With only ten more days till Spring, Armonk has had its share of Winter. Click to view a clip of Armonk Winter Fun. Photo by Jane Ellen Gertz
Dan Hurlin's "Hiroshima Maiden"
Contemporary Puppet Theater at the Katonah Museum of Art In Hiroshima Maiden, Hurlin retells the story of twenty five Japanese women who were horrifically disfigured by the atomic bomb. The women were brought to the United States in 1955 for reconstructive surgery. As you might imagine, their visit sparked a media frenzy. Politically, Americans were divided. Read more by MaryBeth Weisner
Doug Munro at the Library
One Man Jazz Trio
March 9, 2010 Solo guitarist Doug Munro performed at the library Sunday, a marriage of new technology and live jazz. Read more
Residential unit sales are up by 133% versus the same time period one year ago. March 2010 Reported by realtor Barbara Hirsch Click to read
Preparing your Garden for Spring
Once the snow and ice have finally melted and the harsh effects of Old Man Winter is over in Armonk, we can begin to prepare our landscapes for spring. Read More
Proposed School Budget Projected Increase of One Percent
By Staff March 3, 2010
On January 12, 2010, in the Byram Hills Budget Development Proposal, the Fiscal Trend for 2009-2010 predicted that the budget would increase by 5.9% over the 2008-2009 school year from $72,731,675 to $79,611,512. However, with the Administration's Proposed Budget, the increase was cut to 2.8% to $77,278,623. This year, the Fiscal Trend indicates an increase of 2.5% to $79,231,925. Yet, the Administration was able to come back March 2, 2010 with a Proposed Budget increase of 1% to $78,048,596. Read more
Brynwood Golf and Country Club Opening for
Business in April
By Caryn Markin
The renovation will make the club a one stop shop, a place for sports,
relaxation, family and fun says Jeffrey B. Mendell, a principal in the
new ownership. Mr. Mendell continued, The family can enjoy quality food
in the members grill and sports lounge; the kids can play in the game
room, while Mom or Dad can work out in the fitness center! The
renovated club will feature 14 Har-Tru tennis courts, 9 of which will be
restored at the beginning of the season, and a heated outdoor swimming
pool with poolside dining. The golf course is the Club's jewel. Read more
NC4 volunteeers outside the emergency shelter at Armonk's Hergehan Center on Maple Avenue.
Storm Relief at Hergenhan Center
By Staff
In a collaborative effort between the North Castle Citizen's Core Council (NC4) and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), an emergency shelter was established at the Hergenhan Center. Under the coordination of Jane Cahn, the head of the NC4 and Dave Landers, head of the OEM, the center opened after reported electrical outages around town. The shelter provided a sense of comfort for residents without power. It was a place where they could come to take showers, sleep, get a bite to eat and have something warm to drink. People relaxed in conversation with neighbors or in front of the TV, knowing the shelter was available until power was restored.
NC4 volunteers are trained by the American Red Cross Disaster Sheltering Relief, an independent effort that is not affiliated with the American Red Cross. Volunteers members working at the shelter included (L to R) Andy Cahn, John Erickson, Eileen Joy, Anne Dantzig, Jane Cahn and Ed Woodyard. Joe Giovannetti, far right, assisted setting-up the shelter's 50 cots. Joe spent the day removing fallen trees throughout town.
If you plan to stop by the shelter, The NC4 team recommends bringing along towels, a pillow, a change of clothes, medications, dvds, games and food. Light snacks are provided, as is an American Red Cross toiletry kit.
Friday, February 26, 2010 Update and photo from Rich Fon, Superintendent of Public Works
There are a lot of trees down and just as many utilities, but the roads are okay. On Friday night, there was a line-up of about 25 utility trucks on RT 22. I was informed that they have come from Vermont to assist Con Ed. Saturday's task is to deal with downed trees. The Highway Department's first priorities are downed trees and public safety. Clearing Main Street's sidewalk's of snow will be an earlyMonday morning task.
Winter Storm Report
Friday, February 26, 2009, 6:00pm
Reported by Staff
Most businesses on Main Street are closed with the exception of gas stations and some food stores. Post office workers braved the conditions to get out the mail. The highway department is working to keep the local roads plowed and salted.
Mostly men shoppers braved the storm, dominating the A&P supermarket. Armonk resident Dave Sacarny ventured out to pick up fruit and milk for he and his wife late in the afternoon after spending the day with her reading books in his generator-powered house. Not only did his day center around the comfort of the indoors, but he ventured into the snow, to clear the way for his car to get into town, only to discover that his snow blower needed to get to the repair shop. Thus, he made his way there, and returned to finish a hard days work of clean up and ended the day.
Another Armonk resident to brave the storm, Sal Torre from Riversville Road, lost power about 2:00am Thursday morning. After the ice storm of 2003, he made one of the best investments by purchasing a generator. He was out all morning shoveling his and his neighbors driveways and enjoyed playing with his kids during the mid afternoon, making snowmen and having a snowball fight.
Windmill resident Rob Unger enjoyed the day immensely, given the extreme quiet without telephones and cable associated with power and felt it would be even quieter without his cell phone. He loves the snow. It reminds him of the Russian tundra of Dr. Zhivago. Overnight both of his cars were hit by a downed tree in the driveway, but no one was hurt. His insurance company was great and Buddy Schultz cleaned up his driveway. Rob was headed back home with his groceries to relax and read by the fire, with his wife. He was hopeful to have power by nightfall, but wasn't going to count on it.
Bumpy Taylor recalls, “I spent many evenings at the Log Cabin listening to Les Brown and the Band of Renown.” Log Cabin on Old Route 22. Photo Courtesy North Castle Historical Society
Meet Bumpy TaylorBorn in Armonk 1916
By Caryn Markin
February 16, 2010 Erling J. (Bumpy) Taylor has lived in Armonk his entire life. Born in 1916, in a house which is just a memory, Bumpy recalls what it was like to grow up in our town. He says, "Old Doc Clark delivered most of the babies."
He continues, "Imagine Armonk in the early 1920’s." Bumpy grew up on Bedford Road in town and made his way to the school house, then located at 22 School Street. "You need to get to school but there are no school buses. I would walk to school, or in the winter time ice skate down the frozen Wampus Brook. It was the only way to go." Read more of Bumpy's story
A Heck of a Place for Yard Waste
February 16, 2010 A controversy is brewing over North Castle's 10-year license agreement with Westwood Organic Recycling to manage the town’s organic waste yard at the corner of Main Street and Route 22.
At the most recent Town Board meeting, the public comment period was filled with opinions against the yard, for one reason or another. The dominant concern was the location.
Why has the entry to our town chosen for the yard waste site, right by our landmark eagle, and long Main Street where our downtown thrives? Initially the site was to be on Middle Patent Road where the Windmill Farm Water District is located. But Supervisor Weaver said this location presented challenges for large trucks driving along a narrow winding road.
At the meeting, residents expressed many well thought out concerns. According to Town Attorney Roland Baroni, the town did not have to submit itself an application for a building permit. After all, the highway department yard has been behind Town Hall for over 60 years. So no plans were developed and no public comments were considered before building the new yard. Evidently, the process will be backwards. Work has been done with few plans and only now will it be reviewed. Westwood has already done a lot of excavation, but the town is responsible for paving, safety features and landscaping a new driveway off Route 128. The contract between Westwood and the town declares that this entry will be completed by April 1, 2010.
Time and time again the town government has been rebuffed when they do not solicit public opinion, as happened last year when the issue was the Farmer’s Market.
Supervisor Weaver has decided that a committee should study the whole yard waste project. The most important charge to the committee will be to consider an alternative location for the collection and recycling of organic waste. The town should seriously consider Business Park as a location for the yard. It is a located away from residential areas as well as downtown. Much of the land is flat and shouldn't require much excavation.
Concerns about the yard's current location and references to mismanagement of the project were common at the Town Board meeting. To highlight a few of the concerns:
In a severe recession, this eyesore in the center of town will further decrease property values.
Review is needed of the yard's environmental impact on wetlands and storm water runoff.
The need for a traffic study and especially of the question of where the trucks will line up if there is a wait.
Safety and engineering features of the driveway and of the entry to the yard's sharp right traveling north off of Main Street.
Whether any fencing or trees can hide or disguise the waste.
How is the content of the waste to be controlled?
Greenwich, Chappaqua and Bedford have waste stations, but they are not located in the center of town.
Shouldn't the entrance to our town be surrounded by flowers, landscaping and a beautiful stone wall?
Can the Architectural Review Board work with the Highway department to coordinate how the yard will look.
Will the noise from tree and stump-grinding reverberate in the middle of town? How far will this be heard from the yard? Will we hear it if we are dining outdoors along Main Street?
The yard's aroma, and the possibility of any chemical combustion of composting must be investigated.
Photos above are of the ongoing excavation of the Organic Yard Waste facility behind Town Hall. The yard is owned by the town. There is a ten (10) year license agreement for Westwood Organic Recycling to manage the facility. A new entry, approved by the New York State Department of Transportation, will be from Route 128. The project is scheduled to open April 2010. Read more
Armonk's churches offer ecumenical services on Wednesdays during Lent, this year hosted by Hillside Church. Each week a different parish conducts the service and provides lunch afterward. Lynn Watson and Dorothy Lander enjoyed lunch after the service at noon.
Spring like Weather
Dominique didn't need her coat when her mother picked her up at school on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon.
Tucker, a two-year old Golden Doodle and Cuttie Rothchild, a one-year old Cocker Spaniel get to know one another.
Bobcat spring season has begun. Multiple teams of girls' lacrosse, boys' baseball and track & field are seen sharing the turf field after school on Tuesday.
At Last Licks, Jack chose a bag full of chocolate as a treat.
Andrew and his father took advantage of the spring weather, playing basketball at Lombardi Park.
Devon, Alex and Stefanie staffed the Race 4 Relief bake sale on Main Street, raising funds to help Haiti.
On Tuesday, March 2nd, a two car accident on Route 22 at the Rye Lake Bridge closed the road for more than an hour in both directions. Photo:Andrea Colella Albino
At the Aviation Club, Yukio McDonough and Theresa Davis showed Cole how to build this airplane.
Javier and his mother found what they needed in the newly expanded Town Center Pharmacy.
Carissa carefully glazed her clay lady at Hergenhan Center clay class.
Joanna Lambos is deft with phyllo, making tiropita and spanikopita which are Greek cheese and spinach pies. The food is in preparation of Global Village Day which will take place on March 20 at Byram Hills High School. The all-day event will feature
dancing, crafts and prepared dishes from around the world.
Work continued all day on Monday to restore power and phones to local residents.
Storm Conditions
Many
of the streets throughout Windmill provided hazardous driving
conditions. Downed trees and power lines often closed various roads. On
Pond Lane, the hum of the downed transformer could be heard from a few
feet away. Conditions made it unsafe for driving and residents were
asked to stay off the roads. Retired North Castle Police Officer Bob
Cosenza said, "It's the worst since the storm of '96."
The Show Must Go On
Phoebe and Robbie only had time for a quick bagel between appearances of Sunday morning and afternoon shows of Peter Pan at the library.
Winter Storm
Wampus Brook offers a beautiful scene during Friday's storm. View more photos on Winter in Armonk.
Thursday, in anticipation of the storm, residents food shopped and completely filled the A&P parking lot. Turning into the supermarket delivery area, the truck photoed above was stuck and blocked parked cars for hours.
Lisa Pensabene and her daughter Heather walked rescued dogs in Wampus Brook Park on Saturday. These dogs are headed for foster homes, found by Perfect Pets Rescue Inc.
Local flooding includes Wampus School parking fields.
Monday it was back to school. Jasleen's mother and brother arrived to pick her up after rehearsals for "Honk", the 5th Grade Wampus Musical.
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