A close look around town
March 19, 2010
by Christine Yeres
Supervisor Barbara Gerrard bought residents up-to-date on town issues in a two-hour “round table” discussion yesterday sponsored by the League of Women Voters at the Chappaqua Library. She reported on more than a dozen issues, taking questions from residents after each.
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ATM at Bank of America branch in downtown Chappaqua
January 29, 2010
by Christine Yeres
On Wednesday, January 20, at 6:00 p.m. a person entered the vestibule of the Bank of America branch at the corner of Woodburn and South Greeley Avenues and planted some kind of recording or photographic device on the single ATM machine inside, reported Detective Sergeant James Wilson of the New Castle Police Department. For the next 23 and a half hours, he explained, the device captured the ATM card numbers and PIN codes of about 50 of the bank’s customers who used the single ATM machine in the vestibule.
Read MoreJanuary 1, 2010
by Susie Pender
Groan! I can hear it through the Internet. A big collective groan. Two things no one wants to hear about on New Year’s Day after a night of revelry: someone’s resolutions and, worse yet, admonitions to make resolutions.
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Tomorrow, Saturday, October 3, Community Day at the Train Station
October 2, 2009
by John Ehrlich
Rain or shine , Community Day, hosted by the Rotary Club of Chappaqua in conjunction with the Town of New Castle, will be one of the largest yet, featuring 100 exhibitors, rides and attractions at Chappaqua train station plaza from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, October 3. If it pours the booths and attractions will be moved to Bell Middle School across South Greeley Avenue but the day will go on as scheduled.
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March 19, 2010
by Laura Rossi-Ortiz
April, 1970
Richard Nixon is President, the Beatles’ Let it Be is Number One on the Billboard charts, and across the nation, the environment is deteriorating – lakes and rivers are choked with pollution, air quality is declining and more species are rapidly becoming endangered. The conservation movement of the first half of the 20th century is about to take a giant leap forward to demand that the earth needs protection from the debilitating effects of pollution.
March 12, 2010
by Joan Corwin
March 5, 2010
by Susie Pender
The library was alive Saturday with a warm community spirit. I sat with and spoke to friends who would not usually be there. We often pick our books, pick our movies and run.
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March 5, 2010
by John Ehrlich
Next Saturday, The Rotary Club of Chappaqua New York will present community service awards to Gray Williams, New Castle Town Historian, Harold Campbell, a long-time Rotarian, and Brandon Azoulai, a senior at Horace Greeley High School. All the honorees will receive their awards at the Annual Community Service Dinner celebrating Rotary’s 27th year in Chappaqua. The event is open to the community and all those interested in attending are warmly welcomed.
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March 5, 2010
by Rita Tobin
I was making a video of Friday’s storm for my cousin in Southern Florida, when what had been intended as a portrait of wintery splendor, turned into an episode of reality TV. I had opened the front door and, wrapped in my parka, was filming branches laden with snow, and the dogs larking in the drifts, when a figure that had been obscured by the white haze enveloping our front lawn, suddenly began to speak. That figure turned out to be my husband, and he was not delivering good news.
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Saturday, February 27
It’s a good, busy Saturday here at the Chappaqua Library. Many visitors have no power back at home. Some are staying with friends who do have power, some are toughing it out by means of fireplaces. Others have booked hotel rooms or are moving in with family either in other ‘burbs or in the City. Parents are reporting a dramatic uptick at home in use of board games, reading, listening to music, fire-feeding and talk. Write us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to tell us how you’re spending the time in New Castle Unplugged. Do you want the power back or no?
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Monday, February 22, 2010
by Russell Maitland
Governor David A. Paterson signed a bill into law, effective today, February 22, 2010, mandating that all residents within New York State have working Carbon Monoxide detectors. Known as “Amanda’s Law,” after a 16-year-old girl who died one year ago at a sleepover in the basement of a friend’s house, this law “will prevent future tragedies like the one that took Amanda Hansen’s life far too soon,” Governor Paterson said. “This legislation will create safer homes for New Yorkers.” The Chappaqua Fire Department reminds all residents to comply with the new law. Install these devices and regularly check to make sure they are working.
February 12, 2010
by Christine Yeres
Triggered by a call last Thursday, February 4, from Jane Wild’s Florida-based lawyer asking New Castle police to check on her welfare, at 4:50 p.m. the police, with the assistance of the Chappaqua Fire Department, broke into the white Cape Cod on Bedford Road and discovered that the 78-year-old woman had died. The county medical examiner estimated that her death had occurred six months ago. Wild, a retired New York City school teacher, had moved to New Castle in 1968 with a sister who died in 1985. Neither was married or had children.
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See slide show in “Read more” or in Photo Gallery.
February 12, 2010
by Ali Klein
Starting Saturday, February 13, the New Castle Historical Society presents “Reader’s Digest: The Local Magazine That Conquered the World,” an exhibition chronicling one of the most phenomenal publishing successes in the 20th century . . . and it all happened in our own backyard.
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January 22, 2010
by Suzie Maltz
The League of Women Voters of New Castle has invited Noreen Fisher, the former Mayor of Scarsdale, New York, to speak next Wednesday at New Castle Town Hall at 10:00 a.m. on government modernization through consolidation and shared services. The event will take place in the assembly hall, 200 South Greeley Avenue, second floor, Chappaqua, New York.
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January 8, 2010
by Christine Yeres
The four Art Deco winged half-horses that anchor the four corners of the iconic Reader’s Digest cupola will fly out of New Castle along with Reader’s Digest later this year. According to Gray Williams, New Castle town historian, “the Pegasus (plural: Pegasi) was chosen by Lila Wallace herself, as the symbol of poetic imagination and creativity,” over the architect’s preference for American eagles. Williams is not happy at the idea of losing them.
Read MoreDecember 25, 2009
by Christine Yeres
News that a snowstorm was approaching so completely permeated the airwaves before its (late) arrival last Saturday, December 19, that there was plenty of lead time for the New Castle Department of Public Works to track it closely. “Channel 2, channel 62, CBS radio and online weather maps,” said Commissioner Anthony Vaccaro, “were all sources for us, although they were a little off this time.”
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Gerry Golub
December 11, 2009
by Christine Yeres
Tuesday, December 8, both the Chappaqua and Millwood fire districts ran elections for one of five seats on each board of fire commissioners. Millwood’s was uncontested. Tony Olenik, already serving on the board, was re-elected to his seat. In the contest between Lou Macente and Gerry Golub for Chappaqua’s board of fire commissioner seat, Golub won 94-72.
Read MoreNovember 27, 2009
by Susie Pender
Our 90-second survey on two issues the town board continues to ponder regarding the proposed 2010 budget has drawn outstanding participation and pithy commentary by New Castle residents. Click HERE to find our article of 11/24/09, including some of your neighbors’ two cents. The survey will only remain open until this Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. On Monday, November 30, we will post the remaining comments we received, as well as the final results of the survey. Let’s make this as wide-ranging a survey as possible. Everyone’s opinion counts. Click click here to take the survey right now.
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November 20, 2009
by Warren Hart
UPDATE: March 15, 2010
Sani-Pro was to have begun curbside pickup of tree and brush debris on March 31, but has added a pickup this Wednesday, March 17. If you’re eager to dispense with the sad remains of your damaged trees, get it together in time for this pickup. The town tidies up its right-of-way, but owners are responsible for private property.
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See more photos in Photo Gallery
March 5, 2010
by Gennaro Faiella, as told to Christine Yeres
Editor’s note: In order to give the community a complete picture of this past weekend’s storm, its impact on New Castle and the official responses to it, NewCastleNOW.org asked Town Administrator Gennaro Faiella to share his “storm story” with our readers.
Read MoreMorning Commute Cautions : Roads Still Hazardous - Drive With Care
More photos inside and in Photo Gallery
UPDATE Monday, March 1, 2010
CERT members returned the last of the shelter visitors to their homes on Sunday evening, and this morning at 1:30 a.m. New Castle police declared the last obstructed roadway—Whippoorwill Road between Whippoorwill Lake Road and Berol Close—reopened, though with some debris remaining.
• Through Nixle.com, the New Castle Police department announced on Sunday that schools will be closed today, Monday, March 1, 2010:
• Chappaqua Schools Will be Closed on Monday, March 1, 2010.
“Chappaqua School District in concurrence with Town of New Castle officials have closed schools on Monday, March 1, 2010. Many town roads remain hazardous with electric lines down and low hanging tree branches. School Officials and Town Officials agreed that the safety of the children riding on School Buses is the paramount concern.”
Chappaqua Board of Education President Jeffrey Mester explained, “The district, in conjunction with the town, believes that—with so many residents still without power, with many secondary roads being only one lane passable, with Con Ed, Cablevision and Verizon still needing to repair wires before town crews can clean up, with those wires posing a hazard to the buses, with snow days available—it is in the best interest of the children and community to keep schools closed for Monday. Classes will resume on Tuesday.”
• David Fleishman got the job. He’s Newton’s choice for school superintendent. See local Newton news coverage HERE.
Read MoreFebruary 19, 2010
by Christine Yeres
A live receptionist who is a certified notary public will continue to answer the main number for New Castle Town Hall, 238-4771, from 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. But from 1:00 p.m. until town hall closes at 4:30 p.m., a recorded message directs callers to the various departments there. The robo-system – a cost-cutting measure by the town board – has been in place for close to a month.
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by Reverend Tom Lenhart
On Sunday, March 21, after the morning worship service, The First Congregational Church will recognize and celebrate at a special brunch the membership since 1953 of Gordon and Marj Hale, long time residents of Chappaqua.
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March 19, 2010
by Chief Russell Maitland, Chappaqua Fire Department
It’s 1am and you wake up to find you house is quite cold, so you get out of bed to check the thermostat to find it’s set at 70 degrees, but the actual temperature is 58. Next you go down to your basement to press the reset button on your furnace, and at the bottom of the basement stairs you find ten inches of water and your possessions floating around the basement. Who do you call? Is this an emergency where you need to call 9-1-1?
Read MoreMarch 19, 2010
by Christine Yeres
At 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16, New Castle police officers answered a call from the scene of a minor car accident in the parking lot behind One South Greeley Avenue (behind the Senior Center). When officers asked the drivers of both cars to produce their licenses, one driver complied, the other told police he didn’t have his license with him.
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Get with the program—the town’s changing over by end-of-April.
March 19, 2010
The town board has been so impressed with the New Castle Police Department’s use of Nixle.com for the last several months that the town is in the process of changing from its e-alert system to Nixle-only, which allows for real tailoring of which messages you get and how you get them. If you’d been on Nixle this week, you’d have received updates on the state of Seven Bridges road, closed for several days due to the balancing act of a large tree on wires.
Read MoreMarch 12, 2010
by Meaghan Townsend and Catherine Bilodeau
Chappaqua Girl Scout Troop 1023
Please donate blood! People can’t live without it.
Read MoreMarch 12, 2010
by Susie Pender
Give parents piece of mind while making yourself more knowledgeable and employable this spring break by attending the Red Cross Babysitting Training Camp.
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Officer Anthony Rotolo
March 12, 2010
by Christine Yeres
On Tuesday, March 2 around 5:30 p.m. a female driver heading out of town across the Route 120 bridge in a white SUV noticed a dark Subaru wagon in front of her at the intersection of Douglas and Quaker. As the two cars continued north on Quaker, she saw that the driver of the wagon in front of her was driving erratically. At Seven Bridges Road, he bore right onto Seven Bridges. Since it was her route also, she made the turn as well.
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March 5, 2010
by Susie Pender
The fourth installment of StoryWalk, presented by the New Castle Recreation and Parks in partnership with the Chappaqua Library, begins today in downtown Chappaqua. The walk features the popular children’s book, “Granite,” a story about an Alaska sled dog written by Susan Butcher, a four-time winner of the 1000-mile Iditarod dog sled race, and her husband, David Monson, and illustrated by Sarah Douglas.
Read MoreMarch 5, 2010
by Chappaqua Fire Department Chief Russell Maitland
The Chappaqua Fire Department responded to 51 storm-related emergency calls beginning Thursday, February 25, at 6:00 p.m. until Monday, March 1, at 6:00 p.m. These calls ran the gamut from wires down, trees down, trees and wires down together, trees on houses with structural damage, carbon monoxide incidents, a natural gas leak, auto accidents, smoke conditions and automatic fire alarms caused by power failures.
Read MoreVarious residents report robo-calls from Con Ed saying “Saturday night,” “Sunday night,” “Tuesday 11 p.m”
More photos inside and in Photo Gallery
Saturday, February 27, 2010 UPDATED: 12:00 NOON
The Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, have set up the Senior Center: “We have electrical power, heat, food, sleeping cots, a comfortable area to watch TV and friendly people to share time with,” said CERT member Deborah Weiss. “We know many, many are still without power. We are here for them.” Call the Center at 238-8888 or New Castle police at 238-4422, if you need help relocating to the Center.
That 4500 households is about three-quarters of the 6,000 homes in New Castle.
LIST OF STREET CLOSURES AS OF 10:30 a.m. TODAY IN “READ MORE”...
Last night’s advisory from New Castle Police Department:
• Falling trees and wires are creating a dangerous situation. Stay inside. Emergency shelter available if needed.
• The New Castle Police report that trees and wires continue to fall due to the weight of the snow. Residents are advised to stay inside and not travel unless absolutely necessary.
• There are power outages throughout Town. Con Edison is in New Castle and working to restore power.
• If you are concerned about the safety of any New Castle resident you can call the New Castle Police at 238-4422 and an officer will check on their welfare.
• Emergency shelter is available at the Community Center, 10 Senter Street. If you want to go to the shelter and need transportation call the New Castle Police at 238-2244.
Sign up now for Nixle.com alerts from police and town government.
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More photos by John Ehrlich inside and in Photo Gallery
February 26, 2010
Staying home this Winter, think “Gedney Park” for an hour or an afternoon. It’s so much than just baseball in the spring for the kids. These 126 acres purchased in 1964 have five different trails totaling 3.3 miles. One of the only parks in the area with leash-free sections, it attracts hundreds of dogs every day. We visited last week after the snow and found a winter wonderland. The most recent storm has brought an even more dramatic winterscape. Enjoy this Millwood treasure.
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February 26, 2010
by Jill Gold
The Irish have considered the shamrock a good-luck symbol since the earliest times. Why not double the luck this year? Purchase a beautiful glittering shamrock at the Quaker Hill Tavern in Chappaqua from now until St. Paddy’s day, March 17, and it will not only bestow luck on the you, but it will raise funds for Friends of Karen, a children’s charity that provides support for families with critically ill children, primarily with cancer.
Read MoreFebruary 26, 2010
by Christine Yeres
On Friday, February 19, at 3:10 p.m. New Castle police officers arrested a 46-year-old Chappaqua resident for prostitution, a misdemeanor.
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February 19, 2010
by Christine Yeres
Tuesday’s storm was deceptive. While it looked blizzardy, previous salting plus favorable ground temperatures managed to help keep snow dissolving on roadways for much of the day. By 6:00 p.m. though, temperatures dropped, and New Castle police warned residents through http://local.nixle.com/register/” title=“Nixle.com”>Nixle.com by email and blackberry of perilous black ice, advising them to proceed with extreme caution. To register for Nixle, click http://local.nixle.com/register/” title=“HERE”>HERE. See “Read more” for mid-winter status report on New Castle’s salt stores and overtime costs.
Read MoreCounty must resubmit its plan by March 12, 2010
February 19, 2010
by Christine Yeres
Municipal officials across Westchester are beginning to wonder whether the federal monitor appointed to oversee the fair and affordable housing settlement is as flexible as he was portrayed by the legislators who approved the affordable housing settlement over the summer. The terms of the settlement require 31 of the county’s municipalities to build 750 units of affordable housing and to “affirmatively further fair housing” in marketing them.
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