Welcome to the Chappaqua Section

Private banking info captured in 24-hour card-skimming scheme


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.

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Editorial: New Year’s Resolutions

January 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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UPDATE: No parking this week from Starbucks to Post Office; alternating traffic, Pizza Station to PO


Monday, July 13, 2009
by Christine Yeres

According to an e-alert sent out on Friday, July 10, by the town of New Castle, there will be no parking allowed on North Greeley Avenue this week, Monday through Friday, from Starbucks to the U.S. Post Office. The town has arranged to have soil borings taken this week along that section of Greeley Avenue.

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Consultants will evaluate DEIS for Reader’s Digest property; hearing on July 28


July 3, 2009
by Christine Yeres

At last week’s public hearing on developer Summit Greenfield’s completed draft environmental impact statement, or DEIS, relating to their mixed use proposal for the former Reader’s Digest property, residents encouraged the town board to independently evaluate and verify the contents of the statement. Although the board made no commitment at that meeting, this week Town Administrator Gennaro Faiella confirmed that the board’s consultants are in fact continuing to analyze the document and additional experts will be hired as needed.

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NEW: South Greeley lot will close Friday-Saturday for final paving

October 7, 2011
by Christine Yeres

The newly-renovated lot behind the shops along South Greeley Avenue will be closed today, Friday, October 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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Supervisor and Deputy Super invite merchants to tell their troubles

September 23, 2011
With 12 comments since publication
by Christine Yeres

At the invitation last week of Supervisor Barbara Gerrard and Deputy Supervisor Elise Mottel, about 30 downtown Chappaqua merchants came together in a conference room at town hall last Tuesday night to report on the vicissitudes of commercial life in the downtown hamlet and make contact with one another.

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For merchants’ sake, sewer repair on South Greeley will be put off if at all possible

September 23, 2011
by Christine Yeres

In a work session last Tuesday following a meeting with Chappaqua merchants, Supervisor Barbara Gerrard urged town board members to look hard at the schedule for capital improvements and, if the condition of the sewer line on South Greeley is in good enough shape, to put off its repair for another year.

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New Castle turns out for Community Day

balloon 2

balloons
See more in Photo Gallery
Monday, September 19, 2011

Editor’s Note: Relieved to re-find one another after the meteorological clobbering we all took over the summer, everyone turned out to sun and stroll, taste, sample, hob-nob, bounce, dance, buy-a-chance, test their recycling knowledge, give blood, be pitched, be filmed, meet candidates for office, and just plain not-be-rained-on

The Rotary’s Community Day was like a big, fun, end-of-summer block party, supplying people with food and food-for-thought.  We all came away with lots of action-items for the year.

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There’s still time to book a booth at Community Day


To get a feel for what it’s like, see photos of last year’s Community Day in Photo Gallery
September 9, 2011
by Christine Yeres

Chappaqua and Millwood shopkeepers are welcome to join in the party by taking a booth at the Saturday, September 17 Community Day at the Chappaqua Train Station.  Local shop owners, non-profits, political candidates: Show your wares, strut your stuff, explain yourself to passers-by!  A basic 10 x 10 foot booth space (you must provide your own umbrella or tent top, table or furnishings) costs $75; add an additional $15 if you need electricity.  To download a registration form click HERE

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Capturing Irene’s after-effects


Tuesday, September 6, 2011
by Chatschik Bisdikian

In the aftermath of the hurricane Irene, I strolled along our street and then ventured around the Town to experience firsthand the effects of the hurricane in our community. The photos you see cover the range of these effects, from the seriously dangerous to the hilarious, from the awe-inspiring to the quaint. While a hurricane is nothing the laugh about, couldn’t help but smile at (and photograph) the joyful Chappaquans, young and old alike, finding solace while splashing through the flooded Quaker Road off Duck Pond.

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To the Editor: Chappaqua Farmers Market – access to local produce and an asset to our community

Monday, August 22, 2011
by Will Wedge

Regarding NewCastleNOW.org‘s August 12, 2011, article, “Can New Castle Keep D’Agostino’s?,” some off-topic comments posted by Richard Arthor regarding the Chappaqua Farmers Market need to be rebutted in the interest of accuracy and fairness.

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Open letter to the community: Looking for suggestions on how to improve New Castle

With 50 comments since publication Friday, August 5.
Another 50 comments since publication Monday, August 8
And 17 more as of Monday, August 15

Editor’s Note: Since Rob Greenstein’s piece has received another influx of comments since we re-published it on Monday, August 5, we’re keeping it on our front page so that readers can catch up.

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Bridge Construction Update


To view the bridge from the second story of Erik Nicolaysen’s Insurance Agency, click HERE to go to our webcam.
July 29, 2011
by Christine Yeres

Next week, Conti construction crews will continue to install curbing to define the slip lane that leads from the bridge to Hunts Place and will finish laying gas and electric lines underground along the north side of the bridge leading to Hunts Place.

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South Greeley parking lot summer makeover begins Monday

June 13, 2011
by Christine Yeres

Construction on the South Greeley parking lot between the Bell field and the shops along South Greeley begins today, Monday, June 13.  According to the town’s Director of Planning David Brito, around 70 of the 156 potential parking spaces will remain available at any given time, though they may be a different set of 70 throughout the summer.

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Tax revaluation consultant explains it all at Westorchard MONDAY, May 23 at 7:00 p.m.


Find a link to the Frey Report in “Read more…”
Monday, May 23, 2011
by Christine Yeres

In October 2009, the New Castle town board hired consultant Thomas Frey of Frey Appraisal & Consulting Services, Inc. to help board members decide whether to undertake a revaluation of real property in New Castle, predict how it would affect the town’s tax picture (who’s underpaying, who’s overpaying) and estimate how much it would cost the town to conduct the revaluation. Frey will appear tonight at Westorchard Elementary School at 7:00 p.m. to explain his report and answer residents’ questions on revaluation.

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Summit Greenfield breaks its silence in court papers


Monday, May 9, 2011
by Christine Yeres

For almost a month, Summit Greenfield, the owner of Chappaqua Crossing, has remained silent in response to the New Castle Town Board’s April 11 decision to grant a zoning changes at the former Reader’s Digest property to permit 111 units of housing to be constructed at Chappaqua Crossing and allow an unlimited number of commercial tenants.  All inquiries to Summit Greenfield and its spokesperson, Geoffrey Thompson of Thompson & Bender, have garnered only “no comment” responses.

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New Castle Police Community Survey: A brief, 15-question, anonymous survey


April 29, 2011
by Susie Pender

The New Castle Police Department is asking all residents of New Castle to take their brief 15-question survey. According to Police Chief Charles Ferry, “The New Castle Police Department is working on a three year strategic plan. Your valuable insight will help us plan responsibly and deliver the best possible services to the New Castle community.”  The survey will remain open until Sunday, May 15.

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Shake up in Reader’s Digest executive suite: CEO Mary Berner out; CFO Tom Williams takes over

RD
Former headquarters of the Reader’s Digest Association, now Chappaqua Crossing
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
by Susie Pender

RDA Holding Company, the corporate parent of Reader’s Digest Association, announced yesterday that Tom Williams, previously the chief financial officer of the company, would replace Mary Berner, president and CEO for the last four years. He will assume the titles of president and chief executive officer of Reader’s Digest Association and will also join the board of directors.

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What’s next for Chappaqua Crossing? The ball is in the developer’s court

RD
April 15, 2011
by Christine Yeres

On Monday, April 11, the New Castle Town Board voted to approve the 111 housing units proposed by Summit Greenfield in its “East Village” at Chappaqua Crossing as well as a “preliminary concept plan for the East Village” and the removal of the current limit on the number of office tenants permitted in the commercial space. See “Town board approves 111 units of housing in East Village, lifts cap on number of office tenants,” NewCastleNOW.org, Tuesday, April 12, 2011, with 70 reader comments since publication.

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Thursday, May 19: Congregational Church sponsoring affordable housing panel discussion

May 13, 2011
by Maud Bailey

Next Thursday, May 19, the First Congregational Church of Chappaqua along with the Chappaqua Library and the League of Women Voters of New Castle will present a panel discussion entitled “Affordable Housing and Enhancing Diversity in New Castle: The Impact of Westchester County’s Housing Settlement.”  The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the theatre of the Chappaqua Library. The focus of the evening will be on the 2009 Westchester County Housing Settlement and what New Castle is doing to meet its obligations under the settlement agreement to provide “fair and affordable” housing in New Castle.

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NEW: Chappaqua Fire Department Egg Hunt at Chappaqua Crossing

eggs
Hunt for 4,000 eggs!
April 22, 2011

The Chappaqua Fire Department has persuaded the Easter Bunny to visit downtown Chappaqua tomorrow, Saturday, April 23, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.  And at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, everyone’s invited to CFD’s annual Egg Hunt at Chappaqua Crossing, the old Reader’s Digest property.  Find the eggs—4,000 of them—and win prizes!

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Crews work around the clock to restore power, remove debris; schools closed Monday

Morning 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.

 

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“Click it or ticket” campaign begins Monday, November 16


Drivers will be issued summons for no-seat belt
November 13, 2009
by Christine Yeres

In order to encourage all motorists to buckle up, the New Castle Police Department will participate in the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee’s “Click it or Ticket” campaign from November 16 through November 29.

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League info forum for referendum on elections by ward draws a curious crowd

sewers
See the hour-and-a-quarter video from New Castle Media Center in “Read more…”
October 21, 2011
by Christine Yeres

Last Monday night’s League of Women Voters’ forum on the November 8 referendum —a proposal to expand the New Castle Town Board from its current four at-large members and one supervisor to six members, each of whom would be elected instead by a geographic ward or district, and one supervisor—was attended by about 60 people.

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Letter to the Editor: League urges a “No” vote on ward system referendum

September 23, 2011
by Sheila Bernson and Jennifer Mebes Flagg

After a membership meeting in which the referendum* to increase the size of the New Castle Town Board and to change the system of electing board members was thoroughly explored, the League of Women Voters of New Castle arrived at a consensus to oppose the referendum. The League urges residents to vote no on this referendum on November 8th.

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League of Women voters opposes ward referendum, but will hold forum on Oct. 17

September 23, 2011
by Christine Yeres

The League of Women Voters of New Castle will oppose a referendum on the November 8th ballot proposing that the number of town board members be expanded from the current supervisor-plus-four-members to supervisor-plus-six, and that the six members should each be elected by voters from discrete wards, rather than by the electorate as a whole.  The League will hold a community forum on Monday, October 17 to educate the public on the pros and cons of the referendum.

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9-11 Commemoration at Gedney Memorial Sunday, September 11, 2011


September 9, 2011

A commemoration of the events of September 11, 2011 will take place at Gedney Park on Sunday, September 11 at 2:00 p.m.

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Final word comes from D’Agostino CEO, a resident of New Castle

With 16 comments since publication Friday
September 9, 2011
by Christine Yeres

After last night’s Millwood Task Force meeting ended, Deputy Supervisor Elise Mottel informed reporters that she had finally heard that day from Nick D’Agostino, a Chappaqua resident and CEO of the supermarket chain, who acknowledged that his company would indeed leave Chappaqua and had already signed an agreement with Walgreens.  Mottel said D’Agostino explained to her that a broker tried to interest another supermarket in the space but had failed.  Walgreen’s stepped up and offered a deal that made sense.

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Letter to the Editor: Town Board needs a different approach to businesses in both our hamlets

Tuesday, September 6, 2011
by Rob Greenstein

The D’Agostino situation is frustrating for many residents.  We have the feeling that we’re watching the loss of Chappaqua’s only sizeable grocery store from the sidelines.  And we’re watching from the sidelines as a store moves in that doesn’t meet the needs of our community.

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Hurricane Irene delays S. Greeley parking lot top surface, but lot is open


Tuesday, September 6, 2011
by Christine Yeres

A majority of the parking lot behind the shops on South Greeley had its under-layer, or binder, down when Hurricane Irene hit.  Crews will finish the binder layer today, then stripe it with inexpensive paint, and return in a about a month and spend one day laying down its top surface.  Permanent striping will follow.  The lot is now OPEN.

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Living with Coyotes

Tuesday, September 6, 2011
by Christine Yeres

Over the last several weeks, three small dogs were reported missing. Only the third was found, the apparent victim of coyotes. See “Three dogs disappear in nine days, all in early morning; coyote attacks suspected.”  This week, licensed “nuisance animal control operators” will visit New Castle to find, trap and eliminate coyotes in the Lawrence Farms East and South as well as Cowdin Lane areas, according to the town’s Animal Control Warden Jim Moore.  Still, Moore says, coyotes are a fact of life. He offered the following information and advice to residents:

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NEW: Hurricane whallops low-lying areas of New Castle more with water than wind

water
Monday, August 29, 2011

Yesterday winds ravaged trees that in turn took down wires, and rains settled again in downtown New Castle, where flood waters made their way—unimpressed by sandbags—into stores with doors at street-level along South Greeley.  Squires was particularly hard-hit.

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South Greeley parking lot closed for paving

parking
pete
August 26, 2011

The parking lot on South Greeley is still closed for paving (today definitely), so you may have to have the determination of a running back to find parking in the downtown, but do it.  The merchants are there and need our business.  Pete Zimmerman’s EZ Sports is chock full of sports equipment for The Return to School.  The lot may remain closed through the early part of next week. Check back for updates, in case the impending storm changes the paving schedule.

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Can New Castle keep D’Agostino’s?

dag
Twilight for D’Agostino’s?
With 30 comments as of Monday, August 15
Another 26 comments as of Friday, August 19

August 12, 2011
by Christine Yeres

I drove over to Armonk Wednesday morning to have a look around the town I’d heard had been through a retail crisis similar to ours: What to do without a grocery store near the town’s center?  For about two months now, rumors have flown between store clerks and patrons of D’Agostino’s that the store was fated to leave Chappaqua – and leave a Walgreens in its place.  Millwood’s A&P would be nearest and only large supermarket in New Castle.

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NEW: Friends’ Fabulous and Famous Used Book Sale begins with donation days TODAY & TOMORROW


The Friends are ready for you!  BRING THOSE BOOKS!  And then come buy them! 
Monday, June 6, 2011
by Christine Yeres

The Friends of the Chappaqua Library Annual Used Book Sale begins with donation days TODAY, Monday, June 6 and TOMORROW, Tuesday, June 7 only.  Sale days kick off with a special preview sale on Wednesday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m. (till 9:30 p.m.) for members-only (if your membership is not up to date, you may purchase a membership at the door), then continues Thursday through Sunday.  Saturday books are half-price, Sunday free.

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Re-do of South Greeley parking lot will begin on June 13

May 27, 2011
by Christine Yeres

On Monday, June 13, the Town will begin construction on the South Greeley parking lot, between the Bell school field and the backs of the string of shops on South Greeley Avenue, from Woodburn Avenue to King Street.

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Girl Scouts Plant Patriotism


May 27, 2011
by Lori Townsend

Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers;
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

In preparation for Memorial Day, 40 Girl Scouts came to ready Memorial Circle at the Chappaqua Train Station.

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The Chappaqua Fire Department’s Annual Inspection


See more photos in “Read more…”
Monday, May 23, 2011
by Christine Yeres

The tradition dates from the 1800’s when fire companies were few and far between and they relied on each other for mutual aid to battle blazes, sharing equipment and manpower. They needed to be familiar with each other’s equipment and so it became the custom to “inspect” each other’s firehouses.

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