The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

New Castle Releases

Assemblyman Buchwald on the NTSB Meeting to Determine the Cause of 2015 Valhalla Train Crash

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July 25, 2017 –The National Transportation Safety Board met today to determine the probable cause of the February 3, 2015 Train and Car Collision at a Grade Crossing in Valhalla, New York.

Statement from State Assemblyman David Buchwald: “The Valhalla crash claimed six lives; four were residents of my State Assembly district. Metro-North and the New York State DOT should unequivocally commit to implement the NTSB’s safety recommendations on as expeditious a schedule as feasible. The NTSB determinations are a sobering reminder of the need to constantly monitor our at-grade rail crossing safety warning systems, and vigorously enforce rail crossing safety laws.” 

“In the wake of the Valhalla tragedy, I sponsored the Rail Safety Act of 2016 in the State Assembly which was passed and signed by Governor Cuomo. The new law required increased Department of Transportation inspections of all traffic signals interconnected with at-grade rail crossing warning systems. To protect our citizens we must remain ever diligent in making certain safety systems at rail crossings are in perfect working order. Furthermore, we must continue to educate the public about rail crossing safety and make sure our law enforcement agencies are strictly enforcing our rail crossing safety laws.”

Assemblyman David Buchwald sponsored a law enacted in 2016 (Chapter 501 of the Laws of 2016) that required more stringent safety inspections at grade-level railroad crossings; aligned state requirements with federal regulations on railroad bridge inspections; and increased penalties on railroad companies that do not comply with various state laws and on drivers who commit railroad crossing violations. 

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Chappaqua’s Streetscape Project: JULY 13

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Per the Town of New Castle: All are invited to attend a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Chappaqua Infrastructure and Streetscape Project. It will take place July 13, 10 a.m., at 200 South Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua.  “We are very excited to get started on this monumental project that will include replacement of critical infrastructure and new wider sidewalks, effective new spaces and charming details throughout Chappaqua’s downtown. More importantly, the Streetscape work will have new crosswalks and traffic/parking improvements that will make it safer for residents to walk around our downtown.” 

The project, town officials say, “will accomplish the much-needed repair, replacement and upgrading of critical infrastructure systems in our downtown business hamlet, including sanitary sewer, stormwater, water mains and roadways. 

In the Spring of 2015, the Town enlisted the services of the international engineering firm WSP. In the Summer of 2015,  a Streetscape Committee was formed chaired by New Castle Deputy Supervisor Adam Brodsky chaired. 

The committee was made up of members of the Architectural Review Board, Beatification Board, Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce, merchants, residents and Town staff. 

The Streetscape Committee met many times, including taking several field trips, giving serious consideration to the overall theme of the Hamlet with a goal toward making it as pedestrian friendly as possible and an eye toward being fiscally responsible with resident tax dollars. On May 9, 2017, the Town Board voted to award the Downtown Infrastructure/Streetscape Project to ELQ Industries, Inc., a construction company located in New Rochelle, NY.

The genesis of this project is for infrastructure replacement.  Nearly century old water mains are years beyond their design life of 75 years.  Sewer mains, installed over 50 years ago, are corroding from the outside in from sitting in acidic and unstable soil. This shift in the position of the main and manholes has contributed to the spike in sewer blockages which wreak havoc on our downtown businesses. This is evidenced by the pricing of the project–approximately 80% of the cost and over a hundred pages of plans are dedicated to the piping under the ground.  Some of the major Infrastructure elements:

  • Replacement of approx. 1,650 feet of 12-inch water main • Replacement of approx. 2,650 of 8 inch and 15-inch sewer mains • New storm water management systems along N. and S. Greeley to alleviate flooding • New Traffic signal at the intersection of King and Greeley with formalized crosswalks
  • The project also includes streetscape improvements: new lighting, sidewalks, curbing and landscaping. Residents can look forward to new wider sidewalks, attractive new public spaces, new crosswalks and traffic/parking improvements.
  • Some of the major Streetscape Elements: New Concrete Sidewalks with Brick Paver Trim • Decorative Brick Crosswalks • ADA Compliant Tactile Warning Surfaces • Bluestone in Public Gathering Areas • New Granite Curbing • Ornamental LED Lighting • New / Refinished Benches • Trash Receptacles • Fluted Bollards • Bicycle Racks • Seating Walls • Ornamental Fencing • Planter Boxes with Plantings • New Trees with Identification Plaques and Grates • Clock

The contract contains the following completion milestones that the Contractor must meet:

  • October 1, 2017 — Installation of new water system • October 1, 2017 — Installation of new sewer system north of Rite Aid on North Greeley Avenue • March 2, 2018 – Completion of all remaining sewer work in the Chappaqua Hamlet • November 20, 2018 — Completion of the entire project

The Town promises to minimize the disruption. Some residents are already experiencing this inconvenience with the preliminary gas line replacement work currently being done by Con Ed. To help mitigate these issues, the Town’s construction management firm, Boswell Engineering, will be located in our hamlet in the former EZ Sports space with a 24/7 presence.  Merchants are being kept informed of project scheduling, and how to stay safe during construction. Go to www.DowntownStrong.com to find out more about the project.  Residents can also sign-up for project updates.

 

 

 

Middle Schooler’s Bar Mitzvah Project Raises $18,000 for Northern Westchester Hospital Breast Cancer Support

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Ben Goldenberg with his mom Brandi  Photo Courtesy of NWH

Ben Goldenberg, an incoming 8th grader at Seven Bridges Middle School in Chappaqua raised $18,000 for the Bruce and Andrea Yablon Cancer Health and Wellness Program and the Breast Health Initiative for Underserved Women, both at Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH), through his Bar Mitzvah project at Bet Torah Synagogue in Mount Kisco.

Ben’s March Madness Basketball Tournament, a three-on-three basketball tournament for boys and girls in fifth through eighth grades, was held at Horace Greely High School in Chappaqua.

Ben held the fundraiser in honor of his mother, Brandi, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer. He says she was fortunate to receive annual imaging exams that caught her cancer at an early stage. Ben selected Northern Westchester Hospital to receive the donation because his mom had such a good experience at the Cancer Center and the services offered at its Health and Wellness Program helped his mom through her cancer journey.

Ben, who enjoys basketball and soccer in his spare time, lives with his parents Brandi and Adam Goldenberg, and his sister Gabi.

 

Northern Westchester Hospital Receives CEO Cancer Gold StandardTM Re-Accreditation for 2017

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Fifth Year Hospital Recognized for Commitment to Fighting Cancer in the Workplace

Mt. Kisco, New York (June 15, 2017) — Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) has earned a 2017 CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ re-accreditation for its commitment to fighting cancer in the workplace. This is the fifth year NWH has received this accreditation since becoming the first and only hospital in Westchester County to receive it in 2012. The hospital’s Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center provides state-of-the-art cancer treatment for the community.

The CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ is a workplace-wellness accreditation program that encourages and recognizes organizations that take concrete actions to address cancer in their workplace by focusing on cancer risk reduction, early detection and high-quality care. These requirements are based on scientific evidence, and the program is reviewed annually to ensure that it remains comprehensive and up-to-date.

“We are honored to receive this re-accreditation for the fifth time,” said Kerry Flynn Barrett, Vice President of Human Resources at NWH. “It is a testament to our commitment to staff health and wellness, and to our staff’s active engagement in a range of wellness activities and programs that are offered in collaboration with our Wellness Committee.”

Through NWH’s wellness initiatives, staff have the opportunity to participate in monthly Lunch & Learns, annual biometric screenings; wellness activities such as Zumba, rock climbing, kayaking, and stress reduction; as well as smoking cessation, on-site Weight Watchers at Work, discounted gym memberships and annual wellness fairs. 

To earn Gold Standard accreditation, employers must take concrete actions to reduce the risk and burden of cancer by prohibiting tobacco use and supporting tobacco cessation efforts; promoting physical activity, healthy nutrition and weight management; providing health insurance options that include detecting cancer at its earliest stages, access to quality care, and participation in cancer clinical trials; promoting employee awareness of these initiatives; and supporting the needs of cancer survivors in the workplace.

Photo Courtesy of Northern Westchester Hospital

About Northern Westchester Hospital:

Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH), a member of the Northwell Health, provides quality, patient-centered care that is close to home through a unique combination of medical expertise, leading-edge technology, and a commitment to humanity. Over 650 highly-skilled physicians, state-of-the-art technology and professional staff of caregivers are all in place to ensure that you and your family receive treatment in a caring, respectful and nurturing environment. NWH has established extensive internal quality measurements that surpass the standards defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA) National Hospital Quality Measures. Our high-quality standards help to ensure that the treatment you receive at NWH is among the best in the nation. For more information, please visit www.nwhc.net and connect with us on Facebook.

About Northwell Health:
Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 22 hospitals and over 550 outpatient facilities. We care for more than two million people annually in the metro New York area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 62,000 employees – 15,000+ nurses and about 3,900 physicians, including more than 2,800 members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institute. We’re training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and the School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. And we offer health insurance through CareConnect. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu.

About The CEO Roundtable on Cancer:

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer was founded in 2001, when former President George H.W. Bush challenged a group of executives to “do something bold and venturesome about cancer within your own corporate families.” The CEOs responded by creating and encouraging the widespread adoption of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™, which calls for organizations to evaluate their health benefits and workplace culture and take extensive, concrete action in five key areas of health and wellness to address cancer in the workplace. For more information on the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ and the no-cost, web-based accreditation process, please visit www.CancerGoldStandard.org.

 

New Castle’s Longest Serving Scoutmaster Dr. William Flank Steps Down

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Troop 1 Scoutmaster since 1990

News from the Town of New Castle:  Last Wednesday we marked the end of an era!  Dr. William Flank has stepped down as Troop 1’s Scoutmaster, a position he has held since 1990.  He has been Troop 1’s longest serving scoutmaster.  He leaves behind some very big shoes to fill.  Over the Troop’s history, which is 105 years, 112 scouts have reached the rank of Eagle Scout.  Dr. Flank participated in 94 of the Eagle projects.  Under Dr. Flank’s tenure, 55 of his Scouts became Eagles!  “We would be hard pressed to find anyone, anywhere, who has trained more Scout leaders!,” said Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein.  “He will be missed but always remembered by those whose lives he’s touched, and he has touched many young lives, for sure!”