July 14, 2011 Many of us have visited Wampus Brook Park and taken a walk or enjoyed a picnic lunch near the duck pond. Close to the gazebo in the park is a monument honoring our residents who were victims of 9/11; North Castle’s own Harold (Hal) Schaller, who was responsible for designing mausoleums for members of families such as those of Barbra Streisand, Lou Gehrig and Duke Ellington, designed this simple, poignant monument. This year marked the 10th year anniversary of 9/11, as well as Hal’s monument in Wampus Brook Park.
Hal was an architect by training, and worked as a draftsman for H.K. Peacock, a memorial company, which he eventually acquired. His career was interrupted by World War II, yet his wartime experience was also very accomplished. He worked for the United States Intelligence Services in London, where he prepared maps of enemy territories. He shipped out on a Navy LST, a large landing craft that carries troops and tanks. From the ship at Normandy, he watched the horrific slaughter of many soldiers that they had transported, yet Hal and the ship’s captain refused to give up. Hal decided the ship was insufficiently armored. By scrounging up enough steel, he designed and built armor plating over the most vulnerable part of the ship. Fortunately, the ship made it through.
This experience helped foster his desire to honor loved ones in a special way, namely through monuments and mausoleums. After the war, Hal expanded the Peacock Memorial business and worked with many legendary Americans. Yet Hal was always humble and believed that Peacock Memorial was a meaningful way to help people during their time of grieving. His work includes public commemorative monuments, such as those honoring Korean War veterans in Columbia, South Carolina and the Armored Division in Washington, D.C. at the gates of Arlington Cemetery.
The North Castle Historical Society is very grateful to Hal for donating drawings of some of North Castle’s most historic buildings. It reproduced the drawings in a calendar, which was sold in 1986 by the Historical Society. More recently, Hal donated a lovely framed painting of the 1798 Quaker Meeting House. His wonderful drawing of Smith’s Tavern graces the note paper of the North Castle Historical Society.
Today, Hal’s son-in-law, Halsey Tuttill, continues the Peacock Memorial business. He has very fond memories of Hal, who passed away in 2002 at the age of 90. Halsey said, “Hal put his heart and soul into every project he took on. It was more than just work to him; it was an expression of his compassion and creativity.” Halsey particularly remembers Hal’s work on the monument on Memorial Drive, the road leading to Arlington National Cemetery. He added, “Hal was truly an artist. The project took him over two years, but he enjoyed every moment of it. He left his mark.”
Danielle Schultz By Sheila Smith-Drapeau
Posted: April 28, 2011 As long as Danielle Schultz can remember Armonk has been an integral part of her life. Growing up in the Schultz Cider Mill family instilled a strong sense of community spirit at an early age. The value of hard work, the rewards received from sharing and giving back, were bedrocks of her childhood. And of course, there were the doughnuts, those legendary mouth-watering treats with an aroma that seemed to waft through the very core of our little hamlet, delivering a camaraderie shared by a community lined up on weekends to celebrate small town living. In those days Armonk was smaller and quieter and many people who grew up here continued their connection, moved back, started families of their own. For Danielle, now a 25-year old graduate student finishing up her first year in the Master of Fine Arts program with a concentration in scenic design and props at SUNY Purchase, being close to home is a way to enrich others’ experiences in Armonk.
“I missed home and family,” she remembered, reflecting on her grad school choice after receiving her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts at SUNY Fredonia in western New York. “Coming back gave me the opportunity to help out at Byram Hills and share what I’m learning. I loved working with the kids. It got me thinking that teaching would be a nice niche some day. Then there’s the added bonus of studying at (SUNY) Purchase because of its proximity to Manhattan, the great culture, and the opportunities in my field.”
Helping out with Byram Hills’ high school drama productions comes naturally. In 2010 Danielle worked on the musicals “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” (a February production), and “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” and the dramatic production of “The Children’s Hour,” (both shows presented in May). But her current local volunteering doesn’t stop there. For years Danielle’s beautiful voice has harmonized with the alto section of the St. Patrick’s Church choir. Returning to volunteer in Armonk has also meant acknowledging change.
“I’m seeing a lot of changes that are to be expected, I guess, but I think you still get a sense of familiarity, of closeness, that special personality Armonk has,” she noted. “I’d like to see Armonk continue as a family business-oriented town. It’s special that way. I love going to the library, seeing people I know in town, feeling connected to my roots.”
Those roots run deep, with her grandparents moving into Armonk back in the 1920s and her parents working at the historic farm stand on Old Route 22. Danielle remembers her maternal grandmother Rosary Silvestro, who showed her artwork at the fledgling Armonk Outdoor Art Show, teaching her to paint watercolors.
Looking ahead, when a career comes calling, Danielle hopes to try some Off-Broadway work and other opportunities in New York City. Teaching and a wider net of volunteering may be in the offing as well. But for now, blending the comforts of Armonk with a passion for her studies is the perfect scenic design.
Edith Hahn By Sheila Smith-Drapeau
Posted: April 11, 2011 Next time you pick up your local independent newspaper, pause to thank Edith Hahn. Back in the day - 1963 to be exact - she and her husband Peter founded the North Castle News from their home in Windmill Farm, when a hunger for local news gave them an idea that would blossom far beyond Armonk’s borders.
“There was no communication, so to speak, between hamlets,” Ms. Hahn noted recently from her digs in Borrego Springs, California, where she and her husband now enjoy retirement traveling in their Fifth Wheel RV, a 32x12 ft. home that’s carried them through adventures in the western U.S., Alaska and Canada. “We were hungry for news of our local government, zoning, sports, and social issues.”
Their initial news publication was such a hit they soon expanded to publish the Harrison Independent, the Pleasantville Post and the Chappaqua Journal, as well as a freebie that covered Pound Ridge, Bedford Hills and Mount Kisco. Growing to include 50 employees and working under the umbrella title of the Cross Westchester Weekly Group, the Syracuse University journalism major – class of ‘47 - and former Bettman Archives and Life magazine staffer ran The North Castle News under her pen for the next 23 years and, with help from her husband and a growing workforce, built a company which they eventually sold in 1986 to Ralph Martinelli, the publisher of the Westchester Crusader, who passed away in 2004.
One particular source of pride for Ms. Hahn was the outcome resulting from her newspaper’s in-depth reporting and coverage of the North Castle court system, which was quite rudimentary in the early ‘60s. Cases were brought before the Justice of the Peace, with the local police chief supplying all the background and prior offenses by defendants. For two years, the North Castle News covered every court session, recounting the justice system’s tedious blow-by-blow style.
“The community realized what a problem it was,” Ms. Hahn recounted. “It caught the attention of Linda Greenhouse of the New York Times who ran seven articles on the issue. Then the whole county began reviewing the system. The result was election of judges, people who had experience and were better qualified for that important post.”
“We did everything humanly possible to offer readers even-handed reporting,” she stressed. “Never had to retract anything. But of course we were constantly under fire because we were reporting issues people felt passionate about. One half of the community was always angry, while the other was pleased. We (the paper) came out once a week on Wednesday. The politicians would be lined up for it. I took Wednesday off. Seemed if I gave people 24 hours to cool off it all went easier.”
With issues such as drugs in the school district and other volatile pieces to be handled, the publisher once had her Mercedes painted in camouflage to prove the point that when it came to community opinion, passionate sides could take on a war-like atmosphere.
She and Peter built in Windmill in 1957, raising three children, Steven, Jeff and Lisa, and stayed put for 40 years. Two of those children live in Armonk today. An avid volunteer, she found time for the League of Women Voters and the PTA (now known as the Parent Teacher Student Association), serving a stint as PTA president.
“We liked the rural atmosphere, Armonk was idyllic in the 1960s, and the idea that our kids could walk to small, good schools and become socially integrated. The schools just kept getting better.”
The Hahns take a break from their far-flung travels this time of year and return to Armonk to visit friends and family and, as a matter of course, they always pick up a newspaper just to see how things are going these days.
Bill Golub
Online With…Bill Golub By Sheila Smith Drapeau
August 19, 2011 It takes many hands to create successful community events and the posters that herald Armonk’s fundraisers, art shows, theatre plays, musical concerts, plant sales and parades mirror a history of a hamlet dedicated to community spirit and volunteerism. One of those talented and dedicated hands belongs to Bill Golub, an art director and graphic designer who created and executed many of those posters for nigh onto 40 years.
Bill and Ruth Golub moved to Armonk in 1959, raised their three children here and, after 68 years of marriage, still reside in the house he designed and built 52 years ago. Bill studied at the prestigious Pratt Institute and worked for Manhattan companies that included McFadden Publications, Parents Magazine and art studio Comart Associates. At McFadden, where he noted “I was delighted to get that job after the experiences of the Great Depression and during the post WW II era,” he worked on the popular True series of stories that included “True Story,” “True Romance,” “True Detective,” and others.
He became a member of the Board of the Friends of the North Castle Library when the outdoor art show was conceived as a fundraiser for the first North Castle Library building addition in 1961. His stalwart tree logo, created initially for the art show posters have since graced everything from the library’s stationary and Whippoorwill Hall sign. It was a lucky day for Armonk when Bill joined the North Castle Players, a local theatre group begun in the 1950s. Many of the group's theatre posters showed off Bill’s gift of caricature and playful sense of fun.
For decades Bill turned out eclectic, clever and straightforward posters, signs and logos that would entice hamlet residents and their friends to go out and enjoy what Armonk had to offer, local group efforts that sewed the social fabric of the hamlet together.
“I got involved with the North Castle Players in the early ‘60s and that was great fun,” Bill remembered. “Armonk was this wonderful place where your neighbors were also your close friends. For 15 years we turned out plays like “The Big Splash” about the (Anita Louise) Ehrman pool and “Venus or Bust.” Many of the shows were original, written, directed and produced by locals. The key was to create something that everyone enjoyed, stories that people could relate to, that was the challenge, but that was also the fun of it.”
From its inception in 1961 through the late 1980s Bill produced the Armonk Outdoor Art Show posters that announced the annual weekend event each autumn. The tree he created became an integral part of the Art Show posters and many an Art Show volunteer or artist hangs a framed poster at home to remember their efforts. Four years ago Smith’s Tavern honored the designer with an exhibition of his art show and theatre posters that were noted to be a delightful walk down Armonk’s memory lane.
As Armonk grew and organizations and events grew along with it, Bill became the go-to man for much of the outdoor visual marketing posters. He created pieces for the Green Acres Garden Club, the Windmill Farms logo of the landmark windmill, used for a newsletter for that association, posters for the North Castle Historical Society’s home tours, and a variety of other events. Retired in 1988, Bill is an avid early bird tennis player and treats his wife to breakfast each morning after his game.
Noting that the aspects of community service and volunteering were some of the happiest in his career, Bill chuckled when he remembered his dedication.
“I would take days off from work to get a stage set finished. You just get so involved and want to make everything perfect.”
Samantha Gold By Sheila Smith Drapeau
July 1, 2011 While our little hamlet can boast of many celebrities and illustrious residents over the years - Jim Henson the muppeteer, Peter Gallagher the actor, and singer Laura Branigan just to drop a few names, this year has graced us with a bona fide beauty queen and good will ambassador. Miss Westchester Teen 2011, Samantha Gold, is representing her county, but residents, friends and family here in Armonk are proudly calling the talented teen their own.
With a reign that wraps up in September, and a busy schedule of charity events, blood drives, parades, and Westchester town activities that include visiting hospitals and honoring those residents who have given of themselves to their communities, the 18-year old from Byram Hills High School is enjoying every minute of the people she’s meeting, the events she’s attending and the skills she is learning, not the least of which is the poise and the focus she requires for her position as Miss Westchester Teen and as a community figure. She’s also looking ahead to a lawful career, with hopes of one day becoming a police officer.
In September Samantha will enroll in Pace University, Manhattan, with a major in Criminal Justice. This spring, at the suggestion of North Castle Police Detective Frank Kolarik, she enrolled in a police-sponsored program for teens called the Westchester Youth Police Academy, a six-week course that included physical training, field trips, classroom hours and a ride-along on police calls that gave teens the feel of a police officer’s day.
“It (the program) gave me an edge to my future goal,” Samantha explained. “It was exciting and a window into the life of an officer on duty.”
Created by Detective Kolarik for Byram Hills high school students, the program caught on quickly and now includes teens from the entire county.
Another standout in her year was the day she introduced on the Senate floor in Albany by State Assemblyman Robert Castelli (R. C. – Goldens Bridge) and she was also introduced by State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (D-Mamaroneck).
“The power of the place, our state Senate, was amazing,” she remembered. “It made me realize that I was on the right track in my career choice.”
Pageants were the farthest thing from her mind when a neighbor suggested she try for the Miss Westchester Teen title. After being crowned for 2011, Samantha took second runner-up out of 117 contestants vying for the state’s Miss New York Teen USA title last November. The poised and well-spoken blonde noted the girls she met in the competition were “unique and some of the nicest people” she’d met. Each one had a dream and each one brought a unique perspective to the pageant in Albany.
“What I have found is that you really can reach out for anything you want. First the goal, then the focus and the hard work,” Gold said. “The combination can make you a winner, not just in reaching your goals, but in finding great experiences along the way.”
Rodd Berro enjoys the roar of the crowd at Whippoorwill Hall
Rodd Berro By Sheila Smith-Drapeau
Posted: April 5, 2011 Rodd Berro may best be known in Armonk for his many contributions to our local theatrical venue, The Armonk Players, but taking on the roles of actor, director and producer are just a few of his talents and pursuits.
Growing up in Armonk from the age of seven, he flew the nest in 1976, resettling here with his wife Liz in 1993 after working in Manhattan as an actor, rehearsal space management director, and operations officer for a financial fund. Raising a family in Armonk was a goal the Berros knew would have educational, environmental and social benefits and today 17-year old daughter Kelsey is a senior at Byram Hills High School (treading the boards in the footsteps of her Dad by starring as Christine in the BHHS spring production of “Phantom of the Opera.”) and her brother Zachary, a BHHS freshman, is playing clarinet with the orchestra for the show.
As president of his own company, Pegasus Asset Management, Rodd’s strong community spirit and nurturing desire to give back to the hometown he loves encompassed more than the hard work required to build a company. When Liz became active in the Fresh Air Fund chapter in Westchester, the Berros hosted Brandi for six summers, a Fresh Air camper whose experience, Rodd noted, was embraced by the community.
“It (Armonk) opened up to Brandi. She enjoyed the same experiences my children were enjoying. Even the camp allowed her to participate. What makes the small town experience special is its residents and local events,” he continued. “I like coming to town, seeing friends and neighbors, and making a difference in small town life. Plus there’s the advantage of seeing solid theatre, hear great music, enjoy art, festivals, and local venues such as the Fol-de-Rol and Winter Walk – all created by locals interested in and proud of their town.”
While he enjoys a good pick up game of chess, often finding opponents on the Internet (and relishing human rivalry rather than playing computers) and is a self-described tennis hack, his true passions lie in community giving. Currently a board member of the Music Conservatory of Westchester, he has also manned the 211 financial help hotline, and in June he’ll be directing the Armonk Players in the New York premier of “K-PAX” a play by Gene Brewer, proving once again he continues to smell the greasepaint and enjoy the roar of the crowd at Whippoorwill Hall.
“Armonk has so many professional, high quality events to share - music, art, theatre,” Rodd noted enthusiastically. “I’d love to see more audience support from the community as a whole. With so much going on around our area, and Manhattan’s cultural scene so close, it’s truly stiff competition. Still, a local play performance, concert or art exhibit is both enlightening and rewarding. It’s great entertaining for a fraction of the cost. I encourage everyone to grab the great opportunities Armonk has to offer.”
