Monday, January 11, 2010
by Daniel W. Papes

Theodore Constantine Papes, Jr., 81, died peacefully in his sleep on January 8, 2010 .  He will be forever known as a loving husband, father, grandfather, philanthropist, and executive. 

May 29, 2009

On Tuesday, May 22,  Ed Hart, beloved former principal of Horace Greeley High School, passed away peacefully in his sleep. The family will hold visitation hours today, Friday, May 29, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Beecher Funeral Home, 418 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, New York.

There will be a funeral mass on Saturday, May 30 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John and St. Mary’s in the upper church. Burial will be at Fair Ridge Cemetery on Quaker Road, next to his beloved Joan. The family requests that donations be made to the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund or the Lewy Body Foundation.

April 24, 2009
by Molly Nolan

Editor’s note: Edward Habermann, a stalwart of the New Castle community passed away this week. As a tribute to him, we offer this personal essay written by Molly Nolan, a Greeley grad. Molly Nolan is a senior at the University of Vermont majoring in English. She grew up very closely with the Habermann family and has always been inspired by Dr. Habermann’s life. She wrote this article for a journalism seminar at American University in 2007, to honor his achievements.

Edward Habermann sits casually and comfortably in his leather swivel chair looking quite dapper for 73 years of age. On this sunny March day, the prominent doctor’s face wears over 40 years of medical experience with big, blue, concerned eyes trained to spot those in need of his help and an overall serene demeanor, a sign of his confidence and success. But Habermann has created far more than a successful medical career since his graduation from Upstate Medical Center in 1959 – he has created a life where prosperity goes far beyond work as a well established doctor, spilling over into family, coaching sports, and teaching, among many other things.

February 5, 2010
by Bob Coulombe

Last week my appeal for musical instruments for vets brought me two guitars, a trombone and a violin. They’ll all be put to use!  They’ll go to the Bronx Veterans Administration, which will provide them to veterans as part of their rehabilitation efforts. 

January 29, 2010
by Christine Yeres

On Monday, January 25, during a daylong torrential rain accompanied by high winds, Carey Vames’ house lost power around 2:00 p.m.  After waiting a half hour for the power to return, she decided to get on with her life. She dropped her son, Brett, at the library to study for mid-terms, took her dog, a whippet named Clif, to Gedney, then drove to Club Fit in Briarcliff Manor at around 4:00 p.m. to exercise. She completed a couple of cardio cycles and had moved on to lift weights when she heard a “Code Blue” announcement over the loudspeaker, “Client down in fitness!”

January 29, 2010
by Anya Wallach

When 13-year-old Max Levy arrived for the first day of rehearsal on January 4, for his role as the Beast in The Random Farms Kids’ Theater’s production of Beauty and the Beast, Jr., he couldn’t walk.  The prospect of fulfilling the part that he was cast in last June seemed out of the question. 

Linda DeMase and Eve Spence with their giant hand-made candy
January 22, 2010
by Susie Pender

“I wouldn’t say we took over the store Penny Auntie, I would say we took over the spirit of Penny Auntie,” suggested an enthusiastic Eve Spence, now a co-owner with Linda DeMase of the new Auntie Penny in the old Penny Auntie space on Lower King Street.

Getting ready to roll; see its original state in “Read more,” with slide show of the deconstruction
January 22, 2010
by Christine Yeres

Brenda Kelly Kramer knew from the start that moving the little house, 22 feet wide, 22 feet high and 32 feet deep, would be a big job, but not quite this big, and this complicated, and this time-consuming. Since summer, when developer Steve Tavolacci phoned to tell her that the little house at the top of Taylor Road in Lawrence Farms East was free to be lifted from its moorings, her whole life has been all about getting the little house to her property on South Lane in Hillholme. 

January 15, 2009
by Christine Yeres

In November 2006, the New Castle Town Board put the kibosh on Chase Bank’s fancy plans to make 66 King Street, the former home of Chappaqua Stationary and Giona’s, into a branch bank when they passed a local law banning new banks in first floor space.  See our article of May 23, 2008, “Chasing a first-floor use that’s out of favor, bank returns with fancy plans.”

See Pejanovic in action in photos inside and in Photo Gallery
January 15, 2010
by Christine Yeres

For 12 years, Mitar Pejanovic, 42, has run Cafe La Track, out of space at the back of the Chappaqua train station that he leases from the town.  And although Metro North has closed its ticket booth and dismissed its employee, Cafe La Track is steaming right along.  Pejanovic arrives from South Salem each weekday morning at 4:00 a.m. and closes up at 11:00 a.m. These days, dawn breaks around 6:30, from the front of the station. 

See “Read more” for a sample sheet of puzzles. More photos in Photo Gallery
From December 18, 2009, REPRINTED December 25, 2009
by Christine Yeres

When I called Bob Fuhrer to ask him a few last questions for this piece, he was in his car on his way into the City.  “KenKen-related?” I asked.  “Everything’s KenKen-related!” he responded For Fuhrer everything has been all about KenKen for the last two years, since discovering the math logic puzzle product for which he considers the whole world his market.

December 4, 2009

The Chappaqua Garden Club mourns the loss of its immediate past president, Judy Wintermuth, who passed away Dec. 1. 

November 13, 2000
by Marci Garson

Okay, it might seem a little incongruous to say “dogs” and “gelato” in the same breath, but Via Vanti restaurant and gelateria owner Carla Gambescia calls herself a “foodie” (someone who thinks about food 24/7) and when she sees a dog, she claimed, she sees a flavor.

More photos inside, and in Photo Gallery
November 13, 2009
by Christine Yeres

Last Thursday evening, November 5, nine sixth through twelfth grade boys of Chappaqua Boy Scout Troop 2 and their Scout Master Tom Keane met with New Castle Police Officer Jim Dumser – himself an Eagle Scout – to earn their fingerprinting merit badges. Night court was in session upstairs at Town Hall, and because a defendant who appeared in court had been arrested for an additional charge that night, officers conducted the defendant downstairs to police headquarters to be – you guessed it – fingerprinted.

November 6, 2009
by Patti Bressman

One neighborhood stands alone in this town for a trick-or-treating tradition that dates back over 75 years (or perhaps longer, but only the ghost and goblins know for sure!) The first little princess arrived this year just before 4:30 p.m. with her superhero toddler brother in tow, and the evening finally winded down with a rowdy bunch of Greeley students at just before 9:00 p.m. But it is not the duration of the receiving line that makes this neighborhood unique, but rather the volume of visitors and the spirit of the neighbors within this small enclave that makes Pinecliff Road a trick-or-treaters perennial favorite.

Carnival and parade Sunday, October 25, rain or shine. See inside for details.
October 23, 2009
by Wayne Bass

William Korth, the owner of Korth and Shannahan Painting and sponsor of the 2009 Ragamuffin Parade and Carnival, bounded into the New Castle Recreation office with a smile and a proud gait. “I just want to share with you a picture that my Mom pulled out of the scrapbook. She is so happy that I’m sponsoring the Ragamuffin Parade and Carnival.” Mr. Korth pulled out a photo of his siblings dressed as the Seven Dwarfs at the 1963 parade. (He was born eight months later.)

Crabtree Kittle House, Sept. 12, 2009

I am honored to be with all of you here today and speak for a few minutes about my dear friend and colleague in government, Marion Sinek. Nicole and Ron, thank you for giving me this opportunity to share some remembrances of your mother. She was so proud of you and your families. Marion and I would often compare notes – her seven grandchildren and my eight.

Left to right: Javier Caceres, Lisa Samnath, Kristia Tolode, Royivia Ferguson, Stephanie George, and Moyse Garcia
August 14, 2009
by Fran Alexander