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Summer is in full swing, and the energy throughout our community has been truly inspiring. We kicked off the season with the annual Fol-de-Rol Festival and what a celebration it was! A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Armonk Lions Club, the dedicated volunteers, the Fol-de-Rol Committee, and especially Councilman Matt Milim for their hard work. The festival was filled with joy, laughter, and fantastic entertainment, including a standout performance from School of Rock, a local group of talented student musicians who brought incredible energy to the stage. It was a great reminder of what makes North Castle so special and it’s our strong sense of community and tradition.
This morning, I had the pleasure of attending the Bus Driver Appreciation Breakfast at the Valhalla School District. A special thank you to Anthony Morzella for organizing the event and inviting me to this wonderful celebration honoring the district’s hardworking bus drivers and crossing guards, the unsung heroes who ensure our children's safety every day. The gathering featured live music performed by a group of students on string instruments, and I had the opportunity to meet the Student Government leaders from the Kensico School, the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary, who proudly represented their classmates. After the breakfast, I joined Superintendent Dr. Kevin McLeod and the Director of Facilities Christopher Pulver for a meeting and tour of the Valhalla campus, discussing current programs and exciting improvements underway.
In town news, we are excited to share that the expanded and improved Kent Place parking lot is officially open for business! This important infrastructure upgrade provides much-needed additional parking to support our downtown Armonk businesses. We are currently working on Phase 2 of the parking plan, which involves meeting with property owners to discuss improvements to the rest of the lot. Many thanks to Anthony Ruvo and our outstanding maintenance department for beautifying the North Castle Library building and its grounds. Everything looks fantastic and ready for a season of activity.
The Town Pool is open and in full swing. We’ve been working closely with our professional staff to ensure a safe and enjoyable season for all residents. As always, we’re committed to maintaining a fun and safe environment for all our families and will continue collaborating with the team after the season ends to review improvements and plan for the future.
We’re thrilled to welcome our new high school summer intern, Jenny Xu, a rising junior at Rye Country Day School and a North Castle resident. Jenny started this week and hit the ground running. She spent her first week touring various Town departments and offices to gain insight into how local government works behind the scenes. She has also attended a Planning Board meeting, a Town Board meeting, and an Armonk Chamber of Commerce meeting with me. We are so excited to have Jenny on board this summer! If you know of a rising junior or senior who may be interested in interning and learning more about local government with us, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office for more information.
Looking ahead, please join us for Coffee with a Cop this Saturday, June 14, from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Tazza in Armonk Square. This is a great chance to get to know our local police officers in a relaxed, friendly setting. Come ask questions, say hello, and help strengthen the community connections that make North Castle such a special place to live.
We are also celebrating a very proud moment for many local families, its graduation season! Congratulations to the Byram Hills and Valhalla High School Class of 2025. Your perseverance and spirit have brought you to this exciting milestone, and I look forward to attending your graduation ceremonies in the coming weeks. On behalf of our whole town, we wish you success and happiness in all your future endeavors.
For our younger residents, the North Castle Public Library’s Summer Reading Program is ready to launch. On Tuesday, June 17, the Armonk branch will host a kickoff celebration from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM with face painting, glitter tattoos, and ice cream. Then, on Friday, June 27, the North White Plains branch will host a foam party in the parking lot from 3:30 PM to 4:15 PM, featuring music, dancing, and good, clean fun.
This month, we also have two special events that honor our town’s history. On Thursday, June 19, at 10:00 AM, a time capsule that was buried at Town Hall in 1976 will be unearthed. This rare event will offer a meaningful connection to our Bicentennial history. Then, on Sunday, June 29, at 4:00 PM, please join us at Whippoorwill Hall for another showing of “North Castle: A Revolutionary Town”, a commemorative film celebrating our community’s role in the American Revolution. This event is presented by the North Castle Revolutionary War 250th Committee.
Looking around Westchester, the county offers some incredible summer camp opportunities. The Cranberry Lake Preserve in North White Plains invites children to explore wetlands, hike wooded trails, and experience nature through hands-on learning. Meanwhile, Miller Hill Camp provides a colonial-era adventure for children in grades 2–4, featuring candle-making, spinning, and 18th-century games on a site once used as a Revolutionary War command post. You can visit the Westchester County Parks website for more camp information and other exciting events.
Don’t miss the Armonk Chamber of Commerce’s first concert in their Summer Concert Series on Saturday, June 28 at 6:00 PM at Wampus Brook Park, featuring music by Tramps Like Us! Bring your blankets, friends, and dancing shoes for a fun evening in the park.
Thank you for being such a connected and engaged community. From festivals and graduations to pool days and library fun, summer in North Castle is filled with opportunities to come together. I look forward to seeing you around town and celebrating all the things that make our community such a great place to live, work, and raise our families.
Warmly,
Joe Rende
Supervisor, Town of North Castle
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