North Castle Public Library Archives - Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk: The Magazines for New and North Castle

Dave Barry Returns Home to Speak at North Castle Public Library

March 11, 2017 by Inside Press

“At Easter, each person was issued a potted hyacinth, and we’d sing a song that had a lot of “alleluias” in it, and every time we’d get to one, we’d all hoist our pots over our heads. This is the truth. Remember it next time somebody tells you Episcopalians never really get loose.” ”—Dave Barry

Armonk, NY—Best-selling humorist and author Dave Barry returns to Westchester County this spring where he will speak before a live audience in his hometown of Armonk. “Dave Barry: A Homecoming” will occur Thursday, April 6, 2017 at 7:30 p.m., at the North Castle Public Library’s Whippoorwill Hall in Armonk, NY. General Admission is $50 per person. An exclusive reception with the author begins at 6 p.m. Reserved tickets can be purchased at EventBrite.

Barry is a columnist with the Miami Herald. He joined the Herald in 1983. Barry attended elementary and middle school in Armonk, and was voted “Class Clown” when he graduated in 1965 from Pleasantville High School. He received the Pulitzer Prize for his newspaper columns in 1988, and has since written more than 30 books, including the Peter and the Star Catcher series. This past September, he published his latest called Best. State. Ever. A Florida Man Defends His Homeland.

Barry has been called the “Mark Twain of the Baby Boomer Generation.” Often, he writes about childhood and parenting, including his days in Armonk, where he and his family attended St. Stephen’s Church, located in the historic Bedford Road District on Route 22 near Interstate 684. The church is currently celebrating its 175^th anniversary.

Proceeds raised by the Barry appearance will fund capital improvements St. Stephen’s. The church’s parish hall serves as a meeting and service facility for a number of Westchester County non profits, including the North Castle Boy Scouts. The Treasures Consignment store is also based at the hall. Treasures is a significant contributor to the Mt. Kisco Food Pantry.

Copies of Barry’s newest book called Best. State. Ever. will be available for purchase on site. The author will sign books following his appearance.

Area Library Programming you Don’t Want to Miss

March 5, 2017 by The Inside Press

Round up by Beth Besen and the Inside Press

Don’t miss Beth’s story too on how “The Library” remains a vital community resource: http://theinsidepress.com/how-our-libraries-stack-up-in-todays-digital-world/

Briarcliff Manor Public Library

Interested in re-inventing your adult self? Check out “What’s Next In My Life and Career?” Discovering Possibilities after 50 Thursday, March 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m. This program is offered through the Westchester Library System’s WEBs Career & Educational Counseling Service. Thinking of travel to Cuba? Join Our Librarian in Havana: Hemingway’s Cuba–librarians will speak on their recent visit to Havana, Cuba with special focus on American novelist Ernest Hemingway and his time there; Thursday, March 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Additional programming can be found online: http://www.briarcliffmanorlibrary.org/calendar.html

Chappaqua Library

This spring, the Chappaqua Library stage welcomes: Dance educator and Steffi Nossen School of Dance faculty member, Kristina Todd Nelson, on Wednesday March 21 and 28 from 10-10:30 a.m.; Kristina will teach Story Dance as part of the “Story Hour” program.

Additional upcoming stage guests include authors Lisa See and Sebastian Junger. Coming this fall: a month-long celebration of Broadway.

On Thursday, April 6, 7-9 p.m., The League of Women Voters of New Castle forum “Media and Politics: The Impact on our Democracy” will address the impact of these issues on the 2016 Presidential election and on future elections. Moderated by Jeanne Zaino, Ph.D., Political Analyst and Professor at Iona College with Panelists Jon Klein, Cable News and Internet Executive; Jerry McKinstry, Media Strategist and Journalist; and Phil Reisman, Columnist/Radio Talk Show Host.

For more info, visit lwvnewcastle.org

Mount Kisco Library

Popular with so many, craft workshops will again be offered this spring: Earring making will take place on Tuesday, March 14, 4-5:30 p.m.; for every pair made, another pair will be donated to a women’s shelter. Kids from school-age through teen will enjoy making and flying their own Tyvek kites, Thursday March 30, 4:30-6 p.m.; registration required. Home-made rain sticks help usher in April showers on Thursday, April 6, 4:30-6:30 p.m.; registration required. Button snails to decorate a garden on Monday, April 10, 4-5 p.m. Kaleidoscope making on Tuesday, April 11, 2-3 p.m. https://mtklibraryfoundation.org/index.html

Mount Pleasant Public Library

Come see the Pleasantville Children’s Center Art Show, now through Thursday, March 23rd. Ongoing Baby Time, Toddler Storytime and Pre-School Storytime programs continue every week, along with knitting groups, reading groups and ESOL classes; check the library calendar for days and times: http://mountpleasantlibrary.org/en/about-new/events/calendar

North Castle Library

Best-selling humorist and author Dave Barry comes home to Armonk to speak before a live audience in “Dave Barry: A Homecoming,” Thursday, April 6, 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are on sale now online, via phone and, as space permits, at the door; proceeds raised will benefit Barry’s hometown St. Stephen’s Church and the North Castle Boy Scouts. Copies of Barry’s latest book Best. State. Ever. will be available for purchase on site, and the author will sign his books following the event. http://www.northcastlelibrary.org/

Ossining Library

10th year anniversary celebrations began this month and will continue for another six months with an extensive community outreach program–look for strategically located tables set out in the community (park, supermarket, train station) to inform, to engage the public in conversation, and to sign up new residents for library cards. Additionally, Reference Librarian Linda Levine, received a grant from Lifetime Arts for a creative aging special mural art workshop, going on right now. Cultural Program Specialist Carry Cubillos, received a grant from ArtsWestchester for an eight-week dance program that will include Samba, Salsa, Tango, Merengue, May through June.Artist, Shiela Hale of Katonah, is displaying her beautiful creation of book art at the library. The exhibition will be on display until the end of April on the second floor of the library. The exhibit titled “Lost & Found” – Including Scholar’s Desk & Volumes from a Black Library.“I am a lover of books, Shiela says, “…I like to see them lined up on shelves and stacked in towers. I always have one in my handbag and one in my car.”

http://www.ossininglibrary.org/pages/calendar/indexCalendar.html

“Chefs are the New Rock Stars” Series Continues at North Castle Public Library

October 21, 2016 by The Inside Press

Le Bernardin’s Eric Ripert to Speak at North Castle Public Library, Nov. 15

Eric Ripert, chef and co-owner of the renowned restaurant Le Bernardin will be speaking about his new book, “32 Yolks: From My Mother’s Table to Working the Line” at North Castle Public Library’s Whippoorwill Hall as part of the Chefs are the New Rock Stars Series on Tuesday, November 15.

The program will be moderated by Stephen Mancini of Restaurant North. A book signing will follow the event. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the Friend’s website at www.fncpl.org

It’s All Happening at the North Castle Public Library

August 25, 2016 by The Inside Press

By Deborah Raider Notis

The North Castle Public Library is much more than a place to borrow books. It is a hub of exciting, innovative programming. It is a community center filled with opportunity to grow, flourish, meet new people, and to feel an even greater connection to this community.

“We aim to offer totally comprehensive programming with the whole interests in mind,” notes North Castle Public Library Director Edie Martimucci. Martimucci, who has worked in the library system for more than 18 years, has been director of the North Castle Public Library since April 2016. She helps to bring the highest quality of free programming to both the Armonk and North White Plains branches of the library.

The creative, intellectual, and community-enhancing programming at The North Castle Public Library has one other added benefit. Nearly all of these programs are free to the public. For the past 70 years, the funding for many of these free programs can be attributed to the Friends of the North Castle Library. The Friends of the North Castle Library funds special programming that makes the library a greater draw for residents of both North Castle and the greater Westchester area.

They are responsible for the Sunday Music Concert Series, teen programs including a songwriting program, family programs like Family Chess, and various health and wellness programs. The Friends of the North Castle Library also sponsors bi-annual productions of The Armonk Players, a community theater group. Additionally, the Friends of the North Castle Library provided funding for the original library building, Whippoorwill Hall, and various other building renovations. The Friends of the North Castle Library’s annual Art Show, one of the most prestigious art shows in the United States and their largest fundraiser, helps to support many of these programs.

Over the past year, attendance at library programs went up astronomically, but Martimucci is hoping to spur even greater community participation in library events going forward. She has helped to bring diverse programs into the library, including weekly Tai Chi, art history, and Italian language and culture programs, all of which are exceptionally well-attended. This year, the North Castle Public Library also added weekly Bridge lessons.

North Castle Public Library Director Edie Martimucci

For the younger set, the North Castle Public Library offers everything from yoga for mothers with children ages one to four to sewing to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) programs. According to Megan Dean, Director of Youth Services for the North Castle Public Library, “We are looking at the future of libraries. Thus far libraries have been all about circulating books.

Now we are looking at different programming and circulating other materials that allow for exploration and trial and error. We want to find new things and ways that the library can contribute to the community.” To that end, the library has added maker programs, science labs, Photoshop and print-making programs for middle schoolers, and 3-D printing workshops for middle and high school students. These programs meet once a week and typically have between 10 and 20 participants.

Dean has also started a program through which maker kits are circulated for two weeks to library members. With so many options, Dean hopes to encourage more members of North Castle’s younger community to become active at the library.

Knowledgeable instructors, including Pace University professor Val Franco and Alka Kaminer, who runs a weekly Chair Yoga class, give these programs even greater appeal.

“We have quite a few independent teachers who love to teach and enjoy our library community,” states Martimucci. Unique programming, like cooking classes sponsored by the White Plains Hospital in conjunction with the library and the Sunday Music Concert Series, has been a significant draw, and both the “A Taste of Sinatra” and “Love Songs of World War II” concerts packed the house with approximately 175 attendees each.

Martimucci has great aspirations for the library for the coming year. She hopes to build the library’s academic reputation, making it an educational hub for the North Castle community. Adding four-week continuing education classes, on any topic from history to science, is a high priority for Martimucci.

“The library should open up endless possibilities. I want to help to incite people’s desire to learn.”

She would also like to implement an annual community spelling bee. Structurally, she wants to reconfigure the rooms throughout the Armonk branch to allow for programming. “If we create more dedicated spaces, programming won’t interfere with studying,” notes Martimucci. She hopes that this will encourage even greater participation in programming.

But most importantly, Martimucci wants input from the community. She encourages people to provide the powers that be at the library with their ideas and feedback.

Go onto the library’s website and submit suggestions to the virtual suggestion box. And show up. The North Castle Public Library is a phenomenal resource that is open to the whole community.

Whether you’re interested in nutrition, cooking, physical well-being, music, academics, science, youth programming, or the arts, the North Castle Public Library has something for you.

Deborah Raider Notis lives in Westchester with her husband, four boys, and her dog. She is the co-owner of gamechangernow, LLC (gamechangernow.com), a free referral service connecting Westchester families to instructors. You can find Deborah’s writing for the Inside Press and on suburbanmisfitmom.com.

55th Annual Armonk Outdoor Art Show: Coming Soon!

July 22, 2016 by Inside Press

To Benefit the North Castle Public Library

Saturday & Sunday, September 24 & September 25, 2016 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Rain or Shine.

Ranked one of “The Top 50” Fine Art and Fine Craft Fairs in the US by Art Fair Sourcebook and named among the top “Fine Art and Design Shows” in the New York Metro Area by Sunshine Artist Magazine, the 55th annual Armonk Outdoor Art Show will continue its long tradition of showcasing a fresh and diverse array of art.

Over 185 juried artists from 33 states, Israel and Canada, will be featured, with 46 new artists added to the show this year. A broad spectrum of mediums to suit every taste and budget will be on display, including painting, mixed mediums, printmaking, drawing, pastels, sculpture, photography/digital art, wearable art, and fine crafts.

Above and below water view of an American alligator.

This year’s show will feature free guided tours, emerging artists, and fun-filled, kid-friendly activities. We will once again offer free personal consultants, trained in fine art and home design, who will help visitors find and select art that best fits their taste and decor.

There is ample free parking on site, as well as a diverse food court.

The North Castle Public Library presents free events for the public to enjoy at
Whippoorwill Hall, 19 Whippoorwill Road East, Armonk:
– Thursday, September 22 at 6:30 p.m.: Classical pianist Janine Knox de Nigris.
– Friday, September 23 at 7 p.m.: Film titled “Beltracchi: The Art of the Forger” with
commentary by LIU professor Valerie Franco.
– Saturday, September 24 at 8 p.m.: Jazz legend Charlie Lagond & Friends.

The Art Show is sponsored by Friends of the North Castle Public Library, Inc., and net proceeds benefit the town’s libraries. Admission price: $12.00, $10.00 for seniors or with coupon, children under 18 free. Sorry, no dogs allowed. For further information, as well as discount coupons, visit www.armonkoutdoorartshow.org. Day of show call: 914-806-6307

205 Business Park Drive, Armonk, N.Y. (Exits 3/3S off Route I-684). Ten miles north of I-287 and I-95, 5 miles from Merritt and Hutchinson Parkways, 20 minutes from the Tappan Zee Bridge.