The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

New Castle News

Gabby Honored!

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Long time Chappaqua resident Gabriel (Gabby) Rosenfeld served in the 95th Infantry in WWII in Europe including

France. He was awarded the Purple Heart, among other medals, for that service. After being contacted by France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy, and then again by the French Ambassador in New York, Gabby was honored with a Legion of Honor being award on Veterans Day 2011.

“We the French we will never forget what you did to restore our freedom. And today, we also remember the ultimate sacrifice of so many of your comrades who rest on French soil. They will remain forever in our hearts. I want to tell you that your example gives us inspiration for the future and that we are trying to prove ourselves worthy of your legacy in defending our shared values.”

–Ambassador of France, François Delattre

Summer Food Service Program

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The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester announces its participation in the Summer Food Service Program (SNFP). Meals will be provided to all children 18 years and under without charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

Meals will be provided at the Club, located at 351 Main Street, Mt. Kisco, between 12:00 and 1:00pm. Snacks will be provided between 3:00and 4:00.

Persons interested in receiving more information should contact: Brian P. Skanes, Executive Director, 914-666-8069

Beautification

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Planting at Gedney Park

On May 1, skies were cloudy and rain poured down.   The dreary conditions did not deter the volunteers of the Chappaqua Garden Club.  Armed with shovels and trowels, clad in rain jackets, gloves and boots, the volunteers toiled for hours.  The result of their labors is the beautified September 11 Memorial in Gedney Park.

In keeping with the spirit embodied in the Memorial, a patriotic design prevails in the garden.  “The theme is red, white and blue,” Garden Club President Chris Wolff noted.  The plants in this color scheme are all deer resistant.  Local gardeners may glean valuable information from this site by noting the types of plants and looking for them at a  local nursery.  The club’s selection includes:   nepeta, shasta, monarda, lambs’ ear, brunnera and coreopsis.  As a further precaution, deer tech stations which emit high frequency sounds and an herbal scent, have been installed by Savatree along the path leading up to the memorial.

Club member Mary Lynn McRee predicts that the plantings will increase the visibility of the Memorial and draw more people to the site:  “They’ll see flowers as they pass by. They’ll be attracted to come over.”   After admiring the flowers along the path, visitors will discover the memorial at the summit.  A fountain and waterfall surround the steel remnants.  “It’s very peaceful.  A little oasis,” McRee added.

There are many ways to become involved with the club and new members are always welcome.   The ambiance is always congenial and educational opportunities abound.  “It’s a really nice group of people,” Wolff mentioned.  “Everybody’s really cooperative.”  There are workshops on flower arranging and guest speakers on topics including raising orchids and landscape design.

Mother’s Day weekend marks the unofficial start to the gardening season.

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By  Dr. Susan Rubin

Many local Garden Clubs are holding plant sales this Saturday. These sales can give you a jump start on your veggie garden.

Unless you’re a hard core gardener who likes to start seeds indoors in February or March, its a smart idea to buy some of your garden plants as seedlings. Here’s some ideas to help you decide which ones to choose for your garden.

Super Easy-to-grow vegetables: If you plant these in the next two weeks or so, these vegetables are almost foolproof: broccoli, bush beans, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, squash, Swiss chard, and tomatoes.

Heat-loving vegetables: These vegetables will do exceptionally well if we have a hot sunny summer like last year: beans, corn, eggplant, melons, okra, peppers, tomatoes, and watermelon.

Vegetables for shadier gardens: If you have a garden plot that receives fewer than six hours of direct sunlight, try these vegetables: beets, carrots, kale, lettuce, radishes, scallions, spinach, and Swiss chard. Kid-friendly veggies: The following vegetables are fun, easy-to-grow plants, kids love to harvest and eat them – sometimes without even leaving the garden! Try carrots, cherry tomatoes, pole beans on a teepee, pumpkins, seedless watermelons and Swiss chard. Herbs are easy too. You can start with a small plant it will take off and provide you with with abundant amounts of fresh herbs all spring, summer and fall. There are lots and lots of varieties of basil, but don’t forget rosemary, parsley and cilantro.

Other veggies do best when started from seed.

Radishes are great to start from seed. They grow very fast – if you’re the impatient type, this one veggie that will give you great satisfaction. For an added bonus, if you let some go to flower, you will find lots of new beneficial insects coming to your garden. Radishes grow well with carrots or beets, which will take more time but are worth the wait. Plant a few rows of these seeds in your garden, they don’t take up too much space! Beans are another no brainer that do best by putting the seed right in the ground. You can choose between bush beans or pole beans, ones that like to climb. Squashes are easy to get going from seed or you can buy a few seedlings. You won’t need too many because they take up lots of space and you’ll get lots of squashes per plant when they are growing happily in the sun. Choose from summer squash: zucchini, yellow and patty pan squash are easy choices. Winter squashes include butternut, acorn, kaboocha and of course, pumpkin.

Give it a try! Either seedlings or seeds. You’ll be amazed at what Mother Nature brings you. Get your hands dirty! Stay tuned for more garden tips as the season progresses.