Monday, October 6, 2014
~ from Gary Abrams

Get ready!  First to try out are 8th grade boys, on Wednesday, October 8, Seven Bridges Middle School, at 7:00 p.m.  Register in advance.  See the entire schedule below.

September 26, 2014

Editor’s Note: Local architects Wallace Toscano and Bill Spade paid a visit to the Town Board work session of September 16 with plans Toscano developed in Spring of 2012 for 36 units of affordable housing on 1.3 acres of town-owned property behind town hall.  He presented the plans as a better alternative to the one-third acre Hunts Place property that Conifer, a Rochester-based affordable housing developer, was proposing.  At the time, then-Supervisor Susan Carpenter and former-Supervisor Barbara Gerrard stated that wetlands issues would prove a deal-breaker.  But recently Toscano and Spade have run the plans past the town’s Environmental Coordinator, Steve Coleman, who believes that existing wetlands shouldn’t make for an automatic “No.” 

Monday, September 29
by Christine Yeres

Supervisor Rob Greenstein is eager to show that his hands are off the master plan review, but last week he demonstrated again that his hands have never been off it.  Operating through the town planner, Sabrina Charney, he continues to make decisions without either informing his other TB members or consulting the Master Plan Steering Committee, whose members were appointed by the Town Board to run the master plan review. 

When asked in last week’s TB meeting whether the members of the Master Plan Steering Committee had given their input on the RFP for a professional consultant to help with the master plan review process, no TB member or its counsel seemed to know.  Yet Greenstein was prepared to issue the RFP that night.

Monday, September 29, 2014
by Betty Weitz

“’There is a rural elegance to New Castle that is hard to duplicate anywhere in the metropolitan area,’ says Lois L. Mitchell, Town Supervisor of New Castle” in a May 12, 1985 New York Times article.  The article speaks of “wooded roads,” the “quaint” and “colonial” character of the Chappaqua hamlet and of the high quality of our schools.  The electric trains had recently been installed and she mentions the ease of commuting.

Photo courtesy of Abba Carmichael
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
by Maxine Margo Rubin

Tar sands, fracked gas, artic melt and nuclear waste are harming the planet, as our never-ending thirst for energy, and those seeking profit over people, has left a horrible imprint on the Earth, that will take many generations to fix. Last Sunday, a sea of humanity congregated to voice concern about the depletion of our planet’s natural resources, and the damage caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Nearly 400,000 people assembled in New York City, on the last Sunday of the summer to make some noise and put their collective will together to make a difference.

What happened while you were away…
Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Editor’s Note: There won’t be any exam, but for those of you who’ve been away in mind, body, or both, here’s a cheat sheet of what happened over the summer.

September 26, 2014

Editor’s Note:  The New York State Association of School Business Officials released a report this month entitled, “Where Does the Education Dollar Go? How Has This Changed Over Time?” examining NYS school district spending and funding over a ten-year period.  Below NCNOW has reprinted its “Executive Summary” and “Conclusion,” and has provided a link to the entire document.

School-Day Parking at Greeley
September 19, 2014
by Lori Townsend, Greeley PTA Chair

While we’re waiting for new signs for the Greeley parking lot, we have an important update regarding parking during school hours. In an effort to ensure parking for teachers and to have control over the parking lot in light of staffing and budget cuts, a new plan for parking is in effect for the 2014-15 school year. 

Left, Casey Davidson’s work; right, Kenny Nohavicka’s—they’ll be recognized on Community Day @ 1:00 pm
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
by the New Castle Sustainability Advisory Board

Congratulations to all the New Castle students who submitted entries to the New Castle Sustainability Advisory Board (NCSAB)’s Reusable Bag Art Contest! Through their artwork they have shown a commitment to reducing litter, protecting wildlife and conserving natural resources. The Contest was held at the end of the prior school year and our winners were selected in June. We hope you will pick up a FREE reusable bag from us at Community Day and enjoy using it around town!

Monday, September 15

Editor’s Note:  The town’s Sustainability Advisory Board members reviewed waste disposal bidders, weighing the cost-benefits of the once-per-week pickup versus twice-per-week and of dual-stream versus single-stream recyclying.  Below are their conclusions.

September 6, 2014
~ from Chappaqua Continuing Education

Whether you’re curious about social media, looking to learn a new language, would like to play acoustic guitar, or want to improve your digital photography skills, the catalog’s 15 pages are packed with over 70 courses in a wide range of categories to choose from, including returning favorites such as mixed media art, college prep, intro to computers, cooking essentials, yoga, meditation, and zumba. Most classes begin in October; some are one-off, others run through December.

Monday, September 15, 2014
~ from Westchester County

As part of Westchester County Parks’ ongoing Adaptive Deer Management program, sections of Muscoot Farm in Somers, Lasdon Park and Arboretum in Katonah, Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River, Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown Heights, Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem and, in a pilot program, John E. Hand Bald Mountain Park in Yorktown will open for bow hunting deer in the autumn of 2014