Wednesday, November 23, 2011
by Betty Weitz
The configuration of the middle school is a significant issue for this community both educationally and fiscally. There are now two middle school options on the table: The first is to make one middle school 5-6 and the second 7-8, the second option is two 5-8 schools. But isn’t a third option being too easily dismissed, one 6-8 middle school housed in one building?
Read MoreWith 39 comments since publication Monday
November 11, 2011
by Maggie Christ
The Knowledge Café put on by the Superintendent Lyn McKay and the CCSD on Monday night (10/24) was presented as “a community engagement meeting regarding middle school scheduling.”
Read MoreNovember 7, 2011
by Barbara S. Gerrard
On behalf of the present Town Board and its predecessor, I feel it necessary to correct the appalling misrepresentations that have been made about the process involving the very complicated and detailed review of the proposal known as Chappaqua Crossing.
Read MoreMonday, November 7, 2011
by Bob Kirkwood, Republican and Independence Party Candidate for Supervisor
It is important to set the record straight on some of the statements contained in Ms. Carpenter’s letter. [See Letter to the Editor: Time to clarify some misrepresentations by GOP, 11/4/11, by Susan Carpenter.]
We believe the current Chappaqua hamlet regulation regarding future development is an example of unnecessary, intrusive over-reach by government. We heartily embrace the requirement that any new commercial structure within designated hamlet zones should have a second floor. We think this makes great sense for the hamlet.
Read MoreMonday, November 7, 2011
by Susan Carpenter, Democratic Candidate for Supervisor
To Bob Kirkwood:
In Patch over the weekend, you complained yet again that the town’s second story requirement for commercial buildings was an example of “intrusive over-reach by government.” You wrote, “Commercial office space may be constructed only if certain guidelines are met; otherwise the second floor must be residential.” Wrong, Bob. And it’s you who should know better. [See Letter to the Editor: Setting the record straight on some statements in Susan Carpenter’s letter, 11/7/11, by Bob Kirkwood.]
Read MoreMonday, November 7, 2011
by Chris Weddle
Over the past few months I have heard candidates for office in our town discuss the burden that taxpayers are carrying in New Castle. I am, in part, bearing that burden. I have also been told by some candidates for office that increasing our commercial tax base will alleviate the residential tax burden. From what I have been able to discern, that is not so.
Read MoreMonday, November 7, 2011
by Dana Stein-Dince
As Election Day nears, there has been a flurry of emails circulating that implore recipients to vote for change. I was offended by one of them in particular. Because it ignores facts, perpetuates rumors and resorts to scare tactics to strike back at the “status quo,” I felt compelled to write this. Sometimes irresponsible sound bites need to be met with the facts.
Read MoreMonday, November 7, 2011
by Susan Carpenter, Elise Mottel and Jason Chapin
Democratic candidates for Supervisor and Town Board
We are the Democratic Candidates for New Castle Town Supervisor and Town Board. We are proud of our service to the Town and look forward to continuing our commitment to you. Letters stating our positions, experience and commitment have been posted on-line, and we hope that you will read them and watch the two debates that we have had with our opponents, in-studio at NCMC and at the League’s Candidates Night.
We want to take this opportunity to counter the Republican candidates’ proposals that form the basis of their campaign.
Read MoreNovember 4, 2011
by Susan Carpenter
It’s time to clarify some inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have circled around the campaign of Mr. Murphy, Mr. Kirkwood and Mr. Diefenbach.
Read MoreNovember 4, 2011
by Richard Laster
We are very fortunate in New Castle to have the choice of two good candidates for Town Supervisor. I have known both of them for some time. They are both good people, good citizens, and both are lawyers. However, I am supporting Susan Carpenter in this election.
Read MoreNovember 4, 2011
by Steve Schoenfeld
Team New Castle Supervisor candidate Robert Kirkwood and Town Council candidate Rich Diefenbach today landed one of their biggest endorsements to date, when it was announced they had garnered the support of New Castle’s State Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli.
Read MoreNovember 4, 2011
by Robin Murphy
I am writing in response to Town Board member and candidate, Elise Mottel’s Letter to the Editor entitled: GOP candidates are making empty promises; they should know better.
Read MoreNovember 4, 2011
by Rob Greenstein
Over the past month it appears that the Republicans have decided on a political strategy of attacking the handling of Chappaqua Crossing.
Read MoreTuesday, November 1, 2011
by Elise K. Mottel
On the heels of the League of Women Voters debate, the Republicans held a press conference last Friday announcing “Operation Groceries.” Republican candidates for Town of New Castle Supervisor and Westchester County Legislator stood in front of a closed D’Agostino’s Supermarket and laid out a platform that demonstrated that political campaigning often leads to desperate and misleading statements.
Read MoreTuesday, November 1, 2011
by Rob Greenstein
When I declared my candidacy for the Town Board, I stated that I believed my work on the Chappaqua Crossing controversy demonstrates my willingness to work on behalf of the residents of New Castle and fight for the best interests of the residents of New Castle.
Read MoreMonday, November 7, 2011
Editor’s Note: We’ve archived all pieces published in NCNOW on the subject of the November 8 referendum to increase the number of town board members from four to six and to elect them by geographic ward rather than as “at-large” candidates. Included are reports of the League of Women Voters’ forum on the subject, as well as the League’s decision to recommend voting against it.
Read More
Friday, November 4, 2011
Editor’s Note: On October 21, NCNOW produced a roundtable discussion with candidates for New Castle supervisor and town board spots. Reporters from NewCastleNOW.org, Chappaqua-Mt.Kisco Patch and The Examiner met for one hour with the two candidates for supervisor and for an hour with the four candidates for town board to ask them a series of questions. New Castle Media Center is running the two interview sessions on its website in “video on demand.” Below are the embedded videos.
Read MoreOctober 28, 2011
Editor’s Note: Last night, candidates for office—including those for county legislature, town supervisor and board positions—made two-minute opening statements, answered questions and closed with a one-minute statement. The candidates’ forum lasted two and a half hours. In video, the forum is now divided into four parts—38 minutes for the two town supervisor candidates, 64 minutes for the four town board candidates for two seats, 18 minutes for statements by the three candidates for two town justice spots, and 38 minutes for Kaplowitz and Murphy, running for county legislator. The four videos are embedded below:
Read MoreNovember 4, 2011
by Manny Areces
Thank you for the active, thoughtful consideration of the New Castle Representation Referendum and the issues it is meant to address. So that everyone has access to all aspects of the discussion, this letter will address the questions that have been raised in these pages point by point.
Read MoreNovember 7, 2011
by Charles Napoli, Architect
“Planning without citizen participation is neither democratic nor wise…Their practical wisdom and support make plans capable of implementation, their knowledge of local conditions fill gaps in the planners’ data and information, and their varied interests diminish the tendency of planning to embody a single purpose.”
~ Senator Henry Jackson
Monday, November 7, 2011
by David Metz
We in New Castle are living in a closed-end, one-party political system. As the party in power has gained confidence, it has displayed a procedural arrogance that is unhealthy. Minority ideas seldom get a fair hearing.
Read MoreNovember 4, 2011
by Linda McGetrick
In recent weeks there has been a lot of talk about changing our Town Board from an “at large” system to a Representative System whereby Board members are elected from specifically designated areas. This Referendum will appear for your vote this Election Day.
Read MoreOctober 28, 2011
by Robin Stout
In times like these, why would we increase the size, cost, complexity, and potential divisiveness of government? And yet, that is exactly what the referendum facing New Castle voters on Election Day would do. I urge New Castle citizens to vote “NO.”
Read MoreOctober 28, 2011
by Penny Vane
It’s great to see so much discussion going on about the referendum, and I thank NCNow for providing the forum for it. However, as a member of the committee that launched the Representation Referendum process, I’m concerned about the tonality of some of the comments and the ensuing misinterpretations they engender.
Read MoreOctober 28, 2011
by The Rev. Dr. Joel Clark Mason
Months ago in March for the second time the property where I live was severely damaged by water run-off from the Temple construction site that crossed Town property.
Read MoreMonday, October 24, 2011
by Dr. William H. Flank
I attended the LWV session to hear the pro’s and con’s of the ward proposal, and I came away feeling that several concerns were not adequately addressed.
Read MoreMonday, October 24, 2011
by Betty Weitz
Something Mr. Lesnick, Yonkers City Council President, said has been resonating since I attended the LVW forum on the November 8 referendum for ward districting in New Castle.
Read MoreMonday, October 17, 2011
by Melanie Gerber
On Saturday my husband Jim and I were at the Chappaqua Farmers Market. After buying the last corn of the season from a nice woman selling organic produce, my husband spotted a long, red wallet on the ground. What to do?
Read MoreWith 41 comments since publication
October 7, 2011
by Rob Greenstein
On August 05, I wrote an open letter to the community looking for suggestions on how to make our town better. I asked residents, merchants and students for their ideas on both energizing our commercial centers in the near-term, and on long-term policy matters that should be addressed in a new Town Development Plan.
Read MoreMonday, September 19, 2011
by Rob Greenstein
Last month, Manny Areces, a resident of New Castle, filed a petition signatures with the Town Clerk to get a referendum item on the ballot, a proposal to expand the number of at-large seats on the Town Board from four to six, and to have those six members run for election from six geographic wards. A change like this should have broad voter participation.
Read More
