Oct. 3, 2011 Ridge Auto Body has been a quiet asset to Armonk since 1977. Owner Jeffrey Krack first came to Armonk in the late 1970s, after studying mechanical engineering. Like many people in their twenties, he was unsure of his next step. A neighbor suggested that he check out Frank's Auto Body on Business Park Drive in Armonk. Krack started there as an apprentice, where he sharpened his auto repair skills -- he did much of the labor while his boss was a school teacher by day. "I knew just enough to get by and Frank would come in and paint at night." Krack worked at Frank's for two years and when the opportunity came, he bought the shop in 1977 for $600. It was the best $600 dollars Krack ever spent.
Over the years, Krack fine-tuned his skills and in 1987 he moved the body shop from Business Park to its current location at 23 High Street, Armonk. He fondly remembers the earlier days, "We were backed up to the woods over there in Business Park before they developed the office park and built Car Quest." Another change in town he observed was when Leisure Farms was built in 2000, "We used to fix a lot of rust and now we fix Mercedes. Armonk was a more working-class town back then," says Krack.
Krack takes pride in his collision repair work and restoration. He built his reputation as a man to go to for auto body work because he believes a job well done is in the best interest both for his business and for the customers' investments in their vehicles. Krack works on the exterior of the car: frame suspension, doors, wheels, and tires. He says with most cars that come in, "somebody just hit into something," and he needs to reshape the dent and touch up the scratches. But he also does custom paint jobs. A customer once brought in some Native American style artwork to be painted onto his truck. Another time, Krack painted fake wooden side panels onto a station wagon. It is no wonder that Ridge Auto has such loyal customers over the years, with some of his better known clients including Jim Henson and Vera Wang.
Krack uses software to assist in the process of negotiating fees for auto repairs with insurance companies, and new technology allows Ridge Auto Body to give his customers the best value.
Three people work at t Ridge Auto. One assistant helps with sanding, painting and body work, while another does office work. Krack's looking to hire another employee. If interested call (914) 273-8075 for further information.
In addition to his auto shop, Krack helps maintain the Middle Patent Cemetery on the Armonk-Bedford border. The cemetery dates back to the 1700s, and many of our town's forefathers are buried there. "I've got a great-grandfather there," Krack says. Last month he cleaned tombstones and welcomed the community's help. "I spray the stones, scrub them, and wash them down", it's similar to the preparation for the body work.
Metro North During the October snowstorm, passengers were stranded for 11 hours on the Metro North Railroad. As a result, the MTA has made a pledge to their passengers in regard to service disruptions. Click here to read the pledge.
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress WWII Heavy Bomber air craft
Wings of Freedom August 26, 2011 There was a good crowd on view of the B-17, B-24 and P-51 World War II aircrafts today at Westchester Airport. These three aircrafts are on an annual nationwide tour, as a traveling museum brought to us by the Collings Foundation. The Collings Foundation is a non-profit educational foundation begun in 1979. The Wings of Freedom Tour started in 1989. There are few planes of this type left, and even fewer that are in flying condition. "It allows the younger generations to come out and see these aircrafts, tour inside and even fly in one," Rob Collings, head of The Collings Foundation (it was started by his parents), said.
Indeed, a group of younger boys was climbing through the B-24 and B-17 pointing out all the different parts and guessing at all their different functions. Visitors were snapping pictures of the tiny ball turret on the bottom of the B-17 planes and popping inside to get a view out of the cockpit. The three planes take off in flight and as the B-24 took off the runway with its long wingspan someone remarked, "That's just one, imagine one hundred of those taking off from England." There are seats open to be part of the half-hour flights. It's $2,200 for a half hour ride on the P-51 Mustang, the smallest of the lot, and $425 per person for a half hour on the B-24 or B-17. The money goes towards maintenance of these incredible vehicles.
There were several veterans in attendance, including Richard Chapvelain, who said the last time he'd been in one of these aircrafts was 66 years ago. He went on 35 missions as a tail gunner on a B-24 in Europe. He said his best strategy to get through was, "Keep your eyes open!" He added, "The stories I tell are mostly fun stories. All the bad stuff, it stays back there."
Because of the weather threats of this weekend, the Wings of Freedom Tour had to cut their visit to Westchester County Airport short. Visitors are welcome tomorrow but the tour is leaving at noon. To enter and look around the aircrafts it's $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under.
"It's a memorial for the guys that didn't come home," Collings said, "it's really special to give something back to the veterans. They're a very modest generation, they don't always talk a lot about what they did. It's amazing how many times we've seen a family come through and the father will say 'Oh, I used to fly B-17's during the War', and their kids are like, 'Dad, you were a pilot?!' They knew their father was in the War, but he never really spoke about it. Seeing the aircraft carriers is a bit of a catalyst for them to open up and tell their stories. We're trying to keep those stories alive so people don't forget about it."
This is a great opportunity to see living history. The tour will be nearby again, at Bridgeport and Waterbury Oxford, after Labor Day.
The Highway Yard as seen from Route 128. Click to enlarge.
The yard is under excavation and will open to the public March 2010.
North Castle's Highway Yard
I met with Rich Fon, Superintendent of Public Works, Craig Useted, the head of North Castle's highway department, Jamie Norris, his deputy and Jamie Scoli, owner of Westwood Organic, which has negotiated a ten year contract with the Town.
Westwood's deal includes its use of part the Town's highway yard in exchange for the excavation work to improve the yard which is located at the corner of Route 22 and 128. Westwood will make organic soil and mulch available for its own use, and for North Castle residents at no fee.
Discussions between the Town and Westwood started in February 2009. Since then, the Town has changed its leaf program from vacuuming to just the collection of bagged leaves. The deal was struck in an effort to try to reduce costs.
We tried to pinpoint the town's financial savings in leasing the yard to Westwood Organic. A lot of little things add up. The Parks and Highway Departments are looking to cut spending and will use the soil and mulch for various town projects projects. Included in the town board's projected savings of using the yard for recycling collected organic material instead of vacuuming was about $160,000 per year for eliminating the cost of removing the leaves out of town.
In addition , the man hours that would have spent picking up leaves are now being used on many other projects. In the 2008 budget, there was $26,000 in additional highway overtime, which has been eliminated due to this program . This year, the department is down five guys and there would be more overtime and costs if we were still vacuuming leaves. Highway Department head Craig Useted says "the idea is to save money and reduce the town budget. The department is acting responsibly and outsourcing the job at no cost to the Town to reduce the burden of the taxpayers."
Last year's budget also included $12,000 to remove and grind up trees. Dead trees will be accepted and ground up at the site, at additional savings for the town.
Scoli says, "Westwood's goals melded well with North Castle's goal to give services back to save taxpayers' money with respect to organic waste. " Westwood's revenue will be made from charging a fee to landscapers for incoming and outgoing organic material. Westwood is the only privately run company currently conducting this type of operation in Westchester and is headquartered in White Plains.
North Castle's yard will be open to drop-off leaves from anywhere in Westchester for a fee, but Scoli doesn't anticipate big volume here due to various space restrictions and because there are other drop-off sites in Westchester .
A state transfer permit exists limiting North Castle's yard to no more then 1,000 cubic yards of leaves at any one time. To determine a compost pile's cubic yards, the following equation is used: Length in feet X Width in feet X Height in feet, divided by 27 (because there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard).
This season the Highway Department is collecting hundreds of bags weekly. Pick-up rotates among the four town zones. Bags are picked up at a resident's curbside, then disposed of at the yard where they eventually will be reused at no cost to the town.
Westwood Organic will process the town's collected leaves and turn it into organic material. Residents will be able to drop off organic waste or can arrange for Westwood to pick it up for a fee.
Contractors will be able to purchase organic material. Compost materials will be in separate bins. Material will be ground up on site and processed at Westwood's various sites. The various other sites are larger and provide more storage room. Westwood will then transport the composted material of topsoil and different types of mulch to the North Castle Yard and place them in bins for residents' use and for contractors to purchase.
North Castle's residents are welcome to unrestricted amounts of topsoil, mulch and chips for no fee. You are encouraged to bring a shovel and large garbage bins or bags.
The new town-wide leaf program has created mixed feelings among residents questioning the town's quality of life and cuts in service. Many residents in North Castle already compost their leaves or blow them into the woods. But what happens when there are no woods on someone's property? Useted encourages all residents to compost. "Composting can occur on any size property and does not require a lot of space."
Check the town's Web site for composting tips. The alternative is to bag the leaves, but some residents are voicing concern about the cost of hiring landscapers to do so, although most likely many of these same residents were already paying landscapers to blow the leaves curbside.
The Town is exploring ways to completely fence its entire complex, looking to hide the yard and make it disappear from view on Route 128. The view is mostly highway equipment that has been there for years. The highway yard has been at this location for more than 60 years. Workmen have planted about 30 7' to 8' evergreen spruce trees along Route 128, and also put up sample cedar fencing. Westwood has offered to donate some landscaping to plant in front of the fence. Town money from the sale of scrap metal was used to purchase the trees.
Rich Fon invites suggestions from the public regarding the design to screen out the yard along Route 128.
"The preparation to excavate the site was extensive," says Scoli. "The excavation included moving earth and scrubby and prickly bushes, with minimal tree removal." The best improvement to the site is the change to the entrance and exit.
In 2004 the state issued the town a permit for a new driveway leading from the yard to Route 128. New York State Department of Transportation has approved the Route 128 curb opening as safe. The permit was renewed this summer.
Westwood is in the process of excavating soil as part of a project to divert all traffic entering and exiting the yard away from Bedford Road's historic area, and direct it instead onto Route 128. Rich Fon doesn't anticipate much increase in traffic. The new traffic pattern will be diverted away from Bedford Road where the Middle School kids often walk into town. Traffic will also be diverted away from the nearby nursery school drop-off.
The cost of Westwood's excavation work hasn't been projected precisely. But Scoli says, if he were hired, the cost would be more than $300-400,000 over 10 years. A precise figure for future years is difficult to project due to the cost for professional equipment, fuel, manpower, insurance and other operating costs.
The yard is anticipated to open and function in March 2010.
Environmental issues are always a concern. There is a stream that runs from the gas station on Route 128 to Mariani's Garden next door to the highway yard. The runoff of the organic materials into the stream is not regulated by New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, but the DEC does run random checks on the material. Scoli says he physically checks all incoming material by sight and smell. He says, "We are selective about material we receive since we produce a premium soil that is sold to wholesalers and nurseries. We therefore have to be careful with the product." Scoli added that "the town is held harmless of all possible problems with the organic products."
Addressing environmental concerns, Westwood should be accountable for professional tests of the incoming and outgoing organic products for metals and bacteria. North Castle resident and conservationist Zenaida Bongaarts suggests that testing for a potential runoff of organic material be done at two points along the stream that runs past the ends of the yard from the corner gas station to Mariani's Garden. She suggests that samples be taken regularly up and down the stream to test for metals, and in the warmer weather, bacteria.
Disclosure: Westwood Organic Recycling has been an advertiser with AllAboutArmonk.com
Proposed site
Parking Update at North White Plains Railroad Station
Years of combined efforts from a study done by the MTA Metro-North Railroad and Westchester County of the North White Plains Railroad parking have lead to refined goals.
The project addresses concerns about impact of the local roads and community surrounding the railroad station. The intention is to reduce vehicular congestion throughout Westchester by improving access to the rail service. The projected goal is to use property owned by Metro-North to provide up to an additional 600 space garage on the east side of the North White Plains station as indicated in above.
Further analysis are required to develop the plan and it is anticipated to be completed in late 2009.
For further study information and updates: MTA & Westchestergov.com Image: MTA & Westchestergov.com
Quick Safety Tips For Winter Driving
January 21, 2012 The first Winter Weather Watch for this year has been issued for New York and Westchester. As you prepare for the snow, Armonk Fire Department would like to share these driving tips from the New York State Thruway Authority. BEFORE YOU DRIVE: Get your vehicle tuned up prior to the winter season. Make sure windshield wipers, batteries, tires and defrosters are working and in good condition. Keep at least half a tank of gasoline in your vehicle at all times. Ensure your car has basic winter driving equipment such as a scraper and brush, small shovel, jumper cables, road flares, tow chain and a bag of sand or cat litter for tire traction. Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle, including blankets, gloves, hats, food, water, flashlight with batteries, and any needed medication. Warm up your vehicle in accordance with operating instructions, and remove all ice and snow from windows and vehicle surfaces (including the roof) before starting your trip. Plan your trips carefully, listen to the local weather reports, and the National Weather Service for weather conditions predicted along your travel route.
WHILE DRIVING:
Always buckle your seat belt and require your passengers do the same. Reduce speeds. Remember that the posted speed limit is for ideal travel conditions. Allow for extra travel time or consider delaying trips if the weather is inclement. Don’t use your hand-held cell phone while driving, as mandated by law. Use your headlights, as required by law. Be alert and allow more distance between your vehicle and others. Use your brakes carefully. Brake early and carefully as it takes more time and distance to stop in adverse conditions. Don’t use “cruise control” in wintry conditions. Be courteous to other drivers. Keep to the right except to pass, using turn signals to alert other drivers of your intentions.
Source: Armonkfd.com
Avoid Hydroplaning
Dec. 9, 2011 Armonk Fire Department recommends to winterize your car and take caution while driving in bad weather. They ask everyone to drive safely this holiday season and to be especially careful when the roads are wet. The following tips from Armonk Fire Department explain how to avoid hydroplaning:
1. Keep your tires properly inflated 2. Rotate and replace tires when necessary 3. Slow down when roads are wet: the faster you drive, the harder it is for your tires to scatter the water 4. Stay away from puddles and standing water 5. Avoid driving in outer lanes where water tends to accumulate 6. Try to drive in the tire tracks left by the cars in front of you 7. Turn off cruise control 8. Drive in a lower gear 9. Avoid hard braking 10. Try not to make sharp or quick turns
During a storm, if you don't need to travel, don't.
Safe Winter Driving It seems we are all winter-weary by now,
but we have another six weeks to go until spring. With all the snow and
ice on the roads , driving safely in the winter can be challenging. Read More
Town Board Votes to Buy Two New Highway Department Trucks
Sept. 22, 2011 North Castle's Highway Department trucks have problems. One truck's air brake canister exploded, spraying metal pieces outward. The same truck's transmission has also rotted out. Another truck's steering bolt has rotted off, causing the driver to lose control and hit a guard rail on Route 22. Another truck was traveling with a load of blacktop on I-684, lost power, and a rear wheel came off. Eight fuel tanks are rotting and several transmissions are rotting too. No one was injured in any of these accidents, but the condition of the trucks puts the highway workers as well as residents in danger.
The town needs to either properly maintain the trucks or replace them. Last winter, highway employees were welding parts back together at 3:00am to get plows back on the roads. Proper maintenance includes a wash station to wash off the salt that is applied to the roads in the winter, which otherwise rots the trucks. A year and a half ago the school budget included a wash station to be shared by the town and school vehicles. The wash station was part of a garage overhaul that the voters turned down.
Superintendent of Public Works Rich Fon has requested that the town replace three trucks. Supervisor Bill Weaver asked the Town Board to buy just two trucks. Trucks can only be purchased with the approval of four votes from the Town Board. Weaver said the Town Board has a responsibility to provide the proper equipment to the Highway Department so they can get their job done. There was a vote last year but it did not pass. Weaver is a concerned that this winter the town's snow plow service will be worse for lack of the new trucks.
The Town Board has struggled with the question of whether to buy two new highway trucks. Councilman John Cronin asked for time to examine the highway departments fleet, including facts such as age, mileage and repair records in order to make a better decision. Councilman Mike Schiliro said he would like the board members come to a meeting prepared, with all the necessary information in hand so that the Board can make a decision at the meeting.
Councilman Diane Roth wanted first to review a long-term plan with the Financial Task Force Committee to examine all the foreseeable bonding issues regarding the highway trucks. Councilman Becky Kittredge said a maintenance plan for the Highway Department was in place, but because of the economic downturn, replacements were delayed pending a review of the highway equipment. Kittredge also said that the councilmen are elected by the people of the town, unlike the Financial Task Force Committee, and that Roth had to make the decision.
Town Attorney Roland Baroni said that if the board couldn't agree to buy new trucks, an alternative, although more expensive for the taxpayers, was to lease trucks over a five-to-ten-year period. Baroni said this would only require three votes. After Baroni's statement, Roth agreed to vote in favor of purchasing two new trucks and it passed by a 4-1 margin, with everyone in favor except Councilman Cronin. At a later date, the Board unanimously voted to a $400,000 bond to purchase the two new trucks.
After the Boards' vote, the town's Financial Task Force said that a plan to buy five new highway trucks is feasible, and recommended the Town Board consider their purchase.
Click for aerial view of Westchester Airport
Scoping Westchester Airport Parking
By Staff Updated February 25, 2010
At the February 22, 2010 North Castle Planning Board meeting, 11 New King Street, LLC continued their application of an off-site parking structure accommodating up to 1,450 cars that would cater primarily to Westchester County Airport (HPN). This would alleviate an existing shortage of parking for airport customers. The proposed multistory parking structure would have a footprint of approximately 52,000 square feet on a 2.47 acre lot with a 1.2 acre drainage easement, creating two storm water detention basins on an adjacent 4.2 acre lot.
According to Adam Kaufman, North Castle’s Director of Planning, a Draft Scoping Document has been completed and a Full Environmental Assessment Form will follow. The assessment may disclose the project’s potentially adverse impacts; such as changes to wildlife habitat; an additionally created demand for police, fire and highway maintenance services – possibly increasing property taxes; sources of potential air pollutants and greenhouse gases; additional water use and flood water flow; change in traffic flow patterns; and potential runoff causing erosion. The runoff may contain fertilizers and pesticides and thus may affect the water quality in the public drinking water supply of the surrounding Kensico Reservoir. As well, town-regulated wetland buffers and trees may be negatively affected.
The suggested ways to reduce environmental impacts of such mitigation include preservation of waterways, wetlands, and natural habitats as much as possible; cutting down the least number of trees; providing alternative land for wildlife; eliminating the application of fertilizer, herbicide, fungicide and pesticide or the alternative use of organic chemicals as opposed to standard chemicals; reduce the amount of impervious surfaces on site to reduce runoff; and the use of green technologies could be implemented in order to reduce negative effects on air quality.
The Town of North Castle Planning Board is requiring 11 New King Street, LLC to submit alternative proposals that include, but are not limited to (1) reducing the height of the proposed structure, (2) reducing the size of the parking facility, (3) reducing the impact on wetlands, and (4) no impact on wetlands at all. The Planning Board wants to assess the potential for the project to bring new customers and flights to the Westchester County Airport.
The main concern with the parking structure is its environmental impact. Paula DeCaro, a resident of New Rochelle, said, “I’m not distraught, but I am concerned about polluting the drinking water.”
Susan Leifer, a board member of the Citizen’s Airport Advisory Group of Westchester and the Conservation Chair of the Lower Hudson Sierra Club, said, over the last year, there has been a greater frequency of flights in and out of the Westchester County Airport. Potentially, a new parking lot could lead to an increase in the number of flights, which could lead to an airport expansion to accommodate the flight increase. More air traffic would lead to negative effects of air pollution. And in addition, the chemical and fuel runoff will encroach wetlands and affect biodiversity. When asked about possible alternative proposals, she said she would have to wait and see the reports.
Metro North New fares for New York Metro-North Railroad travel goes into effect December 30, 2010. Increases will vary depending upon ticket type.
Some of the specific changes the will also go into effect include: full fares one-way, ten trip, weekly and monthly to and from Manhattan fares will increase by up to 11.1%, WebTicket one-way and round-trip tickets will no longer be sold and WebTicket discounts will be eliminated.
Important changes in ticket period validity will include: one-way and round-trip tickets will be reduced from six months to 14 days, ten-trip tickets will be reduced from one year to six months.
According to the Town Master Plan there are four bus routes operating in North Castle. Two routes are on a full time schedule, while a third route is local service and one is express only.
Airports
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Jamaica, NY Info: 718-244-4444 www.panynj.gov
Laguardia Airport (LGA) Flushing, NY Info: 718-533-3400 www.panynj.gov
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Newark, NJ Airport Info: 973-961-6000 www.panynj.gov
Parking reserved for people with disabilities is not merely a convenience, it is a legal requirement. These special parking spaces for motorists with disabilities ensure safe and equal access to goods and services, access which is taken for granted by most of us. You can help by parking in reserved spaces only if you have a permit or plates for people with disabilities, and only when the person who received the permit or plates is in the vehicle. Source:NYDMV
Forms of Salt Our town's roads, like many roads across the country, remain in terrible condition.
Perhaps the North Castle Highway Department should research the affect of spraying liquid salt on asphalt before a snow or ice storm. Does the application of liquid salt prior to a snow storm, like our highway department and other towns in Westchester utilize throughout the winter, have a chemical reaction that corrodes asphalt faster than if the salt crystals were not applied? What is the difference between applying salt in a crystal form over an extended period and using the liquid salt?
Transportation
Town Awards Road Repair Contract to Rye Construction Firm by Alison Simon
October 8, 2011 On September 19, the town of North Castle awarded a contract for the repair of town roadways to the Bilotta Construction Corporation of Rye at a unit price bid of $1,793,930.00. Work on the roads, according to Supervisor Bill Weaver, should begin shortly. The extent of repairs is outlined in the "Specifications for the Repair of Town Roadways," which was prepared by Kellard Sessions Consulting, P.C. for the Town of North Castle in July of this year. Repairs to the 98 miles of town roads in North Castle are part of a Capital Improvement Plan and are included in the 2011 Town Budget. Supervisor Weaver said that the borrowing of 2.1 million dollars for the anticipated roadwork repair, and the repayment, are included in the 2011 Town Budget.
On June 30, in an effort to determine the extent of needed road repairs, the Town of North Castle commissioned VHB Engineering, Surveying and Landscape Architecture, P.C. (VHB) to create a comprehensive list of work that needs to be done to repair our road ways.
“VHB will provide pavement engineering and specialist services to perform a condition assessment and videolog of 98 center line miles of pavement and implement a GIS-based pavement management system in the Town of North Castle, NY. The implementation will include analysis, reporting, and a public presentation of the study findings. The system will be installed on town computers and staff will be trained on its use.” (From the Agreement for Professional Services between VHB and the Town of North Castle)
The field work is not yet complete on this project, according to Supervisor Weaver. The videolog is not finished and the GIS pavement management system has not been installed. This report will be presented to the Town Board on December 15, 2011, and will then be presented to the public.
Richard C. Fon, the now resigned Superintendent of Public Works for the Town of North Castle, says, ”This report will allow us to plan and know exactly what we have to do and exactly how much we have to spend to get where we should be.” It will give the Town “a cook book” of what needs to be done on each of the roads in North Castle.
While VHB continues to determine the extent of the overall work needed to improve North Castle’s 98 miles of roads over the long term, North Castle has also contracted with the civil engineering firm of Kellard Sessions Consulting, P.C. (Kellard Sessions) to create the “Specifications for the Repair of Town Roadways” (Specifications) that outlines the repairs required for the most seriously damaged roads that need immediate attention. According to the Specifications, “The work shall include conditioning existing roadways, asphalt pavement overlay, storm drainage, curbing and associated miscellaneous work.” The Specifications specifically mention Overlook Road, Washington Place East and Lafayette Avenue in North White Plains, Byram Lake Road, Evergreen Row and North Lake Road in Armonk, and Round House Court and East Middle Patent Road in Banksville. According to Supervisor Weaver, this list is not complete. The list of roads in need of immediate repair “is being developed and further evaluated”.
The Town Board has sought prospective contractors to prepare sealed bids for the repair of Town roadways. Pursuant to the Specifications, on July 13, 2011, The Town of North Castle notified bidders that sealed proposals for performing the work would be received by the Town Board on August 11, 2011 and then opened and publicly read. Bids were required to be accompanied by a “bid bond” in the amount of 5% of the bid. Bid bonds “are to be held by the Town as a guarantee for the proper execution and delivery of the Contract and bonds to secure the faithful performance thereof.” (From the Specifications) Contractors will forfeit the bond if they are in default or if they cannot properly execute the Contract.
VHB’s analysis will continue while the town's road work is being done, so VHB will factor in the new work that is being done, and their costs, into their survey. They will take the bid numbers and apply them to their study so that they can determine the costs. Richard Fon has said that VHB will “ tell us how much we should be spending each year and what roads need to be done first.”
The average price of regular gas the week of Oct. 24, 2011 in New York is $3.71. The average cash price for regular gas in Armonk is $4.36.
Gas Prices during the Week of June 22, 2011 Local cash gas prices remained flat, with the exception of one of the stations credit card prices which increased .10 cents a gallon.
Buying premium gasoline with a credit card in Armonk costs nearly $5 a gallon.
April, 2011 Trouble in Libya means higher gasoline prices in Armonk, now well over $4.00 a gallon.
March 2, 2011 Armonk's gas prices are creeping up to the anticipated $4.00 a gallon for regular gas.
Armonk gas prices change weekly. The images above are from Feb 16, 2011.
Armonk's gas prices
the week of January 26, 2011
Armonk Gas Prices
January 17, 2011
If gas prices continue to go up at the same rate as over the last year, the price of regular gas will be over $4.00 a gallon before the year's end. See gas prices over the past year.
Armonk gas prices
January 1, 2011
Armonk gas prices
Nov. 7, 2010
Armonk gas prices
July 29, 2010
Armonk gas prices
11/24/09
Downtown Parking
Armonk downtown parking always rears its head when the issue of downtown development is discussed. Our parking enforcer, Angel, can be seen chalking tires of parked cars along Main Street during lunch time, to enforce the one- hour parking limit. To date in 2010, 49 tickets were issued for one-hour parking violations on Main Street, while 121 tickets were issued from May 2009 to present. Parking has become an important issue in the commercial downtown district. When considering local restaurant seating, the Town Board must consider the ratio between the seats permitted in a restaurant per square foot of interior space to the building's ownership of parking spaces. For instance, the building of Armonk Country Kitchen includes the parking property in the lot behind their business, and therefore, they can have 24 seats in their eatery. On the other hand, Cafe Norma's building owns fewer parking spaces, and, as a result, they are more restricted in their seating.
Creating a central downtown parking district (if and only if agreed upon by the building and business owners, as well as the town) would permit a more proportionate allocation of parking spaces. A buy-in parking district would present an option for business owners to fulfill the requirements for building expansions, and as mentioned previously, to also satisfy the restaurant seating requirements. The parking district could be supported by a maintenance fee, which would cover the costs of overdue improvements on Main Street such as keeping sidewalks clean and properly maintaining the rear parking lot. The plan would include the following provisions: cleaning Main Street, paving and striping parking spaces, fencing and cleaning the dumpsters, and finally, installing appropriate lighting in the back parking lot. Expansion of downtown parking is currently under consideration of the town board. Two lots behind Main Street, in the back of Kent Place are being reviewed. The town has had its eye on the Verizon parking lot for decades. As a result, Councilman Diane Roth has begun talks with Verizon about the possibility of allocating a section of their lot, which is adjacent to the library, for parking. The question is: Will Verizon consider allowing public use of their property? Perhaps as a tax write-off?
Another parking option under consideration is a more viable plan using town-owned property. Discussions during a recent Town Board work session included reviewing plans for a new parking lot to be constructed on the far side of Kent Place, near the dumpsters and behind the soon-to-be home of the Farmer's Market. The area has been mapped out and will be further reviewed to expand downtown parking.
Roth says, "The publicly owned parking program can't be given away." A downtown parking district would in fact satisfy commercial property parking demands. If Armonk were to have a parking district, Main Street building and business owners could purchase non-designated parking spots. This solution would accomplish several goals. Requirements on seating areas and square footage would be easier to satisfy, commercial property parking demands would be met, and income for the town would be generated, creating a win-win situation for everyone. The advantage of increasing parking downtown is to entice shoppers to
shop Main Street Armonk.
Further discussions of the parking arrangements included making the far lot available for employee parking, initiating a two-hour parking restriction in the back of Main Street, and maintaining the one-hour parking regulation on Main Street.
Filling up at the station was a hand-made, three window, 1932 Ford. Eight years to build, it has two seats and a sunroof. Top speed is 120mph, although it's mostly used in shows.
The Story Behind "Gasoline"
By Peter R. Limburg October 4, 2009
Everybody
worries about the price of
gasoline. It is one of the prime indicators of how our economy is
faring at any given moment. But how did this smelly, highly flammable, and all-but-indispensable
liquid that powers our cars, our lawn mowers and leaf blowers, and a
host of other devices get its name?
For
our purposes, the story goes back to 1855, when a brilliant chemist at Yale
University, Benjamin Silliman, Jr., discovered that by distilling the black,
viscous, malodorous “rock oil” that oozed from the ground in western
Pennsylvania at different temperatures, he could obtain a number of useful
constituents. The most important at the time was kerosene, or lamp oil,
which quickly took the place of whale oil in the nation’s lamps. There was also
lubricating oil. There was paraffin, solid at room temperature, which made
excellent candles. But there was also a lighter-weight constituent that was
used for cleaning fluid, to remove grease spots from soiled clothing, and to
kill lice and their eggs. Then someone found that it could be used to make
illuminating gas for street lamps. The name “gasoline” was born.
Silliman's
clients, a pair of New York lawyers named George Bissell and Jonathan G.
Eveleth, inspired by salt wells they had seen in upstate New York, hired a retired railroad conductor named Edwin Laurentine Drake to
try drilling for oil. Professional drillers jeered. But Drake hit upon the idea
of using a casing of iron pipe to line the well shaft so that it would not
collapse. In 1859, to everyone's astonishment, Drake struck oil at a depth of 69 feet at Titusville,
in the backwoods of western Pennsylvania. (Actually, Drake did not do the
drilling himself; a drunken well-driller named “Uncle Billy Smith” did the actual
work while Drake handled the business end of the project). An oil boom quickly
ensued, and the age of petroleum was upon us.
Parking enforcement is in effect for one hour parking on Main Street.
PARKING REGULATIONS
Parking Law enforcement officer on Main St., Armonk has informed us
that parking regulations include one hour parking limit along downtown
Main Street.
What people generally understand as "parking" is legally divided into three categories: parking, standing and stopping. A NO PARKING sign means you may stop only temporarily to load or unload merchandise or passengers. A NO STANDING sign means you may stop only temporarily to load or unload passengers. A NO STOPPING sign means you may stop only in order to obey a traffic sign, signal or officer, or to avoid conflicts with other vehicles. Besides posted parking, standing and stopping rules, there are statewide rules not always indicated by signs: Parking, standing or stopping is not allowed: Within 15 feet (5 m) of a fire hydrant, unless a licensed driver remains in the vehicle to move it in an emergency. On the road side of a parked vehicle ("double parking"). On a sidewalk or in a crosswalk. In an intersection, unless permitted by signs or parking meters. On railroad tracks. Alongside or opposite road excavations, construction or other obstructions if your vehicle would block traffic. Within 30 feet (10 m) of a pedestrian safety zone, unless another distance is marked. On a bridge or in a tunnel. Parking or standing is not allowed: In front of a driveway. Within 20 feet (6 m) of a crosswalk at an intersection. Within 30 feet (10 m) of a traffic light, STOP sign or YIELD sign. Within 20 feet (6 m) of a fire station driveway, or within 75 feet (23 m) on the opposite side of the road. Along a curb that has been cut down, lowered or constructed for access to the sidewalk. In addition, you may not park your vehicle within 50 feet (15 m) of a railroad crossing. Source: NYDMV
