In and Around Town

By Pamela Brown

Healthy, organic, and homegrown is the cornerstone of Feed Me Fresh (FMF), a yearround, garden-to-table, sustainable nutrition program at the Mount Kisco Child Care Center. “People are interested in serving their families fresh food for its nutritional benefits and supporting local farming initiatives. The children at MKCCC are fortunate to be in an environment where we make this possible,” said Dottie Jordan, Executive Director.

Fresh delicious food from local and regional farms takes center stage. At MKCCC’s 6th annual “Feed Me Fresh–an Edible Evening.” The event, taking place September 25th from 6:30-10 p.m. at Ivanna Farms in Bedford Corners and co-chaired by Lauren Schwarzfeld and Lauren Wysmuller, benefits MKCCC’s scholarship program. “It’s a fun night with lots of delicious food, great music, and silent auction. It’s a great way to support the children,” said Jordan.

Seasonal tastings will be offered by chefs from area restaurants, including Cafe of Love, Crabtree’s Kittle House, The Flying Pig on Lexington, Myong Private Label Gourmet, and La Tulipe Desserts. Cynthia Brennan’s Table Market is catering the event. Also, the following are being honored for their commitment to MKCCC: Pam Moskowitz, Volunteer Coordinator; Cynthia and Patrick Brennan, of Katonah; parents and longtime supporters; and Mimi Edelman, of Katonah, organic farmer/educator and FMF creator. Moskowitz feels volunteerism is win/win for both recipients and volunteers. “It’s hugely fulfilling seeing everyone involved walk away enriched for their experiences,” she said.

Established in 1971, MKCCC is a non-profit, non-sectarian child care facility for children, 3 months to 11 years, whose mission is providing safe, ffordable, and exceptional care and education to a diverse group of children of the working families of northern Westchester county. “It’s our deep conviction the Center should maintain a richly diverse population that reflects the makeup of our community in an environment that fosters understanding, cooperation, and tolerance,” said Jordan.

FMH highlights MKCCC’s concern with health and nutrition. “The curriculum couples hands-on farming units with cooking classes based on seasonal offerings from our school-yard gardens,” she said. Daily, children eat fresh, homemade food; families are included through dinner nights, sharing recipes, and garden work. FMF has changed the children’s eating habits.

By Nina Markowitz

The ongoing Chappaqua bridge construction has caused a town full of
headaches. Construction began in late September of 2008 and–with shorts breaks in between for winter and budget concerns–rambles on. New Castle Town Supervisor Barbara Gerrard, who has worked hard to keep the project moving as smoothly as possible, has hope the bridge will be completed soon. “It’s a major project, separating the two parts of town,” Gerrard said. “It’s been under review and consideration for more than ten years.”The careful planning was itself a struggle. With the bridge badly deteriorated, there was no question that it needed a makeover. But the extent of the changes was a cause of much debate.

Chappaqua seemed split in two: the historical group that preferred the bridge as it was, natural charm and stonework preserved; and the second group which called for a practical expansion of the bridge from two lanes to three and complete modernization.

Asthetics aside, the biggest change the bridge will undergo is the addition of a third lane. Gerrard hopes this will reduce traffic in the town dramatically.

“The only way they could build the bridge and [simultaneously] enable it to have two way traffic at all times was to have three lanes,” Gerrard explained. “That way they can be demolishing one lane while the other two were still active.”

Construction–headed by the Conti Group–included demolishing and reconstructing lanes, replacing huge support beams, and placing stones on the retaining walls to maintain the bridge’s charming look. While this seems like a laundry list of giant tasks, Gerrard believes the work is likely to wrap up not too far behind schedule.

“It could conceivably be completed by the end of the construction time for this year, like the end of November of 2010,” she said. “If the weather holds and a lot of other things work out.” The original plan estimated construction to be completed by September 2010, or even earlier. The new, later estimate is due to rainy weather that prevented work on the bridge. By the time the new deadline rolls around, Gerrard hopes the bridge will be smooth and have all three lanes open for use. However, she does acknowledge the possibility of work on the bridge extending into spring.

“We’re hoping it will only be part of the aesthetics, like finishing the stonework,” she said. “There may be lighting fixtures that have to be added. But we’re hoping all the lanes of traffic will be open by the end of this year.”

The issue of the bridge construction has been about more than potholes and weaving through florescent cones. With two thirds of Chappaqua’s population on the side of west side town, and the rest of the population and emergency responders on the east side of town, the bridge acts as an obstacle between them. Increased traffic and lane closures due to construction could possibly delay help from crossing to the other side of town. “It’s a big deal when you can’t get your responders to two thirds of the population,” Gerrard said. The bridge construction also includes adding an additional waterline underneath the bridge. “It would give support if there’s any problem with the waterline over here. There will be a supplemental waterline it
could go to.”

The waterline was paid for by the town of Chappaqua. The bridge, which costs $19 million, was paid 80% by the Federal Government and 20% by the State Government. Data and figures aside, the construction has had very real impacts on the lives of residents.

“[When construction stopped], everyone was forced to drive by the portable walkway as well as the unfinished, unattractive construction site that left one of the busiest intersections in Chappaqua with narrow lanes and heavy traffic,” said lifetime resident Alexandra Ferrari. “Not to mention how that is the first thing people see entering our town.” Maggie Goldberg, who works the counter at Pizza Station located just next to the bridge, commutes to work from Ardsley and drives through the construction twice per day. “It’s pretty bumpy and narrow,” she said. “The sooner they get it finished, the better.”

Nina Markowitz graduated in June from the University of Miami with a degree in International Studies and Print Journalism. An Armonk resident, Nina is moving to Stockholm, Sweden, this fall to work at the American Embassy.

By Beth Sauerhaft

What tastes better than a freshly picked tomato, locally grown basil and a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese? Nothing much and that’s why a group of local residents is bringing the TABLE Farm Market from Bedford Hills to Chappaqua this Fall. Combine freshly picked and baked delicacies with the already delicious mélange of fresh, gourmet food prepared by our local merchants and you get a happy belly and a healthy and sustainable local economy tying us to our farm neighbors from nearby counties.

TABLE Local Market in Bedford Hills specializes in local, regional, organic and sustainably grown food. It connects farms to families by merging community supported agriculture with the convenience and choice of a local market. “We give our customers choice while also preserving the goal of supporting local, organic farms, 88% of which are located within 200 miles of our store,” says TABLE owner Cynthia Brennan.

“Connecting these farmers with the Chappaqua community was a natural development in our mission of building the market for local and
organic food.” Because this market will be community focused, it is an important next step in helping the town become more sustainable,” notes Laura Ortiz, a member of the town’s Sustainability Advisory Board. Local volunteers will help run the Chappaqua site and bring local artisans, musicians and chefs to share their creations and tunes at the market. The Chappaqua TABLE Farm Market will begin on Saturday, September 11th, from 10:30 to 1 pm at the train station. Pitching in to support the community resonates with the memories of this day 10 years ago. And the train station, as it has been historically, once again serves as the crossroads of the village, bringing people from city, suburb and countryside together for the transport of people and goods. The market will run on Saturday mornings from 10:30 to 1:00 pm through September, then from 9:00 – 1:00 pm from October through November 2010. It will resume at the Chappaqua Train Station in the spring.

Chappaqua’s TABLE Farm Market is looking for volunteers to serve on a variety of positions. Bring your enthusiasm down to the train station
and commit to our community market on one, two or all Saturdays between September and November. Interested? Email us.

A number of shares in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program can be purchased on a first come, first served basis directly from TABLE Local Market. Shares will be comprised of fresh items from multiple farms and will be distributed during the Chappaqua farmer’s market on Saturdays. For more information, contact TABLE Local Market directly at (914) 241- 0269 or email us–be sure to mention you are from Chappaqua’s TABLE Farm Market!