The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Inside Press

MHA’s 5K Run/Walk & 1-Mile Kids’ Race: Feel good, DO GOOD!

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MHA on the Move 2013 For Web Rosmarie F (21)On Sunday, May 4th, you can  go the extra kilometer for mental health in our community. Whether you run or walk or volunteer, your participation helps raise the money that makes mental health services more accessible to community members who need it most. With the data now showing that 1 in 5 live with a mental health condition, more effective help and better resources are essential.

The Mental Health Association of Westchester’s MHA on the move 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Kids’ Race is from 8am to noon at FDR State Park in Yorktown Heights, NY. Celebrating ten years, it’s an inspiring, fun, family-friendly community-wide event. Eight-time Emmy winner, WCBS’s Lou Young will kick off the event along with 10th Anniversary co-chairs Ann Mandel Laitman from Bedford, Amy Collins, of Somers and Randi Silverman, from Dobbs Ferry. Race Ambassadors include Chappaqua’s Cathy Gursha,  Seven Bridges Middle School librarian, Karen Baker, Nyna Giles,  Karen Bloom, Lori Zakalik and Dennis Noskin.

Children get their own fun warm-up and 1-Mile Kids’ Race (ages 4-12) plus ribbons for each runner and medals for the top three girls and boys. Everyone gets healthy food and a fun morning in the park. All participants receive a free t-shirt. Runners enjoy a race timed by the Taconic Road Runners with medals awarded in each age category as well as overall top male/female. Walkers get a 5K walk in the park.  Parking is free.  For more information and to register, visit www.mhawestchester.org

MHA is a community-based mental health agency that has been helping Westchester County residents for 68 years through direct services, professional and community education and advocacy. MHA supports 18,000 individuals annually through a comprehensive array of mental health services striving to help each individual to achieve their personal goals and to lead independent and healthy lives.

Photo credit:  Rosemarie Feichtl

 

 

MyNewCastle.org Eases Contact with Town Hall

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Say good-bye to @Town.New-Castle.NY.US – and say hello @MyNewCastle.org!

In an attempt to make our email addresses more user friendly – and be consistent with our town’s web site – we have converted our current email addresses from town.new-castle.ny.us to mynewcastle.org.  Feel free to use either email address.  All you need to know is the recipients first name initial & last name (i.e. RGreenstein@MyNewCastle.org)

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“Coexisting with Coyotes” Workshop at Town Hall on Wednesday

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The Conservation Board of New Castle will present “Coexisting with Coyotes In New Castle: An Educational and Practical Workshop” on Wednesday, April 2, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Town Hall in the Assembly Room.

Guest speaker Dr. Daniel Bogan–a coyote behavior expert–will review the best practices regarding suburban coyotes.

Dr. Bogan is a NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Bureau of Wildlife and Lecturer in Environmental Studies at Sienna College.  He holds a Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Wildlife Sciences and has conducted extensive studies of the Eastern Coyote in Westchester County.

Goals of the workshop:

• Create a better understanding of the role that coyotes now play in our suburban environment

• Support our community by educating our residents with realistic recommendations to reduce and prevent problems with coyotes in our changing suburban landscape

• Provide an overview of coyote behavior

• Give residents an experiential/hands-on opportunity to “practice” hazing techniques

• Lots of time for Q&ACoyote Photo for Flier

Garbage Pickup: Once? Twice? Debate Reopens

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By Eileen Gallagher

For the first time since 2011, the question of garbage collections in New Castle came up at the town board meeting.

The town’s contract with SaniPro ends on January 1, 2015, and the board is preparing an RFP (request for proposal) for refuse collectors. To that end, the board is requesting costs for both once and twice weekly pickups.

Board member Elise Mottel reiterated her opinion from her days on the board that made the decision to cut the collection days. Increased recycling has resulted in less garbage, she feels. In reaching the decision at the time, both the town and sustainability advisory boards believed that the 33 percent reduction in trucks on the road would save about 9,500 gallons of diesel fuel, as well as save the town $200 thousand in costs. Mottel also pointed out that the “green” award ($194 thousand) received by New Castle for reducing the pickups is only one year into its three year term.

Fellow board member Adam Brodsky has spoken with several residents who bemoan the fact that, despite “the significant amount of money [paid] in taxes,” a quality of life service such as garbage collection was cut in half.

Supervisor Rob Greenstein reminded the board, “If we are going to rule out two day a week pickup, it does not help our negotiating position. We want to get the best possible price for the service.” He pointed out the town was midway through its contract with SaniPro when the change in collection terms was originally made.

Moratorium, or not

Have you been asking yourself what a moratorium is, and how it would affect the town? According to Merriam-Webster, it is “a legally authorized period of delay, or a waiting period set by an authority.”  For New Castle, issuing a zoning moratorium would halt all development, and could potentially be struck down. According to Greenstein, the courts have struck down moratoriums that are used solely as a means of putting the brakes on controversial projects.

Also, Greenstein observed that the loudest call for a zoning moratorium seems to be coming from residents opposed to the spa at New Castle project. He went on, “ We must remain open for business and keep moving ahead.”  Continuing, Greenstein added, “Some residents prefer hamlets to not grow or change. This is not economically sustainable.” Greenstein believes that our property taxes make our community unaffordable to both empty nesters and young families just starting out, and will ultimately drive down our property values.

Addressing the matter of development at Chappaqua Crossing, Greenstein stated, “if we get this right, the town has a tremendous opportunity to not only help with the Chappaqua Crossing campus and its productive use, but to rejuvenate our existing business hamlets at the same time.”

Legislator’s update

In his address to the town board, Chairman of the Westchester Board of Legislators Mike Kaplowitz touched on the proposed affordable housing at 54 Hunts Place, stressing that the county is committed to the creation of 750 units of affordable housing, but acknowledged that the legislators “do not have the expertise on health and safety matters.” For that, they are relying on the expert opinion of the New York State Board of Variances, who are due to issue their findings as to the eight variances petitioned by Conifer in their April 8 hearing. Kaplowitz assured the town board they are monitoring the situation very closely. “We don’t want to put anyone in potential peril.”

Vision statement

Responding to the supervisor’s request for the board members’ vision and priorities, Jason Chapin relayed his thoughts on the positive aspects of New Castle, concluding, “we must be doing something right if the Clintons, Gov. Cuomo and many others have chosen to live here.” Acknowledging the “daunting challenges” the town is facing, such as high taxes and struggling businesses, Chapin expressed his willingness to pursue limited retail at Chappaqua Crossing and some development at the site of the proposed spa. Chapin went on, “I’m open to exploring the feasibility of moving Town Hall to Chappaqua Crossing if it does not negatively impact our hamlets, if it makes financial sense and if there is public support to do so.”

Observing the current town board, Chapin pointed out that “all five members are dedicated to serving the town to the best of our abilities, but there are significant philosophical, managerial, and financial differences of opinion. That has led to some vigorous debates and is part of the democratic process.” He concluded by encouraging resident involvement as the town’s master plan update continues.

gamechanger’s first annual children’s book drive

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A Westchester-based, free referral service – gamechanger – is running its first annual book drive, collecting new and gently used books, on behalf of the Ossining Children’s Center. The book drive began on March 1 and continues through April 15.  gamechanger helps parents find highly qualified tutors, teachers, and coaches.

“In our continuing pursuit to help children feel successful, we are sponsoring a book drive. The importance of reading is repeatedly stressed, but we realize that not every child has easy access to books,” states gamechanger co-founder, Marilyn Rifkin.  Reading enhances concentration, world awareness, and brain activity, all of which help to make children more successful as students. Ultimately, this is gamechanger’s objective–to help create a well-rounded, confident and successful child.

Thus far, gamechanger has collected nearly 300 books for the children at the Ossining Children’s Center, and is hoping to collect at least 500 books by the end of the book drive.  “With the support of the Westchester community, we know we will achieve this goal,” notes co-founder Deborah Notis.

For a list of up to date drop off locations, visit www.gamechangernow.com