New Castle Supervisor’s Report – April 28th, 2015
Rob Greenstein
Town Supervisor, New Castle
Potholes
On Tuesday night the Town Board authorized an increase to the 2015 budgeted amount for paving town roads by $400,000. In the 2015 Budget we increased Road Paving/Permanent Improvements to $600,000, a 50% increase over last year. Now with this increase we are at $1,000,000 for the 2015 budget, a 150% increase over last year.
Albany
I was in Albany on Wednesday, April 22nd. I met with Senator Terrence Murphy, and his Chief of Staff, as well as Assemblyman David Buchwald, and his Chief of Staff. We talked money – money for diversion, money for sidewalks in Millwood, money for CHIPS funding to help repair our roads and the status of FEMA reimbursement for Spring Valley Road, Hawkes Avenue & Allapartus Road due to Hurricane Sandy. As far as our diversion (a/k/a Clean Water Project), the New York State 2015-2016 budget includes New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement Act which provides $200 million over the next three years in Environmental Facilities Corp. grants to municipalities to repair and replace existing wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. The legislation contains a hardship provision. It was suggested that one or more of our proposed districts may qualify. We are looking into the application process, which is still being finalized. We will then submit one (or more) applications for each qualifying district.
New Castle Police Department
On April 22 County Executive Astorino recognized Officer Albert Mendoza who successfully administered Narcan to an overdose victim. It should also be noted that his life saving work was the result of the Narcan training and distribution program established and administered by Lt. Daniel Cannon and the New Castle Police Department. In April of 2014 several New Castle officers were sent to one of the first Narcan instructor training sessions in NY State. Our trained instructors then certified every New Castle officer to use Narcan.
Website
Our new, easy to use and easy to update town website, is expected to be unveiled around May 8th.
Roundtable Discussions
Over the next several months, I will be hosting roundtable discussions to discuss topics of interest. The first topic will be a discussion of what prospective home buyers are looking for. This roundtable discussion is scheduled to take place onThurs., June 11th, 7pm, Chappaqua Library auditorium. It will then be live streamed and the video link will be shared via our eNewsletter, website & on social media. Besides real estate brokers, we will be including the President & Executive Director from the Chamber of Commerce, as well as a few new home purchasers. The second roundtable discussion will involve ideas for improving our business districts in Chappaqua & Millwood.
Click here to watch the Supervisor’s Report.
Town Supervisor’s Report 4/28/15 from New Castle Media Center on Vimeo.
New Castle Administrator’s Report – April 28th, 2015
Jill Shapiro
Town Administrator, New Castle
Update on Pothole Repairs
Even though tonight the board is scheduled to approve a significant increase in the paving budget up to a million dollars from $600,000, pothole repairs continue through out town after this very tough winter.
To date from March 16, 2015 we have filled 6276 potholes in town. And, weather permitting, our work continues. Last Friday, we were on the west side of Town with work on Lake Road. Today we were on Annandale and at the train station.
Tomorrow morning at 8am I will be meeting with NYSDOT and Gerry Moerschell our commissioner of public works regarding road improvements (paving as well as installation of roadway markings and improved signage at the grade crossing at Roaring Brook Road). We will be coordinating improvements to the interchange from the lower entrance to Chappaqua Crossing – over and including the tracks to the parkway entrance and exit ramps. The road work to improve the intersection will be scheduled for a weekend – preferably after school is out – and will involve closing that intersection for the weekend only.
As soon as a date is set, we will get that information out to the public so everyone is aware of the detour.
As our town and county tax collection is winding down (Thursday is our last day of collection) Mary Deems our receiver of taxes will have more on that in the future.
We are Gearing Up for Parking
So we are thrilled to report that 991 residents will have the opportunity to renew their parking permits online this year. The Town Clerk’s office sent out over 1000 invitations to residents with annual parking permits to invite them to confirm their license plates and return the invitation to renew online. Just under 1000 residents responded and confirmed their information. These residents will be able to renew online (with a 2% credit card service fee). AMEX is accepted. The system goes live on May 1.
Last but not least our new website goes live on May 8, so stay tuned for more information about that.
Beautification Board is Looking for Some New Members
Do you have some good ideas about how our town could look prettier and would be willing to meet regularly with the Beautification Advisory Board? We meet once a month on Mondays at 4:00 o’clock in Town Hall.
The Board is a non-partisan, advisory committee to the Town Board. Its primary function is to discover and recommend programs of a constructive nature that will contribute to the beautification of New Castle.
Some examples of programs which the BAB sponsors are Clean-Up Day, planting of the containers and hanging baskets, memorial benches, holiday lights on trees and snowflakes on the light poles, town signage and the annual landscape contest. We often work in conjunction with the Garden Club and the Parks Department.
If you are interested in joining please contact Monica E. de Janosi (Co-Chair of BAB) at dejanosi@aol.com with your name, address, phone number and email address. Please state in a few words why you’d like to join. We would suggest that you attend one of our meetings in order to assure suitability.
Chappaqua Farmers Market 2015
Opening Day is May 16; Open every Saturday 5/16<-11/21 from 8:30a.m. – 1p.m.
If you’ve been married 5 years then you know the standard gift for this first milestone is typically made of “wood.” We will be celebrating our 5th Anniversary with artisanal Dough Nation pizza made in a wood-burning oven (close enough) when we unfurl our tents at the Chappaqua Train Station May 16th.
We are particularly proud of the vendor lineup this season and, with close to 40 vendors all told, at how much we’ve grown in the last five years. For a while, we were the “little market that could” – operating in the shadow of one of the most established markets in the area.
But, after five years, we’ve hit our stride.
Shoppers from all over Westchester (and beyond) have discovered our gem of a market with its sophisticated vendor mix, Provencal vibe, stress-free parking and shady, promenade location right in front of the historic Chappaqua Train Station.
Regulars will be happy to know that one of our signature vendors, Stone Barns, will be back again with their coddled pastured meats, just-laid eggs and stunning cut flowers.
The Dough Nation Pizza Oven will be here every other week and we’ve found a second roving wood-fired pizza truck to alternate (Doug Cullen’s Itsa Pizza Truck, from High Falls, NY) so that we never have to go without a rustic pizza topped with local arugula and farm eggs on a Saturday morning.
Sohha Yogurt, voted BEST yogurt in New York last year by New York Magazine, is also returning. As is Pura Vida Fishery with its fresh Hampton Bays catch – including scallops so sweet and buttery you’ll be tempted to pop them raw in your pop mouth- like candy.
We are very excited that the Letterbox Collective is also joining us…This small farm, based in Hudson, NY, grows quirky, heirloom vegetables and also raises pork, reasonably-priced chickens and duck that are raised without antibiotics or hormones. Their feed comes from a barn down the road and is guaranteed GMO free. They grow culinary and medicinal herbs and make their own keg natural soda using ingredients from the farm, like birch.
Other new vendors include Happy Belly Baby which makes fruit and vegetable purees for infants. They are so good, people without children happily buy them to spread on sandwiches.
Also new this season, Brooklyn’s Bien Cuit Bakery and All You Knead Bread will be joining us (on alternating Saturdays) ensuring that Bread Alone does not, in fact, stand alone in the bread department.
You can be sure that we will always have great tunes coming from the music tent (it’s official: Milton, who will be playing opening day, is our new house band) and lots of activities to entertain your children in our grassy “kids zone, ” like Camp Kiwi and the Westchester Circus Camp.
On opening day, Hudson Valley photographer and writer Francesco Mastalia will sign copies of his gorgeous book, Organic, featuring black and white portraits of the organic farmers-and-chefs who are at the epicenter of the farm to table movement in the Hudson River Valley with a preface by local-food advocate (and personal hero) Joan Dye Gussow.
Also, new this year, the Chappaqua Flea will be joining us every third Saturday of the month, including opening day. Look for cool vintage finds, funky recycled furniture and art, and jewelry – all within steps of the market. This is the same organization behind the Hastings Flea which draws hundreds of folks to the Village every second Sunday. Lots to look forward to!
We will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday from May 16th to November 21st.
We hope you come celebrate our anniversary with us on opening day – and our fabulous local bounty every Saturday this season.
See you at the market!
TIOLI Shop Opening May 16th
Let the Official Spring Cleaning commence. The TIOLI Shed, located in the Train Station parking lot near the Farmer’s Market, will open for the season on Saturday, May 16th from 9am to 12 noon. The reopening of the shed last year in its new location was a great success. And this year promises to be even better. Thanks to town officials, several improvements have been made to make the operation safer and more efficient. A small area to the right of the shed will be paved. This will allow us to display our wares behind guard rails so we will not have to worry about people, especially children, stepping back into moving cars. It also enables us to create a pull-in zone in front of the shed so people can drop off items without blocking traffic. The shed will also have electricity. In the unlikely event that every Saturday is not sunny and perfect, we can turn on lights to see, even in the back. Plus, we can test small appliances, lamps and other electrical devices before they are dropped off to ensure they are working.
Only New Castle residents are allowed to leave items in the shed. Volunteers can ask to see ID. This is to make sure New Castle residents do not have to pay to have items that are not taken disposed of.
Residents and non residents alike can take things from the shed. And we encourage people to share.
We cannot stop people from selling items they take from the shed but we discourage it.
Please bring donations down as early as possible. Everything has to be secured in the shed when we close at noon. If we do not have available space after 11:30we will ask you to come back next Saturday.
We also ask people not to loiter. There are times when the shed and display area get very crowded. If we see that someone has been there for a long time we will ask them to come back next week. Everyone should have a chance of finding something they need or want.
TIOLI Donation Guidelines
Acceptable items—functioning, clean and gently used!:
Small, clean and functioning appliances, cookware, furniture (in good condition–no tears!), kitchenware, dishes and glassware (in good condition), selected sports equipment, bicycles, toys, games, baby equipment, children’s picture books, ornaments, home repair tools, gardening tools.
Unacceptable items:
Mattresses, large appliances, air conditioners, refrigerators, TVs, monitors, stereo speakers, construction debris, bedding, clothing, books, printers, faxes, semi-functional electronics, chipped or cracked dishes, plastic mugs/containers, skis, ski boots, stuffed toys, cribs, car seats, suitcases, ANYTHING REALLY DIRTY
If you are not sure something acceptable please ask a volunteer before bringing it down. Better yet take a photo on your phone and show us first.
*TIOLI volunteers have the discretion to reject any items deemed unacceptable.
Northern Westchester Artists Guild presents: Art Under the Bridge
May 16 kicks off Northern Westchester Artists Guild’s Art under the Bridge series running every third Saturday from 9:30A-3PM May through October by the Chappaqua train station under the bridge.
Local fine artists, painters, printmakers, ceramists, photographers, fiber artists, sculptors, and jewelry designers all will exhibit their work under the bridge that links the Farmers Market and the Flea Market to the shops at lower King Street.
Shop for fresh locally grown farm goods, shop at the flea market; then stroll under the bridge and see the amazing art work also locally produced!
All work is available for purchase.
Northern Westchester Artisits Guild is a non profit organization, and a proud member of the Chappaqua/Millwood Chamber of Commerce. The Northern Westchester Artisits Guild supports and encourages artists in their endeavors. We see all forms of art as a vital expression of our voice in the community. Making Connections through ART.
Welcome The Chappaqua Flea on May 16, and the Third Saturday of the Month!
Welcome The Chappaqua Flea on May 16, and the Third Saturday of the Month!
The Chappaqua Flea, a curated, outdoor market featuring some of the best vendors from the Hudson Valley will be coming to Chappaqua this season! Beginning on May 16th and taking place the third Saturday of the month, The Chappaqua Flea will located at the train station adjacent to the Farmer’s Market 9am-1pm.
Vendors will sell everything from home goods, vintage finds, jewelry, clothing, crafts and more. Items are mostly one-of-kind, hand crafted or handpicked. The Chappaqua Flea already has some great local vendors signed up for May 16thlike GemsZen, selling handcrafted jewelry made primarily with semi-precious gemstones and Debbie Gioello selling her vintage collectibles. If you have a business or nonprofit and would like a table at the Chappaqua Flea, please apply on the site: www.chappaquaflea.com.
And LIKE our Facebook page here to connect with us and get updates!
New Castle 10K
Don’t be left out
May 17th marks the 28th running of the New Castle 10 K
If you are interested in competing in this challenging run through the streets of New Castle applications can be found on the departments website or by stopping by the office between the hours of 9 AM and 4:30.
Monday thru Friday.Of course we need runners to make the race happen but we also need volunteers to act as road marshals and folks to help at the water stations. If you are interested in volunteering for the Race please contact the Department by calling 238-3909.
Revs and Bevs: Sunday, May 17
Chappaqua (Town of New Castle) will be hosting the first annual car meetup on Sunday, May 17th, 2015 from 9am -12 pm. “Revs and Bevs” will be held at the Chappaqua train station rear parking lot, by the old skatepark (Allen Place).
Revs and Bevs is intended to be a community event, which brings together the “gear heads” of Northern Westchester, in a casual, and social manner. We are trying to create a place where people can show their own automobiles, but also meet others who share the passion for all things cars. For people who do not bring a car to the show, the public is welcome to meander through the cars, free of charge, and socialize with the owners. Revs and Bevs is modeled after the many other successful car shows that are held in the metro area, usually in the downtown business districts of suburban towns. New Canaan holds “Caffeine & Carburetors”, Greenwich and Scarsdale have their own renowned Concours d’Elegance, and Chappaqua will join the pack with Revs and Bevs.
Admission will be free to all, however donations will be greatly appreciated for the “Hands off the Phone On the Wheel” antidistraction while driving campaign.
Individuals bringing cars should arrive at 8:30AM to set up and park them accordingly. The show officially ends at 12 pm< but owners may leave at their leisure.
Contact Info:
revsandbevs@gmail.com
Sam Matluck
s.matluck@aol.com
(914) 714 8709
Sam Birenbaum
sbirenbaum97@gmail.com
(914) 588 8248
A Memorable Parade
Three cheers for the red, white and blue! This is a town that embodies the patriotic spirit of the country and proudly so. In the weeks preceding Memorial Day, colorful flags wave in the spring breeze, creating an emblematic border on the sidewalks of Chappaqua.
http://theinsidepress.com/a-memorable-parade/
Castles of New Castle House Tour
It’s Coyote Pupping Season: Learn About Safe Coexistence
Chris Schadler, Project Coyote, Wild Canid Ecologist, discusses preventing coyote conflicts and pupping season safety and guidelines for pets & people. This presentation was co-sponsored by Saw Mill River Audubon and Coyote Awareness and Safety Advisory Committee.
Please note: The New Castle Town Board has established two advisory boards to disseminate information to residents about coyotes, including tips on minimizing the risk of coyote attacks on pets and effective ways to coexist safely with suburban coyotes. The Town Board has not yet adopted any formal policy with respect to the presence of coyotes in our community, and any views and opinions expressed by our advisory committees do not necessarily reflect the official policy or practice of the Town.
Coyote Pupping Season Talk, April 20, 2015 from New Castle Media Center on Vimeo.
Camp Registration – Reminder
2015 Summer Camp Registration is OPEN
Town of New Castle Summer Camps
Tots Camp – Ages 3-5
Camp Adventure – Grades 1-4
On the Go – Travel Camp – Grades 5-8
June 29th – August 7th
Camp fees increase May 11th
Save $100 per camper per session and register now
2015 Camp Info and Registration
New Castle Recreation and Parks Department
200 S. Greeley Ave
Chappaqua, New York 10514
(914) 238-3909
http://www.mynewcastle.org/
TCO Concert – One Week Left to Reserve a Seat!
Purchase your tickets before May 1st to reserve a seat – 1st come, 1st serve!!! Click the link below to purchase them now!
Click Here to: Buy tickets for The Flying Dutchman
News from the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber
The Chamber welcomes you to a Mother’s Day event at Le Jardin on Friday, May 8th from 8:30-10. Join us for brunch (mimosas and a special non-alcoholic drink will be served!) and a morning of fun with friends, a toast to all, door prizes and shopping coupons. Don’t miss this special “moms” event and a chance to feel pampered — and have some fun! For more information, please contact Dawn Greenberg.
We’re also gearing up for summer!! Plans are in the works for movies each Friday eve in Millwood. And, we have finalized a fantastic line up of summer concerts every Wednesday at the Rec field. Contact the Chamber for more information about sponsorship opportunities.
Please Save the Date for a fantastic program on “The Magic Behind Great Customer Service” presented by the famous Joe from Mt. Kisco Seafood on Thursday, May 28th. Stay tuned for more details to come!!!
Come to Gaga Fest on Saturday, May 2nd!
The Flying Dutchman or the Curse of Richard Wager Lecture/Recital by Conductor Michael Shapiro
Friday, May 8, 2015 at 7 pm
Chappaqua Library Auditorium, Chappaqua, NY
The Chappaqua Library in collaboration with The Chappaqua Orchestra presents Michael Shapiro, composer and conductor of The Chappaqua Orchestra, in a lecture/recital on Friday, May 8, 2015 at the Chappaqua Library Auditorium. The lecture/recital will be a preview of The Chappaqua Orchestra’s upcoming production on Sunday, May 17, 2015 of excerpts from Richard Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman.
Mr. Shapiro’s talk will reveal the background of Wagner’s choice of the subject of the Flying Dutchman, its origins in myth and literature, and how the opera set the stage for the great opera composer’s later and larger works. Why did Wagner choose this subject? Does the opera carry the seeds of themes and concepts explored in subsequent works of the composer? What is so appealing about a man cursed to sail the seas whose only redemption can be found in the unconditioned love of a woman?
Mr. Shapiro will play excerpts on the piano with guest soloists to illustrate the ideas set out in his talk. He will ask the question was not only the Dutchman cursed but also was the composer Wagner accursed and did he send his curse down through the generations?
The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days
Poesy for Posies
First Congregational Church 2015 Barn Sale
Coordinating a Child’s Special Needs Village: Practical Solutions to Everyday Issues
Coordinating a Child’s Special Needs Village: Practical Solutions to Everyday Issues
What is the best way to coordinate a special needs child’s “support village’ so that everyone is on the same page and the child receives consistent guidance and inputs?
Speaker: Elise Butowsky, Raising Exceptional People. LLC
Sat. May 2 @ 3pm
Chappaqua Library Theater
195 S Greeley Ave
Chappaqua, NY 10514
The League of Women Voters of New Castle Healthcare Forum
The League of Women Voters of New Castle is hosting a healthcare forum on May 6, 2015 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Chappaqua Library to start a conversation about palliative care, hospice, advance care planning, and other issues to consider when taking charge of present and future healthcare decisions. Our speakers are:
Rev. Dr. Martha Jacobs – Moderator
Senior Minister at the First Congregational Church of Chappaqua
Former hospital chaplain, author of A Clergy Guide to End of Life Issues
Hal Federman, MD and Dorothy Cafran RN, BSN, CHPN
Palliative Care at Northern Westchester Hospital
Mary Spengler, MS, Executive Director, and Nancy Caputi, RN, BA
Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester
Susan Ferlauto, Esq. and Roberta S. Goodman, Esq., Attorneys
Elder Justice Unit at Pace Women’s Justice Center
More details can be found at www.lwvnewcastle.org.
Lighthouse Youth Theatre will be Performing Peter Pan and High School Musical at the Chappaqua Crossing Theater
Lighthouse Youth Theatre will be performing Peter Pan and High School Musical at the at Chappaqua Crossing Theater. The Chappaqua Crossing Theater is a beautiful venue, where Peter Pan will be presented during the weekends of May 30th and June 6th. High School Musical will be performed during the weekends of June 12th and 19th.
The opportunity for Lighthouse Youth Theater to perform at Chappaqua Crossing Theater could not have happened without the support and efforts of Chappaqua Crossing, Summit Development, Greenfield Partners and the Town Board of Chappaqua. New Castle Town Supervisor, Rob Greenstein, was also instrumental in working with Lighthouse Youth Theatre Artistic Director, John Fanelli, to help facilitate the approval of these performances at the Chappaqua Crossing Theater.
Lighthouse Youth Theatre’s home base is at Standing Ovation Studios in Armonk, New York, and produces shows with young people ranging in age from 4 – 18. Dancing, Singing, and Acting classes and lessons are also available on a daily basis, as well as Rock-n-Roll and music lessons.
Lighthouse Youth Theater is so excited to bring these two live fun-filled, family-friendly shows to the Chappaqua Crossing Theater this Spring. All are welcome and tickets can be purchased through our website or by phone.
For more information, contact John Fanelli at (914) 741- 4205 or e-mail Office@Lytshows.org.
New Castle Field Hockey Association Announces Spring Field Hockey Clinic for Middle Schoolers
Registration is now open for the New Castle Field Hockey Association’s Spring Clinic for 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. The clinic will be held on Saturdays (from 3:30-5:00) from 4/18 through 6/13 and will be conducted by the HGHS Varsity and JV field hockey coaches. Click here for the registration form or more information. Beginners and experienced players are welcome.
Thank a First Responder Day
Chappaqua Garden Club
Wednesday, May 20
Heaven is a Garden
12:30pm at the First Congregational Church, 210 Orchard Ridge Road, Chappaqua
Free and open to the public.
Jan Johnsen is a professional landscape designer and a principal of the established design/build firm, Johnsen Landscapes & Pools, in Westchester County, NY. She is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University and an award-winning instructor at the New York Botanical Garden.
Ms. Johnsen will speak about her latest landscaping book, Heaven is a Garden. http://www.janjohnsen.com/
Please join us at 11:30 for a light lunch and business meeting before the presentation. For further information, email chappaquagardenclub@gmail.com
New Castle Residents Invited To Babka With Rob-Ka
Since the last election, Town Board meetings have become much more of an open forum for public comment. There are no time limits and much greater transparency. But, by necessity, we run our meetings with agendas that cover the nuts and bolts issues in front of us. I’d like to provide our residents with the opportunity to discuss broader issues in an informal setting. Let’s share our philosophies and ambitions for the future of our town. Rob will be there to discuss your ideas, hear your concerns and break babka with you. Email RGreenstein@MyNewCastle.org to arrange a Sweet Summit.