UPDATE: Results of the School Budget Vote
See more photos inside.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
by Christine Yeres
Around 1,200 residents came out to vote yesterday. The 2012-13 school budget and library budget passed handily; Board of Ed President Alyson Gardner Kiesel was reelected for a second three-year term; and, through 34 write-in votes, Gerry Golub was elected to fill the vacant library board position. Two write-in votes were cast for Bill Clinton. See the numbers in “Read more…”
Budget Library Budget
Yes 938 Yes 974
No 264 No 223
One Board candidate for one three-year term:
Alyson Gardner Kiesel 948 votes
Since no one came forward within the deadline to declare as a candidate for the library board position, it was filled by the resident with the greatest number of write-in votes.
Gerry Golub was elected Library Candidate for one five-year term.
Write-In Votes for Library Board:
Stan Kurzban 20
Gerry Golub 34
Harvey Boneparth 2
K. Raysdale 1
Maggie Christ 2
Haley Puleo 1
Bill Clinton 2
Yes 1348
No 721
Library Budget
Yes 1512
No 535
School Board results from 1988 to 2010 [2010 figures are typed, at bottom]
DATE YES NO TOTAL DIFFERENCE % APPROVAL
2010 1044 753 1797 291 58.1%
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NEW: School Budget Vote – Your Vote Matters
Use CCSD’s Budget Hotline for last-minute questions. See “Read more…”
Monday, May 14, 2012
~from the Chappaqua Central School District
Voters have the opportunity to vote yes or no on the School Budget Resolution for the 2012-13 school year which authorizes expenditures of $112,202,888. This represents a spending increase of 0.68% over the current year budget.
Budget Hotline
Do you have questions about the proposed budget? Administrators and Board of Education members are available to answer your questions.
· Email – Write the Board at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
· Telephone – Call Assistant Superintendent for Business John Chow at 238-7222 or Superintendent Lyn McKay at 238-7224.
Expenditures
The district uses a zero-based budget development process, building the budget by adding together each anticipated expense. The resulting budget is the summation of the salaries and benefits for each employee, the contractual agreements with outside vendors, orders for materials and supplies, etc. Past year expenditures are analyzed for guidance, but the budget does not assume that previous year expenses are automatically carried forward.
The proposed budget seeks to preserve the excellence of the Chappaqua Schools while reducing expenditures in many areas. This budget will maintain class sizes at all levels, retain the team approach with a new schedule at the middle school level, sustain the breadth and depth of core course offerings at the high school, and preserve the breadth and depth of extracurricular activities at the high school.
· Over $1 million in non-instructional, non-personnel expense cuts were made by trimming numerous budget lines.
· Shifting enrollments (declines in elementary schools, increases in middle schools, and high school remains the same) and opportunities for efficiencies have enabled the district to reduce 9.07 instructional positions while maintaining class size and course offerings resulting in an additional $1 million in savings.
· The proposed budget will come under the new tax levy cap, and tax rates, due to the equalization rates for each town, are estimated to increase by 1.63% for New Castle and 9.60% for Mt. Pleasant.
Revenues
Chappaqua is slated to receive $6.2 million in aid from New York State. An additional $2.0 million in revenue is anticipated from local sales tax, charges for services, and miscellaneous sources. The Board of Education is utilizing $3.0 million from its reserve funds and 2011-12 operational surplus as additional revenue in the proposed budget. The necessary tax levy is $101,032,134, an increase of 2.11%, which is within the new tax cap law.
Property Taxes
The total tax levy is apportioned among New Castle and Mt. Pleasant residents of the school district. The Chappaqua School District’s portion of the total estimated full taxable property valuation of the two municipalities has declined over $400 million, or 7.4%. This decline causes the increase in tax rates to exceed the budget increase, despite the offset provided by the use of reserve funds.
Additionally, the rate of valuation change (equalization) differs between the two towns, resulting in Mt. Pleasant residents responsible for 8.7% of the tax levy next year compared to 8.2% this current year.
Projected tax rate changes for 2012-13 are:
· Town of New Castle: Increase by 1.63%
· Town of Mt. Pleasant: Increase by 9.60%
Your Vote Matters
Please vote on Tuesday, May 15. Historically, less than 15% of eligible school district voters actually vote. Low turnout may skew election outcomes. We urge you to review the budget information and register your opinion at the polls.
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UPDATE: Ossining School Budget Results
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Ossining’s school budget passed by 1,879 Yes votes to 1,049 No votes. Kim Case (1,661 votes) and Dana Levenberg (1,516 votes) were elected to the two board positions. The third candidate, Sharon Abreau, received 933 votes.
See http://www.ossiningufsd.org/
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UPDATE: Bring your extra seeds and seedlings to a community planting party Saturday, May 19
See our list of easy-to-grow vegetables in “Read more…”
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
by Susan Rubin
The Chappaqua Community Garden is having a planting party on Saturday, May 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The garden is located next to the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps headquarters, located at 323 North Greeley Avenue. We’ll be planting seeds and seedlings. Experienced veggie gardeners will be on hand to help coach beginners and share stories of what grew well in past sunny and rainy summers.
If you’re a home gardener with extra seeds or seedlings come on down and donate them to our giving gardens. We currently have four beds that are dedicated to growing food for the Food Bank of Westchester which help to supply area food pantries and soup kitchens. An herb garden is also in the works. The community garden will take donations of fresh produce throughout the season, contact Suzi Novak at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more details.
Mother’s Day weekend marked the unofficial start to the gardening season. Many Garden clubs including Chappaqua and the Pleasantville Garden Clubs had plant sales this past weekend. If you didn’t catch a sale, most garden centers are at peak capacity right now so if you haven’t bought some plants yet, now is the time to do so.
Seven Easy-to-Grow Vegetables: These vegetables are almost foolproof: bush beans, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, squash, Swiss chard, and tomatoes.
Eight Heat-loving vegetables: These vegetables will do exceptionally well if we have a hot sunny summer: beans, corn, eggplant, melons, okra, peppers, tomatoes, and watermelon.
Eight Vegetables for shadier gardens: If you have a garden plot that receives fewer than six hours of direct sunlight, try these vegetables: beets, carrots, kale, lettuce, radishes, scallions, spinach, and Swiss chard.
Vegetables kids love to grow: The following vegetables are fun, easy-to-grow plants, and kids love to harvest and eat them (sometimes right in the garden): carrots, cherry tomatoes, pole beans on a teepee, pumpkins, seedless watermelons and Swiss chard.
Herbs are easy too: You can start with a small plant it will take off and provide you with with abundant amounts of fresh herbs all spring, summer and fall. There are lots and lots of varieties of basil, but don’t forget rosemary, parsley and cilantro.
Other veggies do best when started from seed.
Radishes are great to start from seed. They grow very fast – if you’re the impatient type, this one veggie that will give you great satisfaction. For an added bonus, if you let some go to flower, you will find lots of new beneficial insects coming to your garden. Radishes grow well with carrots or beets. Plant a few rows of these seeds in your garden, they don’t take up too much space!
Beans are another no-brainer that do best by putting the seed right in the ground. You can choose between bush beans or pole beans, ones that like to climb.
Squashes are easy to get going from seed or you can buy a few seedlings. You won’t need too many because they take up lots of space and you’ll get lots of squashes per plant when they are growing happily in the sun. Choose from summer squash: zucchini, yellow and patty pan squash are easy choices. Winter squashes include butternut, acorn, kaboocha and of course, pumpkin.
Go ahead, give it a try and get your hands dirty! Whether you start with seedlings or seeds, you’ll be amazed at the rewards Mother Nature brings you.
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UPDATE: Calendar for New Castle: Wednesday, May 16—and forward
Rotary’s Pancake Breakfast and Blood Donation Day is Saturday, May 19.
• Thu. May 17: Webinar on Lyme Disease: How to prevent infection, reduce severity 7-8:30 pm
• Big Day Saturday, May 19: Rotary blood-giving and pancake reward, Chappaqua Farmers Market, Two Open Day Secret Gardens
• Sun. May 20: Big 10K Race—$15 if you register by May 18, $20 on-site the day-of.
• Check out NCNOW’s Calendar page for more—like
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NEW: A Brief History of the Fire Company Inspection
Millwood Fire Company Inspection
Monday, May 14, 2012
by Christine Yeres
Last Saturday the Millwood Fire Company held its annual inspection. Back in the 1800s, when fire companies were few and far between, they relied on each other for mutual aid, sharing equipment and manpower. Often fires took more than one company to handle. To receive mutual aid, fire companies had to be able to provide mutual aid, and it became the custom to check out, through official visits, what the other companies had.
The painting, polishing and cleaning begin months before inspection day. Family, friends and fellow firefighters come to see the fire company form up, visiting dignitaries address the members of the company, then those in attendance are invited to inspect the equipment up close.
See photos of the inspection below.
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NEW: Rare “Open Days”—a chance to peek at stunnng private gardens
Monday, May 14, 2012
by Christine Yeres
Two best-kept secret gardens open to visitors only twice each year, autumn and spring. Through the Garden Conservancy, his Saturday, May 19 two gardens—one small, one vast, both hidden treasures of New Castle—open themselves to visitors.
Shobha Vanchiswar and Murali Mani’s jewel-of-a-garden fills their yard, both front and back
76 Castle Road
Chappaqua, New York
Open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., this modest-sized organically maintained garden at 76 Castle Road in Chappaqua won the 2007 Golden Trowel award from Garden Design magazine. It features a cottage garden of bulbs and perennials, a Belgian espalier of fruit trees, a grape arbor, an herb garden, a checkerboard garden, and a “meadow” with naturalized bulbs and a greenhouse. There are many European touches like rose arbors, window boxes, a fountain, and Anduze pots. There is also a terrace with a canopied dining area. Modest in size, the garden is rich in detail and has a great deal of visual appeal. This garden was featured in the 2010 “Best of” issue of Westchester Home magazine.
For more information, click HERE.
One of many vistas at Rocky Hills
Rocky Hills
95 Old Roaring Brook Road
Mount Kisco, New York
This 13-acre garden strolling garden at 95 Old Roaring Brook Road is open this Saturday, May 19, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. There isn’t much at Henriette Suhr’s Rocky Hills that hasn’t been meticulously and artfully planned and executed by her over the last 50 years, but the forget-me-nots are allowed to run free, making seas of blue, more every year.
Yes, there is a roaring brook that runs through the property, a section of a fallen old weeping willow that has been allowed to remain and sprout new life, bright vistas framed by dark arching branches, tiny flowers cascading from between stones in walls, dark purple columbines, gigantic hostas, and swaths of brilliant green lawn—and a new yellow garden this year.
Now in her mid-nineties, Suhr has been working on Rocky Hills since moving to New Castle in 1956 from the City. She and her late husband, art conservator William Suhr, were not gardeners, but gradually, as her interest in interior design shifted to the garden, it became their joint passion. They let Rocky Hills make them into gardeners — and she’s been outside ever since.
Open Days garden tours are self-guided and rain or shine. A portion of the proceeds from this Open Day will be shared with The Friends of Rocky Hills. Admission is $5, children may visit free. No pets.
Vouchers from two local restaurants
Two local restaurants will offer discounts to Open Days visitors. Pick up a voucher at Rocky Hills or at Shobha Vanchiswar and Murali Mani’s garden. You’ll receive:
•10% off your total between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on May 19 at Susan Lawrence Gourmet Foods, 26 North Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua
•A special prix fixe menu ($19.95) on May 19 at Le Jardin du Roi, 95 King Street, Chappaqua
During the Open Day at the Vanchilwars’, Shobha Vanchiswar will offer her botanical note cards for $10 for a package of eight. Fifteen percent of the proceeds will go to fund the Rocky Hills preservation project of the Garden Conservancy.
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NEW: Chappaqua Blood Drive and Rotary Pancake Breakfast Coming Saturday, May 19
Monday, May 14, 2012
by John Ehrlich
The Annual Spring Community Blood Drive is scheduled for Saturday, May 19th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. “Volunteer donors from New Castle and the surrounding communities are expected to donate as many as 50 pints to help reduce the continuing blood shortage in the Hudson Valley,” according to Debbi Kleinman of the Greater New York Blood Program office in Elmsford which partners with Chappaqua Rotary to staff the drive.
The blood drive runs concurrently with the Chappaqua Rotary Pancake Breakfast, from 8:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. (you can give blood until 2:00 p.m.) on South Greeley Avenue at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin next to Bell Middle School. Potential donors are encouraged to sign up in advance by calling 914-238-8444. As in the past, walk-ins will be welcomed as well.
Donors Receive Pancakes
All who donate receive breakfast courtesy of the Chappaqua Rotary including their famous chocolate chip pancakes. “Not only is breakfast a good idea before donating, some donors including women can be prone to low iron which can cause a donor to be rejected or deferred. A pancake breakfast with juice is rich in many nutrients such as Niacin, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6 and B12, Folic Acid in addition to other nutrients and can really help.” said Kleinman.
Baby Sitting Will Be Provided So Parents Can Donate
As with all Rotary blood drives held in conjunction with town events such as the Pancake Breakfast and Community Day, baby sitting will be provided by teenage volunteers so parents can bring their children. The kids have fun while their parents donate and it gives the parents an opportunity to show by example that giving blood is a good thing to do.
Donors include New Castle town officials a State Senator and even our County Executive
“It’s really amazing how town and area officials step up and join with New Castle residents to donate blood at this event” said one Rotarian. A number of Town Board Members donate, regulars also include a Town Judge, the Town Attorney, multiple department heads and many other town employees—even our State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer and Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino have been known to roll up a sleeve.
To sign-up to donate you can call (914) 238-8444, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or just stop by Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m
.
Stop By And Enjoy Breakfast and Help Local Organizations
Proceeds from the event fund local community organizations like the Food Bank for Westchester and many others. Stop by before or after shopping downtown.
Chappaqua Rotary is the local chapter of Rotary International. The club is the preeminent service organization in New Castle and meets weekly on Mondays at 12:15 p.m. at the Crabtree Kittle House in Chappaqua, New York. The club also sponsors and runs events throughout the year including Community Day, the Annual Pancake Breakfast, Community Service Awards, Wine Tasting and two All Town Blood Drives. For more information on the club and its activities, contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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Review of 2012-13 Chappaqua School District Budget, up for a vote on Tuesday, May 15
May 11, 2012
by Christine Yeres
The CCSD 2012-13 budget of $112,208,000 represents a $754,400 increase over the current year’s budget of $111,448,488. The budget increases spending next year by 0.68%, “the second lowest increase in the last eight years,” according to Assistant Superintendent for Business John Chow. The lowest was a zero percent increase in 2009-2010; the highest was 8.7%, in 2005-2006.
Chow estimates that for 2012-13, New Castle residents will pay school taxes of $99.66 per $1,000 of assessed value (a 1.63% increase), and Mt. Pleasant residents will pay $1,306.01 per $1,000 of assessed value ( a 9.60% increase).
Around $101 million of the $112,208,000 is the actual “tax levy,” the amount raised through property taxes. Board of Ed members applied $3 million from the district’s fund balance, money collected last year that has remained unspent. They also reduced the budget by $2 million, $1 million in non-instructional expenses, $1 million in instructional expenses.
Since the budget increase is within the 2% tax cap imposed by the state, the budget can pass by a simple majority, one more than 50% of votes cast. If voters do not approve the budget, the contingency budget may not be greater than the prior year’s tax levy and would require either a reduction in expenditures of a little more than $2 million, or the use of $2 million more of reserves—or a combination of both.
Chow’s final tax roll numbers won’t be available until late June or early July, when he will run his numbers through again to arrive at the actual tax levy. Each year, the Board of Ed officially votes to approve the budget in August.
To see John Chow’s PowerPoint on revenues, tax analysis and contingency budget, click HERE. The video of the meeting in which Chow explained the budget is embedded below:
CCSD Board of Education 3/27/12 from New Castle Media Center on Vimeo.
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Conifer returns with altered Hunts Place plan—one story shorter, 48 feet longer
New drawings show a building shorter by one floor. See Conifer’s comparison of renderings in “Read more…”
May 11, 2012
by Christine Yeres
Last Tuesday, Conifer representative Andy Bodewes explained to town board members that his company specialized in affordable housing. “We build it, we own it, we manage it,” said Bodewes. “We’re committed to providing a long-term asset for us and for the community. That’s why it’s important for us to provide a very high-quality product. We heard the comments [from town boards and residents] and appreciate those comments, and want to address them the best we can.” Gary Warshauer, the architect for Conifer Realty’s Hunts Place project, then showed town board members a plan that maintains all 36 rental units, but brings down the building’s five stories to four and extends its north end by 45 feet.
Warshauer has since collaborated with a second architectural firm and presented drawings showing that he had incorporated the stone resembling that of the bridge into the lowest floor of the building. See Warshauer’s renderings below, comparing the five- with the four-story versions.
Conifer’s traffic consultant was on hand to inform board members that DOT had implemented the alteration in the traffic light timing he suggested, giving more green time to the north-south traffic along Quaker Road and less to Hunts Place.
Parking
Still Conifer would need permission to provide fewer than the 52 spaces that would ordinarily be required. Instead, Conifer proposes to provide 40 spaces—one for each rental unit, plus four visitor spaces—and to rely on parking in and around the train station and bridge, where he counted free spaces especially after work hours.
Next steps
Supervisor Susan Carpenter informed Bodewes that the new plan would require a new application form, a management plan and revised environmental assessment form. She added that the town’s counsel, Clinton Smith, had sent Conifer a letter listing “quite a few issues that will need to be addressed, based on the old application—and many will apply to the new application.”
“Once this is all submitted,” said Carpenter, “sit down and avail yourself of a meeting with town staff. We’ll go through and identify all the issues that need to be addressed.”
To a board member’s question as to whether the number of units could be reduced, Conifer explained that its financing from New York State was required to be consistent with what they had originally presented as the project, that is, a 36-unit project. The financing with New York State is also site-specific. Conifer can’t simply move the plan to another site and keep its financing, which is essential to its ability to construct the project.
Comments from residents
A resident asked whether Conifer had responded to a letter from the court-appointed monitor in the County’s affordable housing settlement. The letter was critical of the conditions and features of the Hunts Place site. [See “Advice to Conifer from court-appointed monitor of affordable housing settlement,” NCNOW, 5/11/12.] He also asked Conifer what its financial projections were. Carpenter answered for Conifer, saying “I expect that Conifer will respond to the monitor’s letter.” Conifer’s attorney, Al DelBello, responded that Conifer was composing a response currently and would send a copy to the town. As to the finances of Conifer, “proprietary information” was his response.
County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz, who was in the audience, told town board members that the County itself could be depended upon to review Conifer’s finances, “to make sure this place can be properly cared for and maintained. We don’t want it to go belly-up.” Carpenter added, “We also asked [Conifer] for a management plan showing how they’ll manage the site.” Conifer expects that all 36 units of the development would qualify as “furthering fair and affordable housing” and would remain affordable for a 50-year term.
Peter Davidson addressed the board. “We’re ignoring the elephant in the room,” he said, “and that’s the suitability of the site. The applicant has gotten way ahead of all of us with all these details. He reminded town board members that in 2007 the planning board had rejected the application for market rate housing on the same site, and that the architectural review board had issued “a scathing report” of the five-story plans. “The County has a much different problem than the town,” said Davidson. “They town is not a party to the [federal] lawsuit. The town is cooperating to help ameliorate the county’s problem. The monitor wants to see [affordable housing] happen, but properly and in an appropriate place.”
Davidson told board members that Conifer’s plan was not what the monitor wanted. “Everyone there is going to be low income,” he said, “with no effort to mix it with market rate. Families with children living there will all be identified as low income. You really have to look at the acceptability of the site. The monitor himself has used the word ‘stigmatized’,” said Davidson.
Erik Nicolaysen rose to say that just because Conifer had an agreement with the State of New York for financing of the project doesn’t mean “that therefore we should live with the results.”
Carpenter reminded residents that the town had an obligation to hear Conifer’s proposal just as it would hear any resident’s residential construction proposal.
Front elevation facing Quaker Street Bridge
East elevation (nearest train tracks)
North elevation (back of building, entry to parking)
West elevation (nearest Saw Mill ramp)
Five-story version viewed from west
Four-story version viewed from west
Five-story version viewed from east (in town)
Four-story version viewed from east (in town)
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To find related articles on the Hunts Place project, click HERE.
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Advice to Conifer from court-appointed monitor of affordable housing settlement
May 11, 2012
Editor’s Note: This week, the town released an April 12, 2012, letter from James E. Johnson, federal monitor for Westchester County’s settlement with HUD, to Conifer Realty, pointing out his concerns about the location and configuration of the Hunts Lane project. Copies were sent to County and HUD representatives as well as New Castle town board and planning board members. The letter is published below:
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For related articles on the Hunts Place proposed project, click HERE.
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What happened to the League’s Candidates’ Night and Voter Guide?
May 11, 2012
by Lea Barth and Sheila Bernson
Are you wondering where your School Board and Library Board Voters Guide is? It’s usually in your mailbox by now.
The League of Women Voters of New Castle did not publish one this year. Also,for the first time in recent years, the League will not be holding a Candidates Night in connection with the elections for the Chappaqua Central School District Board and the Chappaqua Library Board.
This year Alyson Gardner Kiesel, the current President, is the only candidate running for election to the School Board, a position she has held since 2009. Further, there are no candidates running for the Library Board.
Even though these elections are not contested, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take a trip to the Horace Greeley High School Gym. There are two budgets up for voter approval – the school and library.
Here are links to the Chappaqua Central School District budget:
http://www.ccsd.ws/files/filesystem/nl12may1.pdf
and to the Chappaqua Library budget:
http://www.ccsd.ws/files/filesystem/p120501l.pdf
Exercise your right to vote! On Tuesday, May 15th, the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m. at the Horace Greeley High School Gymnasium.
Join the League for lunch next week—Wednesday, May 16, noon, at the Kittle House. See “League luncheon speaker on “Human Trafficking in Our Own Backyard.”
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Open Letter to the Community: NCCRE supports CCSD budget, urges support for mandate relief
May 11, 2012
This year, because of the 2% Tax Cap, Chappaqua School Board, Superintendent Lyn McKay and Assistant Superintendent for Business John Chow had the difficult task of finding budget savings without sacrificing the quality of the Chappaqua Schools. We commend their efforts and the resulting budget which is under the 2% Tax Cap.
Although New Castle Citizens for Responsible Education (NCCRE) supports the proposed 2012-2013 Chappaqua School Budget of $112,202,888 with a tax rate increase of 1.63%, it is important to note that 93% of this budget is paid for by New Castle taxpayers, 90% from current real property taxes and 3% from reserves, unspent taxes collected in the past.
New York State mandated costs (costs associated with state required programs and activities) drive a significant portion of the budget expenses for our schools. Unfortunately, when the Tax Cap was passed it was not coupled with any mandate cost relief. Without Mandate Relief from the New York Legislature, in future years it will be even more difficult to maintain a school budget under the Tax Cap. This could result in more cuts to staff and programs, endangering the quality of education offered by our district. The Chappaqua School Board has discussed this problem at several school board meetings and has strongly endorsed Mandate Relief. [See “School budget adopted; board members lambaste mandates, plead for voter action,” NCNOW.org, April 13, 2012]
Since the Tax Cap was passed, numerous groups such as Westchester Putnam School Board Association, The Lower Hudson School Superintendents Association and the Westchester County Association have called on Governor Cuomo and the New York Legislature to pass Mandate Relief.
A grassroots group, BEST4NY (Better Education and Smarter Taxation 4 New York), www.best4ny.org, has launched an online Mandate Relief Petition to be sent to Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and over 1000 New Yorkers have already signed. BEST4NY is a local organization that was formed in the winter of 2011 when residents from various towns in Westchester County began meeting to share their concerns about how to maintain quality public education in our communities in a fiscally responsible way.
BEST4NY found that many people are too busy with their daily life to get involved with influencing the decisions that our Governor and Legislators are making. At the same time Special Interest groups are lobbying in Albany every day promoting their own agenda. Politicians will respond to regular citizens, however, when they get themselves organized.
To that end, BEST4NY launched an online NYS Mandate Relief Petition:
Read and sign: FOLLOW THIS LINK TO READ/SIGN THE MANDATE RELIEF PETITION
Directly to the signature page: SIGN THE PETITION
Mandate Relief has become such a critical issue for our state that even our Assemblyman Robert Castelli and the New York State School Board Association have already signed the BEST4NY petition. In addition, four of the Chappaqua School Board members have signed.
NCCRE and BEST4NY ask our community to sign the petition so that the Legislators in Albany get the message that they can not continue to pass mandated costs down to the school districts. Relief from the current mandated costs is needed now to avoid damaging the education quality of our school district.
Thank you,
Elinor Griffith, Ali Klein, Larry Smith, Tom Weaver
NCCRE and BEST4NY Members
Jim McCauley, Judy McGrath
NCCRE Members and BEST4NY Executive Committee Members
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Open Letter to Town Board Members: Revised Conifer plan still unacceptable for residential use
Monday, May 7, 2012
Editor’s Note: On Tuesday, May 8, Conifer will return to the town board with revised plans for its Hunts Place affordable housing proposal. Yesterday, members of “Chappaqua For Responsible Affordable Housing” (CFRAH) sent the following letter to Town Board members.
May 6, 2012
Ms. Susan Carpenter, Supervisor & Town Board Members
Town of New Castle
200 North Greeley Avenue
Chappaqua, NY 10514
Dear Ms. Carpenter & Members of the Town Board:
We have preliminarily reviewed the most recent submission of revised plans by Conifer Development for the Hunts Lane Affordable Housing project. We believe that the revisions still result in a building that is far too massive and non-residential, and still fails to address the many substantial deficiencies of this proposal. These deficiencies are as follows:
1. As this resubmission does not include a corrected Environmental Assessment Form (EAF), or any responses to the review memos and letters that have been done on this project, including the Planning Board, the Architectural Review Board, and the Fire Department, this is an incomplete submission. The Town Board should do nothing with this submission until the remainder of the response material is submitted;
2. We understand that Conifer received a letter from the Federal Monitor requesting that Conifer address the Monitor’s Best Practices Criteria for site selection, presumably including the fact that this site fails to meet the 1st four of the Monitor’s criteria. We also understand that the Town has received a copy of this letter. The letter should be made public and Conifer’s response to it should be submitted to the Town with the other responses;
3. While these revised plans indicate that Conifer has reduced the height of the building by 1 story (3 residential stories over 1 story of parking instead of 4 over 1), in an effort to retain the same number of units and the same square footage, they have elongated the building by 44 feet. So now it is a 4-story building that is 224 feet long. This effort has still produced the same result - a hugely out-of-scale and bland building;
4. Conifer attempts to claim that this effort “is proposed to achieve a more residential scale to the building”. There is nothing residential in scale about this building. At 45 feet in height to the roof, plus a number of 10-foot tall gables all around the building, the appearance of this building will still appear as 5-1/2 stories (55 feet), which is twice the height of Bell School;
5. The architect’s Zoning Compliance chart continues to mistakenly indicate that there are no zoning requirements for lot coverage, building height, setbacks, or off-street parking, even though its proposal massively exceeds all of these requirements of the I-G zoning of the property. The Town Attorney has already indicated that the developer is wrong to assert that the Special Permit process can waive the underlying I-G zoning requirements, and that variances for all of these non-conformances will be required from the Zoning Board of Appeals;
6. The plans continue to indicate that the only recreational space for the 36 units on this property is a Terrace on the 3rd floor of the building, approximately 25 feet directly above, and facing, the railroad tracks. As this Terrace is only protected by what appears to be a 36” high railing, this would seem to be a highly dangerous condition, especially for the children in the building, for whom this will be the only outdoor play space;
7. This design still does not address the ARB’s very clear mis-givings about the project. As they said in their review memo: “it is grotesquely over-scaled for the lot” and “the design is more typical of a budget hotel on a busy interstate”;
8. There is still no response to the fact that the railroad side of the building is completely inaccessible to fire-fighting equipment, and that Metro-North service would need to be halted in order to address a fire event on this side of the building. Why was this not raised in the discussions with our Fire Department? Has this issue been raised with Metro-North and what has been their response? It would seem unlikely that Metro-North, or our Fire Department, could have any viable way to address such a fire event;
9. The proposal relies on a dedication to the developer of a portion of a Town road, Hunts Place, for their private development purposes. Without this portion of publicly-owned property, the development does not meet the minimum Lot Area requirement for the zone. As Conifer is including this Lot Area in its calculations, has the Town already committed to conveying this property? When was the public hearing and notification of this conveyance? If this has not yet been conveyed, shouldn’t Conifer be required to seek a variance for the minimum Lot Area requirement, in addition to the numerous other variances required, until such time as the public can duly consider the conveyance?
10. The proposal relies on significant easements from Metro-North (MTA) and the State Dept. of Transportation (DOT). What is the status of discussions with the MTA and DOT on these easements? Are they even viable?
11. The property owner has been conducting environmental testing on the site, as a follow-up to its acknowledgement that the site is contaminated. While a report on the status of this investigation should also be required before any further consideration is given to the proposal, residential use of such a contaminated site seems highly questionable;
The fact remains that this site, as clearly stated by the Planning Board, is “not suitable for residential use”, and nothing in these revised plans can address this fundamental flaw. Continued consideration of this proposal should be terminated as soon as possible so that we can focus our efforts on appropriate and responsible affordable housing locations and solutions.
Respectfully Submitted by CFRAH:
William Spade, Architect
Ted Anderson
Matt Egan
Will Wedge
Keiko Sasaki-Spade, Architect
Sigrid Sperzel
John Sabalja
Don Roane
Wallace Toscano, Architect
Peter Davidson
Joe Cipriani
Shelah Bosch
Shaun Gotterbarn
Robin Murphy
Victor Martinez
Stanley Wong, Architect
Joan Corwin
Peter Davidson, Jr.
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Letters to the Editor: In support of the Ossining school budget
May 11, 2012
Editor’s Note: Below are four letters to the editor in support of the Ossining Union Free School District’s 2012-13 budget. Voting takes place at Ossining High School Gymnasium on Tuesday, May 15, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. To view the district’s budget page, click HERE.
Letter to the editor:
For those of us in the Ossining school district, There is a very important budget vote on May 15. It is important both that we keep property taxes manageable and we maintain the quality of education. Supporting this budget will help keep our schools strong, and strong schools are at the heart of a strong community, keeping our community a great place to live.
We believe we are at a tipping point. Over the past four years while enrollment has risen by 347 students, 100 positions have been cut. The result: Class sizes are increasing. As class size is a primary indicator of school quality, the quality of our children’s education is being compromised. The values of our homes also are at risk. The school district’s proposed budget does not reverse these trends, but prevents them from getting significantly worse. If the budget fails, we must use a contingency budget that allows for no increase, meaning drastic cuts to the schools’ education, arts and sports programs.
This fiscally responsible budget is below Ossining’s state-mandated tax cap increase despite the increase in unfunded state and federal mandates. To do this without more drastic cuts in classroom teachers, more than $3 million has been cut from transportation costs and the employee health care plan.
Help to preserve excellence in education for our children and our community by voting yes on the budget, Tuesday, May 15 at OHS.
Sincerely,
Sonia Fujimori and Scott Crowder
2 Lakeview Rd
Ossining ,NY 10562
__________________________________________________________
Re: Ossining School Budget
To the Editor:
I am a concerned Ossining resident who has monitored the budget process, and on May 15 I will vote
yes for the proposed Ossining School Budget. I don’t have a finance background, but I work for a living
and I do understand fixed rising costs, such as pensions, that render responsible budgeting seemingly
unworkable.
To accommodate such rising costs, the arduous task is always deciding where to cut to achieve fiscal
responsibility, and how deep to cut to permit and not hinder a successful school system. Under the
proposed budget, the Board has made difficult but decisive choices to cut $4 Million from the budget,
including in excess of $580,000 in salaries from staff reductions. What has been impressive throughout
this transparent process is that the Board has maintained in tact vital programs throughout the school
system, including in education, the sciences, athletics and the arts.
What should not go unnoticed are the celebrated and unprecedented successes our students are posting,
including on a national level not equaled by neighboring villages or towns, under the programs our
Board has fought to maintain funding. We all benefit when our schools and our students succeed and
distinguish themselves. I am confident that this well-vetted and responsible proposed budget will permit
the prosperity of our students and our community to advance. The converse is, quite frankly, imprudent
and pointless. I therefore hope all my Ossining neighbors will join me in voting “yes” for the proposed
Ossining School budget.
Alex Jeffrey
100B Morningside Drive
Ossining, NY
__________________________________________________________
Letter to the Editor:
The Ossining Board of Education has proposed a fiscally responsible budget that both
recognizes the need for programs to support excellence in education, and is at the same
time sensitive to the financial challenges which Ossining residents face.
The proposed budget focuses on $3.3M of non-classroom cuts, in an effort to minimize
layoffs that would affect many programs. These programs provide our students with an
excellent, well-rounded education. The variety of accolades our students receive are a
testament to the high quality education Ossining offers. We are so proud of the numerous
achievements of our students, including being ranked as one of the highest rookie
robotics team in their division and being one of the Intel Schools of Distinction Finalists.
If the budget does not pass, the quality of education in Ossining Schools will diminish
due to additional, deeper cuts to staff and various programs that will be required.
In this ever competitive, global climate, we owe it to our children to help provide the
most well-rounded education possible.
The proposed budget will allow for continued funding for many Education, Sports and
Cultural Arts Programs. Please join us in voting YES for the Ossining Schools budget
on Tuesday, May 15th, at the Ossining High School, in order to continue maintaining the
level of quality of the renowned Science, Dual Language and many rich cultural arts and
sports programs.
Sincerely,
Farai Nyoni & Vanessa Jones-Nyoni
84 Cedar Lane
Ossining, NY
__________________________________________________________
Letter to the Editor:
The Ossining Administration and Board of Education have again shown that they
are listening to the community by putting forth a budget that demonstrates fiscal
responsibility coupled with continued excellence in education. The administration has
worked with many of the district stakeholders to decrease costs in order to maintain
important educational programs. These cuts include $3.3 million in non-classroom costs
including lowered transportation costs and a new employee health care plan that alone
saves the district $2.3 million.
Over 100 staff positions have been lost since 2009 despite an increase in enrollment of
347 students. The Ossining schools have managed to continue to demonstrate amazing
academic, athletic and cultural advances with the extraordinary efforts of all involved.
Our high school was one of three schools in the country recently awarded the Intel
School of Distinction for its excellence and innovation in science education. Both AMD
concert bands earned the rating of Gold with Distinction at the New York State School
Music Association Festival. Our high school girls’ basketball team has two members on
the All-State list this year. I want to thank our teachers and administration for continuing
to provide guidance and outstanding experiences for our students.
Let’s be sure that our younger students enjoy all that has made Ossining a “school of
distinction.” I worry knowing that a defeated budget will mean cutting another $2.5
million and handling the loss of many teachers and the programs that make Ossining an
amazing place for our children to learn. Please join me in voting “yes” to the proposed
budget on May 15th.
Sincerely,
Melissa Shandroff
21 Iroquois Rd
Ossining, NY
__________________________________________________________
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Letter to the Editor: Vote for Levenberg and Case for Ossining school board
May 11, 2012
by Shami Arslanian
I would like to thank Dana Levenberg and Kimberly Case for running for the Ossining school board again this year. Their past service has shown them to be exemplary leaders. They have accomplished the near impossible; balancing educational ideals with financial responsibilities.
Both women have attended countless budget meetings and have made the tough choices necessary in today’s economy. They have done this while maintaining the programs that Ossining is famous for, such as our nationally acclaimed science research program and our nationally recognized music programs.
Now is not the time to take chances. We need proven leadership by people who are committed to every student in the Ossining school district. Dana Levenberg and Kim Case are those proven leaders. Please join me in voting for them on Tuesday May 15.
Shami Arslanian
85 Sunset Drive
Ossining NY 10562
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Merchant of the Week: Le Jardin du Roi’s Joe Quaratararo
May 11, 2012
by Rob Greenstein
I went to Le Jardin hoping to see a former President . . .
Joe Quaratararo
Le Jardin du Roi
95 King Street
Chappaqua, New York
(914) 238-1368
www.lejardinchappaqua.com
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
When did you open in Chappaqua, and was this your first restaurant?
We opened in January 2001, and yes—it’s my first restaurant.
I already know and love your shoestring French fries, would it be too corny to ask if you also serve French toast for breakfast?
Yes, we offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. For breakfast, we do serve French toast, as well as other favorites like baguettes and jam, ham and cheese croissants, handmade crepes and a poached egg on a goat cheese potato cake. We are open at 8:00 a.m. every day, with brunch on Sunday.
My personal favorite menu items are the French onion soup, La Salade d’Endives au Roquefort and steak au poivre. I think it’s only fair that you now tell me the favorite dishes of your most famous patron, Bill Clinton.
I’m sorry but we do not divulge any information on any of our customers. But I will say that your personal favorite items are some of our most popular dishes.
Tell me about your barbecue selections.
My business partner Cristiaan has being doing competitive BBQ competitions for a number of years. He just recently won a BBQ competition in Brooklyn. We serve our BBQ in trays. Each tray serves 10-12 people. We have classics like spare ribs, brisket, chicken, pulled pork, chicken wings, meatloaf—and lots of great sides. Here’s our amazing list of options: Le Jardin du Roi BBQ Menu.
My wife and I discovered Chateau De Ribebon 2005 Bordeaux Superieur at your restaurant. We noticed that it’s distributed by a Chappaqua-based company. Is it still your house red wine?
We have recently changed the Red Bordeaux to Chateau de Macard which is also carried by the same Chappaqua distributor, Serge Dore Selection. We offer a full bar with a great wine list.
Your mixed berry crumble, bread pudding or apple tart are incredible. Have you always had the same pastry chef?
We’ve had the same pastry chef for the past five years—Rudy Beltram-Prats. We also feature a bread pudding du jour, homemade warmed brownie served with vanilla ice cream and old-fashioned crème Brule.
Tell me about your early bird prix-fixe menu.
Early bird is Monday through Thursday, from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. At $19.95 per person, it’s the best deal in town. It comes with soup or salad, entree and choice of dessert.
Do you do private events at Le Jardin?
Yes, we do. We offer a range of services from special menus and custom-made cakes and desserts to private dining areas and personal waitstaff. We can customize your event to suit your needs. Your guests can select from our full menu and drink selection, or you can create a personalized event menu at a set price per person. We can accommodate events for two people or a large group. Events can be a formal sit-down dinner, cocktails and appetizers in our bar area, or a mix of both. Our chef can also prepare cakes to be picked up if you choose to have your event outside of our restaurant.
Any recommendations to make Chappaqua more business-friendly?
We could use more parking and change the permitted parking hours so customers can shop and eat without being on a time frame.
Any discounts or promotions for NewCastleNOW reader who mention this article?
Sure! Free dessert with purchase of an appetizer and entree during the week.
_____________________
Visit NCNOW.org’s Local Merchants Section to see other “Merchant of the Week” pieces by Rob Greenstein.
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Millwood’s Little Red Stationhouse bites the dust, but could make a comeback
More photos in “Read more…”
May 11, 2011
by Christine Yeres
On Wednesday morning, a single backhoe made short work of Millwood’s the little red stationhouse. Within two hours it was reduced to a pile of wood siding, shingles and beams; slate roof tiles; the bricks of the chimney; the sawdust left by insects and squirrels that have had the run of it; and the ivy that had grown up its backside, into it, and out a hole in the roof. By afternoon, the footings had been filled in and smoothed over.
Several years ago a 12-inch hole appeared in its slate roof, opening the stationhouse to the elements. A peek inside an open back door last Sunday revealed an interior even more decayed than its exterior, and very musty. Three days later, the stationhouse was demolished.
Town says, “Fix or tear down”
Nearly a year ago, at the urging of the Millwood Task Force, New Castle’s Building Inspector Bill Maskiell had notified the owner, Leo Rotta, that the building must be either fixed or torn down. Over the years, attracted by its central location and proximity to the County Trailway, several entrepreneurs had attempted—each without success—to lease the building from Rotta. The Millwood Fire Company considered saving the stationhouse by moving the structure to its Fire Station No. 1 property, but concluded that it was too unsound to survive the trip.
Then last December Rotta died, and his daughter arranged for the take-down this week.
Operating on another track, New Castle Supervisor Susan Carpenter announced to Millwood Task Force members last week that she had sounded out Westchester County officials to learn, first, whether the stationhouse could be shored up and moved to County-owned property 50 feet south (of its now-former location), for use as a concession stand to service walkers and bikers on the County Trailway. The County was open to the idea.
All aboard, BOCES!
Once Carpenter learned that the stationhouse was not salvageable, however, she suggested to County officials a new plan: BOCES in Yorktown had expressed interest having its students help to create an exact replica of the Millwood stationhouse, to be placed on County property. BOCES students could create architectural drawings—and even prefabricate parts of the structure. And they have a twin of the stationhouse to study, in Yorktown.
Next stop: Martine Avenue in White Plains, County Headquarters
“It would be great to have the little stationhouse again in Millwood,” said Carpenter, “and for the County to be able to lease it as a concession stand.” She will talk further with County officials.
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Mother’s Day: A New Castle Home Companion
May 4, 2012
by Lenore Pott
Mother’s Day is next Sunday, May 13. Don’t panic. You have time to formulate a game plan. Many gift ideas can be found without leaving town. You can take the road taken, shop locally and surprise mom with one of the inspirations to follow. Easy as that.
Happy shopping and cheers to all the great New Castle moms for all they do for the community, schools and their incredible kids.
Moms love supporting good causes
Aurora, at One King Street showcases gifts from local artisans and global goods from Fair Trade Federation-certified suppliers throughout the world. Mothers Day gift ideas include eco-friendly clothing, colorful scarves and tote bags. Aurora has a large assortment of beautiful jewelry from local and Fair Trade designers (starting at $15) including silver jewelry by Lisa Grant manufactured in Bali. For the new mother check out cheerful pillows, prints and baskets. The turnover and variety of inventory makes Aurora a new store each time you visit. Shopping Fair Trade helps the global effort to lessen poverty in underdeveloped communities by allowing markets and economic opportunities for artisans. 238-8050. Open daily 10-6, 12-3 on Sunday.
Aurora, fair trade
While in the neighborhood, stop next door at the brand new The King’s Scribe at One King Street. Pick up a specialty Mother’s Day card from an assortment of unique cards and browse a selection of fine stationery and gift items. 914-861-2799.
The King’s Scribe
Breeze at One King Street is a fresh new store on the block which features unique glassware, serving pieces, linens and gifts. Fan favorites are Mandarin coriander candles ($29), sweet compote dishes ($35), melamine dinnerware, serving pieces and trays for outdoor entertaining (or breakfast in bed). Welcoming and helpful, the staff will make putting together a Mother’s Day gift well …a Breeze. Open Monday-Saturday 9:30-5:30. Online at www.breezegifts.com, 914-238-1900.
Breeze
Desires by Mikolay (open Saturday until 6:00 p.m.) at 55 King Street sells distinctive luxury jewelry including signature custom-made pieces crafted from 18-carat white and yellow gold with diamonds and precious gemstones. There will be 15% off storewide in honor of Mother’s Day. Online at www.desiresbymikolay.com; 914-238-2223.
Desires by Mikolay
ICD Contemporary Jewelry (open Saturday, May 12, until 6:00 p.m.) at 75 South Greeley Avenue will feature a Mother’s Day 20% discount on all in stock items. This fine jewelry store features timeless elegant jewelry including high-end designer jewelry and a selection of gold, diamonds and gemstones. Visit online at www.icdjewelry.com; 914-238-3646.
Please join us for a Pre-Mother’s Day event to benefit the Steffi Nossen Dance Foundation, a not-for-profit organization sharing the joy of dance throughout Westchester. Wednesday, May 9th from 6:30-8:30 p.m.—cocktail celebration!
ICD Contemporary Jewelry
Matero Fine Jewelry and Design (open late Thursday until 7:00 p.m., Saturday until 4:00 p.m.) in Millwood Town Plaza. This unique jewelry store can create a Mother’s Day gift like no other. Proprietors Steve and Sue Matero will welcome you and guide you through their new collection of Alex Sepkus design jewelry, Sarah Graham jewelry as well as Alexis Bittar “fun jewelry”. They also carry sweets for the sweet mother, Poco Dolce artisan chocolates, MMMM. Or you can give Mom a Philip Stein watch that will make her feel relaxed and calm throughout the year! www.materofinejewelry.com; 914-944-1495.
Matero, in Millwood Town Plaza
At Marmalade, 29 King Street, discover Andy Brown hand-made personalized jewelry. At Marmalade at 29 King Street discover Andy Brown hand-made personalized jewelry. Create a one-of-a-kind necklace with names of children, pets and charms or hobbies, which can be customized, or specially ordered. Individual pieces start at $65. Create Father’s Day cufflinks also! Look for other ideas while browsing the inventory of candles, scarves or choose an “I love you mom” mug (adorable), which just about says it all ($22). Online at www.mymarmalade.com; (914) 238-2564.
Petticoat Lane at 66 King Street is the place to shop for fine lingerie, women’s clothing, designer bags and accessories, slippers, costume jewelry, scarves and robes. The store has been a Chappaqua institution since the l980’s and its signature orange awning is hard to miss. 914-238-2300
Step in Style, housed under the red awning at 26 South Greeley Avenue, is Chappaqua’s designer shoe store carrying high-end brands such as French Sole, Robert Zur and Matt Berson. An exclusive Italian line of shoes, Graffiti, will . . . well . . . knock Mom’s socks off. Stop in to say, “Welcome to Chappaqua” and to browse beautiful women’s footwear. Open Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Phone: 914-861-8400
Moms love eating out, or yummy take-out brought in
(Nota bene: Part of the “We made breakfast for you” gift includes cleaning up the kitchen!)
Gail Patrick’s Café (open Sundays 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Open on Mothers Day) at 31 South Greeley Avenue will feature a special Mother’s Day menu this Sunday. Order early from their specialty menu of hors d’oeuvres, such as mini Maryland crab cakes, old-fashioned deviled eggs, stuffed jumbo mushroom caps with roasted vegetable stuffing, or prosciutto wrapped grilled asparagus tips with goat cheese. Entrees include glazed spiral ham, slow-roasted herbed turkey breast and beef tenderloin with thyme. Salads, accompaniments, breads and desserts are available for order—in advance, for Mothers Day. Online at www.gailpatrickscafe.com; 914-238-0690.
Gail Patrick’s Café
Le Jardin du Roi at 95 King Street is open daily at 8:00 a.m. and serves breakfast until 4:00 p.m. In the cozy atmosphere of a French bistro you can treat Mom to Pain Perdu et des Fruits Frais (French toast served with home fries and fresh fruit salad) or a customer favorite, Oeuf du Roi (Poached egg on a goat cheese potato cake over ratatouille). Relax over a latte, cappuccino or mimosa. Open for dinner until late evening. 914-238-1368
King Street Restaurant and Bar, 76 King Street. Give the kitchen the day off on Mother’s Day. Head down to Chappaqua’s newest restaurant, King Street Restaurant and Bar for brunch, served 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., or dinner served 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Brunch items include favorites such as Eggs Benedict (traditional with Canadian Bacon or with smoked salmon), a stack of pancakes or a variety of omelets. Grilled Angus sirloin, pan-seared wild striped bass, and crisp-skin, all-natural chicken are some of the dinner entrees to be served in elegantly casual surroundings. Reservations for six or more recommended. 914-238-9600
King Street Restaurant and Bar
Susan Lawrence at 26 North Greeley Avenue suggests a gracious and relaxing Mother’s Day with a specialty Mother’s Day menu including their signature hors d’oeuvres, such as hot crab and artichoke dip and Santa Fe guacamole. Pick up an express order form for entrees, which include southern style fried chicken pieces in a basket, cedar plank salmon with rosemary and honey lavender glaze or Tuscan grilled shrimp. Stop in for an assortment of side dishes, boxed chocolates and assorted gifts. Don’t forget their famous Mother’s Day cakes, including the Sun Porch Flower Pot Cake with Spring Flowers or the Victorian Pastel Flower Cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Look for mini red velvet cupcakes, heart shaped “mother” cookies and pies and tarts for spring. Online at www.susanlawrence.com; 914-238-8833; Fax: 914-238-8837. Pick up on Saturday May 12 only; Store closes at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Moms love pampering
Emmary Day Spa located at 24 South Greeley Avenue will provide Mom with an opportunity to relax and be pampered with a variety of massages such as deep tissue, hot stone, and a specialized massage for the mother-to-be. (Pricing starts at $50 for 30 minutes). Body treatments feature a radiant salt glow and body scrubs and polishes. A new treatment, Microcurrent, rejuvenates and firms within minutes. Combine this with the HydraFacial for the ultimate in skin care. Voted one of Westchester’s most Spectacular Spas of 2012. Mention the Mother’s Day special and receive 20% off a Hydrafacial treatment. Gift certificates can be purchased at the spa. Online at www.emmarydayspa.com; 914-238-8830
Nordic Therapy Spa: A Healing Spa is a full-service healing spa at 65 S. Bedford Road specializing in Scandinavian Spa packages, which include massage therapy, facials, body treatments, skincare and foot therapy. Mother’s Day specials include a Microdermabrasion and Swedish Massage (1 hour and 45 minutes) for $200, and a Hot Stone Massage and Gold Leaf Facial for $230. Online at www.nordictheraphyspa.com; 914-238-1558.
Moms love flowers and plants
This Saturday, May 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. is the Chappaqua Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale at the Chappaqua Train Station. Put a smile on Mom’s face with a basket of hanging flowers or a plant for the garden. Click HERE to see what they will offer, including plants from members’ gardens. (Have you wondered who’s responsible for the daffodils all along the grassy median of Roaring Brook Road? It’s the Chappaqua Garden Club’s handiwork, bulbs planted two years ago.)
Roaring Brook Road, daffs courtesy of the Chappaqua Garden Club
If you have ever visited Whispering Pines Florist at 91 North Bedford Road, you know this is no ordinary floral shop. Featuring garden-style arrangements of beautiful seasonal flowers, flowering planters to enjoy all summer long, topiaries and unique gifts such as candles and garden statuaries, birdhouses and hanging baskets, Whispering Pines can solve your Mother’s Day gift giving stylishly and easily. Delivery is available all week long and Saturday and Sunday of Mother’s Day weekend. The smart style and sensibility of this shop makes it a Chappaqua gem. 914-238-5661
Whispering Pines
Chappaqua Paint and Hardware (open Sundays 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., but closed on Mothers Day) at 59 South Greeley Avenue has garden necessities for Mom such as women’s sized gloves and gardening tools. Or, since you plan on cooking for mom, how about a new shiny, sleek barbeque or a fire pit for the patio? (Owner Lou Bastone offers free assembly and delivery on all Weber gas BBQ grills.) And when early spring nights turn cool, the fire pit will provide a focal point and a place to gather around a warming fire. Saturdays 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Online at www.ChappaquaPaintandHardware.com; 914-861-2777.
For more gift ideas, see also, “Haven’t We Seen You Somewhere Before? New Locations for Chappaqua Stores, New Faces on the Block,” by Lenore Pott, NCNOW.org, April 11, 2011.
Lenore Pott is a frequent contributor to NewCastleNOW.org.
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TOMORROW: A peek inside Wagon Road camp for a fun-filled day for all
March 11, 2012
by Marci Garson
“If you’ve ever passed Wagon Road Camp on Route 120 and wondered who we are and what we do, here’s your chance to see!” says Wagon Road Camp Director Vince Canziani. On Saturday, May 12th from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Wagon Road Camp is holding its first-ever Community Day, a free family day with arts and crafts, a bouncy castle, and games run by Super Soccer Stars and New Castle Baseball. In addition, the high ropes course will be open for anyone who would like to climb. New Castle residents are invited to join in the fun, take a tour, or just have a bite to eat.
Wagon Road Camp sits on 53 lovely wooded acres with two state-of-the-art heated swimming pools, an upgraded little league baseball field, a new dining hall, horses and a garden.
If you’re looking for a summer camp that includes kids from all walks of life, from Westchester to the Bronx, you don’t have to look much farther than Route 120 right here in Chappaqua.
But it’s not just these amenities at The Children’s Aid Society’s Wagon Road Camp that makes it unique. “All socio- economic and ethnic groups are brought together,” says Canziani, “including some special populations like deaf children.” This diversity is made possible by the two scholarship funds that the not-for-profit organization maintains to defray the $3,000 full-summer tuition. (Children may attend for less than the full summer for reduced tuition). One fund is earmarked to provide tuition relief for children from Westchester County; the other fund is earmarked for needy inner city children who need to get out of their urban neighborhoods and into the green countryside that is Chappaqua.
“The racial diversity of this camp is what makes it unique,” said Canziani. If you want your kids to have fun with all kinds of kids, send them here.”
Wagon Road as a long history of helping children and families in need
When the Children’s Aid Society first opened Wagon Road Camp in the early 1950’s, there were no children running around. All the campers were in wheelchairs; they were all afflicted with muscular dystrophy. The camp moved on from that singular mission to offer overnight respites during the summer months to the developmentally delayed. The idea was to give their families a break because, as Canziani put it, “it takes a lot of love and energy to care for a developmentally delayed child.”
In the 1990’s the Children’s Aid Society decided those families could be better served if the respites were scheduled throughout the year during holidays and school breaks rather than only in the summer. That’s when Wagon Road received its $2 million facelift, which also included four winterized cabins that sleep a total of 86 campers and counselors. 24-hour nursing services are now available and the kids have access to the garden where they can plant, pick and eat the vegetables. They also enjoy simple athletics, building scarecrows in the fall and play instruments with a visiting music specialist.
For registration information, please call Camp Director Vince Canziani at 914-238-4761. The camp is located at 431 Quaker Road (Route 120) in Chappaqua. Camp fees cover camp daily activities, lunch and snacks. There is an additional charge for extended hours service and busing in Westchester. Summer camp beings on June 28 and ends on August 24; children may attend for as little as a week or as long as the whole summer.
Additional information is available on the camp’s website: childrensaidsociety.org/wagonroad. The full fee schedule from the website is printed below.
Camp Fee ScheduleSession I: $2235, 6/28-7/25
Session II: $1700, 7/26-8/15
Session I & II: $3300, 6/28-8/15
Marci Garson is an Emmy-award winning television reporter. For 15 years she covered national news on Capitol Hill and local news in Miami, Florida, Connecticut and New York. Garson moved to Chappaqua in 1995 to raise her two boys.
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For Mother’s Day, a Farm-to-Bed Breakfast
On St. Mary’s Great Lawn, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
May 11, 2012
by Pascale LeDraoulec
• Music by Jason Waters
• Rotating Vendors: Flourish Baking Company, King Roaming Angus, Renee’s Jam, gluten-free Little Croc Bakehouse
I’ve already told my two daughters, Mina, 9, and Sabine, 7, what I want for mother’s day this year: a farm-to-bed breakfast.
That’s right.. a hearty breakfast in bed consisting of farm-fresh eggs (maybe a mushroom and asparagus omelet), crusty baguette with some of Renee’s homespun jam and crisp bacon courtesy of Roaming Angus. Some Tierra Farms Honduran coffee in my French press with an utterly decadent cloud of Ronnybrook half and half.
I’m fairly certain I deserve it. And most likely so does your mother. So why not shop with her in mind this weekend?
If Mom happens to be on a gluten-free diet (and even if she isn’t) – she’s in luck. Little Croc Bakehouse is back with her signature lemon square, chocolate and sugar donuts, mud slide cupcakes and a new item: vegan and gluten-free berry scones. Baker (and mom) Suzanne Whitney is particularly proud of the scones which don’t taste like they are “missing” a thing!
Renee of Renee’s Jams, also a mom, is returning this week as well. If you haven’t tried her seasonal jams, make sure you stop by her table and sample a few. She’s a master at balancing sweet and fruit and at blending ingredients you might not necessarily put together (like jalapeno and apricot!).
This week I tried some of Flour City Pasta’s “emmer” (farro) pasta with Honey Locust’s nettle pesto – dynamite. I also made a ramp and spring garlic pizza and another pizza with some of Joe’s unctuous mozzarella and Newgate’s fiddleheads.
There should be rhubarb at the market this week. Since it’s in before the strawberries this year, why not prepare it outside of a pie? I still dream about a rosy red rhubarb compote that was served with some roasted grouper at a NYC restaurant a few years back. As pretty as it was delicious. Of course, pie is always an option…
Pascale Le Draoulec
Director, Chappaqua Farmers Market
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WEDNESDAY: League luncheon speaker on “Human Trafficking in Our Own Backyard”
League Luncheon at noon on Wed., May 16, Kittle House
Monday, April 30, 2012
by Lea Barth and Sheila Bernson
Everywhere you look there’s another article about human trafficking. People tend to think that human trafficking occurs in other countries or to people of other nationalities.
Recently, though, Nicholas Kristof wrote an op-ed piece in the New York Times about a teenager who had been trafficked in New York City.
In the April 25th edition of The Journal News, there is an editorial about a proposed sex-trafficking law in New York State (The Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act, A-9804).
Lauren Pesso, Human Trafficking Fellow at My Sisters’ Place, will be keynote speaker at the League of Women Voters of New Castle’s Annual Luncheon on Wednesday, May 16th at 12:00 p.m. at Crabtree’s Kittle House in Chappaqua. Her topic will be “Human Trafficking in Our Own Backyard: Working to Identify and Serve Survivors in Westchester.” Tickets for lunch are $32.00. For information about tickets, please visit www.lwvnewcastle.org, or call Evelyn Bloom at 914-241-0652.
. . . AND MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS:
• Thursday, May 31 at 7 p.m. at Temple Beth El – and co-sponsored with Temple Beth El—a showing of the compelling Miss Representation, a documentary challenging the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls
Tickets for this event are $10 (student price: $3) and available at the door for $15 (student price: $3). For more information on how to purchase advance tickets, click HERE.
• Wednesday, June 6 at 9:30 a.m. at Gail Patrick’s Café in Chappaqua join us for coffee and conversation.
Topic: Has Democracy Been Sold Out? The Impact of the Citizens United Decision
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Be part of a unique Chappaqua program: Host a student for 10 weekdays this summer
More photos of last year’s CSSP graduation at the Community Center in “Read more…”
May 11, 2012
by Diane Albert
Want to give your family a special experience this summer? Host a Chappaqua Summer Scholarship student for ten week days and feel good, have fun, and participate in a program that is unique to Chappaqua.
When speaking to the 2005 CSSP graduates, Bill Clinton said, “This program is a jewel in the crown of Chappaqua. I know from experience what it means to have someone reach out a hand to help a stranger.”
The program is now seeking host families for two-week intervals during the 2012 program, which will run from Sunday, July 1, through Friday, July 13, and from Sunday, July 15, through Friday, July 27. (If you are away July 4, the board will host the student until you return.) Students will stay with their Chappaqua hosts Sunday evenings through Fridays, returning to the city for the weekends. Participants are bussed to school in the morning, and return to their hosts in the late afternoon. Families with little kids, teens, and empty-nesters all find hosting satisfying, and not a big commitment.
The Chappaqua Summer Scholarship Program (CSSP) was founded in 1968 by local residents who wanted to share Chappaqua’s excellent schools, local resources and beautiful surroundings with high-achieving, low-income students from the city. In addition, the founders believed that building friendships between families in the city and the suburbs was advantageous to all.
Amy McNamara, a former Board member and host parent for 2 years put it this way: “CSSP students have brought much to our family over the years. When our girls were young, they easily provided welcome intellectual conversation into our house. As our girls got older, the students served as true role models with their good study habits and a sense of determination to advance their worldly knowledge. Later as peers, they become good friends with our girls. There were always like a gift to David and me. We provided a home for them, but they provided insight into their varied lives; a true treasure.”
If you would like to learn more about hosting, and perhaps speak with a host parent, please contact Amy Echelman at 238-6542 (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))
Nancy Silver at 238-8452 (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).)
For additional information visit us at www.chappaquasummerscholarship.org.
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Stumped for Mother’s Day? Come to the Chappaqua Garden Club’s Day-Before-Mother’s Day Plant Sale
May 7, 2012
This Saturday, May 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Chappaqua Train Station, Chappaqua Garden Club members will hold their annual Plant Sale. Just in time for Mothers Day, many beautiful hanging baskets, annuals, perennials and herbs will be available. And we’ll gift wrap at no charge!
There will be lots of things for the “Patio Gardener” (herbs, hanging baskets, pre-planted patio pots and baskets) as well as an incredible selection of plants for the garden.
Each year, we visit several commercial greenhouses and pore over nursery catalogs to find the best of the newest annuals for our sale. We are especially excited this year to offer large DAHLIAS in a kaleidoscope of colors as well as incredible new varieties of COLEUS. You will, of course, find wonderful flats of old favorites as well. People always flock to the HERB TABLE for the best selection of the newest varieties as well as the standards that you must have for your kitchen. New this year, we are making special herb baskets for Mother’s Day.
Seasoned shoppers know to head for the PERENNIAL TABLE where they find the newest, and also the proven, cultivars of plants that will bring joy to your garden year after year. In addition, there will be hundreds of perennials from members’ gardens (at unbelievably low prices) that reflect the wide diversity and interest of our members. There are perennials for sun or shade, for dry or wet situations, tall or short, deer proof (or not).
This year, for the first time, we’ll have a GENIUS BAR staffed by gardeners with very extensive experience who can advise you for your particular situation. Just ask our GENIUSES and they’ll have the answer!
With the proceeds from the Chappaqua Garden Club Plant Sale, we purchase plants and bulbs for different sites around town. Did you enjoy the daffodils around the Duck Pound and along Roaring Brook Road this spring? Have you seen the newest planting of perennials at the 9/11 Memorial in Gedney Park? The herbs at the Senior Center? As well as other spots around the village.
Come and support us and bring a little BEAUTY into your home and garden.
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Menus in the Movies looks at backyard poultry in “Mad City Chickens”
May 11, 2012
by Susan Rubin
The Chappaqua Library will screen Mad City Chickens on Friday, May 11, at 7:00 p.m., as part of its Menus in the Movies series, led by food author and film buff Carol Durst. Homemade (non-chicken) desserts and discussion—about backyard chickens—follow.
This film is a sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical look at the people who keep urban chickens in their backyards.
Backyard chicken expert Melina Brown will be on hand along with a live chicken or two! Melina heads up the Westchester/Southern CT Backyard Poultry Meetup Group and is quite an authority about all issues relating to chickens.
I’ll be there representing the Food & Agricultural Task Force of the town’s Sustainability Advisory Board, and we’ll be talking about the possibilities for chickens here in Chappaqua. This will be a fun and interesting discussion, great for all ages.
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NEW: Free Carnival to Celebrate 40 Years of Play Care*– May 19, 1 – 3pm
Monday, May 14, 2012
by Carol Cleary
To celebrate and thank the community for all the support over the years, we are thrilled to be holding an amazing carnival on Saturday, May 19, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., at the First Congregational Church, 210 Orchard Ridge Road at Route 117 in Chappaqua.
The carnival is free and open to children (and adults) of all ages. Special guests include Mr. Randy, Ranger Rick, Mrs. Pockets and Bees Kneez, featuring Danny Golub from Music in Chappaqua. The carnival will take place rain or shine and we hope to see all our children – past, present and future!
Game booths, bouncy castle, pony rides, inflatable slide, face painting, cotton candy, ice cream – it’s Carnival Time!!
For 40 years, Play Care, an accredited nursery and preschool at the First Congregational Church of Chappaqua, has been providing a nurturing, educational and safe environment for preschoolers, offering classes and enrichment programs for children ages 8 weeks through 5 years.
For additional information, please call Play Care at (914) 238-6206 or visit our web site at http://www.playcarepreschool.com/
Carol Clearly is the Director of Play Care.
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WED-THURS: In JCC’s “Arts in Action” fundraiser, young residents lend insight into troubled pasts
May 11, 2012
MONDAY, May 14, 2012
by Marci Garson
At what age should our children be aware of the adversity that the abused and neglected kids at the Cottage Schools in Pleasantville have been subjected to all their lives? That was the question floating around the table of volunteers meeting with JCCA members to plan this year’s Arts in Action Fundraiser scheduled for May 16 and 17 at the Pleasantville Cottage School Dining Hall.
The committee decided that, because of the true-to-life drama in the dinner theater portion of the event, the invitation should include the disclaimer, “Appropriate for high school aged audience and older.”
The performance, which should begin around 7 o’clock, has been a little tricky because it honors several girls from the campus Gateways Program. Gateways is the only intensive and specialized residential program of its kind that cares for victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. If it weren’t for the sanctuary of the Cottage Schools, the girls, who live in the Gateways cottage, would most likely be in jail.
Instead, these young teens shared their stories with other troubled Cottage Schools residents and together the youths discovered several common themes that thread their young lives together including drugs, domestic violence, and violence on the street—thus, the age disclaimer on this year’s invitation.
While last year the kids put on a cabaret show for the Arts in Action event, Dee Hanbury, JCCA’s director of Therapeutic Arts, is excited about the new plan for this year. She calls it, “Theater in Action” and her eyes filled with tears as she told the committee how the children were building trust during rehearsals—with many of the boys being protective of the girls. Those who were too scared to act in the performance have overcome their fear by using imagery to tell their stories.
“We follow their process,” explains Hanbury, “and while that includes some tragedy, it also provides, hopefully, some hope.” Hanbury’s mission is to put on an authentic show that will educate the public. She believes it will be a positive experience that unfortunately was derived from a negative one.
Most of the volunteers who spend hours working with the kids on the campus agree. “This is not a playground campus,” Steffi Green, co-chairperson of the Arts in Action event, states. “These kids don’t want to be here. This is what people are scared of—until they get here.”
As a mentor to 11-year-old *Max (not his real name) I can attest to that. Every Tuesday Max drags me and JB, my King Charles spaniel, to nearly every one of the pristine beige stucco cottages dotting the sprawling 325-acre campus, including the one where the Gateways girls reside. Each time we drop by their cottage, the girls come running to wrap their arms around JB and to offer Max some words of advice. “Be good,” they often warn him.
Therapeutic Arts program, a sanctuary in itself
Perhaps the theme of the evening should actually be “Sanctuary “ since that is the name of the Therapeutic Arts Program where the kids not only learned to act, but also prepared all of the food for the dinner and created the crafts that will be sold at the “marketplace” before the show begins.
“It is their sanctuary,” explains JCCA’s Keith Buella. “It’s therapeutic for them.” And it should be therapeutic to those who attend the event simply to know that they have helped to support the young children who have been forced to live with such adversity, through no fault of their own.
To purchase a ticket online, click HERE. For any questions email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or phone (212)558-9909
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Sunday, May 20, The Chappaqua Orchestra presents: Music Inspired by Nature
At Horace Greeley HS Auditorium, 3:00 p.m.
Monday, May 14, 2012
by Marjorie Perlin
The air smells of flowers, bright colors explode from the earth and the sun is still up after work! There’s nothing like spring and its abundance to inspire those, well, “spring” feelings. Artists have been inspired by nature since charcoal left a mark on cave walls, and composers are no exception.
On Sunday, May 20, Music Director and Conductor Michael Shapiro will lead The Chappaqua Orchestra in a concert of music inspired by nature entitled “Nature and Beauty.” Three exquisitely beautiful pieces will paint a picture of the natural world from serene and languid to powerful and majestic.
Spring for most creatures is all about finding a mate. Debussy’s Prélude á l’apres-midi d’un faune depicts a daringly erotic visit to a magical forest. The musical lines of this piece are so stunningly interwoven that listening quickly becomes experiencing. To get a sense of how beautifully scandalous this piece of music is, check out Rudolf Nureyev in this YouTube clip of Vaslav Najinsky’s original choreography: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncz-D1Vf13M
The second piece on the program is the premiere of Michael Shapiro’s Harp Concerto with soloist Anna Reinersman. Shapiro first sketched this concerto in the early 1970s, when he was still a college student, for two guitars and strings. Later readapted as a solo guitar concerto, it received its premiere by the renowned virtuoso David Tenenbaum and the Westfield Symphony under Brad Keimach.
But the guitar is a relatively quiet instrument and is difficult to pair with a full orchestra. Inspired by collaborations with great harpists such as Met Opera performers Anna Reinersman, Susan Jolles and Mariko Anraku, Shapiro decided to recast the work as a concerto for harp and strings. There is perhaps no more beautiful sound than the sound of a harp, and Shapiro’s work will not disappoint. The piece is brilliant, yet tranquil. The transparent textures and movements were inspired by Shapiro’s love of nature and the sound of the wind.
Ms. Reinersman hails from Armonk. When she’s not playing for the Met or on Broadway, Ms. Reinersman maintains an active career as a chamber musician with the Locrian Chamber Players, a contemporary ensemble, the Chameleon Arts Ensemble, a Boston-based chamber group and the Larkspur Trio. She has performed with such contemporary pop artists as Joni Mitchell, Diana Krall, Alicia Keyes and the indie band Hem. She can be heard on the soundtrack of the most recent “The Producers” movie, the cast album for the Broadway revival of “Finian’s Rainbow” and various other commercial recordings.
The final piece on the program is Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony, otherwise known as the Pastoral. Like most Beethoven symphonies, the work is so famous it speaks for itself. The symphony has five movements depicting: 1) Awakening of cheerful feelings upon arrival in the country; 2) A scene at the brook; 3) A happy gathering of country folk; 4) A thunderstorm; and 5) A shepherds’ song of cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm. Most people familiar with the first Disney Fantasia will be reminded of centaurs frolicking in the countryside and Zeus throwing thunderbolts.
So come to the Horace Greeley High School at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 20 and allow the soaring landscapes and intricate complexities of beautiful orchestral music turn a spring day into a celebration of nature. Tickets are $20 (students with ID are free). Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at www.chappaquaorchestra.org.
Marge Perlin is the executive director of The Chappaqua Orchestra.
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Here comes the Friends of the Library Annual USED BOOK SALE 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
by Christine Yeres
Hang onto those great, in-good-shape books a little longer, until doors open on Monday, June 4 for the big intake for the big Used Book Sale that will run from its Preview Night (only for members of the Friends) on Wednesday, June 6, to open-to-the-public day Thursday, June 7, through Sunday, June 10, when all remaining books are FREE.
Remember to perform the nose-test yourself: Don’t bring us any musty basement books. No broken down books (unless valuable collectors’ items), no textbooks or periodicals.
Donations accepted only on
Mon. June 4 & Tue. June 5, 10:00am - 8:00pm
No textbooks or periodicals
Sale Days June 6-10
Wed., Jun 6 - 6:30 - 9:30pm - Preview sale for Friends only. Join at the door for $30 or renew now.
Thur. June 7 - 10:00am - 8:00pm
Fri. June 8 10:00am - 8:00pm
Sat. June 9 10:00am - 5:00pm All remaining items are half-price
Sun. June 10 1:00 - 3:00pm All remaining items are free
Volunteers needed: call Reference Desk at 238-4779 or contact the Friends at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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NEW: Greeley Varsity Baseball: Young Team Moving in the Right Direction
Left to right, seniors Robby Attia, Leo Wolfensohn, Matt Re, Andreas Larramendi and Jarrod Hamburg.
Monday, May 14, 2012
by Matt Meshberg
The Quakers had a rough start to the season before the improvement and maturity really showed. It started with hard fought games against some tough opponents. The Quakers lost 7-6 to a very strong New Rochelle team and 8-7 to Westlake in The Dave Basso Memorial Tournament in Harrison. These losses, however, lead to a three game winning streak. The winning streak began with a home and home sweep of Port Chester, winning both contests by scores of 17-3 and 8-4.
Young Team Moving in the Right Direction
by Matt Meshberg
After a slow start, Greeley Varsity baseball won five of six league games over the last two weeks to position themselves into a post season sectional berth.
The Quakers had a rough start to the season before the improvement and maturity really showed. It started with hard fought games against some tough opponents. The Quakers lost 7-6 to a very strong New Rochelle team and 8-7 to Westlake in The Dave Basso Memorial Tournament in Harrison. These losses, however, led to a recent hot streak which began with a home and home sweep of Port Chester, winning both contests by scores of 17-3 and 8-4.
The maturity was on full display when Greeley played Byram Hills last Thursday. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead, Byram tied the game in the fifth after a pair of hard hit doubles. The Quakers did not panic, as a young team easily could. Quickly, Greeley regained the lead after an infield single by sophomore Justin Ellick. In the top of the seventh, Byram fought back and tied the game. Greeley limited the damage to only one run, and still did not waver. Outfielder Robby Attia scored on a passed ball with two outs, and Greeley was victorious.
Greeley success continued with a sweep of a home and away series with Rye High School with Junior Andrew Myers and Freshmen Paul Gadaleta leading the way on the mound.
The Quakers are hitting their stride right now. Captains Andres Larramendi, Robby Attia, Leo Wolfensohn and Matt Re have done a great job leading this team, a team that features two freshmen and three sophomores.
The Quakers finish their regular season this week with a home contest with Scarsdale on Monday, May 14, and at Fox Lane May 16, and home versus Fox Lane on May 17th. All games at 4:30.
Matt Meshberg is a senior and avid baseball fan at Horace Greeley High School
Matt Meshberg is a Greeley Senior and an avid baseball fan.
Left to right, seniors Robby Attia, Leo Wolfensohn, Matt Re, Andreas Larramendi and Jarrod Hamburg.
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In the garden with Shobha Vanchiswar
Monday, May 7, 2012
Things to Do This Month
1. Mark your calenders, brand it on your brains, write it down in pen, not pencil – May 19 is the day!
That’s when my garden and Rocky Hills are open to all of you through the Open Day Program of the Garden Conservancy. Please do make it a point to visit. The cause is good, the event is fun, Henriette and I enjoy sharing our gardens with others. For details: www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays
2. Get the vegetable garden going. Weed and water regularly.
3. Last call till fall to divide or plant in perennials.
4. Put stakes in place for those plants that need propping. Peonies especially need some help as they tend to get top heavy when in bloom.
5. Weed and deadhead regularly.
6. Set mower blade at 3 ½ to 4 inches height. This is the correct thing to do. Leave grass clippings to enrich and mulch soil.
7. Give hedges and topiaries a trim to achieve clean, tidy lines.
8. Secure limbs of climbers such as roses so wind and critters will not displace or break them.
9. Keep on the lookout for pests and/or disease. Act quickly once you think there is a problem. Take organic measures. I’ve been known to troll the garden with jar of soapy water in hand – to drown any pest I can pick off the plants. Beats trying to squish them dead.
10. Prune the lilacs by one-third after the flowers are gone.
11. Give everything a splash of organic fertilizer. I use Epsom salts for roses and comfrey ‘tea’ for most everything else. Fish emulsion and seaweed are used on the espaliered fruit trees. The lawn grass and vegetable beds get compost..
12. By now, there must be weeds poking through the brick or stone paths. They are hard to pull out with roots attached. I solve this annoyance by pouring boiling hot water on the invaders. Quick, effective, easy, organic and inexpensive.
13. Towards the latter half of the month when all threat of frost is passed, plant dahlia tubers and other summer annuals.
14. Stir compost pile regularly. Don’t have one? Start one!
15. Reinstate rain barrel. Here too, get one if you don’t already possess it. If our low rain conditions continue, every drop of saved water will matter.
16. Pick some lily-of-the-valley to enjoy indoors. Just a few stalks will perfume a room. Give a bouquet to a someone who is unable to get outdoors.
17. May is a beautiful time in the garden. Celebrate it with a party outdoors. Keep it simple – wine and bite-size foods.
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NEW: Sports Calendar for Monday, May 14 - Thursday, May 17
Monday, May 14, 2012
~ from the Greeley Sports Boosters website
High School sports for this week.
Monday, May 14
3:00pm Bell Track Practice Horace Greeley High School
4:15pm Baseball:Boys Freshman Game vs. Harrison @ Horace Greeley - JV Baseball Field
4:15pm Lacrosse:Boys Freshman Game (Rescheduled from 05-09-12) vs. Yorktown @ Horace Greeley
4:15pm Tennis:Boys JV A Match vs. Scarsdale @ Horace Greeley - Tennis Courts
4:30pm Baseball:Boys Varsity Game vs. Scarsdale @ Horace Greeley - Varsity Baseball Field
4:30pm Lacrosse:Girls Varsity Game vs. Byram Hills @ Byram Hills High School
4:30pm Softball:Girls Varsity Game vs. Ossining @ Horace Greeley - Varsity Softball Field
4:30pm Softball:Girls JV Game vs. Ossining @ Veterans Park, Ossining
6:00pm Lacrosse:Girls JV A Game vs. Byram Hills @ Byram Hills High School
Tuesday, May 15
3:00pm Tennis:Boys Varsity Conference Tournament vs. Harrison @ Harrison High School
3:15pm 7B Track Practice Horace Greeley High School
4:15pm Tennis:Boys JV A Match vs. Port Chester @ Port Chester High School
4:30pm Lacrosse:Boys Varsity Game vs. Fox Lane @ Fox Lane High School Stadium
4:30pm Lacrosse:Boys JV Game vs. Fox Lane @ Horace Greeley - Contest Field
4:30pm Softball:Girls JV Game vs. Yorktown @ Horace Greeley - JV Softball Field
4:30pm Tennis:Boys JV B Match (Rescheduled from 04-23-12) vs. Hackley @ Horace Greeley
Wednesday, May 16
3:00pm Tennis:Boys Varsity Conference Tournament vs. Harrison @ Harrison High School
4:15pm Baseball:Boys Freshman Game vs. Fox Lane @ Leonard Park
4:15pm Lacrosse:Boys Freshman Game vs. Mahopac @ Mahopac High School
4:30pm Baseball:Boys Varsity Game vs. Fox Lane @ Fox Lane High School
4:30pm Baseball:Boys JV Game vs. Fox Lane @ Horace Greeley - Varsity Baseball Field
4:30pm Lacrosse:Girls JV A Game vs. Scarsdale @ Horace Greeley - Girls’ Lacrosse Field
4:30pm Softball:Girls Varsity Game (Postponed) 05-17-12 vs. Harrison @ Harrison High School
4:30pm Softball:Girls JV Game vs. Harrison @ Horace Greeley - JV Softball Field
Thursday, May 17
3:00pm Tennis:Boys Varsity Conference Tournament vs. Harrison @ Harrison High School
4:15pm Golf:Boys Varsity Sectional vs. Mahopac @ Mahopac Golf Club
4:15pm Tennis:Boys JV A Match (Rescheduled from 05-02-12) vs. Blind Brook @ Horace Greeley - Tennis Courts
4:15pm Track & Field:Boys 7th/8th Meet Bell MS, Seven Bridges MS vs. John Jay - Cross River @ John Jay - Cross River
4:15pm Track & Field:Girls 7th/8th Meet Bell MS, Seven Bridges MS vs. John Jay - Cross River @ John Jay - Cross River
4:30pm Baseball:Boys JV Game vs. Fox Lane @ Fox Lane High School
4:30pm Baseball:Boys Varsity Game (Date changed from 05-18-12) vs. Fox Lane @ Horace Greeley - Varsity Baseball Field
4:30pm Softball:Girls Varsity Game (Rescheduled from 05-16-12) vs. Harrison @ Harrison High School
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Monday, May 14, New Castle camp registration goes up by $100
See a NCCMC video of last year’s camp in “Read more…”
May 11, 2012
by Matt Nordt
Looking for a camp to send your kids to this summer? Why not choose New Castle Recreation’s Day Camp programs? We offer an affordable day camp with all the fun of a private camp. 2012 will be an exciting year to attend our camps. We’ll be swimming, going on exciting trips, holding some great special events and hosting some great entertainers. Starting Monday, May 14, the cost of camp will go up by $100.
Our goal is to host a safe, fun, and affordable day camp for the residents of New Castle. Our staff are courteous, professional and always looking out for the well-being of the campers. We have a wide-ranging camp program that values individuality, promotes self esteem and exposes your child to a variety of skills, games and activities.
The camp program includes swimming, arts and crafts, sports, exciting field trips, special events, drama, reading, and much more.
All campers provide their own lunch and beverages.
New Castle Recreation, in cooperation with CSSD, offers camp programs in Chappaqua Schools: Tots Camp at Roaring Brook, On-the-Go and Camp Adventure at Seven Bridges. All camps are licensed by the department of health and adhere to all regulations set by the County and State Health Departments.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact Matthew Nordt, Recreation Supervisor, at 914-238-7289.
Hope to see you at camp!!
For more updated information, check out our camp website at www.ncdaycamps.com. This Summer Camps page will have the latest updates for your camp.
You can also sign up for instant alerts to your email or cellphone by subscribing to one of the three mailing lists. Send an email from the email account you wish to receive alerts to one of the three lists below:
The Rec Department also offers an Extended Day Program each day from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. for kids from grades 1 to 8.
Browse our catalog: Town Camps 2012
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NEW: Greeley Varsity Tennis Team Serves Up Some Fun at Tennis Fest 2012
Joe Roediger, President of the USPTA, Eastern section briefs the team on the Tennis Fest activities
May 14, 2012
by Andrea Jayson
The boys on the Greeley Varsity Tennis team are taking their love of tennis and serving up some good deeds starting at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 20 at the Saw Mill Club in Mt. Kisco during TennisFest 2012. Entertainment will be provided by Disney singing star Tiffany and tennis legend Nick Bollettieri will be a guest speaker.
The Saw Mill Club is hosting their annual Tennis Fest event, a fun-filled, free day of tennis, entertainment, music and face painting for both kids and adults.
“The team believes that playing tennis is the sport of a lifetime and wants to help others who don’t have the same opportunities to play and learn the sport,” said long-time Greeley Varsity coach Bennett Romney. “We see this as a great way of taking our love of the game and giving back to the community.” The Greeley Team will spend the day at the Saw Mill Club volunteering with the USTA, USPTA and professional tennis players, helping kids on the courts and supervising the day’s festivities.
The United States Professional Tennis Association’s Eastern Division organizes the free event, and is expecting over 1000 participants. Certified instructors will provide free lessons, while young players can take part in USTA 10- and- Under activities. Tournaments, workouts and games for the young and old will also be part of the festivities. Hundreds of inner city kids will be bused in from all over the tri-state area to enjoy the day and learn to play the sport. This event is open to everyone.
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In the garden with Shobha Vanchiswar
Monday, May 14, 2012
Welcome, Visitors!
I’m in the thick of getting my garden ready for it’s Open Day this Saturday May 19.
I find it kind of exciting as I anticipate the pleasure of talking to other gardeners and garden lovers. In fact, that’s exactly what drives me to get on with chores post haste. But just as one prepares to welcome people to a big, special party, there’s much to done—a good deal of which will go unnoticed by most.
Inviting anybody into one’s private space be it home or garden, is serious and personal. I’m exposing myself for scrutiny, flaws and all. But that would be far more panic creating if I expected everybody coming to see my garden to act like the proverbial mother-in-law. Someone who might take immense pleasure in giving the white glove test fully expecting you to fail. Instead, what Open Days of past years has revealed to me is that people visit gardens because they love to do so. They come to enjoy the flowers and plantings and are more than tolerant with the presence of stray weeds and slightly shabby areas. The gardener’s work is appreciated and visitors are always grateful for the opportunity to see a private garden.
Thus, when I go about making my little Eden as lovely as she can be, I think about what and how I want the visitor to experience the garden. The flowers in bloom are the bait. I rely on them to catch the viewer’s attention and to detract from any unsightly weed or the leaves of lilies so riddled with holes by the red beetle. The visitors will notice general designs, sculptures, inviting terrace, charming meadow and the very cool tree house. But those are the obvious. My real excitement lies in the hope that the details will get picked up.
Will the eyes delight in the careful editing of color in the perennial beds? Or the use of chartreuse to naturally light up the way as one walks along the side path? I picture a hand brushing against the rose-geranium and being surprised by the perfume released. Or the juxtaposition of slate and brick to give a hard and soft effect. The wisteria making its way over the gazebo is poised to bloom in abundance and by itself should be an arresting sight. But will anyone know to sit under that fragrant canopy and study the patterns thrown by the interplay of sunlight and shade? Who will appreciate the sense of seclusion provided by the gentle tinkle of the fountain. The sound blocks out the invading noise of passing traffic and its possible to mentally transport oneself to a corner of Provence.
I hope to hear a chuckle as a keen eye reads the titles of books made of stone. Or a sigh of nostalgic pleasure as the scent of peonies and roses guide their walk. I want to see the visitor who discovers the subtle use of grape vine prunings to mask the mechanics that hold up the peonies. Which brilliant individual will deduce that my wild looking meadow is really an area of very controlled chaos? It is my fervent wish to have all the senses be engaged in my garden. I’d like visitors to leave reluctantly and with a feeling of energy and joy.
Footnote: There is a big project underway in the garden and it’s been exhausting work. We’re toiling really hard to get it completed in time for Open Day. Just so I can share it with all. I will not say more as I truly want it to be a surprise. Please do come and see.
Lunch in town afterward!
The garden is open 10 am to 4 pm and Rocky Hills is open from 2 to 6 pm. Le Jardin du Roi and Susan Lawrence are offering special deals to all garden visitors. So plan on having lunch in town!
For details and directions, click HERE.
And an art exhibit too…
Monday May 14 to Saturday May 19, from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm every day, you can see paintings by Shobha Vanchiswar and Murali Mani in the Beaux Arts exhibit at the Katonah Library’s Garden Room Gallery.
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Seven Bridges Art Gala was a big, fun, delicious success!
See photos of the evening in “Read more…” and in Photo Gallery
Monday, May 7, 2012
by Christine Yeres
Last Wednesday’s Art Gala at Seven Bridges Middle School drew a happy crowd of students, their parents and art teachers. To the the accompaniment of a student string quartet, together they viewed student artwork, looked in on artworks in-progress and helped themselves to fancy finger foods and drinks.
Left to right: Martha Zornow, Meagan Whittington (Gala CoChair), SoHyun Bae (Gala CoChair), Terry Koshel (Art Teacher), Zach Arnold (Art Teacher), Barbara Leibovitz Hellman (Gala CoChair)
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Merchant of the Week: Michael Kalesti of Kent Home in new digs on South Greeley
More photos in “Read more…” and in Photo Gallery
May 4, 2012
by Rob Greenstein
New Castle resident Michael Kalesti recently made his move—from the top of King Street to South Greeley Avenue, with four times the space.
Kent Home
Michael Kalesti
77 South Greeley
Chappaqua, N.Y.
914.861.2690
www.kenthomechappaqua.com
You quadrupled your space with your move from upper King Street to South Greeley Avenue. Was it a good move?
Yes, it’s lots more space—and comes with front and back entrances and a great new back parking lot. The new space allows us to showcase larger home pieces. We also offer design services, search out specific vintage items for clients and offer free local delivery.
In former lives, you’ve worked as a fashion executive at Hugo Boss, Donna Karan and Calvin Klein. You were also the owner of the upscale lounge, Bolobar (now “Pour”). How did you decide to open a home decor shop?
In my home workshop a few years ago, I started restoring mid-century pieces for private clients. I’ve always been a collector, and my Art Deco phase turned into Modern.
I love the open areas, exposed ceiling and concrete floor in your store. Did you design it yourself?
Yes, i wanted a loft/warehouse type of feeling that would allow the contents to really stand out.
Do you personally select all your gift, furniture and household items?
Yes, and it’s a constant search, every day really. The great thing is that now that I’ve been at it for a while, empty nesters and downsizers know to come to me with pieces to consign.
Tell me about your vintage contemporary home furnishings—and anything for Mothers Day?
Contemporary mid-century, 1950-1970, American and European furniture designers such as George Nelson, Paul McCobb, Eero Saarinen, Hans Wegner. All items are in the very best original vintage condition, and we restore and reupholster when necessary. For Mothers Day gifts? We also have a great selection of vintage barware, tabletop, pottery, lighting and artwork.
Tell me about your contemporary items, and the contemporary companies you work with.
We work with a number of suppliers such as Arteriors, Oly Studio and Worlds Away, who have extensive selections of home decor. We also work with smaller companies who are creative, unique and made in America. For spring we introduced “Santa Maria Novella” home fragrances and candles, based in Florence and celebrating their 400th year, a must-visit if you’re ever in Florence.
Your web site is great. Can most of your merchandise, or should say, portfolio, be seen on your web site?
It’s a visual site for now, but I plan on selling selected pieces through the site.
What would you recommend to make our downtown hamlets more vibrant?
I think it’s important to have a strong chamber of commerce for merchants. I know you have one in the works, Rob. You can sign me up.
Any discounts or promotions for NewCastleNOW reader who mention this article?
Yes— 10% off storewide. Come see me!
_________________
Visit NCNOW.org’s Local Merchants Section to see other “Merchant of the Week” pieces by Rob Greenstein.
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Football players and parents plead for the return of Bill Tribou
See NCMC video—and more photos—of the May 1 Board of Ed meeting in “Read more…”
May 4, 2012
by Christine Yeres
Greeley football players past and present along with many of their parents packed the high school’s Academic Commons last Tuesday to plead for the return of their suspended coach, Bill Tribou, “the architect and foundation of the Greeley football program,” as Quaker team member Jamie Nottingham, speaking for teammates, described him.
Football team members filed into the commons and arranged themselves, standing, behind the seated board members. Jamie Nottingham testified to the right-heartedness of a coach who, he told board members, had given his own sleeping bag to team member Sammy Tugendhaft, “whose sleeping bag had been drenched by rain” during Hurricane Irene at football camp last year. To read Nottingham’s speech click HERE.
Board president Alyson Kiesel made clear from the start that board members were not allowed to discuss personnel matters with the public. Superintendent Lyn McKay explained, “We take personnel decisions very seriously and make decisions with great care. We take concerns and comments from the larger community very seriously,” she continued, “and we will listen intently. We believe strongly in athletics and know the importance of football to students and their parents and it’s very important to us, too.” Administrators and board would not confirm that the suspended coach was, in fact, suspended about two weeks ago.
All of the speakers who addressed the board were met with loud applause.
Karen Berkey, parent of a former football player, Ben Berkey—now in the Naval Academy—read board members a letter she had received from Nina Kretzmer, Class of 2010, who described her first impression of her gym teacher, Tribou, as “some big bad guy with a motorcycle who I shouldn’t cross,” but came to see him as “one of the best teachers at Greeley—a teddy bear with spikes.” She ended with an appeal to the board to restore Tribou, saying, “Mr. Tribou made my Greeley experience better; other students deserve the chance to know him.”
Lindsay Hill, a junior varsity athlete, spoke to board members, answering her question “What should the next step be with Mr. Tribou?” with “Return Mr. Tribou back to this school as soon as possible.” Read Hill’s entire statement by clicking HERE.
John Ehrlich, whose son Andrew, former Quaker football player and currently serving as a second lieutenant communications officer in the U.S. Marines, told board members that his son send him a message from overseas to tell him, “Dad, get your rear end up there. You can’t let this happen.” Ehrlich continued, “I’m not sure what’s happening, but If my son is fighting for freedom of expression I think this board owes this community an explanation as to what’s going on and not hide behind some legalism.”
“All I know,” Ehrlich concluded, “is that there’s one person I trust as an educator and influence on our youth and that’s Bill Tribou. And shame on this board and this administration if you ever let anything happen to him. He’s exactly what you want to see in a leader.”
Greg Kiernan, father of five—with 62 years of school experience in kid-school-years— told board members that two of his five sons had played football. “What they learned on and off the field were lessons about loyalty, facing your fears, lessons about courage and honor, that apply to their lives today. I’m enormously grateful to you board members and the schools. Coach Tribou is a stunning example of what we want in a teacher and what we hope for when we put our children in your care. Bill’s salty, unique . . . he’s a character. He’s also special, and loving and caring about our children. I urge you to consider fully the great things this man had done for our children and our community.”
Megan Higgins, Class of 1999, whose varsity lacrosse team Tribou coached, testified to the lasting effects of the coach. The football community of past players who still meet to play football every Thanksgiving weekend make “this is a wonderful place to be from, and Coach Tribou had so much to do with that. Like Mr. Kiernan said, he was a salty guy and i think that’s kind of a breath of fresh air for this community. Nowadays there’s a lot of trophies for participation. Tribou was not gonna give you a trophy for participation. You needed to be there and you needed to work hard. He used to tell us we looked like we were carrying pianos on our backs when we ran, and that his grandmother could run faster than we could. But it was all in motivation. And for him to relate to high school girls—I mean, really . . . most people have trouble relating to high school girls—and Tribou did it fantastically. I do hope we can move forward and bring him back, for the good of this community. My brother is overseas in the service as well. He emailed me, ‘What’s happening over there? You know Chappaqua… sometimes they just need a reality check.’”
Joey Aurora, Class of 2000, described Tribou’s reach beyond the football field. “He was instrumental in getting me into college. No one in my family had been to college before. He was the one that helped me. Not my guidance counselors, not my teachers. It was Tribou. There’s a community in this football program and outside that just extends beyond. And the heart of that is Tribou. Megan said it: This school likes to preach about being open-minded to everything, but it’s a bubble—a nice, wonderful, safe bubble—but he’s something different. He opened me up to a world I didn’t know, would never have known was there. And you know, like Megan said, in the working world not everyone gets a trophy. In the working world, you screw up and you’re gonna lose. And in today’s environment, Tribou is exactly what this world needs.”
Bill Marino, parent of one of the current captains, Billy Marino, told board members “he teaches character; he builds men. The reality is that I want to give you a mirror to look in and talk about Chappaqua. It’s a commodious environment. What you have in Chappaqua is a place where political correctness is carried to the level of a religion. I know of some people who’ve stood up for character in sports and have nearly been ridden out of town on a rail. He criticized the parents and students who pressed this spring for the removal of a baseball coach. “This town has a long tradition of crucifying coaches. Bill Tribou is a good man. This is all silly and he doesn’t have much patience with silliness. And I have a feel that’s exactly what’s happened here.”
Jim Nottingham, a former football player himself and father of Jamie Nottingham, read a prepared statement to the board. “In a system where most act to appear to be doing the right thing, Bill does the right thing in most instances. Others may question his methods, but the best teachers, never follow the standard path for the very nature of teaching requires one to assess each and every student as a unique individual. This creates problems -for in some cases a stern look will do, a quiet word in others, but in some cases it requires a commanding booming voice that some might find scary.” Read Nottingham’s entire statement by clicking HERE. “Although I understand why the [board’s] process has to be followed at this point, I wonder why it had to get to this point. Again it took both sides to bring this moment to pass.” He urged the board to act so that all parties could “return to the business of education.”
Sean Higgins (father of Megan) told board members that he believed that “insubordination” as a reason for Tribou’s suspension was troubling. “This is not a militaty academy, not a branch of th service or a polce department. .. this is a school.” But the deeper problem, he said, was that it “was starting to sound like a personal vendetta.” He was interruputed by applause and cheering. I would implore you to look past the personal animosity and deal with the reality of any charges, not anything on the trumped up side. Based on what you’ve heard here tonight, Tribou deserves better than to get in the middle of a personal vendetta.”
“My kids are signed up for Bill Tribou’s football camp at the end of June,” said Board member Jeff Mester, “and I’m damned proud of that.”
Audience members asked for a timeline for the process of dealing with Tribou’s absence. But in following legal requirements to maintain complete privacy in employment matters, the board was unable even to confirm that the coach has been suspended. Aurora asked that the board describe the process independent of the particular situation. Otherwise, he said, the process seemed a closed-door tribunal, very black-box. Even in a trial there’s a certain process. You guys are not even describing what that is.”
“To talk about the process would be for us to reveal details of the person’s circumstances,” explained board member Vicki Tipp. “If you were sitting here you would have the same legal obligation we have.”
Board members expressed their sympathy with concerned residents, but maintained their position. Mester referred the audience to a New York State Department of Education website describing teacher disciplinary processes. [NCNOW has identified a website page that seems to be relevant: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/resteachers/lawregs.html]
Board member Randy Katchis suggested that board members consult their attorney to learn what they may be able to say on the matter. “We could sit here all night and you could yell at us but it’s not going to be positive. I applaud this community. As always, when people in this community feel something needs to be said, they say it. And for all the young guys who did that so eloquently, you should be proud of yourselves. Saying what you believe is important.”
“Please put your thoughts into writing,” implored board member Karen Visser, “because we are accumulating a file. Please, please send them to us. They are kept and they are read.”
As of yesterday, the board had no additional statement to make or information to supply. Kiesel wrote to NCNOW, “This is extremely frustrating for all of us (parents and students as well) and we are eager to be in a position where we can answer questions, but have to ensure that we are keeping the district from potential liability.”
The Tribou matter begins at the 51:00 minute mark—and ends at the 1 hour 44:00 minute mark—of the following video:
CCSD Board of Education Meeting 5/1/12 from New Castle Media Center on Vimeo.
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Statement by Jamie Nottingham, asking for return of football coach Bill Tribou
May 4, 2012
Editor’s Note: Jamie Nottingham, a junior at Horace Greeley High School and member of the varsity football team, read the following statement to board members last Tuesday.
Hello my name is Jamie Nottingham. I am here to speak on the behalf of a group of boys whom I consider my brothers and my closest of friends, the Horace Greeley Football Team.
A major component of a team is a coach, however as of right now we find ourselves leaderless. Coach Tribou is not as his title would imply merely a coach, he is both the architect and foundation of the Horace Greeley football program.
Although the necessity and complexity of this program are not evident to those who are not a part of it, I can assure you having been a part of the team for three years that each and every morning workout, spring practice and day of camp are as important to football as our pads.
At this crucial point in the 12 month cycle that is the football program every moment spent without our leader guiding and supervising us jeopardizes our season, and for some of us looking to play at the next level, our futures.
The thought that caption’s Billy Marino’s or Brent Lobien’s opportunity to play football at the college of his dreams is being jeopardized makes me sick to my stomach.
The results of an unprepared football team, thrown together in August are catastrophic. The City of Yonkers football teams last season were examples of this and struggled with embarrassing losses and injuries due to the lack of a program. The only person who knows how to prepare this group of players to be competitive in the Section in which we have great potential is coach Tribou.
Coach Tribou brings an ineffable devotion to us which I will attempt to distill into words. I have watched him give up his sleeping bag to Sammy Tugendhaft a member of the team whose sleeping bag had been drench by rain, Coach stayed up all night In order to make sure that we were safe during Hurricane Irene at Camp Taconic last year. And, I have seen him put aside family issues such as the illness of his mother to prepare us for our next game. A few years back in a lunch conversation with now captain Cory Ekstrom he asked me what Tribou was thinking about right now. We both smiled and knew almost for sure that he was deep in thought wondering who should block the backside tackle or something else team related.
Perhaps almost as vast as is his devotion to the players, team and program is his wisdom and insight regarding the development of boys into men. Tribou sees things in people that no one else sees. He was the first to point out Teddy Graves’ talent at football as opposed to basketball and made him captain as a junior in order to force him to mature. The last time I saw coach he spoke to the team and me about not doing the cool thing, but finding a way to help someone or do something that despite the fact that its value has been marginalized by the student cultures at Greeley: sitting with someone who’s alone, standing up for someone who can’t or simply picking up some trash.
By depriving us of our coach, leader and mentor you are depriving us of the season we have already worked so hard for, you are depriving us of the future that we deserve, and most importantly and horribly you are depriving us of a hallmark experience in our journey from adolescence to adulthood. I am appalled that this administration and school board would allow a staff issue to directly damage so many students whom the school system exists to serve. The most expedient and ethical solution to this disservice would be the restoration of his position. I ask that justice be done to our team, season and coach.
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“What should the board’s next step be?” Junior Lindsay Hill answers “Return Tribou”
May 4, 2012
Editor’s Note: Junior athlete Lindsay Hill read the following statement to board of education members last Tuesday.
Hi, my name is Lindsay Hill and I am a junior varsity athlete here at Greeley. Some of you are probably asking yourselves: what should the next step be with Mr. Tribou? Where do we go from here to benefit our community in the most positive and effective way regarding the issues at hand? The answer is returning Mr. Tribou back to this school as soon as possible.
To help us understand why we should keep him, we must ask ourselves one question. How has Mr. Tribou impacted our lives?
For me, the impact he has made on my life alone has been powerful and positive. In the short time that I have known him, i’ve been thoroughly impressed with what he stands for in this community. He is not only a teacher or a coach to the students at Greeley. He is a mentor. A strong-headed, principled adult that changes the lives of many with what he instills in us through our years at Greeley.
It is so important that students in all grades understand the hardships of life and the fact that people are going to throw you around but you must remain dignified and have immense amounts of fortitude throughout it all, and that is something that Mr. Tribou teaches us, or at least me.
I developed a relationship with Mr. Tribou at the beginning of this year and he really supported me and helped me through some tricky times regarding sports and school. It’s not often that I feel comfortable enough to approach a teacher and confide in them with various types of issues, but Mr. Tribou makes that possible.
I don’t think it’s right to take that special relationship between a student and a teacher away from Greeley students. And I can honestly say that without him as a supporter and figurehead in my life, I wouldn’t be standing where I am today, with the courage to come up here and speak on his behalf. Thank you.
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Jim Nottingham on Tribou suspension: “When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers”
May 4, 2012
Editor’s Note: Jim Nottingham, a board member of the Turf Committee and of the Chappaqua School Foundation, read the following statement to board of ed members. Students are wrongly suffering, he contended, as a result of “adults behaving badly on both sides.”
Bill Tribou is a complex man, but one thing is certain he has never hurt a child, by accident or by design. He may have yelled at them, cursed a few and caused many to fear his brusque style…..but in the end most under his guidance and tutelage come to know and understand he is genuinely concerned about them and acts to help them grow and mature into adulthood.
In a system where most act to appear to be doing the right thing, Bill does the right thing in most instances. Others may question his methods, but the best teachers, never follow the standard path for the very nature of teaching requires one to assess each and every student as a unique individual. This creates problems -for in some cases a stern look will do, a quiet word in others, but in some cases it requires a commanding booming voice that some might find scary.
In the end I think Bill Tribou has great character and is an effective teacher of boys and girls. Although his methodology may not be textbook, no one can argue with the results he achieves. It is easy to point out his failings, because he never backs down when he thinks he is right…Yes he isn’t always right, but when judging a man of conviction it is easy to find the flaws because he is doing something, not playing it safe or appeasing the system, he is laying everything on the line for what he believes in and this is something society, our school system should honor.
The East African saying “When two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers.” seems applicable to this situation. As a reasonably reasonable person I know that nothing is black or white but a thousand shades of gray. Most important is the fact that no one in this matter is innocent. Under the surface based on my years in the district I know that this situation is the result of adults behaving badly on both sides.
Now locked into positions and fighting….unfortunately the elephants are trampling the grass or students in this case.
While it is hard to know the background and series of factual or imagined events that have led to this situation, it is even harder to imagine why our educational leadership cannot find, did not find a better and faster solution to conclude this issue without the economic and time cost that the present legalities will generate, especially when the district is under such great economic strain. If the will to do so was present, if the objective was to do right by students, surely there had to be a better way to reach a settlement of the issues that would not so adversely affect the students and allow everyone to return to the business of education.
Although I understand why the process has to be followed at this point, I wonder why it had to get to this point. Again it took both sides to bring this moment to pass.
Okay we are locked in the present battle how much will it cost? I would ask that district outline the procedures and cost of this action so I can know how much money could have been spent saving a teaching position or given towards the turf project.
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Rocky Hills spreads its blues: Forget-Me-Nots make a sea of blue every spring
A Mothers Day present that lasts forever
May 4, 2012
by Christine Yeres
In tidying up for her Rocky Hills Open Day on Saturday, May 19, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., Mrs. Henriette Suhr is pulling up some of her profusion of forget-me-nots that create a soft sea of blue—some call it a cloud or a mist—every spring all across her 12-acre strolling garden on Old Roaring Brook Road. They’ll be on offer as a gift this Saturday, May 5, at the Chappaqua Farmers Market. No fussing required. Either plant them or let them sit in some garden spot and dry out, leaving their seeds to surprise you next year and forever after.
If you feel they’re taking you over, simply pull them. They’re shallowly rooted and come out easily.
The tiny prolific flowers worked their way in to Rocky Hills years ago, when Mrs. Suhr sowed wildflower seeds in a meadow deep in Rocky Hills. Many of the wildflowers quit shortly after, but the forget-me-nots flourished—and she let them have their way.
Stop by the Market table on Saturday for a starter-set.
About Rocky Hills, the best-kept-secret garden in New Castle . . .
Rocky Hills, a beautiful twelve-acre property and strolling garden in the northern suburbs of New York City, is the product of an old-world sense of stewardship and the patient artistry of Henriette Suhr. The Conservancy holds a conservation easement on this property, protecting it from development. Ownership will eventually transfer to the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation through the generosity of Mrs. Suhr, and long-term plans are being implemented to accommodate the eventual increase in public visitation.
About the Friends of Rocky Hills
The Friends of Rocky Hills support the garden through their participation in programs, as volunteers, and through their generous donations to the Garden Conservancy for the garden’s future preservation as as public garden and center for horticultural education. The Friends work closely with the Garden Conservancy and the Westchester County of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, and generate income from garden memberships to help support garden operations. The Friends plan events, such as the Rocky Hills Lecture Series of horticultural talks held every spring and fall, and other activities to engage both members and the general public.
For more information about the Friends of Rocky Hills, call the Garden Conservancy at 845.265.2029.
Milestones
1956: Henriette Suhr, a designer and one of the innovators of Bloomingdales department store’s furniture showrooms, and her late husband William, a renowned art conservator, acquire a farm called Rocky Hill, slightly larger than twelve acres, as a weekend retreat. They add an “s” to the original name and call their Mt. Kisco, New York property, Rocky Hills. Neither had gardened seriously before, but their new hobby turns into absolute passion and over the years they transform wild woodland and meadow into one of the country’s most distinctive gardens
1977: Henriette and William Suhr leave Manhattan and make Rocky Hills their permanent home
1984: William Suhr dies
2000: Henriette Suhr announces plans to donate the property to the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation for use as a publicly run horticultural education center. Strategies are drawn to eventually transition this privately-owned space into a public garden.
A conservation easement is granted to the Garden Conservancy and the Rocky Hills Advisory Board is formed.
2004: The Friends of Rocky Hills is established to raise public awareness and support for the garden through educational programs and tours.
2007: The New York Times calls this wonderland a “Living Legacy.”
2009: Henriette Suhr is honored by the Foundation for Landscape Studies with its Place Maker Award.
2010: The New School, New York City, hosts a President’s Forum, March 10, with distinguished alumna Henriette Suhr. On April 14, the Friends of Westchester County Parks presents Mrs. Suhr the Best Green Friend Award
2011: At the New York School of Interior Design, Henriette Suhr and Marco Polo Stufano present a “conversation” about her half a century in the garden, and the influences of her early life beforehand.
This year’s Open Days
In 2012, Rocky Hills, at 95 Old Roaring Brook Road, will be open to the public only on the following Garden Conservancy Open Days:
Saturday, May 19, 2 – 6 p.m.
Saturday, October 20, 2 - 6 p.m.
Admission and Tours: $5 per person on Garden Conservancy Open Days
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Spring Blood Drive at Temple Beth El; blood shortage is acute in Metro area
April 27, 2012
by Stuart Berg
The Spring Blood Drive at Temple Beth El on Route 117 in Chappaqua will take place on Sunday, May 6th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There is an acute blood shortage in the Metropolitan area. I even received a text from the New York Blood Center yesterday looking for platelet donors. Walk-ins are gladly accepted but the drive will run smoother if you can make an appointment.
To arrange a specific time for your appointment, please email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or call my home number, 238-5173.
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Letter to the Editor: Hunts Place is not suitable for any type of residential use
May 4, 2012
Editor’s Note: Conifer Realty representatives return to the town board next Tuesday, May 8, to present an altered plan for Hunts Place, reduced in height, still with 36 rental units. The following letter was submitted to the town board on April 15, arguing that the site is unsuitable for any residential development.
April 15, 2012
Ms. Susan Carpenter, Supervisor & Town Board Members
Town of New Castle
200 North Greeley Avenue
Chappaqua, NY 10514
Dear Ms. Carpenter & Members of the Town Board:
We, the members of Chappaqua For Responsible Affordable Housing (CFRAH), which includes architects, professionals, business owners and other residents, are deeply disappointed with the Planning Board report dated March 28, 2012 regarding the Conifer Hunts Lane proposal. We believe that this report fails to account for the fundamental flaw of this proposal - that the site is unsuitable for residential development of any kind - and also does not properly address several other critical issues regarding this proposal.
The most compelling sentence of the report is contained in its 1st paragraph, referring to the Planning Board’s prior review in 2007 of a proposed multifamily, market-rate project on this site: “At that time, we concluded that the site proposed for that development was not suitable for residential use.” The Planning Board then goes on to cite facts related to the Affordable Housing Settlement to draw a conclusion that “much has changed” since this finding in 2007. The line of thinking can’t therefore be more clear: because there is now a requirement to provide affordable housing units, those types of units can be put on this site. In point of fact, however, nothing has physically changed about this site - it is still unsuitable for residential use.
At the Planning Board’s meeting on March 6 to consider this proposal, members of CFRAH appeared and implored the Planning Board to review and address the suitability of this site for affordable housing. This review, however, does nothing to address that key issue, and simply focuses on a number of planning details. We continue to believe that this is the fundamental threshold issue to be addressed before reaching any site planning considerations.
In addition to the unsuitability of the site for residential habitation, the report also fails to address the following key planning issues:
1. That the railroad side of the building is completely inaccessible to fire-fighting equipment, that Metro-North service would need to be halted in order to address a fire event on this side of the building, and there is no mention of a discussion with Metro-North about these issues;
2. The fact that south-bound Metro-North trains must sound their horns directly in front of this property (6 feet form the building face) on approach to the station. This would occur about 40 times during a typical day, including 3 - 4 times per hour between 5am & 9am. The horns are about 100 decibels, which is equivalent to a snow blower or power saw;
3. There is no green space or grade level recreation space provided on the property, even though there may be 24 or more children residing in this building (based on the average Westchester household size of 2.67 persons per household);
What was therefore not suitable for market-rate housing on this site in 2007, is still not suitable for affordable housing in 2012, and no twist of logic can change that fact. There are far more appropriate sites for affordable housing in our town—sites that are integrated into the community, not isolated—and we should be focusing our efforts on those sites.
Respectfully Submitted by CFRAH:
William Spade, Architect
Matt Egan
Will Wedge
Keiko Sasaki-Spade, Architect
Sigrid Sperzel
Don Roane
Wallace Toscano, Architect
Peter Davidson
Joe Cipriani
Shelah Bosch
Shaun Gotterbarn, Architect
Robin Murphy
Victor Martinez
Stanley Wong, Architect
Joan Corwin
Peter Davidson, Jr.
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Letter to the Editor: Town Board should explore alternatives to fatally flawed Hunts Place site
Monday, April 30, 2012
by Will Wedge
Face it: construction of affordable housing – both condo and rental units – is inevitable in the Town of New Castle.
The US District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled against Westchester County in August 2008; the Stipulation and Order of Settlement requires that the County “ensure the development of at least seven hundred fifty new affordable housing units” in municipalities where the population is less than 3 percent African-American and less than 7 percent Hispanic, per the 2000 US Census. New Castle is one of these communities. Beyond accepting legal inevitability, however, we should support mixed use, workforce and affordable housing in our town because it is the right thing to do to honor the social compact we share with each other.
But what should not be inevitable, and should not be accepted is the misguided, wholly-inappropriate, plug-ugly and unsafe project Conifer Realty proposes for the Hunts Place site. Imaginative and feasible alternatives abound, as architect Wallace Toscano so capably showed the Town Board on April 25, 2012. [see Local Architect Shows Town Board Affordable Housing Plans for Two Sites Behind Town Hall, NewCastleNOW.org April 27, 2012.]
Conifer’s five-story structure does not meet town building code and zoning for the infinitesimal lot on which it is proposed: it is two stories taller than current code permits and about 20 feet taller than tallest building in the Hamlet. Conifer’s plan likewise violates many of the siting, health, and environmental considerations for affordable housing required by the federal monitor appointed to administer the County’s compliance with the settlement. Peter Applebome of The New York Times calls the proposed site, “a no-man’s land between railroad tracks, a highway and a bridge.” And the Town’s own Architectural Review Board has correctly said that Conifer’s plan will “result…in an everlasting monument to flawed judgment.” Just because a developer has secured some funding for a project does not mean that our municipal authorities should be deaf and blind to its obvious failures on these and many other fronts.
The late, great sports writer Red Smith was once asked how he chose the victor in a too-close-to-call world-championship boxing match that stumped referees and judges alike. “Easy,” he said, “I just asked the eight-year-old kid with the Cracker Jack in the seat next to me who won, and filed my story accordingly.”
It may not be obvious to the judges and referees on New Castle’s Town Board and Zoning Board of Appeals who the winners and losers would be if Conifer’s Hunts Place monstrosity comes to pass. But in the context of possible other ideas like those Mr. Toscano has given us – which should be vigorously and proactively explored by the Town – it’s clear to this kid that New Castle will be down and out for the count if its elected officials issue Conifer a permit to construct this obviously asinine building, or anything else for that matter, on the Hunts Place site.
Will Wedge, 30 April 2012
Links:
Local Architect Shows Town Board Affordable Housing Plans for Two Sites Behind Town Hall, NewCastleNOW.org, April 27, 2012.
Despite 2009 Deal, Affordable Housing Roils Westchester. Peter Applebome, The New York Times, April 3, 2012.
New Castle Architectural Review Board Memo on Proposed Hunts Place Apartment Buildingj, NewCastleNOW.org, March 8, 2012.
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Party-time! Chappaqua Farmers Market officially opens summer season—outdoors at St. Mary’s
Summer Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s, next to Bell
May 2, 2012
by Pascale LeDraoulec
• Music by Chris Fox
• Cooking Demo by Maria Reina
• Seven Bridges Gardeners
• Horace Greeley AIDS Awareness Club
Please don’t head to the train station—we have spontaneously moved our market permanently to the great lawn in front of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin at 191 S. Greeley Avenue!
We set up the market tents there a couple of weeks ago when we were in a pinch and couldn’t use the Church rectory due to a scheduling conflict. Within minutes of unfurling the tents, shoppers, vendors and market organizers all had the same epiphany: the verdant lawn was the perfect place for a farmers market. As lovely as the train station was (and thank you to Town Hall for letting us use it!) grass underfoot trumps asphalt every time. “It feels like a market in Maine,” said one shopper, who was weighed down with bags of spring vegetables. Being visible from the street makes such a difference, too! I can’t tell you how many people came up to me and said they didn’t know there was a market in Chappaqua. This, despite the banners, signs and placards posted everywhere.
Our new home feels right for other reasons: Many moons ago St. Mary’s parking lot was the site of the original Chappaqua farmers market — a single farmstand known as White Feather Farm. Those of you who’ve been here a while might remember it. Back then – about 20 years ago….ramps weren’t on anybody’s culinary radar. But they are all the rage right now and certainly will be the darling of this weekend’s market. These wild, mystical leeks can be eaten raw, but are best sautéed, roasted, grilled, pickled or “pulsed” into pesto. You can throw them on a pizza, or toss them in any Flour City Pasta and they make a divine spring risotto (with morel mushrooms and asparagus tips!). Their garlicky flavor goes great with scallops. My friend Linnea makes ramp butter this time each year. She stores it in the freezer to slather atop grilled steak year-round. Clever.
Our favorite personal chef, Maria Reina will be preparing a fantastic ramp recipe at the market. You can check out her ramp blog at bellacucinamaria.com. The season for ramps which are foraged not farmed, is short and sweet so get them while you can.
Looking forward to welcoming you to our new home!
See you at the market….
Pascale Le Draoulec
New Vendor: Rich Brownies
Rotating Vendors:
Flourish Baking Company
Gaia’s Breath Farm
Big Girl Bakery
Bombay Emerald Chutney
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A riot of rounds at the Chappaqua Library
May 4, 2012
by Chirag Kumar
Do you like to sing songs like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”? If you do, then come to the Chappaqua Library on Wednesday, May 9th at 4:00 p.m. Songs like this are called “rounds” because the singers chase each other around in the circle of the song.
At the library, we’ll sing nursery songs, rounds about people living together in peace and maybe even some—like “Frere Jacques”—in foreign languages. If you’re in Kindergarten or older come with an adult. You can register by calling 914.238.4779x3 or on the library website: www.chappaqualibrary.org. Promote world harmony by singing with us!
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TODAY: Filled to the rafters! FCC’s biggest, best May 4-5 Barn Sale
See preview photos in Photo Gallery
May 4, 2012
by Barbara Cardone
The line forms early for our Friday, May 4, Barn Sale. Our doors open at 9:00 a.m.
This May marks the 61st year that the First Congregational Church in Chappaqua has opened its doors to shoppers from all over looking for opportunities to stock up on top-quality clothes, shoes, furniture, jewelry, toys and books at great prices. Every year we see hundreds of loyal customers who come to our four-day sale, this year with the price of gas skyrocketing and the job market still a challenge, we expect to be welcoming many more people looking for bargains.
The dates and times for this year’s Barn Sale are:
• Friday, May 4th 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday , May 5th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The following week, prices on all remaining merchandise are reduced by 20% for the “Bargain Barn Sale.” Those dates and times are:
• Wednesday, May 9th 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Thursday, May 10th 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.*
[* Sale closes at 12:30 p.m. and reopens at 1:00 p.m. for “Rent-a-Bag” sale until 2:00 p.m.]
Our 61st Annual Barn Sale will be held at the First Congregational Church at 210 Orchard Ridge Road at Route 117 in Chappaqua, B-Line Bus Route 19.
The Barn Sale began 61 years ago in a church member’s barn and has grown over the years to become “Westchester County’s largest tag sale.” To those who have shopped at the Barn Sale, it is a goldmine of higher quality donated or consigned items as well as new merchandise donated by local merchants for sale at amazing prices. Shoppers will find everything from men’s, women’s and children’s apparel and accessories, to sporting goods and linens, to small appliances and furniture, to fine jewelry, to antiques and collectibles.
Come help yourself to some bargains while helping our church support our benevolences!
For additional information, please call the church office at (914) 238-4411 or visit www.fcc-chappaqua.org.
Church member Barbara Cardone is Manager of the Barn Sale.
Merchants
During Barn Sale 2011, the following businesses consigned or donated merchandise for sale, gifts or gift certificates for the raffle, or provided food for volunteer�s meals. We thank them for all their contributions.
Chappaqua* Squires Family Clothing & Footwear *
Auntie Penny
Aurora
Cathy Hair & Company Salon
Chappaqua Hand Car Wash & Detail Center
Chappaqua Mobil
Chappaqua Paint & Hardware
Chappaqua Restaurant & Caf�
Chappaqua Village Market
Crabtree’s Kittle House
Desires by Mikolay
Donna Hair Design
Emmary Spa
ICD Contemporary
Jewelry
Ivonna
Korth & Shanahan
Lange’s Little Store
Le Jardin du Roi
Mario’s Pizza
Marmalade
OldStone Trattoria
Petticoat Lane
Quaker Hill Tavern
Quaker Ridge Jewelers
Spoon Restaurant
Susan Lawrence Gourmet Foods
The King’s Scribe
Villarina’s Italian Deli
Whispering Pines of Chappaqua
MillwoodCountry Deli
Dodd’s Liquor City
Drug Mart
Evergreen Cleaners
Millwood Garden Center
Stonehedge Day Spa
FishkillHudson Valley Renegades
HawthorneIsland Imports
Smith’s Dancing School
Many thanks go to all the merchants who support our sale. Help them by shopping locally!
Benevolences
The Barn Sale makes donations to many charitable organizations. The following groups received donations during 2011:
National Headquarters Vietnam Veterans of America
Peekskill Victims Assistance Services
The Benefit Shop
Community Center of Northern Westchester
Books Behind Bars
Bedford Hills Women’s Prison
Doctors Without Borders
Homeless Community Group in Holmes, NY
Play Care
The Cottage School
The Ossining Children’s Center
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Greeley Theater Company ends its season this weekend with Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town”
Fri. May 4 and Sat. May 5 at 8:00 p.m.
May 4, 2012
by Susie Pender
In 1938, when the rumblings of war rapidly expanding in Europe were only the loudest in the barrage of negative news heard daily by Americans, Thornton Wilder pleaded with his countrymen, through his three-act play “Our Town,” to appreciate every moment of every day. Life is fleeting, he cautioned in his Pulitzer Prize winning drama, rejoice in the ordinary while all around you is changing.
“Our Town” is set in the small New Hampshire town of Grover’s Corners, but it could be any small American town. It is a character study of the inhabitants, ordinary people living ordinary lives. People grow up, get married, live and die. Milk and the newspaper get delivered every morning, and nobody locks their front doors.
Come visit Grover’s Corners and meet its fine citizens, TONIGHT, Friday, May 4 at 8:00 p.m. or TOMORROW NIGHT, Saturday, May 5 at 8:00 p.m. Both performances are at the Horace Greeley High School Auditorium, 70 Roaring Brook Road, Chappaqua, NY. All tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or online through sellingtickets.com/HGHS or you can reserve seats by calling 914-861-9425 during school hours.
The cast (in order of appearance)
Stage Manager – Sky Jarrett
Dr. Gibbs – Alex Gold
Joe Crowell – Chris Valenti
Howie Newsome – Nathaniel Rosenberg
Mrs. Gibbs – Carly Cheriff
Mrs. Webb – Liv Amundsen
George Gibbs – Patrick Moore
Rebecca Gibbs – Cyndi Bonacum
Wally Webb – Jake Sussman
Emily Webb – Micaela Silver
Professor Willard – Jordan Miller
Mr. Webb – Cole Benack
Woman #1 – Mary Kate McGetrick
Man – Alex Martinez
Woman #2 – Emma Freeman
Simon Stimson – Emerson Obus
Mrs. Stoames – Caroline Whalen
Constable Warren – Joel Gellis
Si Crowell – Jake Sussman
Baseball Players – Alex Martinez, Jordan Miller and Chris Valenti
Sam Craig – Alex Martinez
Joe Stoddard – AJ Shapiro
The Crew
Director – Christopher Schraufnagel
Set Designer – Clifton Chadick
Lighting Designer – David Sexton
Costume Designer – Sally Cochran
Hair and Wig Designer – Troye Evers
Original Music – A. J. Perlin
Student Assistant Director – Zak Krooks
Student Stage Manager – Jordan Stein
Student Technical Director – Michael Forster
Assistant Student Technical Director – Sam Watson
Student Lighting Designer – Dan Borenstein
Student Sound Designer – Frank Chiarulli
Student Costume Design – Jordyn Kaufman
Properties/Costume Rentals – Anything But Costumes
Hair/Make-up Assistant – Carly Cohen
Running/Construction Crew – Bridget Ahmling, Ben Angowitz, Eric Berkeley, Cheehong Chia, Ben Ehrlich, Carol Farha, John Ferraro, Adam Finn, John Fitzpatrick, Harrison Geist, William Jagels, Jordyn Kaufman, Lori Lipson, Steve Make, Jenna Miller, Cloe Noto, Harjup Singh, Jacob Stanton, Liam Swenson, Frank Turano, Hunter Vaccaro
Photography – Maya Wald
Program Design – Jake Sussman
Showcase Design – Jacob Sorkin
Signs – Signman Says
Thank you for supporting Greeley theatre.
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Eight New Castle Girl Scouts attain Gold Ward
See photo of the ceremony in “Read more…” or in Photo Gallery
Monday, April 30, 2012
by Christine Yeres
Town hall was packed on Saturday afternoon with Girl Scouts, their families, friends and admirers. They came to honor the eight Girl Scouts—two Greeley seniors, six juniors—who have earned their Gold Awards for projects built to last, in service to their community—and the world.
Their projects will continue to benefit both young and old at Roaring Brook Elementary, the Bedford Correctional Facility, the Children’s Aid Society, Putnam Hospital Center, and patrons of the Chappaqua Library through knitting, book and film discussion, recycling, and supplies for children of inmates.
In Saturday’s ceremony, each girl described her project, was showered with honors and certificates from State Assemblyman Bob Castelli, County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz, New Castle Town Supervisor Susan Carpenter—a Girl Scout herself, whose mother was a Girl Scout leader, she told the girls—and Co-President of the League of Women Voters Sheila Miller Bernson, who presented each girl with a “First Vote” brochure.
Following the official praise, each girl called on her mom and dad to step forward, thanked them for their support—both as sounding-boards and chauffeurs—and fastened a miniature Gold Award pin on her mother’s lapel.
“The Gold Award, which is earned by fewer than 6% of eligible Girl Scouts nationwide, is bestowed by the Girl Scouts of America in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in leadership, community service, career planning and personal development.”
Lindsey Brosnan – Roaring Brook Elementary School Nature and Story Walk
Lindsey decided to give back to a place where she and her family spent many years of her childhood by creating a nature walk at Roaring Brook Elementary School. Her project provides food for native birds allowing people to observe these birds in their natural setting. Working with other scouts and the community she made bird feeders for the trail out of recycled materials. Lindsey also furnished beds full of native plants at the beginning and end of the trail. In addition, Lindsey developed a story walk for each season of the year using many different children’s books thus keeping children entertained while walking the nature trail.
Kathleen Duncalf – Bedford Hills Correctional Facility Children’s Center
Kathleen’s project helped the inmates and children served by the Children’s Center at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility (BHCF), New York’s only maximum security prison for women. To make a visit to BHCF more comfortable, Kathleen coordinated outreach in the community, soliciting children’s books, infant clothing and supplies, plus bagged lunches for visiting days. Kathleen also visited fairs to raise awareness, arranged toy drives at various community locations and ran bake sales. As another piece of her project, Kathleen started a club at her high school called HOPE, Helping Out People Everywhere, which targets a different community service plan each semester. In the fall of 2011, HOPE focused on supplying the BHCF.
Megan Elizabeth Enright – Seniors Make A Wish
Working for Senior Citizens in both her local community of Chappaqua and her summer community of Lake Naomi, PA, Megan started Seniors Make A Wish. Educating about the needs of seniors and involving the communities to facilitate meeting those needs was the focus of her project. Many seniors suffer from loneliness which was addressed by visits to the seniors and getting them out for awhile. Megan worked with other Girl Scout troops to prepare Halloween Goodie Bags and Veterans Day Party Favors, while increasing the troops understanding of seniors’ needs. Megan and the HOPE club at her school will continue to run community services for the seniors.
Rebecca Fischer – Wagon Road Vocabulary Signs
For her project, Rebecca worked with the Children’s Aid Society to create an intellectually enriching environment at Wagon Road Camp for their summer camp program. Working at several sites around the camp, she created magnetic vocabulary signs to be changed several times a week. Rebecca used local community support to build the signs and cut out the magnetic letters. She researched appropriate words for the signs, printed out definitions and created a schedule for the word rotations. Rebecca also visited the camp to meet with the campers to play word games and access how much of the new vocabulary each camper had retained. Wagon Road Camp has incorporated Rebecca’s vocabulary program into their summer curriculum.
Julia Friedland – Reduce, Reuse, Recycled Art
Julia’s project combines artistic creativity with environmentalism. She was inspired by the fact that in the slogan, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” we are best at Recycling, but not especially strong in the other, more important areas. To address this issue, Julia decided to educate and inspire people with “Recycled Art” – using would-be trash as an artistic medium. Julia started working with the three communities with which she is most involved. At camp, she provided supplies and instruction to teach campers green arts and crafts; in the Girl Scouting community, she taught groups at community camping; and in her town, she ran a booth at the annual Green Fair as well as creating her own event, EcoArt Fair. The interest in the small things that we can do to reuse “trash” was very rewarding.
Neha Gupta - Making A Kid-Friendlier Hospital
The main objective of Neha’s project was to improve the waiting room experience for children at Putnam Hospital Center. Neha addressed how hospital waiting rooms can be somewhat frightening and boring for children. Through generous support from the community, she supplied DVDs, books and magazines for both the Emergency Room and Birthing Center waiting rooms. Neha was also able to provide a DVD player for the Emergency Room waiting area. Using local volunteers she made activity bags with crayons and coloring sheets to be distributed at the hospital. Neha’s work as a Junior Volunteer at the hospital also let her see the impact her project had on the families visiting the waiting rooms.
Megan Marie Maher – Knitting for Neighbors
The focus of Megan’s project was to create colorful knitted blankets for donation. Each blanket required forty-nine 7” by 9” squares, which were then sewn together into either baby, lap or regular blankets. Creating a website with a project outline and knitting instructions, Megan’s project spread past her own community and into other states of the country. Over the course of her work, Megan was able to interact with many different people, ranging from teaching younger Girl Scout troops to gathering friends around the campfire at community camping. She received a large amount of support from a local knitting group that she joined, and ended up learning a lot from them as well. As a result of her efforts, Megan delivered sixty-four blankets to Bylthdale Children’s Hospital and Hope’s Door, a local women’s shelter.
Aparna Nathan – Reels and Reads
Though this project, Aparna aimed to increase middle school students’ enthusiasm for books by connecting them to their film adaptations. She held multiple events at the Chappaqua Library, at which the attendees watched a film adaptation of a book. In the discussion that followed, the students acquired a wide variety of skills related to analyzing books and movies. Other aspects of her project also included raffles to give away free movie tickets to local movie theaters. Any student could enter the raffles by submitting a book review. By incorporating many local businesses in her project, Aparna was able to include the community in this attempt to nurture a love of reading.
To earn the Gold Award, each girl completed the following requirements:
Earn at least three Interest Project patches
Complete a Studio 2B Focus Book
Earn the Girl Scout Gold Leadership Award (minimum of 30 hours)
Earn the Girl Scout Gold Career Award (minimum of 40 hours)
Earn the Girl Scout Gold 4B Challenge
Plan, conduct and complete a Girl Scout Award project (minimum of 65 hours)
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PLAY BALL, New Castle!
Monday, April 30, 2012
See photos of last Saturday’s Opening Season Parade for the New Castle Baseball and Softball Association in “Read more…” or in Photo Gallery.
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Skate Park opens on Saturday, May 5th—Noon to 4:00 p.m.
May 4, 2012
The Skate Park is located in the commuter lot of the Chappaqua Train Station. The Skate Park features bank ramps, quarter pipes, pyramid and grinding rail among other features.
Permits may be purchased for the 2012 season at the Recreation Department. Group lessons for beginners and advanced skateboarders are available. Helmets, knee pads and elbow pads must be worn and you must supply your own skateboard. Daily park use fee is available and must be paid in cash, exact change only.
Skate Park Info
To access all skate park information regarding fees, hours of operation, required forms and lessons, please click HERE.
New for the 2012 season…
Westchester Skaters Cup!
A new contest series developed by 2nd Nature and local recreation departments to bring skateboarding communities together to compete, have a good time and get free stuff! Skaters will be judged based on style, consistency and difficulty on a scale of 1-10. Every skater will represent the town they are from or live nearest to.
See the town’s web page for forms you must fill out.
Any questions regarding the Skate Park program please contact Aaron at the Recreation Department, 238-3909.
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In the garden with Shobha Vanchiswar
Clematis
After a mild winter, maple seedlings are everywhere!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Tips and Gripes.
When the much needed rain finally arrived last Saturday, I almost rushed out into the night to dance in it!
How utterly life-giving it felt. Parts of my garden were beginning to look so parched that cracks
were forming in the ground. But two days of this rain had me grumpy all over again. I don’t mean to be
ungrateful. Honestly. We’ve needed the rain desperately. But too much too soon is also not so useful.
Even a starving man must not eat too fast. Instead of the water soaking down, it just runs off eventually
accumulating in the lowest part of the garden creating a water logged area. Which leads me to worry
about the plants in that section. Even plants that love to be in moist conditions don’t do so well standing
in a couple of inches of water. However, I don’t want to anger the powers that be by complaining lest
they send the locusts in hot pursuit. But really, would it have been so hard to deliver a couple of hours
of steady, gentle rain each night over a continuous period of time?
Weeding season started in earnest a month ago. I find the weed I’m pulling the most are the maple
seedlings. Have you noticed that they are in zillions all over the place? Thats one of the consequences
of that barely-there winter. Another unsurprising but very annoying repercussion has been the pests.
I’ve been picking off the red lily beetles as regularly as one changes a baby’s diaper. And it’s about as
pleasant. Meanwhile, my legs that were positively ecstatic to run bare so early in the year are now
displaying angry red marks from the bites of fierce, pumped up mosquitoes who worked out all winter
long getting ready for just such time. Can’t imagine whats in store for summer.
I’ve been wanting to get into various ornamental grasses for a while. Although some small
introductions were made in recent years, I itched to try more. Finally the chance has come. This past
weekend I planted a bed with variegated miscanthus, sedge broom and mondos. Kind of exciting.
But here’s the rub – it’s on property that does not belong to me. A neighbor’s strip of land borders my
driveway and looks like it should be mine. It is invariably forgotten by the owners and can be quite
hard on the eyes. Consequently, every visitor’s shocked expression seems to imply I’m the negligent
one. So I decided to do something. Lets hope my hard work ( and expense) is not met with the
suspicion that I’m encroaching.
My perennial beds are chock full of bulbs. This year, with the bulbs coming up all at once, I’m
determined to accomplish something I’ve been intending to do for ages. Every fall, when I add more
bulbs, it is a huge challenge to avoid hitting the pre-existing bulbs. I’ve always wanted to mark the
plants in the spring. Something not too obvious. A color coded system to correspond with the types
of bulbs. My solution to this is golf tees. Clever right? I would quite genuinely like to hear of your
approval of my brilliant solution. Please oblige?
And now I’m off to shop on-line for aforementioned tees. Now that word is out, I predict there’ll be a
huge run on them. Get your supply in early.
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Local architect shows town board affordable housing plans for two sites behind town hall
April 27, 2012
by Christine Yeres
Last Tuesday, Wallace Toscano, a local architect who has been critical of the Conifer proposal for 36 units of affordable rental apartments at Hunts Place in downtown Chappaqua, appealed to town board members to reject Conifer’s plan. He urged board members to instead consider two sites substantially bigger than the 0.36-acre Hunts Place lot, both behind town hall, both owned by the town.
“We agree on the need for affordable housing,” Toscano told board members, but called the five-story building proposed “excessively out of scale” for the town and, looks-wise, “a budget hotel on a busy interstate.” Setting up a tripod with for his drawings, Toscano showed the placement of a single 36-unit residential building on the 1.5 acre wooded strip between town hall and the slightly lower commuter parking lot roadway. A small playground and climbing equipment now sits there.
The second site is the 1.3-acre wooded strip that sits at the far south end of the commuter parking lot, running along Washington Avenue. [Photos of both plans on both sites appear at the end of this article.]
The open green space in each, Toscano argued, would make for a far more “humane” environment for housing than the Hunts Place lot, which would taken up edge to edge by the Conifer building. He pointed to plenty of parking at the two town hall sites and a play area for children in each of his scenarios. In addition, Toscano told board members, the sites have ready access to the library and to public transportation.
Both plans sketched out by Toscano include the necessary parking within their lot lines, he emphasized later this week in speaking with NCNOW, and “could be built without stealing from existing parking either at town hall or the commuter lot.” [*See correction/explanation below.]
Even accounting for on-site parking on each property, he said, “there’s still green space,” since each lot is larger than Hunts Place by about one acre.
Toscano informed board members that the County had recently paid $1.5 million to acquire a three-quarters-of-an-acre lot in Briarcliff Manor for affordable housing, and plans show that it includes two new two-story buildings, each with seven two-bedroom apartments, and two commercial office spaces. A bond for the $1.5 million will cover the purchase of the property, while federal HOME funds and a grant from the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation will go toward construction expenses.
Toscano’s two scenarios (photos below) include:
• One 36-unit building of four stories
• Three 12-unit buildings of two stories each
Toscano’s drawings showed both scenarios on both sites [see below]. [Toscano designed the six-unit Spaccarelli apartments on Saw Mill River Road in Millwood, below:]
This photo was taken during construction; the units are now completed.
“I urge you to reject the Conifer request for a special permit. The proposal is overly dense and in the worst possible location. The planning board previously found it [in an application several years earlier for market rate condos] to be unsuitable for residential usage. Are [prospective tenants of the Hunts Place affordable housing] less human than those who would have resided [in the market rate units]?”
Toscano offered to speak with Conifer’s architect for Hunts Lane, Gary Warshauer, and show Warshauer his alternative plans. However, NCNOW reached Andy Bodewes, the manager of the Conifer project at Hunts Lane, yesterday to learn whether the New York State funding approval which Conifer has received is tied exclusively to the Hunts Lane project. Bodewes responded that the funding may be used only for Hunts Place.
Board members listened attentively to Toscano, but asked no questions.* The Conifer application has yet to be reviewed by the New Castle Zoning Board of Appeals.
[*Editor’s Note: CORRECTION—One question was asked: Elise Mottel asked Toscano whether, in his plan for Site A, the skate part would be affected. He responded that his Site A plan does, in fact, include the unstriped overflow—or what he calls “reserve” parking lot—used as a skate park in summer (not yet set up), and currently used as staging ground for Conti Construction supplies in their wrap-up of the bridge and roadways in the center of town.
Toscano suggested that very little use was made of the skate park, that it was a sport possibly out of fashion, and that the town might want to consider discontinuing it. A visit to the skate park lot in late morning on Thursday, April 26 showed the skate park lot [which Toscano calls a reserve lot] empty of cars and the adjacent commuter parking lot with empty spaces.]
Far end of the commuter parking lot along Washington Avenue:
Single 36-unit building, some parking under building, playground area at far right
Single 36-unit building, parking surrounding; playground area at far right
Three two-story buildings of 12 units each, with parking; playground area at far right
Behind town hall, on the town hall side of the commuter parking lot:
Three two-story buildings of 12 units each, with parking; playground area at far right
Single 36-unit, four-story building, 27 cars parked under; playground area at far right
Overview of the two locations:
Site A (curved plot bordered in red at top of photo) directly behind town hall; Site B (triangular plot bordered in red, running down right side of photo) fronting on Washington Avenue, at the far end of the commuter lot
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For background on the Conifer Hunts Place project, click HERE.
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First-ever Seven Bridges Annual Art Gala
See more (and bigger) photos of our artwork in “Read more…”
April 27, 2012
by Barbara Leibovitz Hellman
Please join us as we celebrate the visual arts in our First Annual Art Gala in the Upper Commons of the Seven Bridges Middle School on Wednesday, May 2nd from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sponsored by the PTA, this exhibition will feature the works of selected students from 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.
Some of the artists will be present to explain how and why they created their work, along with a student-created short video presentation that will be repeated throughout the hour.
In addition, the Seven Bridges string quartet will welcome you at the entrance of the show and several permanent paintings will be installed in the Upper Commons and halls as a gift to the school from the graduating 8th graders.
We will serve canapés, delicious desserts, sparkling apple cider and sparkling water.
Come celebrate our Seven Bridges students’ art!
Barbara Leibovitz Hellman is Chair of Seven Bridges PTA Art Gala Committee.
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Local tree companies pitch in—for free—to help New Castle Clean-up
See more photos in “Read more…” or in Photo Gallery
Monday, April 30, 2012
by Christine Yeres
The town’s Clean-up Day was given a mighty boost last Saturday from three local tree companies who donated their equipment and crews to tackle especially tough tree damage. Who were these masked haulers and chippers?
Westchester Tree Life, based in Chappaqua, had crews working across the street from Whippoorwill Park; Hudson Landscape, based in Millwood, worked on Washington Avenue between town hall and train station exits; and Almstead Tree Company, based in Pleasantville, took on the Old Taylor Road triangle.
Westchester Tree Life, Inc.
158 Castle Road, Chappaqua, NY
(914) 238-0069
http://www.westchestertreelife.com/index.html
Hudson Landscape Contractors
86 Millwood Road, Millwood, NY
(914) 923-9107
http://www.hudsonlandscapes.com/
Almstead Tree Co Inc
Pleasantville, NY 10570
http://almstead.com
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Merchant of the Week: Barry Mishkin, Family Britches
Photos by Kevan Full, at kevanslens.com
April 27, 2012
by Rob Greenstein
My wife has given up trying to improve my wardrobe. So, to Britches, for an Invisible Valet!
Barry Mishkin
Family Britches
70 King Street
Chappaqua, NY 10514
914-238-8017
www.FamilyBritches.com
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tell me about your start in Chappaqua
We had a dream that we could create a fine quality haberdashery in Northern Westchester in the summer of 1970. Starting with jeans and knit shirts in a building on North Bedford Road, we were able to expand downtown two years later into our present 70 King Street location. We have tripled the size of the space and increased the offerings dramatically while still staying true to our dream and making our customers part of our family by giving unparalleled customer service and updated, traditional merchandise selected for men, women and boys from the best manufacturers.
What’s the significance of your name?
The name harkens back to our beginnings, where we featured pants and tops for the family. The word “family” has a lot to do with it. When someone comes into our stores, we treat them as if they were part of our family. We believe in developing lasting relationships with our customers. We want to know what they need, who they are and how to make their wardrobe work for them.
What are some of the trends in men’s, women’s, and boy’s clothing?
Color is a big theme for Spring. Our merchandise is a mix of traditional styles and fashion-forward designs for consumers who like distinctive, coordinated ensembles in their wardrobe.
Have you always been focused on helping your customers create outfits?
We are the customers’ valet. Helping them with all their wardrobe needs wherever and whenever they need assistance.
Tell me about your online Invisible Valet, and how does the process work?
We can give our customers a detailed list of each wardrobe ensemble either pictorially, coded or printed.
Do you also have custom clothing, and are your alterations, fittings and repairs done on premises?
Custom clothing is one of our specialties. Our Old-World tailors work on the premises. We offer this service for shirts, pants, jackets and suits at a variety of price levels.
Tell me about some of the clothing events your involved with?
We just wrapped up our pre-season special order event. Family Britches sends out notices twice a year to introduce each season with a Thank You gift certificate to our loyal customer base. Currently, we are featuring art work for a charity, Morning Glory. We are a lead participant in the Chappaqua School Foundation April Madness event which starts April 1. In addition, we have “trunk shows” during the season with our manufacturers like Canali, Zegna, Hickey Freeman, New England Shirts, Peter Millar and Bills Khakis. We are especially proud of our semi-annual Made-In-America program.
Any suggestions to make downtown Chappaqua more vibrant?
The town is making slow progress in helping the downtown Hamlet. The bridge and parking lot are completed. We need the community to realize that we are their partners. By offering what they want and supporting the merchants, Chappaqua can lead Westchester, just as we did with the “Shop Small” promotion in conjunction with American Express. Come downtown and enjoy what we have to offer.
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Visit NCNOW.org’s Local Merchants Section to see other “Merchant of the Week” pieces by Rob Greenstein.
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Got an appetite for The Hunger Games?
April 27, 2012
by Sarah Greenberg
On Friday, April 27th from 3:30-5:30 p.m., come to a Hunger Games competition—a trivia contest in the theater at the Chappaqua Library. Whether you’ve read the book or seen the movie – both are amazing, but personally I prefer the book – join us in answering questions about this futuristic tale in which the government of Panem forces young people to compete in life-and-death games by lottery.
After an uprising in the fictional Panem, the country was divided into districts and, as a reminder meant to deter revolt, each district must sacrifice two of its teens to fight in the Hunger Games. For our program, teams will complete to correctly answer trivia questions, written by both local teams and the library staff.
Anyone interested in submitting questions, please contact us! Submit your questions by stopping by or emailing trivia to Donna at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). You can always call her, too, (914)-238-4779.
Wear a costume you’ll get a special prize! There will be snacks provided such as flat, dense bread from “grain rations,” soft cheese like Prim makes, and berries like the ones that Katniss and Gale would have gathered in the meadow.
So remember… May the odds be ever your favor…
Sarah Greenberg is a junior at Horace Greeley High School who loves to read, write short stories and poetry, sing and listen to music.
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THIS SUNDAY: First Congregational Church Family Fun Day at Wagon Road
April 29, 2012
Press Relase from FCC
CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. This spring the Chappaqua Interfaith Council is holding a Family Fun Day. People of all faiths can come together for a relaxed afternoon of shared food, games and music, and community service. The event will be held on Sunday, April 29 (1:00 - 4:00 p.m., rain or shine) at Wagon Road Camp, 431 Quaker Road in Chappaqua. It is free to the public. All ages—from young children to high schoolers, adults and sprightly seniors—are encouraged to attend. Please mark your calendar for the event:
• 1 pm — Kickoff Barbecue. We supply the hamburgers, hotdogs, snacks and drinks. You are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and something to share such as cookies or fruit.
• All Afternoon — Music and Sports. Join in a soccer game, toss around a frisbee or shoot some hoops…. Or just sit back and listen to good music! The Walkabout Clearwater Chorus, founded by Pete Seeger over 20 years ago to promote environmental awareness and social action through song, has volunteered to perform during the afternoon.
• 2 - 3:30 — Community Service to Help Wagon Road Camp. Get to know neighbors of other faiths as you clean the raised vegetable beds; paint the outside of the athletic shed; or spread wood chips in the garden, under the high ropes course and elsewhere. Please bring your gloves!
• 3:30 - 4 pm — Music Sing-along, Drinks and Cookies. Head back to the main field for more music, snacks and conversation.
“This new event will be an opportunity for people of various faiths to share a time of fun and a meal together,” says Reverend Tom Lenhart, Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church and chair of the Chappaqua Interfaith Council. “Wagon Road Camp is generously donating its facilities so we have a great location. And since our Council is committed to faith-in-action projects to improve life in our community, we offered to help Wagon Road with its spring spruce-up.”
The Chappaqua Interfaith Council also sponsors a Thanksgiving Interfaith Service and Community Meal; this year’s celebration will be on Sunday, November 18 at St. John and St. Mary’s Church. In March, in conjunction with the Chappaqua Library, the Council sponsored “Mark Twain and The Minister, “ the second talk in its new series, “Challenges to Faith in Our World.”
About the Chappaqua Interfaith Council: In existence for more than twenty years, the Council includes members, both lay and clergy, from the Baha’is of New Castle, Chappaqua Friends Meeting, The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Episcopal, First Congregational Church, Lutheran Church of our Redeemer, Church of Saint John and St. Mary RC, Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester and The Upper Westchester Muslim Society.
About Wagon Road Camp: Set on 53 wooded acres in Chappaqua, the camp is run by the Children’s Aid Society; it offers inner-city and Westchester children a diverse and fun summer camp experience. For more information, please call 914-238-4761
Event: Family Fun Day
Sponsor: Chappaqua Interfaith Council
Location: Wagon Road Camp
431 Quaker Road
Chappaqua, N.Y.
Date: Sunday, April 29, 2012
Time: 1 - 4 pm
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Luke Kaplow, littlest-ever “Biggest Fish” winner
April 27, 2012
by Christine Yeres
With his 11-inch trout, Luke Kaplow snagged the “Biggest Fish” prize at last Sunday’s 2nd Annual Fishing Derby at Gedney.
Luke’s advice? Preparation is everything. Before you go fishing, spend the time and make sure your equipment is ready for the fight. You never know when the big one is going to bite…..!
Luke’s mom, Mary E. gorman-Kaplow, writes, “We only keep fish we are going to eat. We kept both the trout we caught and we ate them that night. Olive oil, garlic, butter and a splash of white wine does the trick.. Yes, Luke even ate some!”
Hundreds of trout remain in the pond after last Sunday’s derby sponsored this year and last by Korth & Shannahan Painting. Try your luck! To see the full list of winners and photos of the day, click HERE.
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Chappaqua Farmers Market: Fiddlehead ferns
April 27, 2012
by Pascale LeDraoulec
“Fiddleheads are the unfurled fronds of a fern.” Try saying that ten times! Better not. Their season is so fleeting you might miss them. Some shoppers were lucky enough to snap some up at the market last week. Newgate Farms will have more this week and probably next. These vegetables are gathered in the spring when they are still tightly curled and between 4 and 6 inches high.
This period lasts for about 15 days – usually between mid-April and early July, depending on the region. Fiddleheads must be harvested just days after they emerge, as the plants become positively inedible once they uncoil. See Warren Hart’s recipe for sauteed fiddleheads, below.
Not only are they fun to say but they are delicious – a bit like asparagus only more wild. The easiest way to prepare them is to gently saute them with garlic and herbs and/or lemon until they are tender, flavorful, with just a bit of a crispness left to them. Or, you can toss them with angel hair pasta, throw them in a curry, or saute them in brown butter with prosciutto. They taste great with bacon!
This is the fourth Saturday of the month which means Lasagna Preziosa will be joining us. This week chef Riccardo Befi has been fiddling with a moussaka recipe – which, he insists is just a puddle-jump from his popular eggplant parmigiana. Speaking of Greece, Demetra of Kontoulis Olive Oil will also be here this week. Did you know that the last time she was here a regular shopper bought a $400 cistern of her oil? I always love it when Riccardo and Demetra are in the house at the same time. It makes our little market feel plucked out of a small European village.
Kings Roaming Angus is also here this week…so stock up on chicken for the grilling season! He will also have plenty of farm fresh eggs.
Since the weather looks good for the weekend, we will be out on the lawn again, directly in front of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin. We got such positive feedback from shoppers about that location last week. Is there a better feeling than lush grass underfoot in early spring?
And don’t forget to bring your knives for the knife sharpeners.
See you at the market!
Pascale Le Draoulec
Warren Hart’s recipe for a fiddlehead fern saute on pasta
Wash the fiddelhead ferns, cut off the tips of the stems, and then saute a bunch of garlic in olive oil and added the fiddleheads along with some fresh pepper and let them cook for a bit longer than I would have guessed—till the fiddleheads turn a lighter green.
You could put them on some nice emmer pasta (from Flour City Pasta—the emmer wheat is tasty and has three times the protein of most pasta). Serve with a glass of your favorite wine and maybe some fresh bread and a little salad and you have a great meal.
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Winners of New Castle’s 2nd Annual Fishing Derby
Monday, April 23, 2012
by Christine Yeres
Luckily, the rain that will stay with us for most of this week held off till after the 2nd Annual Fishing Derby at Gedney Sunday morning. Families spread out all around the pond to catch the 500 or so trout released into the pond two days before. With big night crawlers supplied free, anglers of all sizes, abilities, casting styles and equipment snagged not only trout, but also sunnies, catfish and crappies that had overwintered in the pond.
Rec Department Supervisor Bob Snyder, Recreation Supervisor Matt Nordt and sponsor of the derby, Will Korth of Shannahan & Korth Painting were on hand to measure and record the catch, then give out prizes. The winners are listed below. See photos of the day below and in Photo Gallery.
And the winners are…
Ages 6 – 8Most Caught – Matthew Rieger – 5
Biggest Caught – Luke Kaplow – 11”
Ages 9 – 11Most Caught – Brandon Hecht – 41
Biggest Caught – N. Ferreira – 12”
Ages 12 – 14Most Caught – Aeexander Stasko - 25
Biggest Caught – H. Rodrick – 11”
Ages 17 – AdultMost Caught – Robert Rieger - 8
Biggest Caught – Robert Rieger – 11”
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Thanks to community support, Chappaqua School Foundation funds exciting new 2012 grants
Monday, April 23, 2012
by Ellen Miller
The Chappaqua School Foundation (CSF), in preparation for its annual Spring Benefit next Friday, April 27, announced that it will fund 14 new grants in 2012. These grants support all six of the district’s schools across many curricular areas, including literacy, social studies, art, technology, family and consumer science, physical education and character education. As part of the Spring Benefit, teachers receiving 2012 CSF grants will be recognized.
Some of the 2012 CSF grants introduce new technology to Chappaqua students. For example, both middle schools will create MacBook Labs that will be managed through each school library and will support the integration of digital technology within the middle school curriculum. These laptops will include a suite of software to facilitate student communication and collaboration, as well as the creation of videos, digital music, three-dimensional drawing and multimedia presentations.
Another middle school grant will enable teachers to explore one-to-one computing with their students through Nook® Book e-readers. This pilot will support curricular endeavors, encourage continued literacy among the district’s students and provide an exciting new tool to engage young readers. It also will help to better equip the libraries to meet the changing needs of middle school learners in the digital age.
New international education initiative at Greeley
At Greeley, CSF is funding an exciting international educational initiative called “Facing History and Ourselves.” Through the social studies department, Greeley students will examine racism, prejudice and anti-Semitism with the goal of promoting the development of a more humane and informed citizenry. “Facing History” provides in-depth resources on topics taught in all three core curricula: Global Studies, European History and American History, as well as enriching senior electives including Nationalism and Contemporary Issues. Along with rigorous content, “Facing History” provides a methodology and approach to teaching history that focuses on critical thinking and promoting individuals as agents of change.
In 2011, CSF funded e-readers to support English Language learners in our district. An excited sixth-grade student recently told his teacher, “It’s much cooler than a book. It’s really nice because you can use the dictionary right away. When you turn it on again you can be at the right page and you can put in a bookmark. If you finish with a book you can go to read another book that you like right away.” For the 2012 school year, the CSF is funding a grant that will enhance this library of e-readers for English Language learners at the middle and high school levels.
“Each year, the Chappaqua School Foundation encourages the entire school community to imagine, design and propose programs that fulfill the needs of the school district’s students while increasing their potential for intellectual curiosity and academic excellence,” said Michael Kaufman, president of the Chappaqua School Foundation. “The grants funded by CSF produce exciting learning programs – many of which are then adopted as part of the permanent school curriculum – that might never be implemented due to current financial times and school budget limitations.”
The elementary schools also will benefit from new programs funded by CSF. One such pilot is the Peaceful Playground program, which helps develop students’ social and problem-solving skills by transforming the playground into a cooperative learning environment. Permanent playground activities are designed to offer nearly 100 activities to teach problem-solving strategies to Roaring Brook students. These strategies assist all students in learning to interact with their peers, develop a sense of responsibility for self and others and work to establish a sense of community within a positive school environment. In addition, Grafflin and Westorchard are piloting new technology through CSF grants in the coming year. For a full list and write-up of the 2012 grants, and to view past years’ grants, please visit the CSF website at http://www.chappaquaschoolfoundation.org/index.php/site/grants
The CSF Spring Benefit will be held on Friday, April 27, at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor. At the upcoming event, the community has the opportunity to support the CSF grant program and to see various grants at work in the event’s Grant Showcase. Teachers and students will demonstrate various CSF-funded programs and technology and discuss the positive impact the programs have made on the students’ education. To purchase tickets, or to learn more about CSF, please visit www.chappaquaschoolfoundation.org.
Ellen Miller is a member of the board of CSF.
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Chappaqua School Foundation 18th Annual Benefit
April 27, 2012
by Rachel Rader
The Chappaqua School Foundation’s 18th Annual Spring Benefit will be held at a new venue, Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, on Friday, April 27. CSF funds initiatives in all six Chappaqua schools that cannot be covered by the school budget. Eighty percent of the school budget covers fixed costs, leaving very little for innovation and discretionary spending.
Last year’s benefit attracted more than 330 people and raised over $200,000. Benefit co-chairs Fran Flamino and Ingrid Hershman expect this year’s event to be even more successful than 2011. “We are still several weeks away from the benefit, but already the outpouring of community support has been incredible,” said Flamino. Hershman added, “Not only are ticket sales brisk, but local merchants have donated amazing items to our silent auction as well. It’s nice that in this economy the whole town is behind keeping our schools top notch.”
The benefit will feature cocktails, a buffet dinner, an extensive silent auction and performances by the Greeley Enchords and Scratch, Greeley’s DJ club. As has been traditional, the benefit will also showcase recent CSF-funded grants that are being implemented in classrooms district-wide. As CSF Grants Committee Chair Ellen Miller noted, “The showcase provides a unique opportunity for parents and community members to speak to students and teachers about how projects and programs funded by CSF impact learning. You don’t often get this kind of insight into what goes on in the classroom other than once a year at open school nights.”
In conjunction with the Spring Benefit, CSF’s Spring Madness initiative is also underway for the second year. Over 60 local businesses and restaurants – in addition to contributing to the silent auction – are offering discounts to shoppers who have purchased Spring Benefit tickets.
“Spring Madness is an extraordinary example of community partnership at work. Local businesses have stepped forward to support our children and our schools while our community enjoys the benefits. We hope that the Spring Madness program will encourage everyone to shop locally and support businesses that support our schools,” encouraged CSF board member David Gefsky. Everyone who purchases a ticket to the Spring Benefit will receive a Spring Madness Benefit Card and a list of participating merchants by mail (see our website below for the most up-to-date list). The discount card can be used through May 15, 2012.
To purchase tickets to CSF’s Spring Benefit, to obtain information about the Spring Madness Benefit card or to learn more about the Chappaqua School Foundation, please visit chappaquaschoolfoundation.org.
Rachel Rader is a board member of the Chappaqua Schools Foundation.
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Roaring Brook’s Assistant Principal to be elevated to Principal
Monday, April 30, 2012
Last Friday, Superintendent Lyn McKay sent the following letter to Roaring Brook Elementary School families.
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Letter to the Editor: Do we really want to expand athletic practice by means of artificial turf?
Monday, April 23, 2012
by Jackie Rider
Some folks now want to install artificial turf at Bell Middle School in downtown Chappaqua?
Never mind the well-known and documented environmental concerns about artificial turf, especially disposal when it’s no longer usable and must be replaced. Are artificial turf advocates prepared to decorate their homes, inside and out, with it, as in a New York Times style story?
Never mind the health concerns for our young people, especially with athletic programs that ratchet up in intensity each season, as kids are expected to focus on one sport at younger ages and play that sport year round at all hours.
Last year, much local and media attention was given to the film Race to Nowhere, and the impact that over scheduling is having on young people’s emotional well being. Doesn’t this overzealous attitude toward organized team sports have the same deleterious effect on a child’s physical and emotional health? Is it really good for kids to be competing several times a week, year round, in all kinds of weather?
Never mind the message are we sending our teachers, and our children, when we require dedicated professional educators to make financial sacrifices, and lose them to other school districts, as we proceed to raise huge sums of money, the amount of which increases annually, for fake grass and add-ons, like lights, a new scoreboard and sound system, and a donor recognition wall. This money may not be coming from the school budget yet, but it’s coming from the pockets of the same taxpayers who vote on that budget. Or, does the committee intend down the line to seek corporate dollars, tied to promotion of obesity causing sodas and junk food?
This funding method, with its clouded transparency, sketchy accountability, and lack of representation flies in the face of public education.
Horace Greeley High School has been called “the jewel in the crown” of our school system. Approaching the beautiful campus, one is struck by how the physical environment - buildings and grounds - reflect a truly inclusive approach to education, Mens sana in corpore sano. All disciplines at Greeley are celebrated and supported equally, the arts, the sciences, the humanities and athletics. And all are encouraged to participate, for personal growth, enrichment, education and development; to serve the community and help others; and to have fun in challenging, nurturing ways.
Many of us moved here for the beautiful green open spaces. Now, it seems some people want to pave their paradise and put down artificial turf all over town.
But, never mind all that. If some residents (and it’s only some) are dead set on going ahead with this, they should not waste taxpayer money installing materials that are so old school. Researchers from two Big 10 universities, Michigan State and Ohio State, have developed natural turf grass specifically for athletic competition. Both football teams have replaced their artificial turf fields with these new strains of natural turfgrass. See http://www.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=68144.
The community would make a huge statement about our commitment to the future by putting in the best natural turf field. Why pay for something that’s already obsolete?? Then, if you must, install an artificial turf practice field out of the way where it can be controlled and maintained, at a price.
Chappaqua used to pride itself on being in the forefront of sound educational and environmental practice. Too bad some people are so intent on pushing their own agenda they can’t see the forest for the trees.
Jackie Rider
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Related: Letter to the Editor: Will my YOUNG kids benefit from the turf field?, NCNOW.org, 4/20/12
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Sign-up for Quaker-run Blacktop Basketball Camp at HGHS
Dave Fernandes
April 20, 2012
For 22 years, in the first week of summer vacation Dave Fernandes and Greeley basketball players have turned the Horace Greeley High School gym into an intensive basketball training ground for rising third through ninth graders, girls and boys. Coached by boys’ varsity coach Fernandes, boys’ freshman coach Liz Lops and Greeley basketball players, the camp runs from Monday to Friday, June 25 to June 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The five-day camp costs $300 ($320 if you register after May 18) and barbeque lunch is provided each day!
Daily Schedule:
9:00 - 9:30 Morning Lecture
9:30 - 10:30 Stations
10:30 - 11:00 Team Practice
11:00 - 12:30 Games
12:30-1:00 Lunch
1:00 - 1:45 Guest Speaker
1:45 - 3:00 Games
3:00 Dismissal and Pick Up
To register—or to learn more about Blacktop—Contact Coach Fernandes .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Coach Lops .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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Three-alarm fire destroys garage, starts on house; “improper fuel disposal” the cause
More photos in “Read more…” or in Photo Gallery
Monday, April 23, 3012
by Christine Yeres
Around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night, firefighters from Chappaqua and Millwood—along with six neighboring fire departments, paramedics and three ambulance corps—responded to a three-alarm fire at 15 Ivy Hill Road that engulfed the dormered garage that formed an ‘L’ extending back from the north side of the white Colonial, and had begun to reach into the house itself.
The initial call to 9-1-1 came from neighbors on Ivy Hill, reporting that flames were rising from the garage. House residents were evacuated; no one was injured. When two sharp, loud explosions caused neighbors six hundred feet away on Tall Timber to look up toward Ivy Hill, they saw flames through the woods between their two streets so intense, said one resident, “that I thought the fire was going to come down the hill to us.”
The cause of the fire, according to Assistant Chief Russell Maitland, was “improper disposal of heating fuel.” Westchester County’s “cause-and-origin” team found that charcoal had been enclosed in garbage bags and several cans of sterno lay nearby.
A bat mitzvah at the house that afternoon had ended around 5:30 p.m. Firefighters were called, and arrived, around 8:30 p.m. “Within one and a half hours we had the fire knocked down,” said Maitland. “It was a phenomenal stop.” The fire had leapt across the short covered walkway that connected the garage to the house, where firefighters met and checked the fire in several rooms, then spent the next hours ripping open walls and ceilings. “When we find char,” explained Maitland, “we keep stripping away until we find clean wood.” They finished around 1:30 a.m. A county “cause-and-origin” team member remained on-scene throughout the night. Chappaqua firefighters returned at 7:00 a.m. to continue the investigation.
Sunday morning, two large, white party tents at the back of the house in the ‘L’ made by house and garage, remained standing—with only one of their fabric walls melted away by the fire. Next to them, the blackened timber of the garage and dormers lay in a heap, with two charred golf carts that had been used to transport party guests still parked in the driveway.
Mutual aid during and after the fire came from the fire departments of Millwood, Mt. Kisco, Pleasantville, Bedford Hills, Thornwood, Ossining and Briarcliff Manor—along with Westchester EMS paramedics and ambulances from Chappaqua, Mt. Kisco and Pleasantville volunteer ambulance corps. Ambulances were on stand-by to support and, if needed, to treat firefighters, who rotated in and out of the house, tearing out drywall and insulation to ensure no spark remained.
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In the garden with Shobha Vanchiswar
Monday, April 23, 2012
You actually have more time than you think
I hear versions of these laments all the time - “ I love gardening but I just don’t have the time to do it!’ or, “I’ll start gardening when the kids are older/when things are calmer/ when I have more time/ when I retire/ when the planets line up ...”
I know you don’t want to hear this but, you actually have more time than you think.
To begin with, let me say that I wholeheartedly believe that if you want to do something badly enough or think something is personally important, you’ll make the time for it. That’s just how it is.
TV, surfing the web, social media and such, are time guzzlers. We know that and yet fall into the very obvious trap. “Just five minutes!” ends up into a wasted fifty. Are you feeling the prick of a guilty conscience yet? We’ve all been there.
Also, when I’m told by someone that they’re so busy that they have no time to garden, what exactly are they saying about the rest of us who do garden? That we aren’t as busy? Far from taking umbrage, I prefer to pity the souls who are yet to discover the innumerable benefits and joys of gardening. But that in no way implies that all and sundry must garden. I refer only to those who make lame excuses for not getting on with it. You know who you are.
Contrary to the widely help perception that gardening is an all consuming activity, it is in fact just not so. Its true that one can while away all their days in the garden but that is generally by choice. You take on only as much as you can realistically handle. To actually fit in gardening within the constraints of crammed schedules, is less about quantity of time and more about how to use the available time.
Staying really organized is pivotal. It prevents valuable moments from being spent in trying to decide what to do and allows one to stay on top of chores. When you have a system, it allows for lapses and oversights because by knowing what was not done, you can easily readjust or reschedule the neglected tasks.
But before you do anything, ask yourself exactly how important it is to you to have a proper garden. If the answer is a resounding yes, then, will you be hiring someone to create and maintain the garden or will you yourself be the gardener? If you will be doing the work, only then do we arrive at the need for organizing and planning.
If you’re super busy then it hardly needs to be said that the size and type of garden must be appropriate.
Don’t take on more than you can chew or in this case, weed.
Lawn care is both time consuming and expensive. Both factors can be directly addressed by eliminating as much lawn as possible. Make new garden beds, plant trees, create meadows. You’ll be hip, you’ll be cool, you’ll be green, you’ll be delighted.
Plant what you love and enjoy. Select a garden style that pleases you and forget trends and current fashions. Follow your heart. This is what will keep you committed to tending the garden. Do I need to say that your choices must do well in this hardiness zone?
Investing in a garden that is right for you goes a long way in keeping you motivated and excited about how you approach the tasks. Its sort of like getting the right haircut for yourself. It must be appropriate in style and upkeep but importantly, you must look and feel fantastic. I see you nodding in understanding.
So now we come to garden maintenance. Do something everyday. Certain chores like weeding and deadheading are best addressed regularly. I do them every other day. This frequency has significantly cut down the time needed each day. There’s just little bit to do each time. Not enough to break a sweat.
Watering is another regular chore. I do not in general water anything other than what grows in pots and the vegetable bed. The latter by nature requires daily vigilance and watering. Only newly seeded grass or freshly introduced plants and shrubs receive regular watering till they’re well established. My philosophy is that if plants in the ground demand watering then I’ve planted whats unsuitable for my region. That said, certain dry spells require a little leeway in my watering rule. But an all out drought means something big is going on and what will be will be. What survives the drought will be what one needs to plant more of in the future. If one pays close attention, nature has a way of informing what will grow or should be grown in the coming years as our climate changes for whatever reasons.
Over the years, I’ve developed my garden calender so at any given time I can see what chores are coming up and accordingly fit them into my general calender. Lighter days get bigger tasks and so on. If the help of a family member is required, a purposeful heads-up is given to that party. I don’t assume he will read the calender. Experience has established that he will most certainly not. So a loud communique combined with eye contact is practiced. Same policy with resident teenager.
With your morning cuppa, water the plants, survey the garden. If you have five minutes, deadhead some spent flowers or give the compost heap a good stir. A half-hour? Weed a bed. Or stake some plants. An hour to mow the lawn is sufficient unless you’re talking vast swathes of turf. In which case refer to a much earlier part of this article. Reserve more time consuming chores like digging and preparing a new bed or planting one up for the weekends or, break up this task to smaller periods of time. Those extra hours of daylight can be used well. The point is there really is time to do all the necessary tasks required in proper gardening. Just how much is it worth to you?
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Chappaqua Education For the Future (CEFF) Committee: Knowledge Cafe; 7-9pm Bell Auditorium
CCSD press release: An invitation from Superintendent Lyn McKay
Please join Lyn McKay, Superintendent of Schools, at a Knowledge Café on Wednesday, April 25th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm in the Bell Middle School Auditorium (50 Senter Street.)
The purpose of this Knowledge Café is to engage the community in a larger discussion of the following three ideas for moving the district forward as identified by the CEFF committee.
• Emphasize the importance of effective communication, collaboration, and academic agility to prepare our students for the future.
• Foster the creative process.
• Establish practices to enhance the social, emotional and physical health of students.
So, if you have thoughts or ideas of what teaching and learning in Chappaqua Schools should look like in the next 2-5 years, this Knowledge Café is your opportunity to join the discussion.
To facilitate the planning process, please take a moment to RSVP by Monday, April 23rd.
Hope to see you there!
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School budget adopted; board members lambaste mandates, plead for voter action
April 13, 2012
by Christine Yeres
Board of education members voted unanimously last Tuesday to adopt the administration’s proposed 2012-13 budget, largely unchanged since the board’s last meeting. The budget is now “set in stone,” with upcoming hearings meant to explain it and answer questions. But board of ed members made it clear that community members’ work was just beginning when it comes to mandate relief. Each of them pleaded for action by residents to remedy an economic picture of the not-so-distant future that frightens them all.
“We are under attack,” as Board President Alyson Kiesel put it. Board member Randy Katchis characterized the situation as “a disease whose symptoms we’ve quelled”—for this year. The video of the meeting is embedded below.
Administrators make the best of reduction in school psychologists
The meeting began with the issue of a reduction in elementary psychologists. Administrators met residents’ worries over a decrease in the number of elementary school psychologists from three to 2.4 stoically. They were confident, they said, that by relieving the two full-time psychologists of their testing duties—all of which will be the responsibility of the third, part-time psychologist—the two will effectively service the children in all three schools. Superintendent Lyn McKay called on Grafflin Principal Mike Kirsch to reassure parents.
“We have looked so carefully at the entire budget and we certainly believe the budget crisis is for real and that we have limited amounts of money we can spend,” said Kirsch. “We want to get the biggest bang for our buck and want to keep what’s most important. We really have looked at everything these last few years and in looking this year we had to go further. Administrators felt that psychology services are really importnat and that we can maintain the levels of service with slightly reduced staffing. Even if we were to have a crisis, we have plenty of people in the school who can help out. [A full time psychologist] is only a few minutes away and get can back very quickly. Given the alternatives, this makes lots of sense and I feel good about it.”
“Freeing psychologists from the testing piece,” added board of ed Chairman Alyson Kiesel, “will allow them to expand their role in the buildings in a different way.”
“There are so many things we would have liked not to cut in the last four years,” said McKay, “but we are in a crisis.”
Talk turns to necessity of community involvement in mandate reform
Throughout their talk, board members never spelled out exactly which mandates they believe hurt school districts the most (in fact, they are still working on a statement to submit to Albany officially requesting mandate relief), but the website toward which board member Vicky Tipp directed residents was “Best4NY,” whose executive committee has targeted the Triborough Amendment (when contracts expire, the previous contract’s terms continue indefinitely), the LIFO—“last-in-first-out”—provision (that forces districts to cut most-recently-hired teachers first), and pensions as the biggest problems.
Board members spoke passionately about the economic straits of the district, their belief that CCSD’s programs are suffering and will deteriorate further if current conditions prevail, and the necessity of having residents educate themselves on the issues of mandate reform.
Vicky Tipp: Other districts have considered eliminating their kindergarten programs, have slashed after school programs. We’re lucky here. To believe we can go on as we’ve always done is an illusion if we don’t have any changes on the state level. I’d say we have just about five or six years until we’re facing the same kinds of crises these others districts are facing. So to not manage the funds we have in the best possible way would be irresponsible. Just looking at the years ahead, I’m frankly quite worried about the future; our level of service is decreasing.
I was glad to see the level of activity we’ve seen in the community about [the issue of the cut in psychologists]. I’d like to see it redirected towards more of the cause than the symptoms. We have serious problems at the state level and I would ask the community to start to become informed. We have a group that’s helping a great deal, “BEST4NY.” Judy [McGrath], Jim [McCauley], and Elinor [Griffith], I want to really thank you for the work you’re doing for our community.
Look at what the true causes of the problems are. We have to really work together—board, PTA , staff community and staff; we’re really all in the same boat. There can be many pieces to the puzzle and everyone can be pulling for their side, but if we really don’t look at the whole picture, we’re going to be in deep trouble. We have five or six years left if there aren’t some changes.
Jeffrey Mester: I’m not as optimistic as you are. Four or five years is more than we have. I think it’s two or three years. We’re $75,000 under the cap? If we have to cut something else, do we have any idea what that would be?
McKay: We were careful in the elementaries to keep class size small. That’s usually where you usually go next [to cut].
Tipp: Just to give you an idea: The rollover budget for just three items in the budget—salary increases, employee benefits and special ed increases—were $3.3 million; the tax cap was $2.1 million. So we are not magicians. How can we work with those numbers without being able to control expenses—and now [because of the tax cap] without being able to control revenue? To pretend we can go on and provide the same level of service is simply not true. We have to do the best we can to maintain the programs we have. We are maintaining the level of service but not in an ideal way. And we can’t really fight amongst ourselves.
McKay: The psychologists are really focusing on the skills students need. Some things we can’t do as much of, but some good things may come out of this.
Eric Byre: And the time from testing that will be given back to them… the value added piece to that is significant.
Budget adopted, back to talk of crisis
McKay recommended that board members adopt the budget. “Chappaqua has a reputation, a culture, a way of working that we want to move forward, all within a tight budget,” said McKay. Having found cuts of around $1 million in both personnel and non-personnel categories, “The increase is less than $1 million, a 0.68% budget-to-budget increase.”
The budget draws on $3 million in reserves. To the question of “How long can [our reserves] last?” Assistant Superintendent of Business John Chow responded, “Meeting with my colleagues around the state, the basic word is ‘insolvency.’ But with everyone’s help, the community and the board, hopefully we’ll have some mandate relief in the future.”
A budget hearing is scheduled for May 1, but “after today,” said Chow, “everything is set in stone.” The budget meetings between now and May 15 “are to answer questions about it, rather than to get input.”
Mester: It’s a good budget. Obviously there are things we would rather not cut if the tax cap were not an issue. While this [budget] is under the tax cap and a good budget, there are a lot of underlying problems. I support this budget wholeheartedly but we shouldn’t be blind to the fact that there are underlying cracks in the foundation.
VIsser: Our work’s not done after today. We’re going to have to revisit this many, many times. [Visser was referring especially to the psychologist reduction, which administrators promised to monitor and re-evaluate continually.] We’re Chappaqua, we want the best for our kids; education is premier here, it’s why we bought homes here. It’s the school system that makes our property premium, but [we need] also to keep residents able to afford it, because not everybody’s living in a McMansion.
Tipp: While basically maintaining the level of programs and in cases of cuts, there are going to be cracks when working with the kinds of numbers we have to deal with. It’s a responsible budget looking at the district as a whole.
Katchis: Over the last couple of years everyone’s had an opportunity to preserve what we have. Administrators, parents, students. We’ve been able to quell the symptoms, we’ve reduced the fever. Getting involved and educated and going to vote in November—it’s absolutely important if we’re going to get rid of the disease and not just the symptoms, and that people get invovlved, get educated, understand what the issues are and when you walk into the voting booth understand that little lever you pull is going to effect what happens in this school system. What legislation is submitted by what politicians… This entire administration has put in an enormous amount of effort to preserve what we have here. Please take it seriously. Pay attention, because it’s really important, because we haven’t cured the disease, we’ve only been able to subdue the symptoms.
Kiesel: I’m amazed that you’ve come up with a budget that meets the needs of our students, comes in under the cap which is something important to community members, and—with the fulcrums and measures we have here—enables us to be sustainable for a little bit longer. But the reality is that we’re under attack and we cannot keep doing this; it will impact the quality and breadth of education we’re able to provide our students; and for someone like me, who has a first grader, I’ve got a long way to go. When we talk about five or six years, it scares me to the core. I don’t want to be here in five years saying all right, there’s no fund balance, there’s nothing. Are we going to cut kindergarten, are we going to cut librarians, gym, music? It’s not a pretty picture. And when we look at what we’re able to contain, personnel cuts are the only mechanism we really have have. We don’t control our own destiny we have to be able to take back responsibility for the students of this community.
So like everyone else here, I implore you to think seriously about issues that affect the school district, not just about individual children, as we all care deeply about our own children, but about the district and it longevity and the impact the deterioration would have on our community.
Sites mentioned in Tuesday’s meeting:
http://best4ny.org/
Mandate Relief Petition
___________________
Related: For 2012-13 Budget details, see Board of ed will vote to adopt its 2012-13 budget tonight, NCNOW.org , 4/10/12
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Resident asks town board to protest Supreme Court decision in “Citizens United”
Monday, April 16, 2012
Editor’s Note: During public comment at last Tuesday’s town board meeting, Heather Baker-Sullivan asked town board members to consider adopting a resolution to reject the Supreme Court’s January 21, 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission which rejected corporate spending limits in candidate elections. Below is the text of her statement.
April 10, 2012
To: New Castle Town Board members
From: Heather Baker-Sullivan
Re: Request to the Board to adopt a resolution rejecting the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Supreme Court decision of January 21, 2010
On January 21, 2010, the United States Supreme Court decided the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.
The Court’s decision gives corporations and other special interests the same constitutional rights as human citizens, such as free speech, and allows corporations to spend unlimited money in our elections—which has been regulated for decades by bipartisan legislation.
This has been one of the most unpopular Supreme Court decisions in the history of our nation.
Two-thirds of small business owners believe the Citizens United decision hurts small companies.
According to a Washington Post - ABC News poll: 80% of Americans, including Democrats, Republicans, and independents, oppose the decision.
According to the Washington Post, the “poll shows remarkably strong agreement about the ruling across all demographic groups, and big majorities of those with household incomes above and below $50,000 alike oppose the decision. Age, race and education levels also appeared to have little relative bearing on the answers.”
At the beginning of our nation, in an 1816 letter, Thomas Jefferson wrote that he wished to “crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and bid defiance to the laws of our country.”
MD State Senator and constitutional law professor Jamin Raskin, told The Nation’s editorial board, “American citizens have repeatedly amended the Constitution to defend democracy when the Supreme Court acts in collusion with democracy’s enemies, whether they are slavemasters, states imposing poll taxes on voters or the opponents of woman suffrage.”
Today, 72% of people back congressional action to overrule this Supreme Court decision.
We are asking you to make the people of New Castle’s voices heard and to go on record by passing a resolution which states that corporations are not people and money is not speech, and calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution which reflects these values.
Well over 50 Town Councils, as well as other governing bodies across the US, have passed such resolutions so far.
Some examples:
In New York
Albany, NY | Municipal Government Resolution
Buffalo, NY | Municipal Government Resolution
Danby, NY | Municipal Government Resolution
Ithaca Common Council | Municipal Government Resolution
New York, NY | Municipal Government Resolution
Van Etten, NY |
Yonkers, NY
Around the country
City Council of Los Angeles
Boston City Council
Chapel Hill, NC Town Council
The New Mexico State Senate
As an example –Chapel Hill, NC, Town Council resolved that, “Only human beings, not corporations, are endowed with constitutional rights, and money is not speech, and therefore regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting political speech.”
I can leave a copy of the NYC City Council resolution – Resolution 1172 [see below]—with you and ask that you pass a similar resolution as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Heather Baker-Sullivan
Member, move-on.org, Northern Westchester Council
New Castle Town Resident
530 Millwood Road
Mount Kisco, NY 10549
(914) 666-3047 (home)
(914) 708-9846 (cell)
Res 1172-2011: Final Action: 1/4/2012, Status: Adopted
Resolution opposing the United State Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Constitution in Citizens United regarding the constitutional rights of corporations, supporting an amendment to the Constitution to provide that corporations are not entitled to the entirety of protections or “rights” of natural persons, specifically so that the expenditure of corporate money to influence the electoral process is no longer a form of constitutionally protected speech, and calling on Congress to begin the process of amending the Constitution.
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Spring Greens: Asparagus, Fresh Herbs, Lettuce and Fiddleheads!
Open 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s next to Bell
In “Read more…” see Warren Hart’s recipe for fiddlehead ferns with high-protein pasta from Four City Pasta
April 20, 2012
by Pascale LeDraoulec
Nothing says “Spring!” quite like a thick, textured asparagus spear. In France, April belongs to asparagus – white asparagus. Did you know that farmers and home gardeners cut their asparagus at the crack of dawn each morning before the asparagus tips get a chance to emerge from the soil and take on any hue?
We tend to eat our asparagus green here. Raw, steamed . . . roasted! If you’ve never roasted green asparagus – you’re in for a treat. Roasting asparagus draws out the stalk’s nutty flavor, sweetens its scent and deepens its green color.
This recipe, adapted from Elizabeth Schneider’s “Vegetables from Amaranth to Zucchini” (my vegetable Bible) couldn’t be easier and is the perfect way to showcase those gorgeous stalks Newgate and Madura Farms have been bringing to market. Plus, it calls for some crunchy Fleur de Sel salt which Spice Revolution (back again this week) carries.
Roasted Asparagus
• 1 pound medium green asparagus
• (16 to 20 spears)
• 1 tbs olive oil
• Fleur de sel or crisp sea salt
• lemon and orange wedges
• Preheat the oven to 500 F.
• Bend base of each asparagus spear to snap off the fibrous section.
• Lightly peel stalks.
• Choose a roasting pan that holds asparagus closely – they need to be snug in the pan.
• Drizzle olive oil over them, then shake pan briskly to coat all stalks in oil.
• Roast in center oven for 5 minutes.
• Shake pan vigorously to shake stalks.
• Roast about five minutes more, until tender.
• Serve at once with salt and citrus.
For some Asian flair, substitute a touch of oyster, fish or soy sauce for the salt.
Serves 2
French chef Roger Verge likes to pierce a bamboo skewer through five spear tips at a time; he drizzles them with a nice finishing olive oil (Kontoulis Olive Oil will be here next week!) sprinkles them with salt and broils or grills them for about three minutes. Meanwhile, he warms up some olive oil in a skillet with some savory herb sprigs (Honey Locust Farmhouse and Madura have been bringing gorgeous herbs lately). When asparagus is cooked, dip both sides in the aromatic oil. And here’s a tip: don’t throw away the stalk remnants….save them for soup!
Of course, sautéed asparagus tips will add spring sunshine to any pasta dish – especially one bathed in grass-green Buddhapesto sauce.
Ready-Set-Sharp is here this week!
So is Gaia’s Breath with their crazy delicious and healthy sausages and lean cuts of veal.
Stone Barns has ground lamb, and pork chops for grilling.
See you at the market!
~ Pascale Le Draoulec
food writer/ author/ farmers market director
Warren Hart’s recipe for a fiddlehead fern saute on pasta
Wash the fiddelhead ferns, cut off the tips of the stems, and then saute a bunch of garlic in olive oil and added the fiddleheads along with some fresh pepper and let them cook for a bit longer than I would have guessed—till the fiddleheads turn a lighter green.
You could put them on some nice emmer pasta (from Flour City Pasta—the emmer wheat is tasty and has three times the protein of most pasta). Serve with a glass of your favorite wine and maybe some fresh bread and a little salad and you have a great meal.
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Millwood Matters
Monday, April 16, 2012
by Christine Yeres
• New town planner soon to be hired
• Wireless tower at Amsterdam
• County may want little red stationhouse
• Wish List of improvements to hamlet
• Swim Club property unwanted
At their April 5 meeting, Millwood Task Force members learned from Town Administrator Penelle Paderewski that the town board is very close to hiring a new town planner. “She’ll be in place,” said Paderewski, by April 30 or May 1.
Sewers
“The ball is in the county’s court.” There have been more meetings with DEP and some adjustments have been made to an old term sheet.
Wireless communications tower at Amsterdam
It’s for sure: the wireless tower at Amsterdam Park will happen. The wireless company and planning board still have some issues to resolve. One task force member speculated that the town could receive between $3,000 and $4,000 per month though the lease arrangement. The town will receive money, Paderewski confirmed, but because the town is still negotiating the amount, she declined to be more specific. The money, she said, would go into the town’s “General Fund.”
Little Red Stationhouse
Paderewski confirmed that the town board hopes to move the stationhouse about 50 feet south of its current location, onto county property. The county might then renovate it and make use of it as some sort of concession to serve bike trail users. Paderewski announced that Supervisor Susan Carpenter was “looking for a volunteer to work on the train station project.” Task Force member Mike Stern offered his services.
Downtown future vision
Paderewski asked whether the task force had composed its “wish list” of near-term and long-term improvements to the Millwood hamlet, as members promised they would do during the town board meeting with the task force at Westorchard School on March 13.
Although Phil Rice, a task force member who is composing the list, was not present, but some popular points were discussed:
Signage
A new “events sign” for the corner of the A&P is in the works.
There was mixed reaction to the concept of placing signs on the trail directing people to nearby businesses. Some thought it inappropriate to advertise on the trail itself.
The idea of more benches and bike racks at retail locations followed from the signage discussion.
Walkability
The sidewalk on Station Road doesn’t go all the way to Route 100, but stops at the A&P entrance. Extend it?
Paderewski informed task force members that sidewalks generally cost around $150 to $200 per linear foot, and crosswalks cost around $1,000, depending on the paving surface,
The Route 120 sidewalk, she noted, had cost about $1.8 million for 5,400 feet.
Create a crosswalk to between the A&P corner and the Pheasant Run condos?
Create a crosswalk to the A&P sidewalk for the children at the Devereaux Center?
Paderewski reminded members that crosswalks would need NYS Department of Transportation approval.
Cut a gate into the rec field fence
A task force member suggested lowering the speed limit on Route 100. “Crossing from the rec field to the A&P is dangerous.”
Jordan Schiffman suggested that the town cut a gate in the rec field fence, making it possible to cross from the field to the A&P side of the street in a direct line, rather than going around the entire fence.
Unwanted swim club
Chairperson of the Millwood Task Force Diane Kleinmann asked whether the town was interested in taking possession of the swim club property near the county trailway offered by several neighbors who own it. There had been some talk by Mike Kaplowitz last autumn of county interest in the property. Paderewski updated the task force, telling them that neither the town nor the county were interested in taking on the property. “It’s too much work and there are some dangers there,” said Paderewski. “Taxpayers shouldn’t have to take on the current owners’ problem.” She suggested instead that the owners might want to remove the dam and allow the property to revert to its natural wetlands state.
DOT facility
Members noted the ugliness of the DOT building on the east side of Route 100 across from the entrance to the Taconic.
Sewers are holding Millwood back
Lou Russo noted that, long-term, Millwood was constrained by its lack of sewers. “If you want to see Millwood develop as it should, for everyone’s benefit sewers are essential.”
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Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps Open House Saturday, April 21
Last Sunday’s CPR class of Roaring Brook moms at CVAC
Monday, April 16, 2012
Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corp (CVAC) will hold its first-ever community-wide Open House for New Castle residents. This fun-filled family event will help community members get a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes at CVAC. Last week, CVAC’s ambulance and crew members made a bee-line to eight homes in New Castle, treating children, adults and seniors for stroke, chest pain, abdominal pain, respiratory illness, head injury, snycopy (that’s fainting) and general illness. They also responded to a fire call to “stand by” for injuries.
Your kids won’t want to miss the Ambulance tours and an up close look at all of the EMT equipment.
WHEN: Saturday, April 21, 10:00-2:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served.
WHERE: CVAC Headquarters at 233 N. Greeley Ave, Chappaqua. (head north out of town, we’re past the post office)
WHY: This is a great way for community members to gather and learn about what’s involved in joining the Ambulance Corps:
- flexible hours
- no medical training required - we provide all needed training
- great way to build some important life skills
- great way to meet a terrific group of people
COST: Free
INFO: For more information call 238-3191 or visit www.chappaquaambulance.org
Five stellar students at last Sunday’s CPR class at CVAC: Roaring Brook moms Usha Subramaniam, Karen Visser, Lina Serpico, Laurie Warshofsky and Lisa Fitzgerald, with their teacher, Joe Gentilesco.
Founded in 1936, the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps is a volunteer organization dedicated to providing quality emergency medical services to the residents of New Castle. The 70+ volunteer members are a diverse group, from teachers and lawyers to entrepreneurs, students, parents and grandparents. In addition to responding to more than 500 calls annually, CVAC reaches out with programs to educate the community on First Aid and CPR. For more information or to become a volunteer, visit www.chappaquaambulance.org. Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps. People helping people.
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Letter to the Editor: Will my YOUNG kids benefit from the turf field?
Last week at the pole barn, Turf Committee members experienced a demo of a matrix scoreboard and sound system for the Competition Field
April 20, 2012
by Rob Greenstein
Last month, there was an article in NewCastleNOW listing “10 Reasons to Support and Contribute to Our Community Turf Field Project.” As a father of three young children, two reasons resonated with me: The need for properly maintained grass fields and sports under the lights.
The need for properly maintained grass fields
Here are some important facts concerning field usage of the competition field. It would not only be used for football. It would be used also by soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and baseball. In fact, Greeley Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer and Football will all play home games on the turf.
Various town sports programs will also use the new field. During high school sport seasons, the expectation is that the school teams will use the field up to around 5:00 on weekdays (then get to their homework), while the town sports programs would use the field from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The field should be available 100% of the time for the town’s sports programs before and after the high school sports seasons. As with the other fields in town, the school and the recreation department will decide availability.
Weekends, depending on the season, will create an opportunity for all sports to play, many teams practicing at one time, and lights extending usage in the winter months by one-third. There is also discussion about having open field time blocked off for community usage, with no team or organizations able to take this time. The idea is to reserve a block of time on Sundays when anyone can go and play, throw a ball without the fear of having an organized game kicking them off. We will give the school the authority to make exceptions, but for most of the year, this would be the arrangement.
When discussing the turf field with parents of young children, many have asked “Why the competition field, why not Bell?” Keep in mind, Bell is the field that young kids use, and parents see, most often. Most of these parents have never set foot on the competition field. And the need for properly maintained grass fields is no more apparent than at Bell. I don’t blame the Town for the condition of the fields at Bell. Drainage is a problem, and maintenance is difficult due to the high demands placed upon the fields.
The reason the competition field was chosen over Bell is that fixing Bell would have involved a more costly and longer process. Whereas for the competition field some of the engineering work was done in prior years. But, rest assured, after the competition field is completed, Bell is next on the Turf committee’s radar.
Sports under the lights
The next reason that resonated with me is sports under the lights. This is the very reason I joined the Turf Committee. I think a lighted field at the high school would be incredible for our community. Imagine Friday night sporting events and friends gathering for a game. Sporting competition under the lights would absolutely bring our community together for good, wholesome, family-fun. A safe environment where our children of all ages can be with friends. The track will be lit each night until 9:00 so that people can use it to walk and run.
And, again, when the competition field is completed, the turf committee’s focus will turn to Bell. A healthy and vibrant downtown boosts the economic health and quality of life for the entire community. I can think of no greater boon to the revitalizing of downtown Chappaqua and bringing the downtown alive at night, than a lighted, state-of-the art turf field at Bell. Bell field is in the center of our downtown, and right now it’s an underutilized asset due to the drainage issues. A community-based initiative to bring a state-of-the art lighted turf field to Bell for after-school programs and recreational opportunities would be a symbol of community pride. But it will require the cooperation of local government, chambers of commerce, the private sector and organizations such as the Turf Committee to make it happen.
Grass Roots Community Effort
This is a “grass roots” community effort that will benefit all kids. It will benefit the entire community. Please consider a donation to make this much-needed project a reality. The time to bring turf to our community is now.
More information is located at our website: www.chappaquaturf.org
Rob Greenstein is a member of the Turf Committee.
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Merchant of the Week: Chappaqua Paint and Hardware, committed to the environment
Lou Bastone at the Bell Green Fair last weekend
April 23, 2012
by Rob Greenstein
I learned from Lou Bastone at the Green Fair last weekend that there’s actually low-fume paint nowadays, so you don’t have to move out of your house to paint it.
Lou Bastone
Chappaqua Paint and Hardware
59 South Greeley Ave.
Chappaqua, NY 10514
914-861-2777
www.ChappaquaPandH.com
You’re approaching your one-year anniversary, was it a good year?
Like any new businesses, we had our ups and downs. Starting a new business is never easy. But a hardware store in the center of town is an important service to the community. It’s important to be there when people need you. During this past year we’ve been open seven days a week, during snow storms, hurricanes and power outages. Customers come to us at all hours for help with issues ranging from replacing a broken light bulb, selecting paint colors, delivering a BBQ grill, picking up or special ordering a generator (they were popular this year), to assistance with handyman projects.
How is your store different that the prior hardware store at your location?
Our layout is more open, and we try to make the store bright and inviting. We are more of an old-fashioned hardware store. Like most hardware stores, we carry nuts, bolts, electrical, plumbing, automotive, batteries and other basics but we still carry architectural hardware like Baldwin, Schlage and Emtek locks. We have a wide selection of garden decor and fireplace screens, tools and accessories. We’re also committed to the environment, and try to offer as many environmentally friendly products as possible.
What types?
We are committed to selling products that minimize our impact on the environment. We sell environmentally friendly paint thinner, paint strippers, household chemical, light bulbs (CFL and LED) and rechargeable batteries. We also sell fertilizer and garden chemicals that are safe for pets. We sell lots of water-based polyurethane and other water-based products.
You are a “Benjamin Moore” signature store. What does that mean?
It means we only carry Benjamin Moore paints. Many of our Benjamin Moore paints are low-odor paints—no lingering paint smell. Benjamin Moore is committed to providing the most environmentally friendly paint without compromise to performance or color selection. For example, Benjamin Moore Natura has ZERO VOC fumes.
What the heck are VOC fumes?
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound – that’s basically the chemical gas emission. Indoors, the higher those fumes are the more toxic they are—and they will linger for weeks. Contractors generally don’t like to buy the no-fumes items due to slighter higher cost. But homeowners should determine what’s going in their homes. They should demand paint with low VOC fumes.
What are the benefits of being an independent hardware store, not affiliated with a company like True Value or Ace?
It gives us the freedom to take requests without the restraints and limitations of corporate policy. The community tells you what to stock, not some corporate headquarters!
Do you do special orders?
Yes. We have lots of other products on our web site—http://www.ChappaquaPandH.com—that we don’t stock in the store due to space limitation. Our distribution warehouse in Maine holds over 50,000 items. For example, we can order rolls of insulation, water heaters, window well covers, flashing and big power tools—and get it fast.
Tell me about your delivery service?
Customers love our delivery service. Let’s face it, not everyone wants to carry a heavy bag of soil, gravel, concrete, ice melt or 4 gallons of paint. Plus, many can’t make it into our store during the day. Call in an order and we’ll deliver it during the day. This is especially helpful for those emergency situations. We recently delivered 4 smoke detectors that were needed immediately to pass an inspection.
I notice that you do knife sharpening. Any other unique services?
Yes, we do provide knives and scissor sharpening. Why throw out a dull knife? Just get it sharpened – it’s more environmentally friendly! We also sell custom floors mats, mailboxes and address plaques.
Any special discounts for NewCastleNOW readers who mention this article?
Bring in a kitchen knife and we’ll sharpen it for free.
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Visit NCNOW.org’s Local Merchants Section to see other “Merchant of the Week” pieces by Rob Greenstein.
Lou Bastone at the Community Garden Opening last week at the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps; he donated the tool shed and an irrigation system for the garden.
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FRI-SAT: Pre-Senior Musical Dinner at Kittle House to support the Class of 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
by Susie Pender
Well, it will surely be better than the hot dogs on the Santa Monica pier! Crabtree’s Kittle House has been serving local, fresh, organic products since the ‘80s, the time period that “Xanadu,” the Class of 2012’s senior musical, portrays.
So tease up your hair, put on your leg warmers, or better yet, a massive shoulder-padded suit, or better YET, leave those in the basement, and just come as you are to the Kittle House for a pre-theatre dinner next week, Thursday, Friday or Saturday night before the show. As has become a tradition, Crabtree’s Kittle House will donate 20% of the cost of your dinner to support the senior musical. All proceeds from the senior musical after production costs go to provide scholarships for Greeley graduates to help defray the cost of college.
The three-course pre-theatre prix fixe dinner is available Thursday, April 19 at 5:30 p.m. (curtain is at 7:00 p.m.); Friday, April 20 at 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. (curtain is at 8:00 p.m.) or Saturday, April 21 at 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. (curtain is at 8:00 p.m.). The cost is $45 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity.
For reservations, call Crabtree’s Kittle House, 914-666-8044, which is located just down Route 117 from Horace Greeley High School at Eleven Kittle Road, Chappaqua, NY. www.kittlehouse.com.
Related: Put on your roller skates and meet the senior class in “Xanadu!”, NCNOW.org 4/13/12
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FRI-SAT: Put on your roller skates and meet the senior class in “Xanadu!”
Performances Thursday, Friday, Saturday
April 13, 2012
by Susie Pender
“You have to believe they are magic, nothing can stand in their way . . . ,” an apt description of the Greeley senior class of 2012 as they sing and dance and yes, roller skate, their way through nightly practices of “Xanadu!” The surprise 2007 Broadway hit features well-known favorites from the ‘80s including “Magic,” “Suddenly (The Wheels are in Motion) and ”Have You Never Been Mellow.”
The story is universal (sort of): Boy has a dream; Boy meets Girl who inspires him (well, gee, she’s a Muse; that’s what muses do!); Boy and Girl turn a dilapidated theatre into a roller disco in a single afternoon while at the same time falling in love (one busy afternoon!) Problem: Muses are forbidden from falling in love by Zeus, their father, and such a transgression calls for eternal banishment in the netherworld. Yikes! Will Sonny and Kira live happily ever after or will Kira be banished and Sonny have to skate on alone?
FIND OUT at one of the three remaining family-friendly performances of the 2012 senior musical NEXT WEEK on Friday, April 20 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, April 21 at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now, and as always with the senior musical, going fast!
This close to the performance, there are two ways to obtain tickets. To purchase tickets online, click here, which will take you to the Senior Musical page on the Chappaqua PTA website. You can still order tickets online through Saturday, April 14. Tickets ordered online will be mailed to you. (Tickets that are ordered online will include a $1.00 service fee per ticket to cover the transaction fee charged by PayPal.)
Otherwise, tickets will be on sale all next week outside the Greeley Cafeteria and on the days of performances in the theatre lobby. The schedule is below. All tickets are $20 except for student tickets for the 2:00 p.m. Saturday matinee, which are $10. Cash or checks accepted. The best tickets are available for the Saturday matinee, and there are good tickets still available for Thursday and Friday nights. Saturday night is almost sold out.
Friday, April 20
7:00 - 8:15 p.m. in the auditorium lobby before the 8:00 p.m. performance
Saturday, April 21
1:00 - 2:15 p.m. in the auditorium lobby before the 2:00 p.m. performance
7:00 - 8:15 p.m. in the auditorium lobby before the 8:00 p.m. performance
The senior musical tradition at Greeley began when a group of seniors came together to put on a show to raise money to help their classmates pay for college. The senior musical continues to this day to be a wholly self-sustaining enterprise, receiving no district or PTA funds. All money raised through merchant ads, ticket sales, friends and family ads and donations fund the production costs of the musical, including set construction, scenery, costumes and salaries for creative talents like director and choreographer, to name just a few major expenses, with the remainder going to fund scholarships for needy Greeley grads.
Thank you for supporting this great tradition with your ticket order.
So grab your leg warmers or punk pants and get over to “Xanadu” to sing along to those fun ‘80s favorites!
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Remember to reserve for the three-course pre-theatre prix-fixe dinner at Crabtree’s Kittle House on Thursday, April 19 at 5:30 p.m. (curtain is at 7:00 p.m.); Friday, April 20 at 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. (curtain is at 8:00 p.m.) or Saturday, April 21 at 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. (curtain is at 8:00 p.m.). The cost is $45 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity.
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NEW: Openings for an exciting array of Chappaqua Continuing Ed courses and one-offs
April 20, 2012
A whole new round of Chappaqua Continuing Education (CCE) classes has yet to begin—in SAT test-prep, Facebook, Excel, Powerpoint, basic e-mail and Word, meditation, Indian cooking— as well as some one-time workshops. See “Read more…” for a complete list of upcoming courses—with an online catalog and easy online registration.
Classes still open:
SAT Review class starts with test on this Saturday or Sunday.
Digital Camera for the Beginner starts Wednesday, April 25.
Digital Camera for the Advanced students starts Wednesday, May 2
Meditation Part 2 April 23
Spring Cleanse April 30
Powerpoint May 14
Email May 21
Café of Love May 21
Facebook May 1
Internet Marketing May 8
Indian Cooking May 8
Mixed Media May 10
Word May 3
Blue Hill May 4
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Greeley loses to John Jay, 12-6
HOME GAME: Quakers play Harrison this Saturday, April 21 @ 11:00 a.m., Competition Field @HGHS.
April 20, 2012
by Billy Mendelson
When opportunity knocks Greeley needs to answer. As I learn more about this game, I see there’s a rhythm and momentum, a flow that applies. If you analyze Greeley’s 12-6 loss to John Jay, the numbers don’t really add up.
Greeley showed poise and sustainability. Greeley’s possession time was not in question—with probably equal if not more time on offense, as well as shots on goal.
But John Jay mixed patience and opportunity required for this game.
When a solid team like John Jay was tested, they maintained their game plan, waiting for that opportunity to shoot, working their offense systematically.
Greeley showed good composure early on, with a Mike Mendelson-to-Danny Rubin pass to score 1st. Then John Jay scored with a quick stick shot 6 minutes into the 1st quarter, 1-1.
John Jay waited for their next opportunity with good patient shot-making, scoring 3 unanswered goals and building momentum.
Greeley’s Sophomore Owen Gatto demonstrated why he is part of the future of this team—making his presence known with tough play and good clears. Then another Rubin goal made it 3-2.
Mendelson’s assist to Jack Gladstone 3 minutes into the 2nd quarter tied it, 3-3.
Greeley showed good face-off win percentages in the first half, then John Jay at our doorstep scores, to make it 4-3. Alex Scott’s assist to Cory Ekstrom tied us with a pair of 4’s on board.
In the 3rd quarter, goaltender Doug Gusick continued to show his quick and sharpened goal-tending abilities with numerous saves when John Jay came knocking.
So at this point we are all feeling very good about the teams performance, handling and even challenging john Jay’s team…
Ekstrom, Gladtone and Rubin jump started with goals to keep pace. Mendelson showed his flexibility on both offense and defense—and that this game can be played on both ends of the field. Brandon Gell demonstrated quick stick ability to get open for solid shots.
But 3 quarters is only part of the game. John Jay showed that keeping their stamina and composure can close us out, leading 5-4 at the onset of the 4th.
“This is a game of ebb and flow” said Rich Weissman, prez of Greeley Lacrosse Association. “In the end, this game was not in our favor.”
Greeley hung in there through part of the 4th at 7-6, with additional goals credited to Ekstrom and Mendelson. But then cracks in our armor began with John Ray running up the score, weaving through and creatively shutting out Greeley to end it 12-6—and for no apparent reason other than that they kept their momentum when it was really needed to finish the job.
So I guess the lesson here is simple: If you look at the #2 golfer in the world and the #200 golfer, more likely you will not find a specific identifiable difference—but it’s that little something extra, that subtlety that makes ALL the difference. That subtlety is what the Quakers will need to find going into their next game—looking solid, looking ready.
See you at the Harrison game at Greeley HS this Saturday, April 21 @ 11:00 a.m., Competition Field.
GO QUAKERS
Team Roster:Matt Boyd
John Davis
Cory Ekstrom
Henry Fishkin
Ethan Frieder
Robbie Gautney
Brandon Gell
Jack Gladstone
Doug Gusick
Bryan Horowitz
Brent Lobien
Michael Mendelson
Charles Mirisola
Craig Motola
Michael Nadler
Danny Rubin
Tommy Sadik-Khan
Brad Schnabel
Alex Scott
Noah Weissmann
Billy Mendelson is the father of Michael Mendelson, a Junior and mid-fielder on Greeley’s Varsirty Lacrosse team. Billy is also a member of Greely;s Lacrosse Association and the Chappaqua Turf Committee.
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Quakers Lacrosse: Greeley snaps back to win 8-5 vs Harrison High
Greeley’s Ekstrom dodging past Harrison defender; photo by Jay Motola; see more inside.
Monday, April 23, 2012
by Billy Mendelson
The crowd was more than ready at HGHS with high hopes for the Quakers vs .Harrison HS.
As the sun was beating down and melting the tar off the roof— some thankfully brought their 50spf sunblock to the game—the 1st quarter was solid play by Greeley with a number of good-looks for shot making: Greeley’s Craig Motola showed off his defensive skills as only he knows how, tough and always ready. The 1st quarter ended 0 -0.
Two minutes into the second quarter Alex “X-man” Scott scored, breaking free in front of Harrison’s goal—as we’ve been used to seeing him do. But then Harrison answered back with the very next possession, making it 1-1.
Gladstone fired his blistering outside shot, and scores 2-1. A Cory Ekstrom shot took us to 3-1.
Brian Horowitz was extremely tough on face-offs, showing his mobility along with Henry Fishkin at center. Then a classic Scott-to-Jack Gladstone for a quick-stick goal ended the 1st half 4-1.
Greeley had plenty of opportunities to ring this one up—possibly to 10 goals by half—with Harrison failing to slide on defense, leaving an open Greeley man at their doorstep.
Harrison had a fast break, racking up a quick score at the onset of the 2nd half, bringing it to 4-2.
Mike Mendelson drew Harrison’s defense and dished to Ethan Frieder, who scored 5-2—“all day” this should be happening.
With continued good hustle by Brian Horowitz, Brandon Gell scored to lead off the 4th quarter 6-2.
The X-Man Scott fired to Mendelson who scored for his first goal of the game two minutes into 4th quarter.
More Great Gusick goaltending as he “stuffed” Harrison’s attempts, reminding them of who’s in charge at his end of the field.
Harrison scored, taking it to 7-3.
A 3rd Mendelson assist this time dished to Ekstrom, making it 8-3.
Mid-fielder Robbie Gautney “brought- it” as we’ve seen only him do, with his speed and agility. As he took the field, Harrison had two fast goals. Their time ran out, ending with a Greeley win, 8-5.
This was a good win for us as we head into travel mode for the next 4 games. See you out there!
GO QUAKERS
Greeley captain Gladstone scoring; photo by Jay Motola
Greeley defenders swarm on Harrison: Spar #18, Mirisola #27, Motola #19; photo by Jay Motola
Roster:
Matt Boyd
John Davis
Cory Ekstrom
Henry Fishkin
Ethan Frieder
Robbie Gautney
Brandon Gell
Jack Gladstone
Doug Gusick
Bryan Horowitz
Brent Lobien
Michael Mendelson
Charles Mirisola
Craig Motola
Michael Nadler
Danny Rubin
Tommy Sadik-Khan
Brad Schnabel
Alex Scott
Noah Weissmann
DVDs of all the Greely games are available at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Billy Mendelson is the father of Michael Mendelson, a Junior and mid-fielder on Greeley’s Varsirty Lacrosse team. Billy is also a member of Greely;s Lacrosse Association and the Chappaqua Turf Committee.
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Chappaqua Youth Soccer Club announces travel soccer tryouts for 4-8 graders for 2012-13 teams
April 20, 2012
by Lisa McGowan
The Chappaqua Youth Soccer Club (CYSC) is organized for players entering 4th grade and up, (CYSC has an additional program for 3rd graders) who wish to make a 10-month commitment to competitive soccer. This program runs from September through the end of June, and places teams in the Westchester Youth Soccer League.
Each team will practice for three hours per week with a professional trainer in the fall and spring (two 1.5 hour sessions) with games on Sundays in Westchester and Rockland Counties and New York City. Winter practice and game schedules differ by team and are encouraged, but not required.
The cost varies by team from $750-$1100 per year, plus CYSC fees of $225, and the cost of the uniform. Financial aid is available to those who meet the requirements.
Additionally, while it is not required, over 80% of CYSC players participate in the CYSC Pre-Season Camp 8/27- 8/31. Discounts will be offered to players who enroll at the same time they accept their invitation to play.
Tryouts
The CYSC will be holding tryouts for their 2012-2013 Travel Teams for interested players entering the 4th grade and up. (Evaluations will be held for players entering 3rd grade. See CUSP description at www.chappaquasoccer.org) The tryout schedule is listed below and attendance at all tryouts for your age group is required.
Tryouts are open to all students attending Chappaqua Schools or living in the Town of New Castle. The tryouts will be monitored by Club-approved trainers and CYSC board members. Please note: Missing a CYSC tryout for a tryout at another club is not considered an excused absence and will be taken into consideration when forming teams.
All participants must wear a grey or white t-shirt, cleats and shin guards, and bring an age-appropriate soccer ball and plenty of water. Current and former CYSC players, as well as current and former players from outside clubs are not permitted to wear any part of their travel uniforms including their practice jersey to the tryouts. Players should plan to arrive at the field 15 minutes prior to the start of the tryouts to check in and receive a number and a pinny. Parents (and other caregivers) will not be permitted to remain at the field during the tryouts.
The number of teams selected for each age group will depend on the number of players trying out and the caliber of play. However, it is anticipated that there will be three teams for U10 and U11 and two teams for U12-U14. Players are required to attend practices twice per week and play in Sunday games during the fall and the spring seasons, which are typically ten weeks each.
In order to try out, players must register online by April 25, 2012 by logging on to www.chappaquasoccer.org and clicking “online registration” located on the left hand side. At the end of the sign up you will need to confirm in two places in order to receive a confirmation. MAKE CERTAIN YOU RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION.
If you are a NEW player to the program or did not play on a CYSC team for the 2011/2012 season, please upload a photo of yourself on the registration website AND bring a 2” x 2” photo of yourself with your name on the back, a copy of your birth certificate and a WYSL medical release form (the form can be obtained from the www.wyslsoccer.org website, and does not need to be notarized - click on forms at the left and scroll down) to your tryout on the first day. New players MUST have all of the above to tryout-NO EXCEPTIONS.
Additional tryouts for goalies
Please note that if you are U12 or above and you try out to be a goalie, you are expected to be willing to play goalie for the entire game for all games. For U10 and U11, you will be expected to be willing to play goalie 50% of each game. (There will not be goalie tryouts at U9.) Actual playing time as a goalie will be determined by individual coaches/teams. Goalie tryouts will be held at the end of one of the regular age group tryouts.
Announcement of teams and acceptance of your invitation to play
CYSC hopes to announce teams by Sunday June 17. (U9s and U10s may be announced earlier.) Players who are invited to play will have one day to accept their invitation to play and pay a $225 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit to hold their spot on a team.(Players who fail to accept their invitation during the registration period may risk losing their spot.) Players who register for the CYSC Pre-season Camp (8/27-8/31) at the same time they accept their invitation to play will receive a discount on the camp tuition. Details on team acceptance and camp registration will be forwarded when the teams are announced.
CYSC Pre-Season Camp DATES: Monday August 27- Friday August 31st - Open to all CYSC players. Details to follow with the team announcements.
Coaching
Anyone interested in coaching a travel team should complete a coaching application by logging on to www.chappaquasoccer.org. Click on “Coaches Corner” at the top of the page, select coaching requirements from the drop down menu, and then open the application. Completed applications should be forwarded to Jay Goldstein at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Coaching selections will be made by the Coaching Committee of CYSC AFTER the tryouts have been completed and the teams have been formed. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON THE TRYOUT/TEAM sign-up website will not be considered. Applicants MUST use the application listed under “Coach’s Corner.” CYSC is asking that coaching applications be submitted as soon as possible.
Tryout schedule as of 4/12/12
All tryout times/dates subject to change and will be updated at: www.chappaquasoccer.org
U9 Girls - Evaluations for girls entering 3rd grade in September, born on or after 8/1/03 - Sunday 5/20 at 6:15 p.m. at Seven Bridges Lower - Raindate 6/3
U10 Girls – entering 4th grade in September, born on or after 8/1/02 – FRIDAY 5/18 at 4:00 p.m. at Upper Gedney, TUESDAY 5/22 6:15 p.m. at 7 Bridges Upper (Rain date 5/25 at 4 :00 p.m. at Upper Gedney)
U11 Girls – entering 5th grade in September, born on or after 8/1/01 - FRIDAY 6/1 at 4:00 p.m., SATURDAY 6/2 at 10:30 a.m. (Rain date 6/5 at 4:00 p.m.) all at Upper Gedney.
U12 Girls – entering 6th grade in September, born on or after 8/1/00 – THURSDAY 5/31 at 6:15 p.m. at Amsterdam 2, SATURDAY 6/2 at 3:30 p.m. at Upper Gedney (Rain date 6/7 6:15 p.m. at Amsterdam 2)
U13 Girls – entering 7th grade in September, born on or after 8/1/99 – SATURDAY 5/19 at 12:30 p.m. (rain date 5/21 at 6:15 p.m.) all at Amsterdam 2.
U14 Girls – entering 8th grade in September, born on or after 8/1/98 - FRIDAY 5/25 at 5:00 p.m. at Amsterdam 2 (rain date 6/1 at 6:00 p.m. at Upper Gedney)
U9 Boys - Evaluations for boys entering 3rd grade in September, born on or after 8/1/03 - Sunday 5/20 at 6:00 p.m. at Upper Gedney - Raindate 6/3
U10 Boys – entering 4th grade in September, born on or after 8/1/02 – FRIDAY 5/18 at Upper Gedney Park, WEDNESDAY 5/23 at 7 Bridges Upper (Rain date 5/24 at Upper Gedney) all at 6:15 p.m.
U11 Boys – entering 5th grade in September, born on or after 8/1/01 - TUESDAY 5/29 at 6:15 p.m. at 7 Bridges Upper, Saturday 6/2 at 1:00 p.m. at Upper Gedney (Rain date 6/5 at 6:15 at Upper Gedney)
U12 Boys – entering 6th grade in September, born on or after 8/1/00 - WEDNESDAY 5/30 at 6:15 p.m. at 7 Bridges Upper, Sat. 6/2 at 8:00 a.m. at Upper Gedney (Rain date 6/6 at 6:15 p.m. at 7 Bridges Upper)
U13 Boys – entering 7th grade in September, born on or after 8/1/99 – SATURDAY 5/19 at 9:30 a.m. (rain date 5/21 at 6:15 p.m.) all at Upper Gedney
U14 Boys – entering 8th grade in September, born on or after 8/1/98 – THURSDAY 5/24 at 4:00 p.m. (Rain date 5/31 at 6:15 p.m.) all at Upper Gedney
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Chappaqua Youth Soccer Club is partnering with AYSO to form travel teams for 3rd graders
April 20, 2012
by Lisa McGowan
The Chappaqua Youth Soccer Club is partnership with AYSO is forming U9 travle teams to play in the Westchester Youth Soccer League for the 2012-13 season. CYSC will be holding evaluations for incoming 3rd graders.
U9 Girls - Evaluations for girls entering 3rd grade in September, born on or after 8/1/03 - Sunday 5/20 at 6:15 p.m. at 7 Bridges Lower - Raindate 6/3
U9 Boys - Evaluations for boys entering 3rd grade in September, born on or after 8/1/03 - Sunday 5/20 at 6:00 p.m. at Upper Gedney - Raindate 6/3
We will be forming one select team, and multiple balanced teams. All players will be placed on a team. Your child will play on two teams: CYSC Team = travel program - 1 weekday practice with a trainer and a Sunday travel game. AYSO Team = Saturday AYSO practice with a trainer followed by an AYSO game. Your child will play soccer three days per week in total which includes AYSO. AYSO is a requirement to be eligible for the travel program.
IMPORTANT: In order to participate on a CYSC travel team, you must register online by April 25th, 2012 by logging on to www.chappaquasoccer.org and clicking “online registration” located on the left hand side. At the end of the sign up you will need to confirm in two places in order to receive a confirmation. MAKE CERTAIN YOU RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION and UPLOAD a photo of your child during the registration process.
The program and commitment for incoming 3rd graders
This program is for 3rd graders, born after 8/1/03 who wish to make a 10-month commitment to competitive soccer. The program runs from September through the end of June, and places teams in the Westchester Youth Soccer League. Each 3rd grade team will practice with professional trainers twice per week in the fall and spring with games on Sundays in Westchester and Rockland Counties and New York City. The CYSC commitment will be one practice held during the week with a travel game on Sunday. AYSO practices will take place on Saturdays followed by an AYSO game. In short, your child will be playing soccer three days per week. (One weekday plus Saturday and Sunday.) Winter CYSC practices and game schedules will differ by team and are encouraged, but not required.
Playing time: Each player who attends both practices and the Saturday and Sunday game on a regular basis will be entitled to at least 50% playing time in their Sunday game so there will be plenty of soccer for players of all levels.
Evaluations: The CYSC will be conducting evaluations for the 2012-2013 CYSC teams. The evaluations are open to all students attending Chappaqua Schools or living in the Town of New Castle. The evaluations will be monitored by CYSC approved trainers and CYSC board members. (Note: As there will not be cuts at the incoming 3rd grade level, players can opt out of the evaluation and chose to be place directly on a balanced team.) Please note: Missing the CYSC evaluation for a tryout at another club is not considered an excused absence and will be taken into consideration when forming teams.
All participants must wear a grey or white t-shirt, cleats and shin guards, and bring an age appropriate soccer ball and plenty of water. Current and former CYSC players, as well as players from outside travel programs, are not permitted to wear any part of their travel uniforms including their practice jersey to the tryouts. Players should plan to arrive at the field 15 minutes prior to the start of the tryouts to check in and receive a number and a pinny. Parents (and other caregivers) will not be permitted to remain at the field during the tryouts.
The number of teams formed at this age group will be based on the number of players enrolled. In order to participate, players must register online by April 25, 2012 by logging on to www.chappaquasoccer.org and clicking “online registration” located on the left hand side. At the end of the sign up you will need to confirm in two places in order to receive a confirmation. MAKE CERTAIN YOU RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION. PLEASE UPLOAD A PHOTO OF YOUR PLAYER AT THIS TIME ON TO THE REGISTRATION SITE.
All players must bring a 2” x 2” photo of themselves with their name on the back, a copy of your birth certificate and a WYSL medical release form (the form can be obtained from the www.wyslsoccer.org website, and does not need to be notarized - click on forms at the left and scroll down) to your tryout on the first day.
Announcement of teams and acceptance of your invitation to play
CYSC hopes to announce U9 teams shortly after the evaluations. Players will have one day to accept their invitation to play and pay a $225 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit to hold their spot on a team. (Players who fail to accept their invitation during the registration period may risk losing their spot.) Players will also need to register for an AYSO team at this time. Players who register for the CYSC Pre-season Camp (8/27-8/31) at the same time they accept their invitation to play will receive a discount on the camp tuition. Details on team acceptance and camp registration will be forwarded when the teams are announced.
Cost to play and uniforms
The CYSC program will cost approximately $600, which includes a $225 deposit when the teams are announced, weekly training, and the cost of playing in the WYSL. (uniforms are additional) Players will also be responsible for the cost of their AYSO team, which is an additional $195. In short 3rd grade players who choose to be part of the CYSC/AYSO program will spend roughly $800. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
OPTIONAL CYSC Pre-Season Camp DATES: Monday August 27- Friday August 31st - Details to follow with the team announcements.
Coaching
Anyone interested in coaching a travel team should complete a coaching application by logging on to http://www.chappaquasoccer.org Click. on “Coaches Corner” at the top of the page, select coaching requirements from the drop down menu, and then open the application. Completed applications should be forwarded to Jay Goldstein at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) . Coaching selections will be made by the Coaching Committee of CYSC AFTER the evaluations have been completed and the teams have been formed. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON THE TRYOUT/TEAM sign-up website will not be considered. Applicants MUST use the application listed under “Coach’s Corner.” CYSC is asking that coaching applications be submitted as soon as possible.
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Take It or Leave It Shed is open for business
April 20, 2012
The Take It or Leave It Shed is up and running! When you clean out your basement or attic and have items that are in good condition, don’t throw them away - leave them for a neighbor! And don’t forget to pick up a little present for yourself. It’s open each Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon, at the Recycle Center on Hunts Lane.
Welcome contributions to the shed include toys, kitchen items, sports equipment and artwork. Items must be clean and in working condition. There are some things that cannot be accepted for health and safety reasons, such as stuffed furniture, mattresses, rugs, carpeting, TVs, skis, cribs and stereo speakers.
(And please keep in mind, if you think it’s garbage, put it in the trash or out for bulk pickup, and please don’t bring it over.)
The Take It Or Leave It Shed is located at the Recycling Center on Hunt’s Lane and is open on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon through October. The Shed is operated solely by volunteers. For information or to volunteer, call the Recycling Department at 238-8091. So come by - you never know what you might find.
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TUESDAY: Coffee & Conversation with Lyn on “Middle School Curriculum”
April 13, 2012
CCSD Press Release by Public Information Officer David Hayes
All school community families are invited to join Lyn McKay, Superintendent of Schools, for some coffee and informal conversation on Tuesday, April 17th between 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. in the library at Robert E. Bell Middle School.
(You don’t have to have a child at Bell in order to attend.)
The topic will be, “Middle School Curriculum.”
Joining Lyn will be Eric Byrne, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.
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The Architectural Review Board’s memo on proposed Hunts Place apartment building
April 13, 2012
Editor’s Note: This week the town released a memo dated March 8, 2012, sent to town board members from Lonnie Goodman, Chairman of the Architectural Review Board, reporting its members’ reactions to Conifer’s proposed 36-unit apartment building on Hunts Place. The text of the memo is reprinted below in its entirety:
“Last night the New Castle Board of Architectural Review was asked to comment on the project, presented by the developer’s architect, reflecting a design for an affordable housing unit wedged in between the railroad tracks and the Saw Mill River Parkway.
What we saw shocked us on several fronts, most notably that the project could evolve to this extent without any of the usual procedures and controls that would typically precede our review. The building is grotesquely over-sized for the lot, literally filling it all, from end to end and the design is more typical of a budget hotel on a busy interstate.
Our directive on the ARB is to guide applicants to ensure that their projects blend with the surrounding environment, eliminating anything that renders it too similar or dissimilar from surrounding buildings. We could not even begin to address the many architectural flaws, scale issues and general lack of good taste that preys on this project.
This building will sit at the main gateway to the town of Chappaqua and will overshadow the neighboring buildings, forever altering the character of this town. Affordable housing would be a laudable and welcome addition to the landscape of Chappaqua, however allowing the developer a free hand would be a grievous error, resulting in an everlasting monument to flawed judgment.”
___________________
Related: ARB members stunned by bulk of Hunts Place project, Conifer returns to planning board March 20, NCNOW.org, 3/12/12
Town board makes itself lead agency on Conifer’s Hunts Place project, NCNOW.org, 3/3012—with an explanation of the roles of town board, planning board, zoning board, and architectural review board in the review process.
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Letter to the Editor: Don’t reject Hunts Place project out of hand, but scale it down
April 13, 2012
by Jane Lindau
Jane Lindau, a member of a group of residents calling themselves “New Castle Task Force for Fair and Affordable Housing,” read the following statement during public comment period of the town board’s meeting last Tuesday.
With Lindau at the meeting were fellow-members of the task force, Gray and Marian WiIlliams, Hank and Louise Lubin. Lindau, who is also Director of Senior Housing at Westchester Residential Opportunities, is rebuilding a previous town committee on affordable housing. She has written on affordable housing issues previously in NCNOW.org. See “Letter to the Editor: There is a real need for affordable housing in New Castle,” 1/21/10. Anyone interested in joining the revived task force may email Lindau at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
I am here to represent a group of New Castle Citizens, some of whom are here with me today, who support affordable housing. We have been following the Hunts Lane development, also known as Chappaqua Station, closely. First I want to say that we agree in certain aspects with the local group that has been critical of Hunts Lane. Specifically we believe 1) the building is too large, is not in scale with the rest of the town, and at a minimum the fifth floor should be eliminated; 2) it is critical that the environmental review be completed very carefully, and that any contamination be completely remediated; and 3) that all safety issues be properly addressed. If these three issues cannot be addressed adequately we will not support the Hunts Lane project.
However, we are here tonight to implore the board not to reject the Hunts Lane site out of hand, because we believe that the site is viable and indeed may be the best available site for the development of affordable housing in town. It’s important to get the fact out there that not everyone in New Castle is opposed to Chappaqua Station – there are people who are for it, and others who have concerns, but are willing to compromise and see how the developer can address those concerns. Not everyone is as vocal as the group of neighbors and other local residents who have come out against development of the site.
We believe that the site deserves careful review for several reasons. Let me quote one of the conclusions from the Chappaqua Comprehensive Hamlet Plan of 2003:
“Throughout the planning process, Hamlet residents expressed the need for more diverse land uses in the downtown area, particularly affordable housing within walking distance to the train station and downtown shopping, school, library, community center, park, and athletic fields. “
We agree that it is crucial that any affordable housing be built within walking district of the train station, and where there is access to sewer lines. While we know many people have suggested other sites in town such as the property where Bistro Maxime (also known as the Hakim site) used to be, there is one major problem with this and other sites that have been mentioned: they are all privately owned and none of them are available at a price that would make affordable housing feasible on those sites. It is simply not constructive to say that we want affordable housing but that it should be built at another site. One of the major reasons that affordable housing has not been built in many of the communities covered by the housing settlement is that it is not economically feasible to do so. The Hunts Lane site is available at a price where the building makes economic sense.
Over the past 16 years since we last built affordable housing in New Castle, several sites have come and gone: the Burden property, the Warburg site, and the Amsterdam property, to name a few. All of these properties faced neighbors’ objections, as does the Hunts Lane site. But none of these other locations were in the Hamlet, and none were on a sewer line. I also remind you that when the affordable housing was being discussed for Chappaqua Crossing, there were many comments made in this room by New Castle residents about how Hunts Lane was a much more appropriate site.
I remind you that Hunts Lane is proposed to be affordable housing, not low income housing. 20% of the residents of New Castle meet this income level, and it is an affordable level for work force housing. All applicants will have to have good credit ratings, and they can be turned down for inadequate credit or income. We believe the tenants of Hunts Lane will contribute to the revitalization of downtown Chappaqua. One of the attractions of the site will be that families can get by with one instead of two cars, and will therefore be likely to support the merchants in town.
It may be that if the scale of Hunts Lane is cut back, as most of us desire, it will not be economically feasible for Conifer, or that it will not pass environmental or safety reviews. However, if indeed these issues are dealt with adequately, we urge you to approve the Hunts Lane proposal at the appropriate time.
___________________
Related: The Architectural Review Board’s memo on proposed Hunts Place apartment building, NCNOW.org, 4/13/12
ARB members stunned by bulk of Hunts Place project, Conifer returns to planning board March 20, NCNOW.org, 3/12/12
Town board makes itself lead agency on Conifer’s Hunts Place project, NCNOW.org, 3/3012—with an explanation of the roles of town board, planning board, zoning board, and architectural review board in the review process.
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SATURDAY: PTA Green Earth Day Expo—more than 40 booths with interactive fun and green ideas!
“Meet Your Wild Neighbors” Animal Show Presented by the Greenburgh Nature Center at Noon
April 13, 2012
by Sue Bolen
The Chappaqua Schools Green Fair, a collaborative effort of students and faculty from the Chappaqua School District and the Chappaqua PTA, will be held on Saturday, April 14 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at The Robert E. Bell Middle School. This year admission is FREE for everyone! The Green Fair will be a fun and educational event that explores the science of sustainability and showcases how eco-friendly practices impact our communities.
Middle school and high school students will take on leadership roles to educate the community about sustainability in a series of student-initiated workshops including “Bottling Our Future. Exploring the Truth About What Bottled Water Does to Our Environment,” presented by Greeley STOP, “Pot Holes to Pavement. The Environmental Story of Seven Bridges Paving Project,” presented by the Seven Bridges Green Team and “RE-Use, Re-Cycle, Re-paper—Make New Paper From Old,” presented by the Bell Environmental Club.
At noon in the auditorium wild animals such as snakes, tortoise, hedgehogs, ferrets, screech owls, ring neck doves and even worms will appear on stage during a presentation by The Greenburgh Nature Center. The noon show will demonstrate how climate change impacts animal habitats, with topics including impact of yard composting and storm water run off.
The PTA will sponsor a fun, hands-on exhibition hall (Expo) in the gym throughout the day, where students,
local non-profits and businesses, and government organizations dedicated to sustainability will demonstrate ways to “go green.” Best of all, student booths will showcase sustainability in our community and schools. Expo booths will include: hands-on environmental science, interactive games & crafts: tab jewelry, recycled paper baskets and more, green home improvement, and mini demos on recycling, energy audits and more.
The Expo will also showcase local, fresh and sustainably-produced foods for all to enjoy. Chappaqua’s Green Fair is a great way for students from elementary school through high school to learn how to protect the environment on both local and global levels.
To register students for free workshops online and for more information, check www.chappaquapta.net.
More than 40 booths include:
• Hands-on Environmental Science
• Interactive Games & Crafts: Tab Jewelry, recycled paper baskets and more
• Green Home Improvement
• Community Groups and Local Businesses
• Mini Demos on Recycling, Energy Audits and More
• Enjoy Fresh Local Food in the Green Cafe Area All Day
At noon, see a show by the Greenburgh Nature Center, “Meet Your Wild Neighbors: Your Impact on Animal Habitats”
STUDENT WORKSHOP REGISTRATION at the Green Fair is now open. Spaces are limited. To register students for a free 20-minute environmental workshop, click HERE. Workshop times are:
9:30a.m.—Bottling Our Future: Exploring the Truth About What Bottled Water Does to Our Environment—Presented by Greeley STOP. *
10:00a.m.—Pot Holes to Pavement: The Environmental Story of Seven Bridges Paving Project—Presented by the Seven Bridges Green Team *
10:00a.m. and 10:30 a.m.—Plant the Bell Garden. Dig into organic dirt and help start the Spring plantings in the Bell garden—Presented by the Bell Garden Club *
10:30a.m.—Re-Use, Re-Cycle, Re-Paper: Make New Paper from Old—Presented by the Bell Environmental Club *
Any questions about workshops, regular or group registrations, Expo Hall booth applications, volunteering at the Green Fair or anything else? Please email the PTA Environmental Committee at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Bell is located in downtown Chappaqua at 50 Senter Street, with parking available in the lot on South Greeley Avenue.
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Visit us, Green Fair-goers, on your way to or from Bell
April 13, 2012
by Dawn Greenberg
Downtown merchants invite Green Fair goers to have a stroll around town before, during or after the fair. Merchants will be offering goodies and will raffle off a $50 gas card. No purchase necessary.
Enter the raffle at merchants with a green balloon outside their store. Participants confirmed are Jardin du Roi, Rhodadendron, Marmalade, King’s Scribe, Breeze, Aurora, and Chappaqua Paint & Hardware. Also, some merchants will offer discounts to shoppers carrying the Green Fair tote, given to the first 100 registrants for the fair.
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Local Tastes Better! Fresh Asparagus, Greens, Fish, Chicken
April 13, 2012
by Pascale LeDraoulec
If you shop the farmers market then you already know what the culinary benefits are of eating local. Fruits and vegetables simply taste better when you eat them within 12-24 hours of being picked or harvested. Traveling along the highway for three days in a hot truck doesn’t do much for tomatoes and asparagus. Never mind baby spinach and mesclun. How “local” are we?
At the Chappaqua Farmers Market, we insist that all of the food sold be grown, raised or prepared within a 200-mile radius of the Chappaqua Train Station, our summer home. Technically, we are a Hudson Valley market though we do make an exception for that glorious fish which comes to us from the Hampton Bays. Under the “10 percent” rule, vendors are allowed to bring a small amount (no more than 10 percent of their display) from a nearby farm (or fishery). That explains why we occasionally sell tuna and swordfish and Nantucket scallops that don’t come from the Hampton Bays.
Eating local is a great start to leading a greener life, but there is so much more we can do. After you shop the market on Saturday why don’t you swing by the Bell School Auditorium for their extremely ambitious Green Fair. You (and your children) are guaranteed to learn something that will help protect our planet – and our farmers in the process.
Farmers like Roaming Angus who is back this week with a new item: ground chicken for healthy lean burgers now that grilling season is here.
Our favorite “vegetable” baker, Flourish is also back this week. And, great news: they will be joining us every other week once we move outdoors (May 5th!).
Clean Ridge Soap Co. has been away for five weeks. Time to restock on that Eucalyptus lotion. I keep one bottle in my car, one by my bed and one by my kitchen sink.
By the Way Bakery is also here this week, proving, once again, that gluten-free can be synonymous with delicious.
Personal Chef Maria Reina is back with a kitchen demo. This Saturday, Maria, who is now blogging for The Journal News about her farmers market-inspired recipes, will be preparing a very spring-friendly Vietnamese asparagus and mushroom soup (crab optional).
Yum!
See you at the market!
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NEW: Open House at Chappaqua and Millwood Fire Departments for statewide “RecruitNY”
Come look around, talk to volunteers about what it takes to join.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Are you firefighter material? Find out. Like many fire companies across the state, as part of “RecruitNY,” on Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., both the Chappaqua and Millwood Fire Departments will open their doors to conduct tours of their station houses and firefighter apparatus, and allow visitors to try on firefighter gear and participate in various activities. Firefighters will be available to talk to potential recruits about about what it takes to be a volunteer.
The Chappaqua Fire Department is located at 491 King Street in Chappaqua. Contact Assistant Chief Russell Maitland at 646-0346 or email him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Millwood Fire Department is at 60 Millwood Road in the center of Millwood. Feel free to contact Millwood FD’s First Assistant Chief Greg Santone—by phone 438.3257 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)—with questions.
Established in 2011, RecruitNY is a joint undertaking by the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY), the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC), Association of Fire Districts of New York State, Volunteer Fire Police Association of the State of New York, and County Fire Coordinators Association of the State of New York. Last year, fire departments in more than 50 counties across the state participated in the first annual RecruitNY weekend.
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Board of ed advised to pursue county-wide tax revaluation, but town board is reluctant
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
by Christine Yeres
On March 27 the Finance Advisory Committee recommended to board of education members that the school district work with New Castle’s town board to lobby Westchester County’s executive and other school and municipal boards and press for a county-wide property revaluation. In “Read more…” see the both the committee’s recommendations and Town Supervisor Susan Carpenter’s take on the chances of revaluation.
Assistant Superintendent for Business John Chow had invited the tax assessors of both New Castle (Phil Platz) and Mt. Pleasant (Jim Timmings) to explain how the property tax levy is assessed and equalization rates are applied to their two municipalities—New Castle’s 5,552 properties and the 400 to 500 within Mt. Pleasant—which comprise the Chappaqua Central School District.
A revaluation for all municipalities in the county would eliminate the need to apply complicated equalization rates to arrive at each taxing entity’s share of the school tax levy each year. Next year’s CCSD budget, for example, projects a 1.63% increase in the tax rate for New Castle residents within CCSD and a 9.60% increase for those in Mt. Pleasant. This results in a dollar increase of $1.60 per $1,000 of assessed value for New Castle residents of CCSD and a $114.00 per $1,000 of assessed value for Mt. Pleasant residents within CCSD.
New Castle’s tax base is 98% residential, whereas Mt. Pleasant’s is more like 65% residential, “the balance being commercial and institutional,” explained Timmings. The two municipalities arrive at their respective equalization rates—this year 20.05 for New Castle, 1.53 for Mt. Pleasant —through this formula:
Total assessed value of municipality
_____________________________ = equalization rate
Total market value of municipality
“The equalization rate,” said Timmings, “is an expression of what the market value is doing in your community. If you’re solely residential, it will follow residential trends almost exclusively. Mt. Pleasant has more of a property mix.”
Both assessors assured board of ed members that despite the seeming disparity between their two tax rate increases (for school year 2012-13, 1.63% for New Castle, 9.60% for Mt. Pleasant) “ultimately, two $500,000 houses within CCSD—one in New Castle, the other in Mt. Pleasant – will pay the same taxes.”
Apples-to-apples
Because the two municipalities do not assess properties at the same rate, they make use of an “equalization rate” that enables them to compare “apples to apples.” Once these equalization rates are applied, for two houses in each of the municipalities both with a market value of $500,000, for example, the higher assessment dollar-figures and lower tax rate in New Castle will yield the same amount in school taxes as the lower assessment dollar-figures and higher tax rate in Mt. Pleasant. Both will have the same dollar amount on their school tax bills. “Net-net, you should end up with the same thing,” said Timmings.
The full taxable valuation for CCSD properties within New Castle is $4.6 billion; for the Mt. Pleasant section of the CCSD the figure is $443 million, making a total of $5.043 billion. As of March 15, 2012, figures show New Castle’s assessed value moving from $926,712,041 to $925,079,036, down $1,633,005, a decrease of 0.18%, while figures for the Mt. Pleasant portion of CCSD show a decrease from $6,770,746 to $6,767,145, or 0.05%.
Based on each town’s assessed values, in the 2012-13 budget, New Castle will pay 91.3%, or $92.2 million, of the $101 million tax levy; Mt. Pleasant’s portion is 8.7%, or $8.8 million. New Castle’s proportion of the levy fell by 0.6% (from 91.9% last year), and Mt. Pleasant’s rose by 0.6% (from 8.1% last year).
Tax Rates per $1,000 of Assessed Value
New Castle Mt. PleasantEqualization
Rate 2011-12 18.47 1.52
Equalization
Rate 2012-13 20.05 1.53
Tax Rate (per $1,000 of assessed value)
2011-12 $98.06 $1,191.60
Tax Rate (per $1,000 of assessed value)
2012-13 $99.7 $1,306.00
Increase
in Tax Rate $1.60 $114.00
% of
Increase 1.63 9.60
Timmings and Platz agreed that although a county-wide property revaluation would eliminate the need for equalization rate calculations, how to fund a revaluation remained the sticking point. The county is unwilling to take on the job and towns are reluctant to have their taxpayers take on the one-to-two million dollar cost of conducting their own revaluations, especially with the 2% tax cap in place. Below, see Town Supervisor Susan Carpenter’s comments last month on where revaluation stands for the town board.
Recommendation from The Finance Advisory Committee:
Every year hundreds of taxpayers – both residential and commercial—file petitions to reduce their property tax assessment.
RecommendationWe recommend that a county wide property tax reassessment take place.
Impact of Reassessment• 1/3 pay more, 1/3 less and 1/3 stay the same
• Costly process but would significantly reduce or eliminate SCARS (small claims assessment reviews) and tax certiorari refunds
• Save time of municipal and school district employees, lawyers, and assessors
End Results• Fairness and equity in tax payments
• Fewer tax certioraris filed so won’t need a large reserve to pay refunds (CCSD has $10 MM exposure)
• Reduce fluctuations in tax equalization rates
SummaryWe recommend a county-wide revaluation of all properties.
• BOE to work with Town Board to lobby:
◦ County Executive
◦ Other school boards and municipal boards in the County
Editor’s Note: The following excerpt from a March 19, 2012 League of Women Voters’ “round-table” with New Castle Town Supervisor Susan Carpenter contains Carpenter’s response to the question of why the impetus for revaluation has petered out. Last week, Carpenter confirmed that her statement stands.
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Page Dickey, “Revisiting the Garden at Duck Hill—30 Years of Change and Pleasure”
7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19, 2012, at the Chappaqua Library
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
by George Shakespear
Based on her book, Embroidered Ground: Revisiting the Garden, Page Dickey will describe the pitfalls and pleasures of the thirty-year-long process of creating her garden, Duck Hill, in North Salem, New York. She will share her personal views on what makes a garden a success – structure, fragrance, the play of geometry and wildness, pattern and texture, multiseasonal plants. She will tell about gardening with a husband, with wildlife, with dogs and chickens, and the challenge of simplifying her garden in the years ahead.
An acclaimed writer and garden designer, Page Dickey is the author of several additional books including Breaking Ground, Gardens in the Spirit of Place, and Duck Hill Journal. She has written for House & Garden, House Beautiful, and Elle Décor and lectures frequently on garden design.
In 1995, Page and Pepe Maynard co-founded the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program, which opens hundreds of private gardens around the country to thousands of visitors every year. Page also serves on the Garden Conservancy’s Board of Directors.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19, 2012
Chappaqua Public Library
195 South Greeley Avenue
Chappaqua, New York
~ Free admission ~
For more information, call the Chappaqua Public Library at 914.238.4779.
The Rocky Hills Lecture Series is presented by the Friends of Rocky Hills. Rocky Hills, the garden of Henriette and William Suhr, is a Garden Conservancy preservation project on Old Roaring Brook Road in Mount Kisco, New York.
To visit the garden, to volunteer, or to learn more about the Friends of Rocky Hills, contact the Garden Conservancy at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 845.265.2029.
The Garden Conservancy is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1989 to preserve exceptional gardens for the education and enjoyment of the public. By facilitating access to diverse examples of our cultural heritage, the Conservancy encourages greater appreciation and stewardship of these fragile resources. The Conservancy works in partnership with individual garden owners and public and private organizations, marshalling legal, horticultural, and financial resources to secure a garden’s future. gardenconservancy.org
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Come catch a free fish dinner on April 22—at Gedney Pond!
See photos of last year’s derby in “Read more…”
Monday, April 16, 2012
by Christine Yeres
This Sunday, April 22, come to Gedney Pond at Gedney Park to compete for prizes in New Castle’s Second Annual Fishing Derby, where 500-plus fish, mainly trout, will be waiting to eat and be eaten –or tossed back – from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A free supply of nightcrawlers will be waiting, too. Bring a bucket (or “creel” in angler—that’s “fishing”—talk) and if you have a set of needle-nosed pliers, bring them, too. They’re handy for removing hooks. Participants 16 years of age and older need a NYS fishing permit.
“No particular protocol to fishing the derby,” confirmed John Miller of Bob’s Sport & Tackle Center in Katonah. “Just stand a certain distance apart from the next person so you have enough room to cast your line in.”
Will Korth, owner of Korth & Shannahan and sponsor of the derby, will have his painters at Gedney that day to help out. “We’ll bring some rods and reels with us to share,” said Korth. “Be sure the kids know that they don’t have to be into fishing to come and have fun!”
The fishing derby is free to all comers, but each family or individual needs to register with the New Castle Parks and Recreation Department by Wednesday, April 18. Registration forms are available online at http://www.mynewcastle.org or in, the Recreation office. Or click HERE for a registration form.
Bring your own bucket for your catch
Remember to “BYOB” – bring your own bucket – to hold your catch, since there are prizes in each age category both for the biggest fish and for the most fish, and you’ll have to show proof to win. If you have a fishing rod, bring it. If you don’t, there will be rods on hand for purchase from Miller’s store. He will have a range of rods for sale that day, pre-rigged with float and hook, from $15 to $25.
Prizes will be award in the following age categories:
6 to 8 years old
9 to 11 years old
12 to 14 years old
15 to 16 years old
17 to adult
Senior 60+
Bait is free for everyone. Miller will bring lively night crawlers, a type of earthworm prized for its size and ability to remain lively, for a time, even under water. He’ll also bring some sets of small pliers, which come in very handy when removing hooks from the fish.
Bob’s Sport & Tackle Center in Katonah
You can cut the bait up to catch smaller fish or keep it whole. “Bass can suck in a whole night crawler and even some bigger bluegills can, too,” explained Miller. “You might have bass in there now that are four or five pounds that have gone through the winter, as long as there’s a food source. They eat frogs, snakes, small birds even, flies, and other fish like bluegills or sunfish. You probably have bass and bluegill already in any random pond, maybe even some carp and catfish. Trout, on the other hand, are pickier eaters. They would have to be stocked.”
Trout worth catching and eating
And that’s exactly what Matt Nordt of the New Castle Recreation and Parks Department has arranged. Sometime during the week before the derby, Beaverkill, a family-owned trout hatchery in Livingston Manor in the Catskills, will plop over 500 rainbow trout, brook trout and even a few golden rainbow trout into Gedney Pond. They’ll range in size from 10 to 20 inches in length.
Are they edible? “Definitely,” confirmed Betty Shaver, matriarch-owner of Beaverkill Hatchery. “Today, in this world, your hatchery has to be certified through New York State. We sell a lot of our trout to restaurants and farmers’ markets. We also stock waters for fishing clubs, children’s fishing derbies and private people’s ponds or streams.”
“This hatchery has been in business since the early 60’s, when my husband’s grandfather started doing it as a hobby,” reminisced Shaver. “My husband and father-in-law got interested in trout, too, and at one time we had four living generations working here at the hatchery.”
Beaverkill’s trucks carrying insulated aluminum tanks will transport the fish to Gedney. Each tank contains four compartments of pure Beaverkill water, which is aerated during the travel time. “We net the fish by hand from our holding tanks on the morning of the delivery, load them into the tanks on the truck, and put them into your pond by hand net, too,” Shaver pointed out.
Plan on making a dinner of your catch, Shaver encouraged, because whatever trout go uncaught may live the season, but won’t reproduce. “You have to have a small stream running into your pond with a gravel bed so when they are ready to spawn in the spring they can go up it and lay their eggs.”
“This is the perfect time for a fishing derby,” observed Nordt. “We’re holding the derby good and early because later in the year there’s a lot of vegetation in that pond that makes it a lot harder to fish.”
If you have any questions about the fishing derby, email Matt Nordt, New Castle recreation supervisor, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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NEW: Community Garden Opening Celebration! Gardeners grow together, food for themselves and others
April 13, 2012
by Susan Rubin and Suzi Novak
In an Grand Opening Celebration this Sunday, April 15, at 1:00 p.m., members of our Community Garden will officially thank the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps for the use of its land (for a second year now) and Chappaqua Paint & Hardware for donating a brand-new irrigation system. Town Board members and the town’s Sustainability Advisory Board members have also been invited.
This Community Garden is a project of InterGenerate. Many people in Northern Westchester don’t have enough access to fresh food. InterGenerate, a local non-profit, seeks to address this problem by starting community projects such as gardens and chicken co-ops that bring people together and give them opportunities to grow their own fresh food as well as to grow some for folks in need.
This project is designed to generate food security and encourage community building along with providing delicious fresh vegetables for its members. In addition to the 22 plots that are being cultivated, several plots are gardened communally as Giving Gardens and the produce is donated to food pantries in Northern Westchester. Every member not only maintains their own plot, but serves the common good by volunteering some time in the communal garden or on the one of the related garden sub-committees.
The celebration will be held at our garden, next to the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps headquarters, located at 323 North Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua, N.Y.
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“College: Getting There from Here”—spending on, and saving for, college
April 13, 2012
by Christine Yeres
There is a wealth of information on the web that can help you figure out how to pay for college and counteract your case of sticker-shock in this season of college acceptance letters. Even pre-school parents might want to start planning now.
If you’re the type of learner who finds it helpful to be walked through this maze of info on how to prepare for the expense of college, visit Ann Herrero, a Certified Financial Planner ™ with Edward Jones, next Tuesday, April 17. Drop into her office anytime between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. at 26 South Greeley Avenue (the two-story building with a curved facade as you go from Starbucks toward the bridge). She’s running an Open House and information session for parents—and grandparents, too—on “College: Getting There from Here.”
Herrero will discuss questions to consider as you establish a college savings goal, strategies to help you achieve your goal, estate planning benefits of “gifting” to scholars in the family and the features and benefits of New York State’s 529 college savings plans.
Want to do some homework?
www.savingforcollege is a useful site with many tools and resources, including a comprehensive “Family Guide to College Savings” that you can download. Herrero will have copies of it available for you at Tuesday night’s forum.
Another great resource is the New York State Higher Education Services Corp website www.hesc.com with detailed advice on how to apply for financial aid. The site lists federal and state grants and scholarships, and explains tax credits and deductions.
Also check out the college cost comparison worksheet at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at www.consumerfinance.gov spotlighted yesterday in a New York Times article titled, “A New Way to Compare College Costs Online.” With data from 7,500 colleges and universities, this site enables you to compare schools three-at-a-time.
For more info on the forum, contact Herrero at 238-3137, or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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Commerciante della Settimana: Mike Competiello, A&S Fine Foods of Millwood
April 13, 2011
by Rob Greenstein
It was time for my Chicken Parm fix, so I headed over to A&S in Millwood.
Michael Competiello
A&S Fine Foods of Millwood
238 Saw Mill River Road
Millwood, NY 10546
914-923-8485
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
http://aandsfinefoodsofmillwood.com
When did you open your store in Millwood, and was this your first location?
I opened in October of 1999. This is my first and only store that I own.
There are many other Italian delis with similar names, are you affiliated with them?
Yes, I am affiliated with 28 stores. You have to look for our logo/trademark-the circle with AS in the middle and the Italian boot on the outer rim.
Tell me about some of your authentic imported Italian foods?
I sell “Rocca”—a quality three-year-old Reggiano Parmigiano—one of the best in the world. I sell an 18-month-aged Prosciutto di Parma “gold” label—also one of the best in the world. I also sell Auricchio Provolone, Genuine Pecorino Romano, and many other goods that are D.O.P., I.G.P., D.O.C.G.— simply put, the B.E.S.T. you can B.U.Y.!
You are a member of the “Be Fit Westchester” program, what does that mean?
It means we use healthy oils in our cooking. More importantly we take pride in our cooking techniques. Knowing how to cook healthier compliments the quality ingredients—and it shows.
Your homemade mozzarella has been described as the “best and freshest” outside of Italy, what’s your secret?
Thank you! I do get many compliments. I use good quality, all-natural mozzarella curd. Technique has a lot to do with how juicy the mozzarella will be. I have a good “feel” for it!
I love your chicken parmigian—and all your pasta, poultry, beef, veal pork, seafood and vegetable entrées are absolutely delicious—but tell me about your Chicken a la Michael?
I have this recipe which is very difficult to duplicate because the ingredients are prepared by me and my family. The sundried tomatoes come from Italy, but my father cooks and seasons them. I also us fennel seeds from his herb garden and grilled artichoke hearts from Italy. Together this herb cream sauce over breaded chicken cutlets really is fantastic!
What are some of your popular lunch items?
The chicken and eggplant Parmigiana are hot all day! Our Panino and Italian combo special is a staple, but don’t overlook our pastas!
Do you do catering?
Yes, I can and have catered every type of function. From BBQs to weddings!
Any recommendations to make Millwood more business-friendly?
Signage is a big problem. I understand there are laws/variances, but Millwood is a short stretch and cars are traveling too fast to read an 8 inch by 36 inch sign 20 feet in the air. It can be done tastefully, without compromising the beauty of the area—trust me I don’t want it to look like Vegas!
Any discounts or promotions for NewCastleNOW readers who mention this article?
I currently have coupons circulating. I will extend the same offer to NewCastleNOW readers. 15% off prepared foods if you mention this article!
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Visit NCNOW.org’s Local Merchants Section to see other “Merchant of the Week” pieces by Rob Greenstein.
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Greeley Boys Varsity Tennis hosts Greenwich team 4 pm Tuesday, April 17
HOME GAME: Greeley’s Varsity Tennis Team plays Greenwich HS @ 4:00 pm Tues. Apr. 17
Monday, April 16, 2012
by Constance Hall and Debby Glickman
The Boy’s Varsity Tennis Team is in full swing for Spring! Greeley went undefeated last season, with many nationally ranked players leading the team and making it to sectionals and states.
The roster continues to be strong with senior Jay Glickman (top 150 in the country, top 20 in the east), junior Neal Port, and sophomore Rex Glickman, both top-ranked Eastern Section players as well.
Jason Mulholland, Noah Bressman, Doug Gursha and Justin Grossman all return as seniors, with some new great players including freshman Jeremy Wei.
The season opener right before Spring Break was a huge success. Greeley swept Edgemont, winning 7 matches to 0. Rex Glickman, Noah Bressman, and Jeremy Wei won their singles matches, while the duos of Grossman/Jayson, Small/Abrams, Socolow/Hall, and Warner/Krakovitz all successfully defeated their doubles opponents.
The boys had a second sweep, this time against home team John Jay at Bedford Village Memorial Courts last Friday. “Confident but cautious” described the boys’ mindset as they faced a John Jay team that came into this match with a 2-2 record.
Leading the way was co-captain Jay Glickman, playing first singles. His speed and blazing passing shots proved to be a frustration for his opponent, as Glickman won, 6-3, 6-3.
His brother, Rex Glickman, had a slow start, dropping the first set 1-6. Focus and finesse pulled him through the second set, which he won 7-6, and then pulled out the third-set tiebreak.
Freshman Jeremy Wei played third singles in a hard-fought two-setter, winning 6-3, 7-5.
The doubles teams were led by co-captain Jason Mulholland, with his partner Justin Grossman. Seasoned doubles strategy was this team’s formula for success. Jason’s backhand and Justin’s forehand surprised the other team as they passed them down the line. They dominated at 6-2, 6-0.
Second doubles team Doug Gursha and Zach Jayson employed the I-Formation for effective court coverage and aggressive net play to win 6-2, 6-2.
Third doubles was played by lefty sophomores Kevin Socolow and Harry Hall, who found their groove after dropping the first game, and then winning 6-1, 6-1.
Ilan Small and Gavin Abrams were opportunistic serve-and-volleyers, winning 7-5, 6-0.
Greeley is now 2-0.
Coming up this Tuesday, April 17th, the Quakers will be hosting tough rival, Greenwich High School, at Greeley at 4:00 p.m. It promises to be an exciting afternoon of tennis for all! Please come gather on the grass hill to cheer them on.
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NEW: Historical Society—New Castle THEN and NOW
April 13, 2012
The current exhibit at the Horace Greeley House of the New Castle Historical Society, “A Stroll Down Town: Then and Now,” is largely the creation of Al Hutin, who will speak at the Chappaqua Library on Sunday, April 15, at 4:00 p.m. about all those pictures of the places around town that we still inhabit. Many of them you’ll recognize.
Al is a life-long resident of New Castle whose articles in the NCHS’s Newsletter give a picture of growing up in Chappaqua during much of the 20th century. His reminiscences drawn from experience as well as his insights will make us all eager to see more and visit the exhibit on view during museum hours 1:00 – 4:00 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Hutin’s talk on Sunday will begin with a brief annual meeting of Historical Society members to elect their new board members.
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