The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Douglas Kraus

A Spirit of Collaboration and Good Will Stressed at New Castle’s 2024 Inauguration

by

Top Row (L-R): Former State Senator Stephen Saland swearing in Deputy Town Supervisor Jeremy Saland; Secretary Hillary Clinton swearing in councilwoman Jennifer Naparstek Klein; and councilwoman Alexandra Chemtob, also sworn in by Hillary Clinton.
Bottom Row (L-R): President Bill Clinton administered the Oath of Office to: Town Justice Douglas Kraus, Chairman and Westchester County Legislator Vedat Gashi, and to New Castle Town Supervisor Victoria Bayard Tipp.
Inside Press Photos

Heartfelt messages of appreciation along with ones expressing respect for a diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints, plus lighthearted exchanges, were heard from the stage of the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center during the Town of New Castle 2024 Inauguration held January 11.

Those attending witnessed the swearing in of four New Castle public officials and the chair of the Westchester County Legislator, the Oath of Office administered by former State Senator Stephen Saland, neighbors Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton. The final swearing in was that of Victoria Bayard Tipp as Town Supervisor. See also Zoya Nabeel’s report and reflections of this historic moment and poignant testaments to Tipp.

Following honored traditions, State Senator Peter Harckham stated: “It’s a new day” and a time to celebrate the peaceful transition of power… everything we do is best when we work in collaboration.” Assemblyman Chris Burdick noted the “tremendously proud moment.” Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins introduced Saland, who served the 41st district for 22 years, and who swore in his son Jeremy Saland for a second time, this time as Deputy Town Supervisor. “At times he can be a handful,” quipped father about son. “But I know the kind of person he is… he’ll give you 110 percent.” “This community is great because of its volunteers…” Jeremy Saland emphasized, noting contributions from long time town administrator Jill Shapiro, staff and volunteers on boards, and first responders.

Harckham introduced Hillary Clinton as “an amazing Secretary of State, a mother, grandmother, a fierce advocate for children and health care reform…” Hillary Clinton swore in town council member Alexandra L. Chemtob who emphasized that public officials “need to lead by example.” “The world gets scarier and more divided by the day,” said Chemtob. “I might not be able to change the world. but I can make my side of the street a little bit better.”

Hillary Clinton also swore in councilmember Jennifer Naparstek Klein. Klein noted that even “small bits of work and effort matter; it’s an imperative in our life to be committed.” She quoted Hillary Clinton’s “One must bloom where one stands,” with a tip of her hat to members of the New Castle Democratic Committee, New Castle Blooms, and Up2Us.

Councilwoman Holly McCall introduced former 17th district Congressman Mondaire Jones as “the first black openly gay person ever elected to Congress and as the youngest member of House leadership, he has kept our congressional district in his sights.” Jones introduced President Clinton as “…a father, a husband, a saxophonist, a patron of Crabtree’s Kittle House in Chappaqua – See? I did my homework! – founder and chairman of the Clinton Foundation, and as the 42nd President of the United States of America, and a damn good one.”

President Clinton, before inviting Town Justice Douglas Kraus to be sworn in for a 9th term, stated: “We are not expecting you will be perfect but that you will do the best you can with an open heart and an open hand and without the venom and hatred which causes so much of our politics today.”

Bill Clinton also swore in Chairman and Westchester County Legislator Vedat Gashi who shared that his work has included landmark legislation to protect the environment, protecting a woman’s access to health care, and passing a first in the nation gun safety law, “all while passing a fiscally responsible budget to help restore Westchester’s economy.” Gashi, the first Muslim elected legislator, quoted Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Hate can not drive out hate, only love can do that.” He promised to “celebrate the love in our community rather than focusing on the hate.”

Tipp, last to be sworn in by Bill Clinton, stated that in her years of public service, she has worked “to gain the trust of constituents without regard to affiliation.” And that even in this “deeply divided political climate”, she would “continue to view residents through the lens of friends, family, and neighbors… I promise you it will always be that way.”

In a benediction, Rev. Dr. Martha Jacobs of the First Congregational Church announced her impending retirement, and offered, “May differences be celebrated and lifted up and move this town forward where all feel welcome and where are all views are welcomed and heard.”

Town Board Inauguration Welcomes Incumbents & Newcomers

by

L to R: Town Supervisor Ivy Pool, NY State Attorney General Letitia James and County Executive George Latimer

PHOTOS By Carolyn Simpson

On January 27th and before a packed Town Hall, New Castle inaugurated a new Supervisor and three Council Members, two of whom are newcomers to the Town Board. The ceremonies opened with the presentation of colors by various town first responders including the New Castle Police Department, fire departments from Chappaqua and Millwood and the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance. In an audience that included New York State Attorney General, Letitia James, and Westchester County Executive, George Latimer, the elected officials were administered their oaths of office.

The inauguration was the culmination of the hotly contested November 5th election between candidates from two slates–New Castle Democrats and the Republican-sponsored Team New Castle. In addition to the Town Supervisor, there were three Town Board positions that were up for election.

L to R: County Legislator Vedat Gashi, Town Justice Douglas Kraus, Town Board member Lauren Levin, Town Council member Jason Lichtenthal, Deputy Town Supervisor Jeremy Saland and Town Supervisor Ivy Pool

Ivy Pool was elected from the New Castle Democrats and succeeds Robert Greenstein as Town Supervisor and will serve a two-year term. Pool was first elected as a Council Member in 2017. Jeremy Saland, having assumed his position on the Town Board in 2015, was re-elected and will also serve as Deputy Town Supervisor. Jason Lichtenthal, who ran with Pool and Saland as part of the New Castle Democrats ticket, was also elected as a Council Member. Lichtenthal has served as a Commissioner in the Millwood Fire District. Lauren Levin joins Lichtenthal as the other first-time Town Board member. Levin ran on the Team New Castle slate and has served on the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce board and Streetscape Committee. Saland, Lichtenthal, and Levin will join the existing member, Lisa Katz, on the four-person Town Board.

Town resident and member of the Chappaqua Ambulance Volunteer Corps, Reese Highbloom commented on what he expects the new Town Board will accomplish. “I hope that the new board members can be a great face for the New Castle community, get to know each and every one of us and really hear what we want and what we have to say.”

Pool stated that the Town Board has an ambitious agenda and has prioritized certain initiatives including creating thriving hamlets, modernizing infrastructure, thoughtful capital planning and improving recreation and community spirit. “There are a lot of different goals and objectives that the Town Board has put together for what we hope to accomplish,” Pool affirmed. “The most immediate thing that we are working on right now is a rezoning initiative for downtown Chappaqua. We have done a great deal of work replacing infrastructure, but now we are ready to take that to the next step.”

Deputy Supervisor Saland emphasized Pool’s determination for the rezoning of the hamlet. “We are working on the form-based code to revitalize the hamlet. It is what the community wants and is consistent with the comprehensive plan.” Saland stated that the Town Board is eager to get to work for the people of New Castle. “I am excited to work with everybody on the Town Board; everybody is very eager, very hungry, very smart and very dedicated.”

Lichtenthal holds the belief that the town needs to come together in order to initiate progress and change. “We are in a time where we need to work together a little bit more than the past and we must come together with new ideas to move our town forward,” Lichtenthal passionately explained. He encourages the community to bring forth and share their ideas with the new Town Board. “Unless people come out and tell us how things are going and how they see New Castle, we are not going to be able to move forward as a community.”

Also sworn in during the evening’s events was Douglas Kraus for Town Justice. The incumbent Kraus was re-elected to his 7th term having served in the position since 1994. Vedat Gashi was also administered the oath of office for County Legislator representing District 4. Gashi, a Democrat, will represent New Castle and portions of Somers and Yorktown on the Westchester County Board of Legislators.

At the end of the ceremony, Pool concluded with how she anticipates the new Town Board will serve the people of New Castle. “Here in New Castle, we can and will do better. The only way that we are going to get things done is to forge partnerships and engage all voices.”