares for First ursdays.
Mr. Schwartz prepares for First Thursdays.

By Stacey Pfeffer

All the merchants and businesses in town seem to know Neal Schwartz, president of the Armonk Chamber of Commerce. He can be spotted at monthly Chamber meetings or patronizing a local coffee shop. What is it about this man who has changed the business landscape of Armonk? Inside Armonk got to sit down with Schwartz and hear how he hopes to make Armonk synonymous with fun while preserving town traditions that help local businesses flourish.

A Westchester native, Schwartz is the owner of College Planning of Westchester, an Armonk-based business that helps students locally and throughout the county with tutoring, ACT/SAT preparation and college counseling. He and his wife, Dr. Arlene Schwartz, an optometrist and owner of Hartsdale Family Eyecare, have lived in Chappaqua for the past 26 years with their three children. Neal Schwartz also heads up the Northern Westchester Business Network, which provides him additional experience in running a successful chamber.

Schwartz has been involved with the Chamber since opening his business in 2004. He clearly remembers one fateful meeting in 2010 as a turning point for the Chamber, which he said was about to disband until he volunteered to take on a leadership role as President. “It was a case of: If you’ll do it, I’ll do it.” Schwartz formed a fully operating board with four of his fellow Chamber members, knowing the importance of having a team in place that could take responsibility and implement changes to benefit the business community and town. In retrospect, “it was very cool because we didn’t know if the Chamber would continue but we [ultimately] decided we have to commit to this and to the town.”

Schwartz pulls out a photo from several years ago when the Chamber was in its infancy. “The only thing the chamber did consistently a few years ago was to have sidewalk sales. There was a brochure to recruit members and there was about one networking event a year. There was no central board or consistency over time. The website was primitive and did not have any potential to quickly communicate to members and the community,” recalls Schwartz.

Fast forward five years and the Chamber has evolved into a roughly 100-member-strong organization with a clear vision and updated website. “The Armonk Chamber of Commerce, under Neal’s direction as president, has dramatically upped its game,” noted Stacy Wilder, the membership liaison at the Armonk Chamber of Commerce. “We have brought in many new members and helped them connect with our community by sponsoring a number of successful events. First Thursdays, the Donut and Cider Festival/Jamie’s Race for Love and the Citizen of the Year outing/dinner give exposure to local businesses through sponsorships and participation, and bring consumers into Armonk.” In addition, the Chamber supports other widely anticipated events in Armonk such as the Frosty Day Parade and the Armonk Outdoor Art Show.

“One of the things I’ve learned along the way is that there are actually more Chamber members that are not on Armonk’s Main Street than there are on Main Street,” said Schwartz. While the town has several long-standing and well-established businesses on Main Street, there are a host of other service industries and small businesses located throughout the hamlet that are also quite essential to its commercial success.

As a local business owner, Schwartz knows firsthand how being a Chamber member has its benefits. When a plumbing emergency faced his business one morning, he knew exactly who to call –another Chamber member, who gave him a referral for a plumber, who fixed the problem immediately, allowing Schwartz to continue business as usual that afternoon. Schwartz could have checked Angie’s List or another website, but Chamber members provide a valuable trusted support network and often refer other Chamber members for services ranging from painting to plumbing to landscaping. Similarly, at a Chamber meeting, another member had a friend in Glastonbury, Conn. looking for college counseling for their child. Although Schwartz’s business serves primarily Byram Hills and other Westchester-based high school students, his company helped that student with Skype and other online tools. “When you are part of the Chamber, you are ‘in the know’ and we can truly help each other’s businesses grow.”

e Schwartz Family (L-R): Stacie, Jodi, Arlene, Zachary & Neal
The Schwartz Family (L-R): Stacie, Jodi, Arlene, Zachary & Neal

“I joined the Armonk Chamber of Commerce three years ago and was immediately made to feel very welcome,” said Gordon Josey, the owner and director of Breezemont Day Camp. “It’s amazing how much work Neal and the board does to make the Chamber work. He leads in not a self-serving way but looks out for what is best for Armonk and its small business owners.”

Skip Beitzel, owner of Hickory & Tweed, noted, “Under Neal’s leadership, I feel like a Chamber groupie. Neal has helped pull together a core group of volunteers that affect a lot of things for many merchants and small businesses here in Armonk. We finally have a reason for being.”

“The Chamber has been so supportive of me,” said Connie Petrovich, owner of Armonk House Restaurant. “Their members were checking on me during construction and once I opened. We’ve even had a monthly Chamber meeting at my restaurant.”

Race participants at the 2015 Cider and Donut Festival
Race participants at the 2015 Cider and Donut Festival

One of Schwartz’s main goals as Chamber President is to draw customers to town and ensure Armonk is a place where families can shop locally and have fun. With the opening of
Armonk Square, Schwartz and the Chamber decided to create First Thursdays, offering art, music, in-store promotions, dining and wine tastings in downtown Armonk that occurred the first Thursday evening of each month from June through September. “Each month we learned something about how to improve the event the following month.” The event was so successful and well-received that the Chamber will expand it to five Thursdays this summer spanning from May to September.

Schwartz is keenly aware of Armonk’s heritage and what makes the town unique. “Years ago there was a cider mill on Old Route 22 that people throughout Westchester and even New York City would come to for decades with their children to taste doughnuts and drink cider. We wanted to create another event that was fun for the family so we decided to have a Donut and Cider Festival in the fall.” The festival is now combined with Jamie’s 5K “Run for Love,” a race that is held in memory of Jamie Love, a Byram Hills cross country student who passed away while studying at the University of Vermont of an undetected heart ailment. The number of race participants has increased in recent years and spectators and residents alike enjoy the donuts and cider post-race.

Another Chamber event that has grown in popularity is the Armonk Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Golf Outing and Dinner at Whippoorwill Club. “The event used to be a golf outing exclusively for Chamber members but we [the Chamber] decided to start honoring an individual who has a long-standing commitment to the betterment and enrichment of the community and open up the event to the public,” Schwartz explained. “This year’s honoree is interior designer Susan Geffen, who has been instrumental in bringing theater to the North Castle library, the planning of the Armonk Outdoor Art Show and serving on numerous town boards.” The 2016 event is scheduled to take place on May 23.

Jamie’s Race for Love 2015 participants line up for donuts at the Cider and Donut Festival.
Jamie’s Race for Love 2015 participants line up for donuts at the Cider and Donut Festival.

One of the highlights of the town is the annual Frosty Day parade. Schwartz reminisces, “During a Chamber meeting, one of our members mentioned that the ‘Frosty the Snowman’ songwriter was from Armonk. We brainstormed and nurtured the Frosty Day idea.” Although a separate group, Friends of Frosty, organizes the event now, the Chamber first brought the idea to fruition and still supports it. “The greatest thing about Frosty is that I was walking in Armonk Square at a First Thursday event this past summer and this dad goes to his child, ‘That’s where we stood for the parade.’ Want to talk about a local hometown memory?”

Echoing Schwartz’s comments about making memories, Wilder adds, “The Chamber aims to create memories so that people will continue to come back and keep their shopping and services local.” With Schwartz’s leadership and the Chamber hard at work with the business community, look out for more memory-making in Armonk on the horizon.

Stacey Pfeffer lives with her husband and three young children in Chappaqua.  While she loves shopping in her hometown, she can often be seen frequenting stores in neighboring Armonk.

Taking it to the Top

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Andrew
Andrew Vitelli

As a lifelong Westchester resident, I grew up just a short drive from the Hamlet of Armonk. But working on this edition of Inside Armonk–my first as Guest Editor of the magazine, after writing for Inside Chappaqua, the Inside Press flagship publication, in years past–has allowed me to give the Hamlet a closer look.

Armonk features some of the best of what makes Westchester such a unique county. A picturesque suburb set in the beauty of nature, Armonk has historical sites dating from pre-Revolutionary America alongside scenic trails through the woods. Employees at one of the world’s largest corporations can conveniently take their lunch break at any of a number of independent restaurants without leaving the Hamlet.

In my first issue, I’ve tried to find topics that reflect what makes this community so unique. The issue has several features on North Castle living, or relevant to it, from how to choose the best summer camp for your kids to raising pets to the work of the North Castle Beautification committee. And with Spring just around the corner, I’ve pulled together a roundup of some engaging things you can do this season without leaving the Armonk area. It also profiles two teen residents who, though too young to legally buy alcohol, have notched some pretty major achievements in the fields of theater and science.

Also, we went right “to the top” to give you a sense of the personalities strongly influencing the directions of  this town, and because we thought both these individuals could share more of what makes Armonk “tick.”  Be sure not to miss the interview with Neal Schwartz, president of the Chamber of Commerce, who has worked to bolster businesses throughout the downtown. And our cover story profiles North Castle’s town supervisor Michael Schiliro, who explains what he’s doing to spur the town’s growth.

As a relative newcomer to the Armonk community, it was wonderful to find that I could quickly develop a sense of connection to and instant fondness for this bucolic area so many here are very fortunate to call home. I hope to continue to unearth stories in future editions of Inside Armonk that bring readers feeling ever closer to their town and to their neighbors. If there’s a story you think would fit inside future editions of Inside Armonk, I’d love to hear from you. Write to Andrew@insidearmonk.com.

From Armonk to Broadway: One Recent Grad’s Journey

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How Alexander Baron is making waves in the theater world
By Lindsay Hand

alex 1We all have dreams of making it big and doing what we love. Here in Westchester, many kids are fortunate to have the fun and exciting experience of being in a show, whether through school or community theater, but only a select few are able to turn it into a career. For Armonk native and current Penn State freshman Alexander Baron, however, that dream has come true.

Discovering the NYC Theater Scene

Though he never dreamed of being involved in theater when he was younger, while at Byram Hills High School, Baron discovered a passion for the production aspect of the business. Rather than studying for finals, Baron wrote a one-act show and submitted it to the Manhattan Repertory Theatre. The show was accepted, and from there his involvement in New York City theater really took off. “I’m terrible at writing plays and it was the worst show ever, but I loved producing it,” says Baron. “I loved bringing things from page to stage.”

Through this initial experience, Baron was introduced to many successful people involved in theater who have helped him gain experience and discover his passions. One such person is Marathon Live Entertainment president and Penn State Programming Board of Theater member Mike Karns, who “has been able to make me realize how many more options there are in the theater world than just producing,” explains Baron.

Through Karns and Marathon Live Entertainment, Baron had the opportunity to intern at both The Last Ship and Hamilton, two extremely successful recent Broadway shows. In addition, in 2014, he produced his own off-Broadway show entitled Vote For Me: A Musical Debate, which provided him invaluable experience and a new connection in producer Dori Berinstein, a fellow Armonk resident.

She was impressed with him from the moment they met. “Not only was Alex already–at such a young age–a determined, visionary producer,” she says, “but he was kind, warm, articulate and very clearly an extremely smart and focused young man.”

Gotta Dance (and Produce)

Despite starting college, Baron is still working nonstop. He started his own production company called Baron Theatrical Inc., and then truly got his chance when producer Berinstein presented the opportunity for Baron to co-produce Gotta Dance, a pre-Broadway show set for the Chicago stage. The show focuses on a story about the 2007 New Jersey Nets senior citizen basketball team and incorporates music and dance. After a successful premiere in Chicago, the show, directed by Kinky Boots director Jerry Mitchell, is planning on a Broadway debut this Fall. Baron points out how the show “crushes the stigma of age that you’re never too young to dance,” and compared it to himself, stating proudly, “you’re never too young to produce.”

He is fortunate to bring extensive experience to the show, and credits Hamilton in particular with really showing him the power of social media, and he plans to use those ideas “to get the younger crowd to come see the show.” For someone so young he has already accomplished so much, and this fact is not lost on him. “The opportunity has done so much for me and we’re only getting started, and I’m really excited for what the show is going to hold in the future,” Baron states.

He recognizes that he has been incredibly lucky to have some experienced, extraordinary people helping him along and providing him with incomparable opportunities. “As we ramp up for Broadway, Alex’s insight on how best to excite and engage younger theater-goers about Gotta Dance will be invaluable,” Berinstein adds. “I’m thrilled to have Alex on our team and I’m very much looking forward to watching him become a major force on Broadway.”

Alex Baron with Gotta Dance director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell
Alex Baron with Gotta Dance director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell

Looking Ahead

While of course paying attention to his studies and life in college, Baron is highly focused on Gotta Dance. He plans to not only keep producing but also get more involved in the advertising, PR and marketing aspects of the industry. He is co-producing a show headed to Broadway and living his dream, and can serve as inspiration for many young people with similar dreams of working in the theater. There is no doubt that he will continue to grow and become an important part of the New York theater community. “It’s an incredible feeling to open up a playbill and see my name under the title,” Baron adds. “Every second I’m truly grateful.”

Two-time Inside Chappaqua Guest Editor Lindsay Hand is a sophomore at Cornell University.