Chappaqua Girl Scouts has a strong community of over 500 active Girl Scouts and adult leaders with troops at each of the six Chappaqua schools. Troops are organized by grade level and school attended, with girls beginning as Daisies in Kindergarten or in Grade 1 or later as Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors or Ambassadors. Annual community-wide events include the Campfire Sing, International “Thinking Day,” Father-Daughter Dance, Cookie Sales, Veterans Day Tribute, Thank a First Responder Day, and an Annual Camping Trip. Girl Scouting remains true to its mission: “Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.” It offers many opportunities for younger girls,from fun local field trips to meaningful service projects and develops leadership skills and social responsibility as the girls advance.
For more information, go to chappaquagirlscouts.org or girlscoutshh.org
Founded in 1913, Chappaqua Troop1, comprised of 35-40 boys, is the oldest troop in the Westchester-Putnam Council, organized just three years after the Boy Scouts of America was initially established. Led by Dr. William Flank since 1990, invigorating community-building activities include backpacking on the Appalachian Trail, whitewater canoeing on the Delaware River, camping in the Adirondacks, and monthly camping, fishing and sailing trips. The Troop’s 100-plus Eagle Scout projects over the years have included building trails at Gedney Park, cataloging grave sites at historic cemeteries, and other community service projects for area schools and churches.
chappaquatroop1.com
For more than 75 years, the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps has provided emergency care to those who visit, live, or work in New Castle. Today’s volunteers are your neighbors–teachers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, parents, and grandparents. CVAC responds to more than 500 calls annually attending to medical emergencies that include everything from falls and illness to motor vehicle accidents. Volunteers respond to a wide variety of 911 calls, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls include at home accidents or illnesses, motor vehicle accidents, and any form of medical emergency in our district. Sometimes the patient may decline the ambulance but most times we transport the patient to an emergency room for further medical care. On some calls, paramedics arrive to assume patient care, and we assist them. To volunteer, no experience or background in emergency care is necessary or required; training is free and provided by CVAC.
The Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps volunteer and career members provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Members come from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. EMT classes are offered in neighboring communities in conjunction with the Phelps Pre-Hospital Training Department. First Aid and CPR courses are also taught by our members as needed for anyone interested. Volunteers participate in community events such as parades, standbys at church bazaars and street fairs, make presentations in our schools in addition to the primary responsibility of answering emergency medical care calls.
Promoting the idea of “service above self,” the Rotary Club consists of neighbors, friends and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting change in our community. As one of their many ways of carrying out this mantra, Rotarians raise money to fund various charitable organizations and causes, including the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund, the Food Bank of Westchester, the Open Door Foundation, and End Polio Now. The club typically hosts a guest speaker at each of their weekly luncheon meetings, associated with a given organization, who will elaborate on their cause, to which the club could consider for a donation at the end of the year.
If this all seems exciting to you, the good news is that applying for membership is easier than ever! Rates are offered at four different fixed stages (full, active, friend, and guest), so if it looks like your busy schedule won’t allow you to attend every meeting, you can still be considered as a Rotary Club member! Note: While any New Castle community member may become a Rotarian, all must be approved by members of the current Rotary group.
It is my pleasure to describe our outstanding school district. The Ossining Union Free School District, nationally recognized for its award-winning and innovative programs, serves about 4,900 students in six schools that are organized by grade level: Park Early Childhood Center (pre-kindergarten and kindergarten); Brookside School (grades 1 and 2); Claremont School (grades 3 and 4); Roosevelt School (grade 5); Anne M. Dorner Middle School;
