Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester
Bill and Hillary Clinton enjoyed a performance of King Lear at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival on Saturday, July 20. After leading a standing ovation at the end of the show, the President and former Secretary of State took time to meet the entire HVSF Company and pose for pictures.
Photos by Rhiannon Marino
By Grace Bennett
In response to an InsideChappaqua.com story by Zarah Kavarana about Movie Nights in Millwood Park this summer, Town Administrator Penny Paderewski contacted us to let us know how instrumental the Millwood Task Force was in conceiving and ultimately bringing the idea to fruition. I told her I would welcome a statement too from the Millwood Task Force. Here’s what I received from Michael Stern, co-chair of the Task Force:
“The Millwood Task Force has been seeking ways to enhance the quality of life for, and project a positive impact that the Millwood Hamlet/West End neighborhoods have on the entire Town of New Castle. Early this year Leslye Smith, an MTF member, suggested that the MTF approach the Town with an Idea to have a functionsuch as a concert or Movie Night in the Millwood Hamlet, as mostly all such events are currently held in the Chappaqua Hamlet of New Castle. It was decided that a Movie Night would be best to pursue. It could put Millwood “on the map” to those in Town unfamiliar to what our Hamlet’s Business District has to offer.
The idea was then brought to the attention of Penny Paderewski the Town Administrator who agreed that a Movie Night in Millwood was an idea that she could present to the Town Board and Supervisor. Millwood Park was presented as a site that could be able to handle such an event. we were told the Parks Department would need to facilitate such an event. Funding for the Films and equipment necessary to present them however was another issue, as the Town did not have money allocated into this years budget.
At the March MTF meeting, Movie Night was further discussed. Attending the meeting was Rob Greenstein, from the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce. He proposed the possibility that the Chamber of Commerce could attempt to get Financial Sponsors from the Business Community to fund the Movie Night(s)The MTF was notified in April that that the Chamber was able to get several Millwood Sponsors. Drug Mart, Matero’s Jewelry and others stepped up to the plate and agreed to fund the Rentals, signs and other expenses.
The event itself was Co-Sponsored by the Town of New Castle, the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce and the Millwood Task Force.
Arrangements were made with the Town to set up Four Dates in June for the Movies. (several rain dates were rescheduled for July).
The Millwood Task Force was very pleased to see it’s Vision come to fruition with the co-operation of the Town of New Castle Parks Department Staff, and the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce for the funding and promotion, embracing Leslye Smiths idea for the Millwood Movie Night.
A Special Thank you to Penny (Town Administrator), Rob (Chamber of Commerce) the Parks Department, as well as the Financial Sponsors of the Movies.
This, I believe, is an example of how local business and government can work together for the good of our Town.”
By Zarah Kavarana
Two changes at both ends of the affordable housing proposed plan on Hunt’s Lane was described last week by the architect for Conifer, Inc., Steven Schoch. Meanwhile, a public hearing on zoning and town development plan changes for grocery-retail for Chappaqua Crossing will continue tomorrow, 7 p.m. at town hall.
Explained Schoch re the Conifer proposal: The Quaker Street entrance will be well landscaped so that the property can blend seamlessly into its surroundings and have more of a greener feel instead of simply feeling like a “vast gulf.” This would help appease one of the community’s main concerns that the building will be too isolated from the rest of Chappaqua. Conifer plans to work with the board on all necessary details of the landscaping.
Formerly a rendering, a rectangular deck will be built on the opposite side of the building. It will be furnished appropriately for the recreational use of residents in order to become an integrated part of the whole structure. Conifer will additionally add more details to the building with columns, stone walls, and landscaping around the entire property.
In response to the changes, board member Robin Stout brought up a point that had not yet been mentioned about the eventual growth of the landscaping.
He said, “The bridge is going to look better over the years because there’s a lot of landscaping on the bridge that hasn’t yet matured. And so as I understand it, this connection to the bridge on the south side would be matching the bridge. It’ll grow with the screening on the bridge, and it will blend together – not quite as one piece – but visually it will read uniformly.”
Town Supervisor Susan Carpenter read out a letter received last week from Sean Fitzgerald, Assistant Commissioner for the New York State Division Housing and Community Renewal (HCR) to Tim Fournier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Conifer Realty, regarding funding requirements for the project’s apartment count.
It acknowledged Conifer’s great attempts to make the project suitable to residents of New Castle. The letter declared HCR’s approval to reduce the number of units from 36 to 28, and said that it will not approve of any further reductions. Building affordable housing in Chappaqua is too important to HCR’s mission for there to be less units. Any further reductions could jeopardize HCR’s funding for the project.
The Conditional Negative Declaration has been made public since Monday, July 22. Stout wanted to clarify that it has not been drafted by the applicant, but instead by the Town Planner.
Board member Elise Kessler Mottel questioned the applicant about the fence proposed to be built on the Quaker Bridge. The board had requested for there to be a fence due to safety reasons, but it had notably been stricken from the applicant’s draft.
Schoch stated that the fence would be subject for approval by the Department of Transportation (DOT). He made note that there would be no need for a fence on both sides of the bridge. The fence would be put in to prevent people who are exiting the building to run out into the roadway, but a fence on the other side would not serve a purpose. Mottel responded by saying that a fence on both sides of the bridge would be good for consistency purposes.
Stout pointed out to members of the public that the fence would not ruin the aesthetics of the bridge: In fact, there is already a fence present over the train tracks to prevent garbage and thrown objects from falling. The concept for the new fence is similar to the one existing in terms of style and lack of visibility, but it would be between the sidewalk and the road instead so that people cannot make pick-ups and drop-offs on the bridge, he said.
There was vote to close the public hearing on the applicant’s Zoning Text Amendment with four members in favor and one opposed. The following items were also authorized by the board:
By Zarah Kavarana
The annual Chappaqua Sidewalk Sale continues today through 6 p.m. with a second annual “Taste of Chappaqua” too. The sale began on Thursday, July 25. The Sidewalk Sale, sponsored by the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce, is a well known Chappaqua tradition that features town-wide specials, games, and live music for shoppers and their families. Most stores have sales of up to 50 percent off, and some have even larger markdowns.
In addition to being a “shopper’s paradise,” the Sidewalk Sale will be the destination for the 2nd annual Taste of Chappaqua today from noon to 2:00 P.M. Over 15 local eateries will participate to provide samples of customer favorites. The samples are part of multiple contests, where passers-by will be the judges.
Many merchants have found the Sidewalk Sale to be beneficial for both their businesses and customers.
Barry Mishkin, owner of Family Britches said, “It’s to fill a void in retail during the doldrums of the summer. It brings people out, allows the merchants to make friends, and gives people some value that they ordinarily might not find.”
Manager of Chappaqua Paints and Hardware, Wilson Morocho, added, “I like seeing new faces and bringing in people who have never been here before. I want the community to know that we’re here for them, as much as they are for us.”
By Zarah Kavarana
After weeks of laughs, popcorn, and rain, Movies in Millwood Park ended its four-series season with family favorite, Despicable Me.
The Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce organized the event in its first year. The viewing equipment and speakers were purchased by Rich Glotzer, owner of Drug Mart of Millwood, and donated to the Chamber of Commerce for the public’s enjoyment.
Classically, the Chamber of Commerce has had an easier time organizing events in Chappaqua, which has a beautiful downtown area. With so many events and opportunities in Chappaqua, Movies in Millwood Park was originally put together to give the Millwood community the same great summer experience, regardless of its lack of a downtown.
Rob Greensteen, founder of the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce, expanded on the issue.
He said, “The problem with Millwood is that it doesn’t have a downtown, like Chappaqua. In Chappaqua we have events like the Sidewalk Sale and the Fall Festival coming up because there is a downtown. Because Millwood doesn’t have a downtown, it becomes a little more challenging.”
Week by week, the Chamber of Commerce presented older classics, like E.T.
the Extra-Terrestrial, as well as newer picks like Happy Feet, Here Comes the Boom, and Despicable Me. The movies chosen were geared toward viewers of all ages. There was truly something everyone could enjoy!
Next year, the Chamber of Commerce will allow members of the public to decide on what movies will be played. They will compile a list of family-friendly movies and post it a few months before the event kicks off.
People can vote for their favorites from the list, and the top picks will be featured in the summer.
The event was originally meant to run during June only. With terrible spurts of hot and rainy weather, there were three cancellations for Movies in Millwood Park. Event dates stretched far into July.
All movies took place on Friday nights under the stars. They began at 8:30 and were free to the public. Complimentary popcorn was available to munch on during the movie, while candy, drinks, and snacks were for sale at a concession stand.
Overall, Movies in Millwood Park was a success. On some nights, 200 to 300 residents joined to take part in the fun.
Greensteen said, “The best sign of a successful event is that if we stopped it next year, people would get upset. I think that’s what would happen here.
I haven’t spoken to anyone who doesn’t think that this is a great idea.”
Sponsors included Drug Mart, Tazza Cafe, Matero Fine Jewelry, Susan Pecker from The Camp Connection. Members of the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce said that they will be able to do more with the event next year, provided that it is supported by more sponsors.
Millwood Park is located at 235 Sawmill River Road in Millwood, next to Rocky’s Deli.
