By Sarah Ellen Berman
On January 5, Susan Carpenter commenced her first full official day as town supervisor. The path that led her to this office, full of extensive civic involvement, insured a swift and efficient integration into the town government.
Carpenter traces the origin of her community activism back to the time when her son was a student at Grafflin. While serving on the Grafflin PTA’s environmental committee, she effectively lobbied the district to cease using harmful pesticides inside the schools.
Subsequently, Carpenter has served in a multitude of organizations including the town’s open space advisory committee, conservation board and as chair of the town’s planning board. She is continuing as legal counsel and director of land preservation for the Westchester Land Trust. Carpenter is also an avid participant in the advisory group of My Second Home, an adult day care facility for seniors.
When Carpenter was on the open space committee, the property that is now Burden Park was acquired. She enjoys hiking there and pitched in to help maintain the trails after Hurricane Irene. “We had to move a couple of trails because there were erosion problems,” Carpenter mentioned. During her introduction of Carpenter at the inauguration, Congresswoman Nita Lowey noted, “She’s keenly aware of the environmental issues facing the town of New Castle.”
One of the projects Carpenter is most eager to embark on is the continuation of the effort to revitalize the town’s business districts in the hamlets of Millwood and Chappaqua. She looks forward to pursuing the discussion to, “get people in the community involved to focus on what services and businesses would work in our community.”
An avid reader of the New Yorker and “anything by Michael Lewis,” Carpenter added, “It would be great to have a bookstore.”
