The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

New Castle News

Chappaqua Crossing Ready for Public Review

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By Steven Bernstein

On April 2nd, the New Castle Town Board revealed that they will soon be posting the Chappaqua Crossing Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.  The board wishes to use the 120,000 square feet for retail use.  The report examines how the environment will be impacted.

The board is allowing the public to see the completed document because they feel it is ready for public comment, and so citizens will know exactly what the board is planning to do with the former headquarters of Readers Digest.
“The document was complete, and by complete we use that as a secret term of ours which mean it’s adequate for public review, comment and discussion,” said New Castle town council Clinton Smith.

The Town Board has set three public hearings to allow people to raise questions, and comment on any changes they think need to be made to the plan.  The board wants to give the public plenty of time to comment on the completed document.

“We want to allow as much opportunity for anyone to comment as possible.” said Smith.

The first public hearing will take place on Tuesday, April 23rd at 7 p.m.  The second will take place on Monday, April 29th at 1:30 p.m., and if necessary there will be one final hearing on Tuesday, April 30th at 7 p.m..  People will also have ten days after the final hearing to summit written comments.

“The public hearing will remain open until the last person has spoken.  Public comment is very important, and we will listen very closely.  All comments come in.  The final document will reflect all those comments,” said Town Board member Robin Stout.

The document will be posted on the town board’s website on Thursday, April 4th.   All those who have questions or comments on the Environmental Impact Statement should make sure to go to at least one of the public hearings, so that their voices can be heard.

New Castle Town Board News

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March 27 New Castle Town Board Work Session

By Steven Bernstein

  • The New Castle Town Board will be holding public hearings next month on the proposed plan Chappaqua Crossing, better known as the former headquarters of Readers Digest. The current plan is to build a retail/grocery store. The town hopes to finalize the environmental plan by June of this year.
  • Funding for additional service to New Castle Roads (including 128 and 117) will be increasing from $173, 350 to $222,550, an increase of $49,200 or 28.38%. The State Legislature increased this CHIPS funding–spearheaded by Assemblyman David Buchwald.
  • The town board approved a bid of $53,843 for a Train Station Structural Enhancement Project by home improvement specialist Ken McShea.
  • Chappaqua’s town cleanup day will be held on Saturday, April 27th. Almstead, Hudson Landscaping, Save a Tree, and Westchester Tree Life, will be offering their assistance that day to help clean up the town. The three main areas that they will be attending to are the duck pond, Briarcliff Road, and the gazebo by the gas station.
  • A Green Fair will be held on Thursday, June 6th at the Robert E. Bell Middle School.

MHA Run/Walk

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A FEEL-GOOD WAY TO DO GOOD!

1-Run-Walk 2012 Diane Adler Camera (238)If it’s May, and it will be before we know it,  it’s time to lace up your sneakers– and head outside. Great cause to do it for: The Mental Health Association of Westchester’s MHA on the move 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Kids’ Race. This year, it’s on Sunday, May 5 from 8am to noon at FDR State Park in Westchester County, NY.

The Run/Walk is an inspiring, community-wide event in support of a cause we all appreciate the importance of–mental health and wellness—this year, more than ever.

Lou Young of WCBS-TV, and Miss Hudson Valley 2013, Jessica Pinckney, will be there cheering on participants. Local star, singer Jessica Lynn, will be entertaining before and after the race.

The family-oriented event includes healthy food and entertainment throughout the morning. Children get their own fun warm-up, 1-Mile Kids’ Race (ages 4-12) as well as ribbons for each runner. The 5K race is timed and medals are awarded in each age category as well as overall top male/female.

To register and to read more about the event, go to www.mhawestchester.org

From Couch to Quest: A Beginner’s Goal To Run a 5K Anxiety Free

amycollinsMHA welcomes blogger, Amy M. Collins! Amy will be blogging weekly about her quest to run a 5K. Here, her first entry.

Last month I set myself a goal: to run a 5K. For some, this is may be an easy, enjoyable task. But for me, it’s a nerve-wracking prospect. For one, I’m 36 and have never run so much as one lap around a track. My running is usually reserved for dashing—arms flailing—to catch my train.

And then there’s the small matter of panic . . . the main reason I’ve never attempted a race—I’m scared. A little over 10 years ago, while living abroad, I was overcome with intense, prolonged anxiety that was eventually diagnosed as panic disorder. While I have coping mechanisms now, for years I struggled with the crippling attacks, the obsessing about my health, the emergency room visits because I thought I was having a “heart attack.” I often avoided activities that I used to love—including exercise. Like many people who suffer from anxiety, I feel uncomfortable when my heart races. When I run, I inevitably get palpitations, feel dizzy and feel like I can’t breathe.

But I’ve decided I’m done with that. My heart might feel bad when I run (right now), but it is, after all, only a misinterpreted feeling. One that will fade with time, as my mind and body get used to being out of my comfort zone.

My first step was to find a reasonable training program. I decided to try “From Couch to 5 K”, a program, designed to break you in slowly. Day 1 was easy: get off the couch. Once I accomplished that, I had to walk for 5 minutes, jog for two, and walk for 5. The plan starts off at three days a week, and each day the running portion is increased.
This past week, Week 3 of the plan, I had to run for seven minutes. I felt worried about the length of time, so I plugged my headphones into the treadmill’s TV screen (at the moment, due to the frigid weather, I’m training inside). I figured what better way to distract myself than watching re-runs of the King of Queens.

I stared straight ahead at the television, instead of the clock, and didn’t look down until I started to feel tired. When I finally checked the time, I had run for just under seven minutes. As I started my cool down, I felt the tell tale signs of a pending attack—my stomach muscles were clenched, my breathing was uneven, my head was spinning. I kept walking anyway, telling myself that I would have to actually faint and fall off the treadmill before I gave in to the nagging feeling of fear, which—as fear tends to do when it doesn’t get attention— eventually fizzled away.

Next week, I plan to continue to work on my breathing, and run longer. After all, I can’t stop now. I’ve signed up for the MHA 5K—what better way to fight anxiety then by running in the name of promoting mental health! My family and friends have joined me in the cause by donating to MHA through my fundraising page, and I refuse to let them down. Wish me luck!

 About Amy

Amy M. Collins is a writer and editor working for a health care publication in New York City. She also works as a freelance writer, editor, and translator in the health care field and in fiction. After living abroad in Barcelona for 10 years, she now lives in her native New York, in Somers.  

Brandywyne – A Site for new Construction in the Town of New Castle

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Seventeen years ago when this intrepid reporter began searching for a home in town, new construction was fairly prevalent.  Although Random Farms had been completed, bulldozers still reigned at Hardscrabble Lake.  Today, available space is generally sparse except at Brandywyne, a new site located off Brandon Drive.

Construction continues here at a brisk pace, despite the fact that this development has actually been under consideration for many years, dating back to the late 1980s when the former owner sought approval to build 23 homes.  In 1999 Antonio Velardo Inc. purchased the property and reached an agreement to build eight homes on the 77.6 acre site.   Issues such as the desire to preserve the habitat for existing wildlife and access from Bittersweet Lane (which was not granted) were finally overcome.  “One of the things that was required was to set up some open land,”  Mario Velardo, Vice President of Antonio Velardo Inc. said.  33.5 acres have been dedicated to this end.

The homes – which are being built on speculation – measure about 6,000 square feet on lots of approximately three acres.  One home is currently occupied and another is currently on the market for $2,950,000.  Each home includes a generator, a virtual necessity in today’s environment.  All power lines have been installed underground.

According to Town Planner Sabrina Charney Hull, very little space is available for new development in New Castle.  “Less than 10% of the town is undeveloped,” she noted.  At this point, the only viable option for future subdivisions is those of a smaller scale.

Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson to Depart Temple Beth El

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Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson Chappaqua, New York – March 20, 2013

After eleven years of devoted service Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson will be leaving Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester effective July 1, 2013 to become the next Senior Rabbi of Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York (pending membership confirmation).

During his time at Temple Beth El, Rabbi Davidson has served the congregation with a brilliant mind and a compassionate heart.  His leadership has inspired the congregation, and his passion for social justice and interfaith dialogue have left an indelible mark on both Temple Beth El and the wider community.  Building on his knowledge and experience, his move to a prestigious congregation like Emanu-El is a natural progression for Rabbi Davidson’s rabbinate.

According to Temple Beth El President Harry Cohen, “While we are saddened by the departure of a rabbi we have come to know and treasure, we will take great pride in knowing that one of our own will be ascending to one of the preeminent pulpits of American Judaism.”

As the search for a new Senior Rabbi begins, Temple Beth El looks ahead to a bright future.  Having recently completed a major renovation of its sanctuary and an expansion of its Campus for Living Judaism, including a newly-designed and state-of-the-art nursery school wing and event facility, Temple Beth El will also welcome on July 1st two new members of its professional staff – Cantor Star Trompeter and Rabbi Maura Linzer.  To lead Temple Beth El through this transition and the opportunities it presents, Rabbi Alan Fuchs will return as interim Rabbi for one year beginning on July 1st, having previously served as Temple Beth El’s interim Rabbi in 2001-2002 during the temple’s last search.  He is currently the Rabbi Emeritus at Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia where he served as Senior Rabbi until 1998.  Since then he has been a writer, teacher and volunteer at various non-profit and educational institutions.  In addition to Cantor Trompeter and Rabbi Linzer, Rabbi Fuchs will be joined on Temple Beth El’s clergy team by Associate Rabbi Geoffrey Mitelman, now in his sixth year with the congregation.