The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Byram Hills Alumni

Margaret Cunzio: Committed to Making a Difference in Westchester

by

Margaret Cunzio
Photo by DONNA MUELLER

Mount Pleasant County Legislator Margaret Cunzio is on call for the Thornwood Fire Department. She’s been a volunteer there for over four years, awarded the “Chief’s Award” in 2023. But as she carefully listens to see if she is needed for emergency calls that come in, she graciously and openly discusses why she spent her life in Westchester County, dedicating herself to education and public service.

Cunzio, a 25-year resident of Mount Pleasant, grew up in North Castle, attending Byram Hills schools. “Byram Hills was much smaller back then. It was a small town feel before social media and the internet – we all knew each other and had our passions and hobbies,” says Cunzio, who worked in the Byram Hills School District as both a teacher and administrator.

Cunzio also graduated from Iona College and has degrees from Fordham University, Pace University, and Mercy College. “I’m a true Westchester-ite. I think it’s important for people to see that they can have a future in Westchester. We have so many opportunities here,” says Cunzio, who is an extremely approachable and familiar face at local farmers’ markets, attends all Mount Pleasant Eagle Scouts and Girl Scout Gold award ceremonies, and volunteers weekly at the Mount Pleasant Senior Center. She’s always available to her neighbors and constituents.

In addition to her work on the Board of Legislators and as an interior firefighter for the Thornwood Fire Department, Cunzio is a former elementary school teacher and administrator, a fitness instructor who teaches everything from Barre and yoga to Pilates and running, and a current professor in Iona University’s Education department. “I’m from a learning family,” Cunzio noted affectionately. Growing up, Cunzio was encouraged to ask questions and search for answers. Her mother, a reading specialist and the technology point person in the Yonkers school district, and her father, who owned a local towing business in North Castle, fostered Cunzio’s love of reading and history.

Countywide Activities

Deeply invested in making sure that Westchester County thrives, Cunzio is particularly passionate about issues ranging from mental health and local safety to animal rescue and food allergies. She sits on the executive board of the Pleasantville Rotary Club, worked as the adoption counselor for the SPCA in Westchester and volunteers for multiple animal shelters and rescue organizations, and sits on Pleasantville’s Mental Health Board. She is also a committed supporter of the arts and sits on the boards of ARC Stages and ARTS Westchester.

Cunzio always saw herself as someone who simply “enjoyed helping others” until former County Legislator Sue Swanson approached her and suggested that she run for County Legislator. Swanson, a mentor to Cunzio until she passed away, saw Cunzio as another “no-nonsense problem-solver,” which Cunzio took to heart when she was elected. “I’m a public servant…It’s my job to address the concerns of my constituents, work with my colleagues to solve problems, and help people.”

While Swanson suggested that she run for the position, Cunzio decided to run to implement and improve multiple public safety initiatives, starting with redesigning the Commerce Street intersection in Mount Pleasant. “One of my neighbors was tragically killed walking home from a train station. I saw the police cars at his home and heard his wife break down when she was given the news that he was killed when a vehicle struck him.” Thanks to Cunzio’s initiative, Commerce Street was completely revamped and has crosswalks, lighting, sidewalks, and a new, safer traffic pattern.

Cunzio’s record speaks to her community involvement and commitment. The daughter of a local business owner, she’s a firm believer in supporting local businesses. “If I need a cup of tea, I’m going to Black Cow in Pleasantville. If I want to eat out, I’ll head to Beehive in Armonk.”

Besides the Commerce Street improvements and her notable record of supporting seven balanced budgets, all of which either maintained or reduced taxes, Cunzio supported and initiated legislation to address issues concerning animal advocacy, veterans, lithium-ion safety, and food allergy safety.

Promoting Allergy Awareness & Animal Advocacy

As someone who has managed celiac disease for over seven years, Cunzio is acutely aware of the dangers associated with food allergies. “When I was teaching in schools, principals would always give me the students with food allergies. I knew how to use an Epi Pen, and I was hyper-aware of the potential for cross-contamination of foods.” Co-sponsoring the Food Allergy Restaurant Safety Bill, Cunzio helped to guarantee that Westchester restaurants have staff members trained in food allergy safety.

Cunzio is a mom to two dogs and three cats, but she is also a committed legislator who passed Westchester’s strongest ever animal welfare laws. Besides fostering puppies and cats, she has transported over 270 animals from the Outer Banks to Westchester and found them homes. She sponsored the county’s Dog Anti-Tethering Law and teamed with the Westchester District Attorney’s office to strengthen the Animal Abuse Registry and giving animal control officers greater investigative powers.

“This role is a big responsibility. I’ve been given a gift to help people in this position. I’m trying to do my best to leave a positive impact on the world,” says Cunzio, who supported economic boosts like capping the collection of county sales tax on gasoline purchases in past summers and suspending the county sales tax on home energy expenses in past winters. Cunzio is greatly respected for working with members on both sides of the aisle and County Executive George Latimer to positively impact Westchester County.

A Visit to Yad Vashem

Cunzio’s positive impact can be felt globally as well as locally. Cunzio believes a global education is key to building an open-minded, well-informed society. “We need to focus on education. It’s important to know the facts so that people can better understand what is going on in the world.” After the October 7th terrorist attack on Israel, she traveled to Israel with Latimer to bear witness to the atrocities. As a recipient of the Cornell Fellowship, she is headed to Yad Vashem in Israel to study Holocaust history. “We’re supposed to be one of the more open-minded areas of the country, but we’re not educating our students globally and antisemitism around here seems to be outweighing other areas of the country. Understanding world history is essential to combatting prejudice.”

Cunzio continuously works to support those around her. “My goal is to make a positive difference in people’s lives. That’s what I do through my work at the fire department, through teaching, volunteering, and public service.” Cunzio is dedicated to Westchester, and she’s making a difference.

A Candid Conversation with Actor & Byram Hills Alum, David Harbour

by

BY EVAN & ELISE TRAINOR

David Harbour   PHOTO BY BRIAN MELSO

From helping super-powered teenagers fight off inter-dimensional monsters to heroically saving Christmas as a tattooed Santa Clause, David Harbour has had an interesting career to say the least. In case that wasn’t enough to catch your attention, he’s also portrayed a friendly ghost, a Russian superhero, a formula-one racing coach, and a horned demon from hell within the past five years.

What might be lesser known about Harbour is that he was born and raised in Westchester County, spent a significant portion of his childhood right here in Armonk and graduated from Byram Hills High School in 1993. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with this local celebrity who was nothing but kind and generous when it came to sharing his story and what it’s like to be one of the most highly sought-after actors in the business.

The first thing Harbour emphasized was how this level of fame and success was not always his reality. Ken Harbor, David’s father and long-time Armonk resident, commented, “I was concerned about David’s potential success in acting early on, but came to realize that his definition of success was never based on financial rewards, rather the opportunity to act and help people think and feel, a success which he has always been able to achieve.”

Armonk Outdoor Art Show
ADVERTISEMENT

Prior to his breakout performance on Netflix’s Stranger Things, Harbour spent most of his early career in theaters across New York playing various roles in dramatic – often Shakespearean plays. It wasn’t until his mid-30s that Harbour began to utilize his 6’ 3”, naturally wide frame in more action-based films such as James Bond – Quantum of Solace, The Equalizer, and Suicide Squad. He’s also currently preparing to reprise his role as The Red Guardian in one of Marvel Studios’ upcoming blockbusters, Thunderbolts, alongside familiar favorites like Harrison Ford and Florence Pugh.

Harbour noted, “The transition from stage to screen can be extremely difficult as live/in-person performances offer none of the safety nets a recorded medium would – no retakes, editing, or any other digital enhancements of any kind. I do feel like there’s less control in those cases – but as I get older, I like the cultural power of the broader mediums of film and TV.”

Since the start of the show in 2016, Stranger Things has certainly made the short list of films and series to embody that vast cultural influence. In addition to sparking countless Halloween costumes, board games, corporate partnerships, toys and other merchandise, the show propelled Harbour and the majority of his costars into the mainstream spotlight.

Harbour recalled his first experience ever playing the shows charismatic police commissioner, Jim Hopper, saying, “I felt like there was something so pure about that first season – where none of us knew it was going to be any good and so we were all committed to loving the script, loving the idea – and I just love that character.” That love was palpable and mutually felt across an audience of over 14 million people – earning Harbour a Screen Actor’s Guild Award, a Critic’s Choice Award and countless other nominations.

Harbour’s standout performance and the show’s incredible success played significant roles in keeping Netflix afloat during a time when rival platforms/providers were becoming much more legitimate and competitive. A win was very much needed, and it came in the form of a series that would eventually become the second most watched of all time (behind Game of Thrones which has twice as many seasons/episodes). Now entering its fifth and final season, the show has attracted a massive audience across all ages who are eagerly awaiting the epic conclusion that is currently in production.

I felt it would be remiss to not ask David about his experience hosting Saturday Night Live back in 2019. Often considered a rite of passage for only the best rising talent, this opportunity was, “a dream come true!” he said, “one of the highlights of my life for sure.” For now, we’ll just have to eagerly wait and see if we ever get the feature-length version of his dark, gritty Oscar the Grouch/Sesame Street parody.

We at The Inside Press were very interested in the early years and origins of one of Byram Hill’s most famous alumni. He claimed to have only had a handful of opportunities when he was young, but said, “Once I got to high school, I had the fuel for the fire and was raring to go.”

With specific mentions and anecdotes about his theatre director at the time, Harbour expressed how that exposure to the arts and the stage in high school was instrumental in giving him the guidance and confidence – a huge blessing. David’s terrific successes on stage, screen, and television aside, his mother and biggest fan (known for her Rice Krispie treats sold at school play intermissions) felt that nothing could match his iconic portrayal of Salieri in the Byram Hills High School production of Amadeus.

When asked if he has any advice for the next generation of actors, Harbour explained that the world needs good artists, and that people should not be dissuaded from the profession. “Today people are building brands, which is easy. What’s difficult are the skills, and when push comes to shove in the arts, you will always need a good plumber or a good electrician… there is a lot of technique in good acting,” Harbour said. “If you focus on that as an actor, while it may feel difficult to understand, it will pay off long term in a big way. Hunker down, read the books, go to classes, and study what the great ones do,” he concluded.

With the climactic, heavily anticipated final season of Stranger Things and the next installation of The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on the horizon, both with release dates in Spring of 2025, there’s no telling how high David Harbour’s metaphorical ceiling can go. He’s also secured a role in Sylvester Stallone’s next film, Levon’s Trade, alongside action star, Jason Statham. Wherever his career takes him, whether it’s beating up bad guys or making us sob uncontrollably, you can be sure that we’ll be ready with plenty of popcorn and beaming with pride.

David shared, “I’ve had a lot of fun roles and things that I’ve been proud of, but I actually feel like my best work is certainly ahead of me.”

Evan Trainor grew up in Armonk/also a Byram Hills graduate. Now he is a senior graphic designer/creative strategist/copywriter living in Greenwich, CT.

Elise Trainor is the Associate Publisher/Editor for The Inside Press. A lifelong lover of all media and proud to be content developer and community business collaborator for advertising in our print & online publications.

Three Sure Fire Ways to Succeed at High School

by

Irene Byrne playing varsity lacrosse

Hey everyone! My name is Irene and I graduated from Byram Hills High School this past June. My sophomore year, just as everything was going right, Covid hit. As an extroverted and awkward 15 year old girl (I REALLY wanted to be a woman at that point) who was finally coming out of her shell, this was the worst case scenario. How did I manage to turn my junior and senior year into the greatest years of my life so far? Here are some of my tips:

Get a job. 

Getting a job, for me, was a non negotiable from my parents. At the time I was resistant, but I learned three key lessons that improved my life as a student and a person. The first lesson: good customer service is critical. With the rise of self check-outs and automated messages, having good customer service (the ability to talk on the phone, send emails and conduct conversations) can really set you apart from your counterparts. I found my confidence in the classroom immensely improved as well. I could vouch for myself significantly more because of my work experience. The second lesson I learned was to find your strengths and use them. An individual’s strengths are what make you an asset, so if you want to become invaluable, you need to learn how to use them in life and in your career. I tried several different jobs. I learned that I was great at working with children and not so great at wrapping gifts. The final lesson I learned was you have to finish your jobs. This wasn’t school anymore. I couldn’t procrastinate on my responsibilities and somehow pull off an A. The faster I learned this the more efficient I became in school. I was handing in assignments earlier, and I became much more proactive when asking for help. 

Get involved

Okay, so I was the captain of three varsity sports my senior year. Naturally, I encourage athletic activity to everyone. Sports helped me learn to work with others, taught me how to play fair and fostered healthy habits in my lifestyle. I can’t even begin to describe the countless friendships I formed from playing on teams in school as well. Now, for my unathletic readers/friends you can still get involved through clubs or community service! I had a lot of fun in the band, and my friends in theater are always looking forward to the next show (I can proudly say I never missed a winter show). There is no downside to putting yourself out there. You might just discover what you’re truly capable of.

Take Risks

And lastly, coupled with putting yourself out there, is to take risks. This can include talking to someone new, raising your hand in the classroom or even sticking up for someone against a bully. If you make mistakes, who cares? That’s how you learn. The biggest risk I am taking is attending college in Ireland. I knew how much I would have regretted not applying, and if I crash and burn- so be it. Taking a risk to achieve a goal requires courage to face the fear of uncertainty. No matter the outcome, either way, I will grow through the process and become more resilient and confident.

 

Good luck in High School!! Don’t blink. 

 

Byram Hills High School Theater Program Celebrates its Golden Anniversary with New ‘Theater Honors Wall’

by

The entire cast of Les Misérables at Byram Hills High School
PRESTIGE PORTRAITS BY LIFETOUCH

 

For the past five decades, Byram Hills Theater Program has been churning out an impressive array of students who have eventually pursued successful careers in movies, television and stage productions.

Alumni of the program were honored this past March and were invited to partake in an unveiling ceremony of a new Theater Honors Wall displayed outside the high school’s theater.

The ceremony took place before the current theater group’s matinee production of Les Misérables which several of the honorees attended.

Faculty and current members of the theater group recognized 26 honorees–24 alumni plus two former directors of the program and included actor Eddie Cahill of the shows CSI: NY and Friends; Bryce Dallas Howard, one of the leads in the 2015 blockbuster Jurassic World; and David Harbour, who played Police Chief Jim Hopper in the Netflix hit Stranger Things.

They also include producers, lighting designers, composers, arts educators and people involved in regional theater across the U.S. Each year the wall will have additional alumni added to it.

Many of the alumni credit the strong theater program with helping propel them towards a career in the arts. Grant Sturiale (Class of 1975) who attended the ceremony and is now a Broadway conductor and composer reminisced about how he participated in Byram Hills productions every year while in high school under the direction of theater teacher Gene Bissell. Commented Sturiale: “Bissell was a life force in the theater. He directed shows like we were opening at the Winter Garden Theater on Broadway. It imbued on all of us this tremendous sense of responsibility. He was a dynamic man and teacher.”

Byram Hills Theater Honorees stand by the new ‘Theater Honors Walls.’ Alumni (L-R): Grant Sturiale, Christopher Cummings, Michael Cummings, Sobha Kavanakudiyil and Stephanie Failing Saletan with her son
PHOTO BY PUTNAM-NORTHERN WESTCHESTER BOCES

 

Another alumni Christopher Cummings (Class of 1995) who is now an exhibit designer for museums, visitor centers and aquariums loved working under the tutelage of director Joy Varley. “Byram Hills had such strong theater productions and all the shows were top-notch. That feeling of the show must go on and the stress and anticipation of everyone working together left an impression on me.”

Stellar theater productions continue to live on at Byram Hills. The latest show, Les Misérables, under the direction of John Lopez, received thunderous applause and a nightly standing ovation by the audience including, the alumni honorees in attendance.

Inside Press Editor Grace Bennett, who attended opening night, stated effusively, “I’ve seen Les Misérables on Brodaway, and believe it or not, I found this production every bit as enjoyable. Kudos to all the kids, Mr. Lopez and all involved in bringing Les Misérables to Byram Hills.”

She added that “the high caliber show showcases incredible high school acting and singing talent that is so obviously being nurtured at Byram Hills. It was a thoroughly professional, impressive and ultimately, moving evening of theater! I think there were not too many dry eyes. Also, the joy at the cast party immediately following the production was palpable!”

At an opening night party (L-R): ‘Marius’ (Michael Ramsey, ‘17) Eponine (Dominique Karanfilian, ‘18) Javert’ (Shae Gordon, ‘19) Valjean’ (Charles Winston, ‘17)
PHOTO BY GRACE BENNETT

Charlie Winston, a senior who played lead Jean Valjean and who plans to study acting in college noted that “one day he hopes to be on the honor wall like the alumni.” With a little luck and successes like this one, that just might happen.