Welcome to the Millwood & West End Section

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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NEW:Millwood and Chappaqua trucks convoy north with 60,000 pounds of goods for Upstate flood victims

relief effort
More in Photo Gallery
Monday, September 12, 2011
by Christine Yeres

An outpouring of concern for Upstate New Yorkers ruined by Hurricane Irene manifested itself in a steady stream last Friday and Saturday of household goods, food, clothing, and school supplies to collection points at the Millwood Fire Station #1 and the farmers market at the train station in downtown Chappaqua.

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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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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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Routes 120 and 133 intersection: Better?

DOT found that the “detection loop” sending info to the computer was faulty.
July 22, 2011
by Christine Yeres

Melissa Slater, assistant to Regional Director Bill Gorton of the New York State Department of Transportation in Poughkeepsie, confirmed yesterday that the DOT had received many letters from New Castle residents describing difficulties at the newly completed intersection of routes 120 and 133. 

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Millwood Matters

July 1, 2011

• Zoning board grant’s Upper Westchester Muslim Society’s request for adjournment to July 27

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NEW: Millwood Matters

Monday, June 27, 2011

• The Millwood Board of Fire Commissioners will hold the regular monthly meeting TONIGHT, MONDAY, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. at Station No.2 located at 366 Croton Dam Road in the Town of New Castle.

• Letter from Dr. Phyllis Glassman, Superintendent of Ossining School District

• Save the Date: Next Millwood Task Force meeting is Thursday, July 7.

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Town says dilapidated train station in Millwood must be fixed or torn down

station
June 10, 2011
by Christine Yeres

Last Friday the Millwood Task Force formally requested the town building inspector to have a look at the tumbledown little train station house at Station Place in Millwood to determine whether that structure is in violation of town law. See “Millwood Matters: Station house a dangerous eyesore,” NewCastleNOW.org, June 6, 2011.

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Millwood Matters

Monday, June 6, 2011
by Christine Yeres

• Bye-bye three-way stop signs, hello traffic signal
• Station house a dangerous eyesore
• Tax inequity and revaluation
• Suggestion to increase town board from five to seven members

Millwood Task Force members brought up several perennial problems at their meeting last Thursday.

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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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Millwood Matters


May 27, 2011

The Millwood Task Force Agenda for next Thursday, June 2, includes discussion of last Monday’s report by Thomas Frey on revaluation of properties in New Castle.  In “Read more…” find the embedded video of Frey’s presentation, through NCCMC’s “video on demand,” as well as a link to the report.

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Millwood Matters


Under wraps still, but traffic light at 133 and 120 is hanging.
April 29, 2011

Ossining School Board Budget Vote is Tuesday, May 17 at the Ossining High School Gym 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

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Zoning Board hears preliminary report on DEIS prepared for proposed mosque in West End

April 29, 2011
by Christine Yeres

Last Wednesday, April 20, the New Castle Zoning Board of Appeals received a preliminary report on the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) relating to the mosque proposed to be built by the Upper Westchester Muslim Society on Pinesbridge Road in the West End of New Castle.

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Millwood Matters

sara
It’s a go!  The bond for the new firehouse passed 402 Yes to 154 No.

In “Read more,” see a “Thank You” video by the Millwood Fire Company
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

• Ossining Public Library budget vote is Tuesday, April 26, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Lower Level of the Library. UPDATE WED. Apr. 28: Library budget was defeated: 699 Yes, 1070 No.  Trustees: In a five-way race, winners were Samantha Brail (455) and Peter Capek (577).

• Ossining School District Budget Vote Tuesday, May 17, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. @ Ossining H.S. Gym

• Wed. Apr. 27: Zoning Board of Appeals discusses “completeness review comments” for the DEIS for the proposed mosque on Pinesbridge Road.

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Letter to the Editor: We support the bond issue for the new Millwood firehouse

April 1, 2011
by Joan and Bill Witkin

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Republicans listen to Millwood and West Enders’ complaints

With 28 comments since publication
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
by Christine Yeres

The Republicans’ two-hour visit to Millwood’s Tazza Cafe last Thursday evening began with general chat among candidates and residents—about 25 there expressly to hear them, plus some puzzled Tazza customers who who passed through.

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Sewers issue surfaces in League forum on ward system referendum

sewers
In “Read more,” see a video of county legislators’ committee discussion on New Castle’s sewer petition.
October 21, 2011
by Christine Yeres

The recent revival of the sewer hopes for three New Castle communities with failing septic treatment plants has caused others to question why their own communities aren’t on the list – especially once Chappaqua Crossing was added to the group last May.

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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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Millwood Matters

September 30, 2011

• Millwood Task Force Meeting Agenda for Thurs. Oct. 6 @ 8 pm
• Kaplowitz reports to town board on Millwood Swim Club & sewer district extension
• Ossining Board of Ed Work Session and Special Meeting: Communications Update Wed. Oct. 5 @ 7:30 pm
• Ossining SD in the News
• Survey for Ossining SD residents

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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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Letter to the Editor: The proposed referendum to change the structure of town board elections

Monday, 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.

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No public hearing on cell tower until all information is in, says planning board

Monday, September 12, 2011
by Christine Yeres

Planning board chair Susan Carpenter reported to the Millwood Task Force on Thursday, September 8 that the cell tower company, Homeland-AT&T, “is pressing for a public hearing, but we told the applicant that they won’t get one until we have everything we’ve asked them to provide.”  The planning board is still hoping, she said, that there will be an non-residential alternative location to the seven-acre Rodrigues residential property at 50 Hoags Cross Road, on which AT&T and Homeland Towers want to place a 150-foot tower rising from a 2,500-square-foot fenced compound.

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Town board gives go-ahead to consultant for downtown Chappaqua to look now at Millwood hamlet

mwd
With 44 comments since publication
September 9, 2011
by Christine Yeres

The town board has called again on Meg Walker, the Project for Public Spaces consultant who worked with the town on revitalization of downtown Chappaqua to turn her attention now on Millwood.  The board approved $6,000 for PPS to meet with a hamlet subcommittee to get ideas, determine goals, identify issues and discuss their findings in a workshop process much like the one PPS conducted five years ago for the Chappaqua hamlet.  The town board expects a report within two months of the visioning sessions.

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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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Town board hears architect’s plans for Amsterdam Carriage House as storage space


Main house with garage bays viewed from courtyard; garage wings extend forward on each side; see more photos in “Read more…”
September 9, 2011
by Christine Yeres

In a work session on Tuesday night architect Peter C. Cole reported back to town board members with a plan to preserve the Amsterdam Carriage House and adapt it to serve as document and equipment storage space for the town.  Already the garages at the carriage house contain some parks and rec equipment.

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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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An Open Letter of Gratitude to Millwood Fire Company #1

mwd
September 2, 2011
From the Millwood Board of Fire Commissioners

Dear Volunteers of Millwood Fire Company #1,

On behalf of everyone in the Millwood Fire District, the Millwood Board of Fire Commissioners would like to thank you for your professional response protecting our community during Hurricane Irene.

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Millwood Board of Fire Commissioners reach agreement with neighbors of new firehouse


September 2, 2011
by Christine Yeres

The Millwood Board of Fire Commissioners has reached an agreement with the owners of residential properties neighboring the site of the new firehouse approved by voters last April.  Negotiations with seven property owners have ended in a signed agreement to pay $200,000 to the group who were parties to a covenant restricting use of the property by the fire department.  An eighth neighbor, the group home, “Another Step,” donated its rights without compensation, according to Commissioner Alan Schapiro.

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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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