The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

New Castle Releases

Getting Serious: New Castle Police Issued a Dozen Tickets this Morning for Texting & Driving

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The New Castle Police Department issued 12 tickets to drivers caught using an electronic mobile device while driving. Five additional tickets were issued to drivers using a cell phone. The tickets were issued this morning during the same hours that children were being driven to their schools.

The number of drivers caught using electronic devices is frightening when you consider that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that texting and driving is more dangerous than drunk driving. I can’t imagine the public response if we were reporting the arrest of 12 drunk drivers during the morning commute.

New Castle Chief of Police Charles Ferry stated “Our goal is to see texting while driving as socially unacceptable as DWI. We want to be able to report that our officers are no longer observing distracted drivers. Until then NCPD’s zero-tolerance enforcement will continue to ticket drivers who choose to use hand held electronic devices while driving.

Violator’s face a fine and 5 points on their drivers license. Probationary and junior drivers convicted of a cell phone use or texting violation will have their license suspended for 60 days. Fines and suspensions increase for subsequent convictions.

 

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October 5th Open House for the Chappaqua Fire Department

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Photo Credit: David Rolle
Photo Credit: David Rolle Photo Credit: David Rolle

On October 5th, the Chappaqua Fire Department will be holding their annual Fire Prevention Education open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Chappaqua firehouse at the intersection of Routes 117 and 120 in Chappaqua.

According to Chief Russell Maitland, “We take our responsibility to educate the public in fire safety very seriously as fire prevention activities and education save lives. We look forward to everyone coming to the firehouse for demonstrations, education and refreshments.”

The Open House includes the following activities:

  • Smoke House so children can practice emergency evacuation
  • Fire extinguisher demonstrations
  • Car extrication demonstrations
  • Fire Prevention videos will be shown and materials handed out
  • New Castle Police will be checking infant car seats for proper installation
  • Refreshments will be served

For more information, including information on becoming a volunteer firefighter, visit the FD website or call Chief Maitland at 914-238-0819.

Impromptu Sidewalk Sale Encouraged on 9/27

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It will be a busy day in Chappaqua on Saturday, September 27, 2014!

The 2nd Annual Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival will take place from 10am-4pm at the Robert E. Bell Middle School. The 5th Annual Great Chappaqua Bake Sale will also take place during that time. The book festival and bake sales are expecting 5,000 guests.

In order to showcase some of the many independently owned shops, salons and food service establishments in downtown Chappaqua, New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein has declared an impromptu sidewalk sale. Supervisor Greenstein stated, “we wanted our merchants to be able to take advantage of the incredible foot traffic generated by the book festival. It will be a great day in Chappaqua!”

This town wide event will have many participating with store-wide specials and fabulous finds! Sale hours are 10am-5pm.

Additionally the Chappaqua Farmer’s Market will be open at the Chappaqua train station from 8:30am-1pm.

New Castle’s Zero Tolerance for Distracted Driving Campaign

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hands-offNew Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein has announced that New Castle will have zero tolerance for distracted driving.  Rob Greenstein stated, “New Castle is willing to take a leadership role in fighting this growing destructive behavior. We have begun implementing initiatives we hope surrounding areas will consider as well. We are also working with Chappaqua residents Ben and Debbie Lieberman, who know all too much about this topic.  They lost their nineteen (19) year old son Evan following a car collision caused by distracted driving.  The Lieberman’s set up an organization to combat distracted driving known as “DORCs”–“Distracted Operators Risk Casualties.”

Ben Lieberman stated “We believe there is a need to tackle distracted driving in a similar fashion to how drunk driving was addressed decades ago. When we as a nation finally understood how lethal drunken driving was, and how vulnerable the innocent population was, we were outraged enough to do something about this behavior, both legally and socially. In a lot of ways we need to show more urgency with this current threat because Smartphone technology is so new and it is constantly evolving.”

New Castle Police Chief Charles Ferry added,“We have scheduled enforcement details with a start date the week of September 29th. We plan to schedule 2 details a week for 4 weeks then review the success.”

Supervisor Rob Greenstein said, “In order to spread the message and warn motorists, we will be introducing banners throughout town, and giving out car magnets. There will also be decals on all police cruisers. We are going to use the next two weeks to alert everyone about this initiative but our message is simple: 5 points on your license / 0 tolerance for distracted driving / 1 choice in New Castle!

The Secretary of Transportation has called Distracted Driving “a national epidemic” and Police Chief Ferry has ideas to combat the behavior locally. The enforcement detail is designed as a deterrent but there is also an important need to identify mobile devices as the cause for collisions when appropriate. He plans to also implement a protocol, education and police checklist to help officers identify and document texting/cell phone use as part of their routine accident investigation. Ben Lieberman stated “Surprisingly, we have witnessed first-hand that there is wide-spread, very little police protocol in place to determine whether the phone is a factor in collisions. There are no Breathalyzer Tests for distracted operation, and police should be alert to the possibility that texting or other distracted driving may have been involved or else the statistics will remain inaccurate.”

New Castle resident Lynne Lambert stated “Wonderful initiative! The Liebermans lost their son due to an accident caused by a friend who was texting while driving. Hearing this family’s heart-wrenching story of losing such a fine young man in his prime would make anyone with a heart realize how this selfish behavior has got to stop. Estimates are that distracted driving is now out-stripping DUI as a cause of accidents. The reasons seem to be that there is not the social stigma (and also tougher laws) which MADD and other organizations succeeded in building against DUI. That is why they have founded “DORC.” – Distracted Operators Risk Casualties – to help change both the laws and the behavior. I hope that these banners will remind our residents to THINK, and WAIT until they are safely off the road before texting or talking on their cell phone, unless its hands free. It REALLY can wait. Don’t risk killing yourself or others. Please.”

DORCs is committed to changing behavior through educating the public, advocating for enforcement and fighting for legislation. Keep the DORCs off the road! http://www.dorcs.org

For more information contact:

New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein at 917-750-2771 / RGreenstein@MyNewCastle.org

Chief of Police Charles Ferry 914-238-4686 / CFerry@MyNewCastle.org

Ben Lieberman 914-450-6868 / blieberman@me.com

10th Annual Feed Me Fresh: An Edible Evening

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Mount Kisco Child Care Center (MKCCC) will host its 10th Annual Feed Me Fresh: An Edible Evening event on Saturday, September 20, 2014 beginning at 6:00pm. The signature annual fundraiser will once again be hosted by Eric Hadar at Ivanna Farms in Bedford Corners, NY. Honorary Co-Chairs Curt Beusman, Sharon Pollack and Fran Osborne will coordinate the honoree recognition. Kelly Sullivan, of Quaker Hill Tavern in Chappaqua, is the returning Event Chair.

This 10th Annual event will celebrate the long-time dedication of two past MKCCC Board Presidents, Clark Robson and Janet Schloat, and the outstanding community leadership each continues to demonstrate. We also look forward to honoring our friends, neighbors and supporters, Joe and Joan DiMauro, owners of everyone’s favorite Mt. Kisco Seafood.

Feed Me Fresh, An Edible Evening showcases delicious food from local restaurants that subscribe to the same culinary philosophy as MKCCC – serving locally grown organic food and supporting local agriculture. Through our very own Feed Me Fresh garden-to-table nutrition program, MKCCC provides our children with meals prepared from many local farmers and purveyors. Featured restaurants of the evening include: Belizzi; Café of Love/Ladle of Love; Captain Lawrence Brewing Company; Crabtree’s Kittle House; Cortlandt Colonial; Frannie’s Goodie Shop; Hito Restaurant; La Tulipe Desserts; Lexington Square Café; Little Kabab Station/Little Crepe Street; LOCAL; Locali Pizza Bar & Kitchen; MKCCC’s own “Feed Me Fresh” Kitchen; Mt. Kisco Seafood; Myong Gourmet; Quaker Hill Tavern; Sette e Venti; Sunset Cove; Travelers Rest and Village Social. Guests will also enjoy a lively jazz ensemble, open bar and fabulous live and silent auctions. Special thanks go to Kate & Travis Worrell of Westport Auction, Auctioneers & Appraisers.

The event’s Presenting Sponsors are Beverley & Sabin Streeter, Eric Hadar is the Champion Sponsor, and Benefit Sponsors are Nancy & Ken Stein. Other sponsors, to date, include Valerie & Laurie Castleman,                    Curtis Instruments, Jane & Bob Keiter, Linda Mahon & Bob Saunders, Janet Schloat, Lisa & Tom Cohn, Houlihan Lawrence (Bedford), Sara Weale & John Rudge, Integral Derivatives- Peter & Tanya Schwarz,       Bob & Sandi Greene, Twink & Jim Wood, Fran Osborne, and The Selz Foundation.

Tickets are available for $200 per person. For information about tickets, donations, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.mkccc.org/feed-me-fresh-event or contact Christine Meyer, Development Director, at 914.241.2135 or cmeyer@mkccc.org .

About Mount Kisco Child Care Center:

Mount Kisco Child Care Center is a non-profit, NAEYC-accredited childcare facility serving families in Northern Westchester since 1971. MKCCC provides exceptional and affordable early care and education to a diverse group of children from three months to eleven years of age. Experienced and professional teachers, an innovative curriculum, unique programs, such as the JEWEL Intergenerational Program and Feed Me Fresh, (our garden-to-table, sustainable nutrition program), and a state of the art facility contribute to create an exceptional early childhood education experience.

MKCCC is located at 95 Radio Circle, Mount Kisco, NY. For additional information, please visit www.mkccc.org. or call (914) 241-2135. Follow MKCCC on www.facebook.com/MKCCC and www.twitter.com/MKCCC10549 for the latest news and updates.