The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Cider and Donut Festival

Fun & Fitness at Jamie’s 5K Run for Love and the Annual Cider & Donut Festival

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PHOTO BY GARY MUI

Armonk residents of all ages gathered at Wampus Brook Park for the annual Jamie’s 5K Run for Love and the Cider and Donut Festival on September 23rd. The morning kicked off with the run, which had several toddlers racing in the Donut Dash. Older kids got to participate in the McIntosh Mile and runners ages 10 and up raced to the finish line in Jamie’s 5K Run for Love. The race was created in order to honor the memory of Jamie Love, a passionate runner and former member of the Byram Hills cross country and track & field team who died suddenly of a cardiac arrhythmia while attending the University of Vermont.

Every year friends from his former college participate in the race. Rafael Rodriguez from Bristol, CT was one of Love’s friends from college who studied engineering with him. “We were with him the week that he died. No one could believe it. He was like family to us and that’s why I run.” This year the race had 358 participants with some hailing from lower Westchester and others from as far away as Seattle.

After the race, festival attendees had plenty of activities to choose from. Slime making was a hit for the kids as well as the ever-popular train ride. Food trucks as well as fresh apple cider and donuts were enjoyed by many in attendance. Other activities included donut fishing, pie eating contests and listening to live music by Vinyl Countdown. The autumnal weather was the perfect setting for the fun-filled day.

“The Cider and Donut Festival has become a staple of the community,” commented Neal Schwartz, President of the Armonk Chamber of Commerce. Fresh apples and cider are an Armonk tradition, dating back to 1951, when Ed and Mary Schultz opened their renowned cider mill in town. In 1965, they added hot donuts, whose recipe has endured, even after their closing in 2002. Locals still hunger for those memories and get to relive them at the annual fall festival.

“The Armonk Chamber’s Cider and Donut Festival, which includes Jamie’s 5k Run for Love and the Byram Hills Pre-School Association Carnival, has grown to be a local favorite. We give our member businesses and local organizations a chance to interact with the community in a big way. It’s great to see so many families participating in both the races and all the activities. This is what small town living is all about,” noted Stacy Wilder, the Executive Director of the Armonk Chamber of Commerce.

Net proceeds from the event benefitted children’s programs at the North Castle Public Library, the Byram Hills Pre-School Association and the Armonk Chamber of Commerce.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY BURNS BROWN
PHOTO BY GARY MUI
Four-year old Reed Bond of Armonk
won the Donut Dash
PHOTO BY SAMUEL PFEFFER

Jamie’s 5K Run for Love and Cider & Donut Festival

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Yesterday’s autumnal weather was perfect for the annual Jamie’s 5K Run for Love and the Cider & Donut Festival in Armonk. Runners of all ages and carnival attendees had a blast! Sponsored jointly by the Armonk Chamber of Commerce and the Byram Hills Pre-School Association.  Photo coverage by Stacey Pfeffer and her son, Sam!

Records Broken for Trio of Events at Chamber’s 2017 Cider and Donut Festival

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‘Twas a fun and mega successful day at Wampus Brook Park bringing together 350 walkers/runners for Jamie’s 5K Run and a record-breaking crowd on September 17, according to Stacy Wilder of the Armonk Chamber of Commerce. Some 1600 donuts were sold “with plenty of apple cider to wash them down with,” she added as families turned up with good cheer to enjoy old fashioned fun at the Chamber-spon-sored Cider and Donut Festival which included the Jamie’s 5K Run for Love, and the Byram Hills Preschool Association’s carnival rides and activities too. All the activities took place at beautiful Wam-pus Brook Park. An array of merchant sponsors made the day possible. Visit armonkchamberofcommerce.com for more info.

From the start of the races ‘till the very last one, supportive cheers and waving banners encouraged the runners braving warm, humid temps. At the race, the male winner was: Kevin Harvey from Fairfield, CT, with a time of 16 minutes. The women’s overall winner was Sydney Durand from Brighton, Massachusetts, with a time of 19 minutes and 26 seconds. – Grace

PHOTOS BY GRACE BENNETT

Beascake Donuts…of course!

A Trio of Family Fun “Must Dos” on Sunday September 17 at Wampus Brook Park

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Runners of all ages come from near and far to participate in the run and fun!

This year’s ever popular Cider and Donut Festival and Jamie’s 5K Run for Love are joining hands again with the Byram Hills Preschool Association (BHPA) Carnival for a day of unbeatable family fun. Be sure to save the date, Sunday September 17th, all through Armonk’s Wampus Brook Park, from 9:15 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A Preschooler Enjoying a Ride
PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY ROSNER
Donut heaven
by Beascakes of Armonk

“It’s just good old fashioned fun and with Jamie’s Run and the Carnival, we are engaging the community more and more each year,” noted Neal Schwartz, Armonk Chamber President. “It’s great to see how this Cider and Donut Festival has evolved over the years and become a favorite ‘must go to’ event.”

Sponsored by the Armonk Chamber of Commerce, it’s an all morning and into the afternoon time of festivities and a great cause to support.

The race is in memory of Jamie Love, a BHHS track star. Runners/walkers and fun seekers come from all over to celebrate Jamie’s memory and enjoy an old-fashioned country fair. There will be carnival rides, live music, a pie eating contest, food, cider and hot donuts from Beascakes! Local merchants will provide fun, free children’s activities. For details, and to register for the 5k, go to armonkchamberofcommerce.com. Race price goes up the day of the event.

Highlights

For the runs:
9:15 a.m.: Donut Dash (ages 2-8)
9:25 a.m: McIntosh Mile (all ages)
10:45 a.m.: Jamie’s 5k Run for Love
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.: The Chamber Festivities and BHPA Carnival Run