Welcome to the Science & Environment Section

Does it have to go? Tree, rock, chainsaw, shoot!


July 4, 2008
by Christine Yeres

The orange plastic ribbon that identifies the towering ancient sycamore at the corner of Quaker Road (Route 120) and Douglas Road as take-down material is no mistake.

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Op Ed:  Out of the wild, into our hands


June 27, 2008
by Terry Michelotti

I was very happy to read the article about the rescued baby fawn at Bell School the other day. I really commend the New Castle Police Department for their quick response and caring efforts. I also would like to say thank you to the school nurse for her help. 

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Communities Rally to Support Local Nonprofit and Save Wolves

April 11, 2008
by Deb Heineman

On April 18 and 19, several northern Westchester groups that share a common concern with preserving endangered species and ecosystem education will band together to support The Wolf Conservation Center. 

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Greeley’s anti-global warming club lobbies town board to ban plastic and paper bags

March 7, 2008
by Harper Pack, Nick Petrie and Devin McCarthy

Editor’s note: On Tuesday, March 4, members of Greeley’s anti-global warming club, Silent Earth, appeared before the New Castle Town Board to lobby for a ban on single-use plastic and paper bags. The following is a copy of their proposal to the town board. Their presentation generated a lively discussion among the board members.

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Elementary schools go waste-free for lunch

March 7, 2008
by Roberta Lasky

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Students listen when Michael Gerrard speaks on climate change and U.S. law

By Annie Madden (science) and Danielle Runfola (English), teachers at Robert E. Bell Middle School, who have organized a group of students interested in sustainability issues to write for NewCastleNOW. Students contributing to this article include Lisa Maddox, Adam Finn, Alexandre Chepigan, Adam Cooper, Bruna Paranhos, Ellen Rothschild, Lea Ono, Anup Kishore and Aemilia Phillips.
December 7, 2007

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It’s in the bag - Free rides at Playland!


June 20, 2008
by Ann Marie Fallon

On Sunday, June 28, Westchester County is sponsoring “Plastic Bag Day at Playland.”

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CELF’s 2008 Expo inspires, teaches and helps set a tone for the future


May 9, 2008
by Peter Moses

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Backyard composting: a simple effort for a healthier planet


May 9, 2008
by Veronica Mishkind

Composting is nature’s process of recycling decomposed organic materials into rich soil. Anything that was once living will decompose. Basically, backyard composting is a quicker version of the same process nature uses. By composting your organic waste you are returning nutrients back into the soil in order for the cycle of life to continue. Finished compost looks like soil, dark brown and crumbly.

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Bell Middle School answers the call to recycle cell phones and rechargeable batteries

May 2, 2008
by Annie Madden

Robert E. Bell Middle School has joined a national program named Call2Recycle that will provide New Castle residents with an easy, convenient way to recycle their old cell phones and dead rechargeable batteries. Bell Middle School students will kick off this effort this Saturday at the Earth Day Celebration at the Bell porte-cochere from noon to 3:00 p.m. Students will host a booth to collect cell phones and old rechargeable batteries. 

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Why it is so important to recycle every battery

May 2, 2008
by Ellen Rothschild

Batteries can be found in many things you use in your everyday life. They are in your TV remote control, your cell phone, and so many more items. They are a vital part of our ever-growing portable lifestyle.

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Chappaqua students to attend Students for a Sustainable Future Expo ’08 at Pace on April 30

April 25, 2008
by Susie Pender

On April 30, Chappaqua middle school and high school students will travel to Pace University to attend the Students for a Sustainable Future Expo ’08 at the Goldstein Fitness Center at Pace University in Pleasantville. The event organizers, The Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation, or CELF, hope to ignite student interest in 21st century career opportunities in the global green economy.

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Kids Against Pollution at Seven Bridges Middle School


Kids Against Pollution president Andrew Lafortezza
April 18, 2008
by Madeline Rivlin

As the usual line of cars snaked up the driveway at Seven Bridges Middle School on Monday, April 14, they were greeted by students holding signs that read “save the earth, not just for us but for future generations,” and chanting “Ride the bus!”

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The Great Right Here: Opening of Sunny Ridge Park


View YouTube snippet at “Read more.”
April 11, 2008
by David Swope

My family has lived here a long time.  In 1956 we moved from the Teatown area to the house on Hawkes Avenue. 

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Composting for lazybones: you’ve already done it, and the town has too


David Rambo in his office on Hunts Lane
March 28, 2008
by Christine Yeres

You may not know it, but you’ve been doing exactly the right thing by not disturbing last fall’s piles of leaves. If you want to see the results of the composting that’s been happening all winter under your benign neglect, scratch down now below the leaves and see the rich, black soil that’s waiting.

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Climate change: What New Castle homeowners can do right now

March 14, 2008
by Alexandre Chepigin

With the looming problems brought on by climate change becoming ever more apparent, many homeowners in America are taking on the task of minimizing their carbon footprint and weaning themselves of their dependence on oil. 

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Students test out robotics class and robots take to the halls

February 15, 2008
by Gili Kliger

“There is a robot lost in K-building,” wrote math, computer science and – as of this school year – robotics teacher Josh Block in an email that he sent to the faculty on November 28. 

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New Castle partners with State environmental experts to combat climate change

February 15, 2008
by Susie Pender

New Castle became a statewide leader on important environmental issues when its town board unanimously passed a resolution to work to reduce greenhouse gasses and combat climate change in partnership with New York State.

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Summer scholarships available from Saw Mill River Audubon to pursue environmental studies

February 15, 2008

Saw Mill River Audubon is offering summer scholarships for adults and students to pursue environmental studies. The scholarships are not based on financial need. They are awarded based on the interest in the environment that the applicant has demonstrated through schoolwork, volunteer work and other activities. 

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Assemblyman Bradley focuses on sustainability

February 8, 2008
Editor’s note: On Jan. 13, State Assemblyman Adam Bradley, Congressman John Hall and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis conducted a panel discussion at Temple Beth El in Chappaqua titled “A Light Among Nations – Advocating for Real Energy Solutions for a Greater Future.” Several Bell Middle School students under the supervision of Annie Madden, 8th grade science teacher, and Danielle Runfola, 8th grade English teacher, attended this panel discussion. This report is the last in a series of three written by the students. The series covers each speaker’s presentation. This week Lea Ono reports on remarks by New York State Assemblyman Adam Bradley.

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NYS Environmental Commissioner Grannis calls for “all hands on deck”


Adam Bradley, Pete Grannis and John Hall at Temple Beth El

February 1, 2008

Editor’s note: On Jan. 13, State Assemblyman Adam Bradley, Congressman John Hall and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis conducted a panel discussion at Temple Beth El in Chappaqua titled “A Light Among Nations – Advocating for Real Energy Solutions for a Greater Future.” Several Bell Middle School students under the supervision of Annie Madden, 8th grade science teacher, and Danielle Runfola, 8th grade English teacher, attended this panel discussion. This report is the second in a series of three written by the students. The series will cover each speaker’s presentation. This week the students report on remarks by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis.

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