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Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

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At Westmoreland, an Escape from Civilization (But Not from North Castle)

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Inside Armonk June WM pond 3Article and Photos By Andrew Vitelli

It’s hard to hide 640 acres–roughly a square mile–in the woods of northern Westchester. But Westmoreland Sanctuary, located on the borders of North Castle, Bedford and Mount Kisco, is as close to a hidden gem as Westchester nature lovers can hope to find in their neck of the woods.

“It’s not well known,” Ann Paul, the director of the sanctuary, explains. “We don’t have a huge budget or bandwidth to promote a lot of our programming.”

Westmoreland, established as a not-for-profit nature center and wildlife preserve in 1957, isn’t completely undiscovered; there are approximately 30,000 visitors per year to the nature center or on the 7.5 miles of trails which wind around the property. But walking through Westmoreland’s woods gives the visitor a closeness to nature hard to find on some of the area’s more popular trails.

“You have a lot of wooded area, so you have extended, mature forests,” Ms. Paul, who grew up in the Bedford area, says. “We’re not well-groomed. It’s a lot more rugged than some of the other parks.”

At Westmoreland, you may not get the soaring views of the Hudson River or Bear Mountain Bridge that hikers a bit north experience. But the trails, surrounded by thick forest, offer a sense of wilderness that is hard to find elsewhere. Even a short trek into one of the sanctuary’s dozen or so trails feels like an escape from the world around.

“It gives you that wonderful feeling that you’re farther than you actually are from civilization,” explains Steve Ricker, the Director of Conservation and Wildlife Management. “We try to keep our trails away from the edges, too, so you do still get that deep forest wilderness feeling.”

Westmoreland Sanctuary was established in 1957, by Helen Frick, a millionaire philanthropist and the daughter of steel magnate Henry Clay Frick. Some of the property’s most interesting artifacts are much older; two graveyards on the site date as far back as the 1600s, while the building which now houses the nature center and museum is a reconstructed pre-revolution church.

“It’s one of the few buildings that were not burned during the burning of Bedford in 1776 during the Revolutionary War,” Ms. Paul notes.

Westmoreland features the picturesque Bechtel Lake (see above), just a short walk from the parking lot, as well as Lost Pond, which is deeper into the woods. A range of wildlife can be found in these woods, including a variety of birds (including wild turkeys), turtles, frogs, and snakes (this reporter survived two garter snake sightings during a brief walk along the Easy Loop trail). Even bobcats, coyotes and a bear have been spotted roaming the sanctuary. For solo or groups of hikers, the Westmoreland Sanctuary offers trails of varying lengths and difficulties, while the nature center gives hikers a starting point with clean bathrooms and trail maps. But Westmoreland Sanctuary is much more than a series of trails. The sanctuary hosts programming, events, and classes for all ages, part of their mission of connecting children, parents, and the citizenry at large with the world around them.

“In the society we’re in today, a lot of people don’t have this time to come outside and they don’t know what’s safe or not safe,” Stephen Sciame, the sanctuary’s director of education, says. “So if they feel too scared to come out here themselves, they’re not going to bring their kids.”

Westmoreland has an environmental education program that dates back 30 years, developed in conjunction with New York State standards. It’s staff, though small (there are three full-time workers and a part-time bookkeeper), consists of experts with deep backgrounds in their fields. Westmoreland sees around 10,000 students each year, offering summer camps and after-school programs and working with schools and scout groups to bring children to Westmoreland. The sanctuary also hosts birthday parties, and sometimes takes its show on the road to science fairs and community events.

In July, Westmoreland will host an interactive production of The Wizard of Oz, which will allow the entire audience to walk through the sanctuary’s own Yellow Brick Road and meet their favorite characters (auditions were taking place as this magazine went to press). Other programming and events planned for this summer include a Nature Immersion Camp, a Wilderness Survival Camp, and orienteering meets (for an up-to-date list of what’s going on, visit westmorelandsanctuary.org).

Inside Armonk June WM“The idea here for our mission is to get the kids outside,” says Ms. Paul. “For those kids who would not typically get outside and would not typically spend time in the outdoors and in the woods, we’re encouraging their interest in here.”

Westmoreland is looking to expand its adult education programs. Parents who bring their kids, Sciame notes, often know less than their children about the outdoors.

“Nature has a little bit of that fear factor nowadays,” Sciame, an Eagle Scout with a Master’s Degree in Education, acknowledges. He hopes to channel the interest generated among reality T.V. watchers by shows like Man vs. Wild and Naked and Afraid to get fans of these shows to the sanctuary to learn their own survival skills (visitors will not, he clarifies, be naked).

“We’ve been using the hype that’s been generated by society to create survival-based programs, learn a little bit about natural navigation, learn about what edible foods and medicinal foods are out there, and do a quick public program on that,” he says.

Westmoreland, a public charity, is always free to visitors (though donations are accepted). While it spans three towns, it’s not affiliated with any of them. There are 14 members on its Board of Directors, on which Ms. Paul served for 15 years before becoming director.

For the staff at Westmoreland, reaching as many people as possible and exposing them to all the sanctuary and the outdoors has to offer is the ultimate goal. Ricker, who has worked at Westmoreland for 20 years, even makes an annual trip to the Children’s Center of Bedford Hills Correctional Facility with the sanctuary’s animal ambassadors.

“I want people to come and be accepted for who they are, and I don’t know that everyplace you go around here that’s true,” Ms. Paul explains. “I want people to come and do what they want.”

Andrew Vitelli is the editor of Inside Armonk magazine and also an avid, occasional hiker.

STEM Fest Kids Describe their Projects

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Editor’s Note: STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Before this year’s STEM Fest day, held May 14th at the Bell Middle School, the following students volunteered to explain their projects to Inside Chappaqua! Here’s just a sampling of hundreds of projects and experiments the kids have been engaged in. For more information about STEM Fest, visit chappaquaptastem.com

IMG_2836Arnav Roy

Project: Knock Lock

This circuit is a small locking mechanism that opens or locks a box with a specific ‘knock.’ My circuit has a sound sensor called ‘piezo,’ which can sense vibrations as well as sounds. I wanted to build something that I could attach to my room door, so that only I have access to my bedroom. The best part was making the circuits itself, as I enjoy experimenting with circuits. In this project I soldered wires for the first time and that was fun. The hardest part was to get the right knock intensity to fall in an acceptable range of the code. For my future project, I want to work on an app for my Knock Lock.

parabolaGigi Wheeler

Project: Parabolas

I saw a film at the San Francisco Exploratorium about parabolas and got the idea for this project. A pendulum makes a parabola shape. There are all kinds of examples of parabolas in nature. I’m taking pictures of the ones I see and writing about them. I like taking the pictures. When this is over, I might want to study matter, or how dragonflies fly, or what infinity is.

NeelNeel Roy

Project: Coding

I coded a few different programs using ‘Python.’ Every Sunday, I take Python classes at my friend’s house. The best part about this project was creating new programs and playing with all the games that I made. The hardest part about this project was making the game, because if the coding was not right I would get a syntax error. Then I would have to go back again and find the code that was incorrect. In the future, I want to create a really big complicated game using code.

waterTessa Wheeler

Project: Testing for Lead

I had been hearing about the problem with water contamination in Flint, Michigan. My grandmother works in Flint at The University of Michigan’s Flint campus. So she collected some water and sent it to in the mail. It was hard to get it here safely. I then talked with my aunt’s boyfriend who works at the National Science Foundation about the best ways to test for lead. He said that using test strips is a fine indicator for lead presence, so I used that. I tested the water from Flint, Michigan, and thankfully it was negative for lead. I then decided to test some toys for lead. I started by researching what toys had been recalled. I found that one of our toys was recalled for lead. And a toy my sister recently received for her birthday even has a notice on it that it contains lead! I want to make sure kids are not getting toys with lead. For my next project, I want to do a study on the immune system or dwarfism.

HenryWilliam2Henry LePage and William Hollister

Project: A Small Scale Hovercraft

We thought it would be interesting to build transportation that has no friction, because it floats on a cushion of air, and goes really fast. We got the idea for the hovercraft from a book called “How Things Work.” There was a cut away section of the inner workings of a hovercraft, and we decided to figure out how to build a working model based on the picture in the book. The best part of collaborating on this project was working together and using power tools. Truthfully, nothing worked at first. We needed to adjust the weight of the craft and the skirt didn’t seal properly. Then we had to change the height of the fan and make a cage for the fan since we realized the blade could cut off our fingers. The hardest part, by far, was getting the weight down. After the STEM Fest, Henry is planning on building a full scale wooden boat that will broaden his woodworking and CAD skills. William will attend a technology camp this summer, and he has plans to land the first Lego mini figure on the Moon with a model rocket.

Understanding how Enzymes Work

At the Regeneron Exhibit, student Nicole Weyne made and measured glucose (using a glucose test strip) for milk by adding the enzyme lactase. About 200 kids stopped by the hands-on exhibit run by Regeneron volunteers, who are also New Castle residents. Lori Gowen Morton Photo.
At the Regeneron Exhibit, student Nicole Weyne made and measured glucose (using a glucose test strip) for milk by
adding the enzyme lactase. About 200 kids stopped by the hands-on exhibit run by Regeneron volunteers, who are
also New Castle residents. Lori Gowen Morton Photo.

Meet the New York Runner of the Year: Armonk’s Danny Tateo

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Danny Tateo (center) receiving New York Runner of the Year Award with wife, Elena (right), by his side.
Danny Tateo (center) receiving New York Runner of the Year Award with wife, Elena (right), by his side.

By Miriam Longobardi

To be an elite, award-winning runner, one may think it takes years of training and dedication from a young age. Not so for Armonk’s Danny Tateo, winner of New York Road Runner Club’s Runner of the Year.

As a teen, running was never his interest. Instead, Tateo participated in team sports such as baseball and football, mainly out of a search for admiration more than any great love for either sport. He described troubles at home which left him searching for something to boost his self-esteem.

Tateo left college to start his own business and soon after married his childhood sweetheart, Elena. “I knew she always liked me for me,” he said. He attributes the success of their marriage to mutual deep respect and admiration as well as commitment to putting their relationship first. The couple has two children, a daughter, Reese, 13, and son, Morgan, nine.

In his thirties, Tateo began to understand the concept of low self-esteem and recognized his habit of working to convince people that he was smart and successful. Still, he began seriously building up his muscles and admits much of his identity and what he valued about himself was associated with appearance.

At age 46, Tateo began incorporating running into his workouts, but strictly for aerobic benefit to his heart and lungs. He ran three times weekly for 30 minutes, careful not to lose too much muscle mass. “Finally one day I just kept going,” he said. Deciding it was time to grow up and stop trying to make people like him, he continued to run regularly and quickly dropped 35 pounds. “People thought I was sick or something,” he said, though he had stopped caring what others thought. He entered a 5k race in Armonk and finished in 20 minutes. Shortly after, he ran a 10k in Central Park and finished third. “I started thinking, ‘Hey, I’m pretty good at this,’” Tateo said.

Not one to do anything halfway, he began immersing himself in learning about running. He read books about how to train, the physiology behind running and which muscles to build and strengthen to help run faster and more efficiently. “Learn, read, improve,” he said. In his research, he looked up the best runner in New York City at the time and learned it was Paul Thompson. Thompson was ranked nationally and had won Runner of the Year seven years straight. Tateo called and asked to train with him. Thompson agreed and they began meeting regularly in Central Park and nearby Rockefeller Preserve.

“It was a rude awakening!” Tateo exclaimed. “Long runs were hard for me.” Tateo’s average mileage was about 25 miles per week, while Thompson ran about 70 miles per week. “He really showed me the ropes,” he said of Thompson. Within a couple of years of training with Thompson, Tateo had built up his own personal endurance to between 87 and 93 miles per week and continued training. Five years after his first run, he looked up the finishing times of other Runner of the Year winners in various races, and the idea of achieving that goal for himself grew. Tateo researched the criteria.

In order to be considered for nomination of Runner of the Year, one has to run six races of varying distances within the year. Tateo placed first in one, fourth in another, and second in the other four races. To his delight, the New York Road Runner Board nominated Tateo, along with four others in his age group after considering distances, times and best finishers in all qualifying races.

On February 26, Tateo, with his family, joined hundreds of nominees from many running clubs at the Hard Rock Café for a dinner and award ceremony. “It was like the Oscars,” Tateo said. “They call your category and show all five nominees on the big screen. When they announced my name, my family and I went nuts!” A long night of celebrating followed.

The only downside for Tateo was that for more than four years he felt his family paid a heavy price for the training required to achieve his goal. “My family is everything to me. Without them I am nothing, and I plan to show them that through actions, not words.” Thompson asked Tateo to join the U.S. Track and Field team, which competes around the country. “I told him I can’t. My family needs me and they are the only people I will work for, and I will never regret that decision.”

He shared advice he gives to his daughter about goal-setting. “Focus on finding your strength, and formulate a dream, something you think is possible. Put your head down and go. One day you will look up and say ‘I did it!’”

Miriam Longobardi is a freelance writer, fourth grade teacher and single mother of two daughters living in Westchester. A breast cancer survivor, she volunteers for the American Cancer Society, has completed four marathons and travels the world. Follow her on Twitter @writerMimiLong.

A Perfect Vision for Eye Designs

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Jaime and his daughter Alex inside Eye Designs of Armonk
Jaime and his daughter Alex inside Eye Designs of Armonk

Jaime Herman Says Key Focus is Customer Care

By Matt Smith

In constructing one of his better-known sonnets, William Shakespeare wrote, “The eyes are the of the soul.” While it’s obvious the playwright was simply waxing poetic, and not referencing the importance of eye care, the adage still holds relevance in terms of the latter subject–and many present-day eye care professionals can attest to the truth of Shakespeare’s statement. Just ask Jaime Herman, founding manager of Eye Designs of Armonk, who has been in the optical business for the last 30 years.

The Westchester resident, who found himself attracted to the industry “because [of] all the different aspects to it”–from medical to science to fashion–initially began his career as a partner in an eye care shop in New Hyde Park, Long Island, where he worked for 12 years. After a brief two-year stint at another shop in Florida, he found his way to Armonk, where he has managed Eye Designs since August of 1999.

“We bring in eyewear from around the world that show the latest fashion styles and best quality,” he says, when asked what he thinks makes his business the most successful. “Whether it be digital progressive lenses, computer lenses, [or] anti-reflective coatings, we use the latest technology in prescription lenses.” Additionally, optometrist Dr. Janet Woo is on hand at the store for eye exams and contact lens fittings. The shop also has an extensive collection of children’s frames.

And as for eyewear specific to your “summer adventure?” They’ve got you covered there as well! “When I think of the summer, I think of the beach,” he says. “And [in terms of eyewear] that means…a great pair of cool sunglasses with polarized lenses.” Eager to help vacationers–especially men–“look and feel cool” while catching rays this summer, Eye Designs offers a wide selection of sunglasses from such high-end designers as Salt, Oliver Peoples, Mykita, and Maui Jim.

But despite their fabulous offerings, which have no doubt contributed to their longevity in the area, Herman notes that the success of Eye Designs lies mainly in its customer care. “[That’s] really our number one goal,” he comments. “Everything else is secondary.”

And he’s not kidding. A strong proponent of the motto, “See and be seen,” emphasizing the customer’s comfortability level in addition to how they appear, he takes pride in ensuring his customers “look good and leave happy.” Because, after all–and this one really relays the relevance of Shakespeare’s quote to the eye care business–he views eyewear “as a portrait of someone’s personality.”

“[For] the people who need to wear glasses, they’re such a big part of [these] people [and who they are] personally,” he says. “If someone’s wearing glasses, it’s basically the first thing you see when you’re looking at them. It’s a huge statement…a very personal thing, and a big reflection on the individual.”

In managing Eye Designs for as long as he has, Herman certainly recognizes the significance of this reflection, and the impact it has not only on the customers, but the business itself. “When somebody puts on an absolutely perfect pair of glasses in the store–[meaning] they can see clearly and the style looks fabulous–when they walk out the door and people see them in that eyewear [and] say, ‘Wow! Look how great those glasses look!,’ then the next question might be, ‘Where did you get those glasses?’” he says. “So, it’s important to me that our customers look great, not only for themselves, but because [in purchasing our products] they become our own representatives, in a way.”

As proud as he is of the success of his booming business, however, there is still one (well, two) facets he prides above all the rest: his daughters, Alex and Joelle. And while he’s certainly proud of them no matter what they choose to do, with his strong commitment to Eye Designs, it doesn’t hurt that Alex (25)–for the time being–is assisting him in the shop. (She’s been a member of the Armonk team since 2013).

“It’s exciting and to have her here,” he says. “I’m proud as her dad to see how she interacts with everyone she encounters in the practice and the industry. She brings a youthful energy to the practice [and] the patients seem to love her.” Meanwhile, his youngest, Joelle (18), recently celebrated her graduation from Riverdale-Kingsbridge Academy, and will be headed off to college in the Fall.

So, all in all, there’s a lot to be proud of–and Herman’s not taking any of it for granted. So much so that, despite a three-decade career in the business (and Alex presumably set to take over at some future point), he doesn’t see himself leaving anytime soon. Not that we’re complaining, but why not? It’s simply because he can’t “envision” himself in any other career. And why should he have to? He’s got all he needs right here in Armonk! “And it’s a clean business,” he adds, with a laugh. “I’m not operating on broken limbs.” He pauses, then smiles, before reiterating once again: “It’s clean, professional, and always interesting…and that’s true even after 30 years.”

Eye Designs Armonk is located at 575 Main Street in Armonk. For more info, visit www.eyedesignsofwestchester.com.

Matt Smith is a freelance writer based in Chappaqua. For more information, visit www.mattsmiththeatre.com. 

Keeping Your Pool in Tip-Top Shape: Advice from Pools of Perfection

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Spa Garden Armonk 2008

By Stacey Pfeffer

Taking a dip on a hot summer day in your backyard pool is the ultimate suburban luxury. Whether you wish to maintain, renovate or build a pool, Christopher Carthy and his Armonk-based business Pools of Perfection can help ensure that your pool is admired by all the neighbors this summer and beyond.

Carthy and his wife, orthodontist Dr. Laura Cannistraci Carthy, who practices in Mount Kisco and their three children, Theresa, Terence, and Camille, have spent many summer days relaxing in their Sarles Street backyard pool with friends and family. As befitting of a pool company business owner, Carthy describes his own pool as “all jazzed up. Every year I do something new to my pool.”

After working on Wall Street as a financial analyst for many years, Carthy decided to take a leap into the pool business. He had worked in the pool industry during college summer breaks and always loved it. Carthy originally started Pools of Perfection on Long Island in Roslyn and commuted from his home in New Rochelle. The business was so successful that he decided to open a second business on Main Street in Armonk after building a new home in town. In 2006, Carthy decided to make a lifestyle change to avoid the long commute to Long Island from Westchester and sold his Roslyn-based business. “I’m now 1.9 miles from my office and immersed in the local community,” Carthy says with a smile.

Carthy is truly dedicated to the town and serves as Vice President on the Armonk Chamber of Commerce. “My greatest focus from a service point of view is Armonk and Chappaqua. I live and work with my customers and I love that.”

Having worked in the pool industry for 30 years, Carthy knows a lot about how people utilize their pools and says swimming is actually not the primary reason why people build a pool.

“Most people have a pool as a beautiful landscape feature or focal point on their property. Many like to recreate in it and a few actually swim laps in it.” Carthy and his wife are like most of his customers. After a long day of work, they enjoy relaxing in their pool at night.

While Memorial Day signifies summer and the start of the pool season, Carthy finds that many of his customers are in fact opening up their pools in April and keeping them open until October. “In Westchester, everyone has a heated pool so a six-month season is not atypical. Many people have a spa attached to their pool and/or an auto-cover so while customers may not be swimming in their pool yet, they are enjoying the vista.”

Unlike most of his competitors, which bill customers piecemeal for the opening, the weekly maintenance, the service, the chemicals and the closing of their pool, Carthy’s company operates differently. “All our customers are on a comprehensive fixed price maintenance program so people who come on this year are paying the exact same price as someone who has used our company for ten years. It includes the opening, the closing, the initial vacuuming and water treatment, all chemicals and 15 weeks of maintenance. People can buy additional weeks if they’d like to extend their season.” Residents of the Byram Hills School District and the Chappaqua School District both receive a discount on the company’s comprehensive maintenance program.

Carthy’s company has won national design awards and also been recognized for outstanding engineering and technical achievement by the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals and the Northeast Spa and Pool Association. He likes to refer to his company as a “soup to nuts” shop where customers can rely on Pools of Perfection to design a pool, obtain permits, construct the pool and build additional features such as cabanas, outdoor kitchens and firepits. Once your pool is built, his company can maintain it for you to enjoy this summer and for years to come.

Stacey Pfeffer is an avid swimmer who lives in Chappaqua with her husband and three young children. She has written for NY Family, Westchester Parent, Kveller.com and Inside Chappaqua.

Thinking of Building a Pool? Tips from Christopher Carthy

chris pool man

  • Work with a company that uses 3D CAD design so that you can envision what the project will look like upon completion.
  • Develop a site plan and be aware of what is needed for your municipality to approve construction.
  • Hire a company that knows which applications are needed to approve the project (e.g., zoning, architecture, wetlands preservation) and can represent you before various boards. Pools of Perfection has a perfect record of permit procurement.
  • Design what you want. Sometimes customers want to minimize permit costs and the design can be tweaked to do that. Carthy notes though on the flipside that “sometimes it is worth it to embrace permit costs because the pool’s placement will ultimately add value to the home.”
  • Consider timing. Carthy suggests that the ideal time to build a pool is fall and then use spring to plant and finish any other features and roll out the pool the next season.