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Please consider a visit to to the Making Strides Boutique on Saturday, October 21, 10 a.m., to 3 p.m., hosted by Houlihan Lawrence, 45 South Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua. There will be a raffle to purchase for prizes generously donated by area merchants, as well as a one-week stay at White Gate Cottage on Block Island. Come meet vendors displaying their wares, including jewelry, handbags, children’s gifts and more. Jeanne Coon from the Houlihan Lawrence, Chappaqua office is leading the effort.
For the residents of Armonk, the cool weather can only mean one thing: Frosty Day is right around the corner.
Now in its seventh year, the winter spectacle has become an annual town staple, ushering in the holiday season with style and flair. Originally conceived by North Castle Historical Society Vice President Ed Woodyard as a Winter Walk and Tree Lighting in the Park, it morphed into Frosty Day in 2010, when the NCHS decided to recognize the contributions of New Castle resident Steve Edward Nelson. Nelson, who penned the lyrics to the snowman’s iconic anthem while he lived in White Plains, was a frequent visitor to Armonk and Nelson’s love for the hamlet is said to have provided inspiration for certain moments within the song. The “Village Square”–which Frosty “runs all around… with a broomstick in his hand”–is supposedly referencing the Bedford Road Historic District, while the town’s first police chief, John Hergenhan, inspired “traffic cop [who] hollered, ‘Stop!’”
“Because of these connections, [we thought], ‘Why not ramp this thing up?’” explains Robby Morris, President of Friends of Frosty, Inc., the not-for-profit organization in charge of planning the day’s events.
“We took it from a small little winter walk, into a full-out Disney production of ‘Frosty the Snowman,’ with costumes and activities galore.”
That they did–and this year promises to be no different. The day-long extravaganza kicks off with a host of activities throughout the downtown area, including train rides, face painting, a hot chocolate tasting, and the return of “Build-A-Frosty.” “From decorating a cupcake to creating an ornament from scratch, we’ve got something for everyone,” says Morris, with a smile. He also notes that Frosty himself will, of course, be visible throughout the day, spreading holiday cheer by posing for photos and giving warm hugs.
He’ll also anchor the main parade event, which commences on Old Route 22 and continues along Main Street toward Maple Avenue, before finishing up at Wampus Brook Park. As Frosty passes, he’ll invite all spectators to join the parade to its final destination. “We get almost 40 participants each year, from cars and floats to marching bands and other groups,” Morris continues. “They all come together, and It’s a lot of fun.” From there, the day culminates in the park with the original Tree Lighting ceremony, wherein Frosty will pull switch and set the park aglow.
As one would probably imagine, it’s a huge undertaking for all involved. “We probably work six months on this one-day event,” Still, Morris acknowledges the payoff simply can’t be beat. “It brings out the best in our community,” he says, noting that local businesses take in upwards of 300 visitors throughout the day. The fact that around 60 percent of them are coming in from out of town is another plus, as it not only boosts town vibrancy, but provides out-of-towners “good exposure to what Armonk has to offer” and may hopefully entice them to return in the future.
“The whole thing is at no cost to anyone,” explains Morris, adding that all expenses are covered through local sponsors, including Breezemont Day Camp, White Plains Hospital Medical and Wellness, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Hickory and Tweed, and The Bristal Assisted Living.
There’s indeed no “official” cost of admission, but the event does act, in part, as a fundraiser. As part of their Winter Warmth project, “Help Frosty Help Others,” members of Friends of Frosty, Inc., encourage attendees to donate winter clothing (jackets, hats, mittens), which will be distributed to a local charity following the parade. Bins will also be available prior to the event, at area schools, restaurants, and the North Castle Public Library. “People can drop items in as they walk through,” says Morris. “Anything is appreciated.”
While the lights and razzle-dazzle are indeed alluring–especially with the added bonus of the hamlet’s connection to the famed lyricist–Morris is quick to stress the true importance and meaning behind all the flash. “It’s a great event for that time of year where you’re giving back,” he says, with a broad smile.
He’s happy to report that year after year, the Armonk community never fails to deliver, and “when you’re watching everyone come together and get involved,” he says. “It’s a wonderful thing.”
The seventh annual Frosty Day Parade will be held November 27 from 12 to 5 p.m. in the Armonk Town Plaza. For more information, including schedules and sign-up sheets, please visit www.armonkfrosty.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBBY MORRIS
Matt Smith is a writer and regular contributor to The Inside Press. For further information or inquiry, please visit www.mattsmiththeatre.com.
By Heather Skolnick
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season for many. Thanksgiving triggers autumn images of softly falling leaves and a feeling of chill in the air–a sure sign of what’s to come weather-wise. It signals the beginning of the holiday shopping season for those in retail with a daily countdown to Christmas or Hanukkah. And for many, it evokes memories of meals and unique traditions that encircle the meal. These Thanksgiving traditions can be pretty wide and varied.
As a child, my Thanksgiving traditions were pretty straight forward–extended family came to eat. And eat we did. We enjoyed turkey with the standard carbohydrate-laden fixings, and enough desserts to satisfy the sweet tooth of a small nation. The meal was not complete until we all suffered from indigestion–all before 7 p.m. It was what we did before the meal that was different. Each year, my father and I awoke earlier than most on a holiday, put on sweats, and took a short drive to a neighboring town. We then participated in a local “Turkey Trot”–a five-mile run in an attempt to help offset the meal we’d be eating a few hours later. That was our tradition.
My husband’s family didn’t believe in the “Turkey Trot”–instead, Thanksgiving was all about football. Neal, his brothers, cousins, dads and friends all got together to play a serious game of touch football. The colder, wetter and muddier it was outside, the better the game. While their game would end before dinner, the trash talking around that game could last an entire year. Area resident and brother Lyle said, ““We would even keep track of records, from most touchdowns, consecutive games with a reception, best play, to worst mistake, and most times ‘giving in’!” Building on the football theme, after playing, they would all return home and begin watching the football games on TV before indulging in their meal.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a popular tradition for some. Chappaqua resident Lisa McGowan has a deep rooted tradition of going every year with her family that began when she was a child. She and her family spend the night before in the city, and begin heading to the festivities at 6:30am to secure their spot. She says about the parade, “Now that my children are older, it’s no longer about the characters. The thing that is constant no matter their age is that it’s about being together, family and tradition–rain or shine.” Lisa is dedicated to the tradition, having gone in years when the weather was spring like as well as rain and snow!
Signaling the official start of the holiday shopping season, Black Friday shopping has long been a tradition for some. Amazing short-lived deals often abound on that day with stores opening early and staying open late. Eager to squeeze an extra shopping day in before the holidays, shopping on Thursday evening has more recently become an option. Many big box retailers and shopping centers are now open for post-dinner shopping.
Let’s not forget our local stores, many of whom offer great deals after Thanksgiving too! Best of all: Shopping local offers the convenience of holiday shopping nearby without the hassle of maddening crowds.
Volunteering is a wonderful way to enjoy the spirit of Thanksgiving while enjoying some quality family time. One option is to spend part of the day together, helping to provide a meal for others. Neighbor’s Link coordinates a food drive in anticipation of the holiday. Susan Aarhus spoke to me about what Neighbor’s Link provides to the community. She shared that on the actual day, they provide a full Thanksgiving meal and a full bag of groceries to take home. Area resident Nitasha Kumar said of her experience volunteering with the Westchester Basket Brigade last year, “My son along with three other kids had so much fun running around counting and setting out the boxes. But what hit him most was when the head coordinator talked to the group about the mission of the organization….bringing food to homeless. He then realized that there are others who are not as fortunate as we are.” What a wonderful way to spend the day.
While many think of a nice home cooked meal for Thanksgiving, another option is dining out. While many restaurants are closed for the holiday, some do remain open for those of us who are not so inclined to cook and many also provide catered take out options to eat in your own home.
The common theme threaded through all of these traditions can clearly be identified as spending quality time together as a family and/or with those who are most important to you. So whether you are a traditionalist in your Thanksgiving approach or not, remember that Thanksgiving is about being surrounded by those who are important to you and appreciating the moment.
Heather Skolnick is a New Castle resident along with her husband and three children. She works for a retailer designing their Omnichannel Process and Systems.
Photos by Mike Feist
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Editor’s Note: The snow had not yet arrived on Saturday, December 7th; it seemed Old Man Winter was giving our downtown another reprieve and tipping its hat to an autumn that dazzled and was intent on dazzling some more with reasonable temps and clear skies. Well, thank you Old Man…the day’s morning to dusk roster of activities brought residents with their families out of their homes and into the streets to appreciate everything from an ice sculpting–sponsored by Desires by Mikolay for the Chappaqua Millwood Chamber of Commerce–to resident caroling, a Community Sing featuring scores by the Chappaqua Orchestra, holiday tunes by the Chappaqua Singers and a Horace Greeley High School choir, who continued to entertain visitors outside the Horace Greeley House too, preceding the New Castle Historical Society’s annual Holiday tree lighting. Special thanks go to Mike Feist, a senior at Briarcliff high School, for his generous time and his great eye in capturing these holiday images for Inside Chappaqua Magazine.
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