The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

New Castle

Hopes for a Miracle and Joy-Filled Sentiments Expressed at Chabad Chanukah Celebration

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December 7, 2023, Chappaqua, NY–Deeply felt hopes and wishes for a miracle for the release of all the hostages along with experiencing the joy and meaning of Chanukah itself were among an array of poignant messages expressed by both organizers but also by attendees at a festive and meaningful Chabad Menorah lighting celebration attended by several hundred at the Senter Street Community House.

The lighting followed a host of fun and traditional activities and songs both area families and visitors enjoyed plus remarks from Chabad’s Rabbi Butman and New Castle Town Supervisor Lisa Katz.

“This Chanukah, we take a moment to join public menorah lightings around the world to pray that those who are being held hostage be returned home to their families,” said Rabbi Butman in his remarks, “so that they can celebrate and light the Chanukah menorah in freedom.”

“Be the light and bring joy and happiness,” said Town Supervisor Lisa Katz. “Certainly, let’s use this time to remember all the hostages who are still not released and to pray for their release and for the end of Hamas, for the end of war, and to make sure that all innocent lives are protected.  Most importantly, let’s feel community and love each other.”

The community event opened with creative and engaging activities indoors by ‘The Mad Science Show’, and outdoors by ‘The Amazing Andy’, who transfixed the crowd with his fire juggling and balancing acts. The children’s program was organized by Esther Butman, director of Chabad education, working closely with Chappaqua’s Faina Preston. The children were also treated to donut (“sugnaniot”) decorating and assorted coloring and crafts activities. Following the remarks and lighting, Rabbi Butman led the crowd in traditional Chanukah songs.

This reporter, who is Jewish, took time to enjoy the festivities, and prior to the lighting asked residents gathered why they were attending and how they think a Chanukah celebration held special meaning this year.  Betty Jabloner, was straightforward: “I’m Jewish. And I’m here to support the town!” She was attending with her friend Vicki Bergstrom, a long time proprietor of Lange’s Deli in Chappaqua. Said Bergstrom: “Given everything about how our Jewish friends feel, I feel I can’t just sit in my house.”

Stacey Blaustein Divack stated: “We are really bonded together as one people and we are hopeful that there will be a miracle. We are hopeful that the Jewish religion and Israel will continue to thrive, that we have peace and Shalom with everyone in the world, and that we learn to respect one another and live together.”

Maud Bailey offered: “My heart is filled with hopes and prayers for peace.  What has happened is very sad!  But this feels like a very joyful moment…” 

And, from Kristin Lore: “This Chanukah, it’s about looking for that miracle again and looking for that light in the darkness that we are feeling. She paused, recollecting an accompanying worry. “When I have to think about whether it’s even safe to come to my small town lighting of the menorah, it’s pretty sad… and heartbreaking.”

Despite any sadness and worry expressed, the mood was ultimately joyous.

As Katz noted in her remarks: “It was wonderful to go inside and see kids happily decorating the donuts, and playing with science. So even when I’m no longer your supervisor, I hope you will always come out to celebrate your community and never forget to be the light.”

Rabbi Butman also emphasized that the celebration offered an opportunity to educate during these difficult times. “Chanukah is a derivative of the word ‘Chinuch,’ which means education– it’s a time to explore and understand education principles. There must be moral clarity, an appreciation that every single human being, that any student in any school or on a college campus, that every citizen in this great country, has the right to walk in freedom without fear, and that every parent has the right to sit home and not worry about the well-being of their child…. Education represents moral clarity and a sense of safety and security for all of us.”

 Rabbi Butman concluded his remarks and expressed his gratitude to all who attended with this: “For over 2000 years, he said, “we’ve contributed to the world with goodness and kindness and will continue to do so, with pride, with embracing our identity, with joy, with celebration, and certainly there is no greater answer to antisemitism than Jewish people coming out celebrating Chanukah with pride and without fear.”  

The Not So Lonely Goatherd: Fat & Sassy Goats in New Castle

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I could hear the sound of music with Julie Andrew’s voice in my head singing, “High on a hill was a lonely goatherd Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo,” as I made my daily visits to the Fat and Sassy Goats grazing outside of New Castle Town Hall last spring. The goats began their work in late May and were contained by a solar-powered electric net fence. The goats helped clear weeds and vines without the use of pesticides or heavy machinery.

In June Fat and Sassy Goats, co-owned by Jenn Balch and Donald Arrant, completed the goat grazing project with the goal of clearing a riparian area next to the baseball field. They worked with the town to bring a herd of 30+ goats to consume and “recycle” vines, weeds and brambles that had overtaken steep banks next to the creek over the course of a week, as an alternative to herbicide application.

On my visits to the goats, I frequently saw members of the New Castle Police Department, some of whom were as obsessed with the goats as I was. The goats appealed to people of all ages. Grandparents brought their grandchildren. Teens stopped by and tiny tots in strollers came by to watch the goats. One friend enjoyed her birthday breakfast in their company.

Every day I posted pictures and videos of the goats at work on social media. “Where are they?” people asked. I was delighted to spread the word.

One day I decided to bring Maggie Mae, the beloved Pup Reporter. She went wild when she saw them. If there wasn’t a barrier separating her from the goats, she would have eagerly joined them. Many of them seemed fascinated with her and met her at the fence. She may not be your typical herding breed like a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd, but Maggie Mae could have started a new trend of toy poodle goatherders.

“This was our first project working directly with a municipality, and in particular, Dennis Corelli, Environmental Coordinator, Sabrina Hull, Director of Planning and Christina Papes, Town Clerk who all went above and beyond to ensure everything went smoothly every step of the way,” said Balch. “We would also like to thank Round Rock Preserve for their catalytic goat grazing project, the New Castle Police Department for being great goat neighbors, and the many friendly people from the community who stopped by to say hi or to watch and appreciate the goats.”

Full ecological restoration of this area is still a work in progress, but they are continuing to speak with the town about a combination of future grazing and re-seeding, so we may see them all again soon. I, for one, would love that!

And Balch adds, “The goats enjoyed their time in New Castle, and we did too.”

Honoring Fallen Heroes: Memorial Day in the Town of New Castle

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Like towns and cities across America, you can count on the Town of New Castle to host a Memorial Day parade and ceremony on the last Monday of May. The tradition of honoring the men and women who sacrificed their lives for our country began after the Civil War. Continuing through the decades it was known earlier as Decoration Day until 1967 when the U.S. government officially adopted Memorial Day as the name.

Chappaqua resident Captain Peter Gaudet, a West Point graduate, has been the Parade Grand Marshal since 2017, taking over the command from longtime Marshal and Memorial Day Committee chair Captain Jim McCauley, who remains on the committee. Months of planning precede the parade and ceremonies. Committee member David Egerton compiles the biographies that are read by Girl Scouts during the ceremony. Other committee members are Dr. Michael Finkelstein and Eric Rosenfeld. The committee works closely with Jill Shapiro, Town Administrator, Tiffany White, Assistant to the Town Administrator, Town Hall staff, and Town officials, who help with logistics, produce the program, and invite Federal, New York State and Westchester County dignitaries.

President and Secretary Clinton are among the dignitaries who attend. “Hillary and I love marching in Chappaqua’s Memorial Day parade. It’s not only a chance to connect with so many of our neighbors, but to join in honoring those who have served and sacrificed on behalf of our country. We look forward to it every year as an event that truly represents our community, what it stands for, and what makes it so special,” says President Bill Clinton. The Clintons’ participation is greatly appreciated in the community. “They bring out a lot of people, which is nice,” says McCauley.

Gaudet was Grand Marshal for the virtual and video Memorial Day celebrations in 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic and was glad to have the in-person parade last year. “In 2023, we’ll continue to make sure we have this special day to come together as a community and take the time as Americans to reflect on those who gave so much including their lives for our freedom.”

Gaudet credits McCauley and his predecessors for the structure of the day. “We want to maintain the traditions as much as possible, but one of the new things is we’ve had a lot of success accessing interesting speakers with interesting backgrounds, including last year’s speaker my West Point classmate Dreux Coogan, a Chappaqua resident who was a Green Beret and is one of the top executives at Pepsi.” Along with the committee, Gaudet selects the keynote speakers. He couldn’t reveal the Keynote speaker for this year’s ceremony. “We want the element of surprise. People have preconceptions about who Veterans are. We pride ourselves on showing you who the modern American warriors are.”

For Gaudet the involvement of young people is essential. “The most important thing and the focus for me is the children of our community. Children are looking at their parents who are coming out to remember.  This is an opportunity to remind our children and ourselves how fragile democracy is, how fragile freedom is. The least we can do in our community is pass that down to our children.” And since those in the military pledge to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, Gaudet always carries some copies of the Constitution with him to hand out on Memorial Day.

Gaudet hopes that the playing of the national anthem and the speeches at the ceremony all resonate with the community. “I always start the program by asking parents to hug their children and children to hug their parents.” And Gaudet explains to them that they should take the time to hug each other because there are many parents and children who can’t hug each other because they were killed in action.

Commemoration of Memorial Day begins at Victory Corners at the top of hill on King Street in Chappaqua. Girl Scouts present the wreath and taps is played by high school students. The parade then commences down the hill to Memorial Plaza by the Chappaqua train station for a ceremony. At both ceremonies members of local clergy offer prayers, an invocation and benediction. Gaudet says that it’s a good way to start off and end the parade with the words of the religious representatives.

For decades until his death in 2015, long-time Chappaqua resident Gabby Rosenfeld was an integral part of the day.  His son, Eric, remembers how important Memorial Day was to his father. “He served as Grand Marshall for many years and remained as a parade Marshall after that. Community and giving to the community were very important to Gabby and to his wife Louise. Giving his time by participating in the parade and serving on the parade committee was one way to show his support for the town and for those who served.” Gabby Rosenfeld was appointed a “Chevalier” of the French Legion of Honor in 2011. “Only those who have been in the wars and have seen the lives that are lost can truly appreciate the sacrifices that they have made. Gabby saw a lot of that in World War II and considered himself lucky to have returned and been able to live a full and rewarding life. Honoring those who were not as fortunate was important to him.”

New Castle honors those fallen heroes who gave their lives in many ways. One example is the Route 120 bridge named in honor of Sgt. Kyu H. Chay who was killed in Afghanistan by an explosion in 2006. And each year fire department members place fresh flags on the graves of fallen soldiers buried in the Quaker Ridge Cemetery in Chappaqua.

Town of New Castle Historian Gray Williams has seen parades in town since he moved here as a child in the 1930s. “The parade has always served as a celebration of community pride and harmony.”

People line the streets waving flags and encouraging those marching in step. Hearing residents cheer means a lot to McCauley who is a Vietnam Vet.

“It’s a wonderful small-town America feeling,” says Vicki Bergstrom, a lifelong Chappaqua resident. “I still remember the excitement I felt as a Brownie participating in the parade. We made our own banners and I felt so much pride marching down King Street, hearing the cheers and applause as we passed by.” It’s been a family tradition as well. Bergstrom’s daughter Madeline marched when she was a Girl Scout. Her parents, Krista and Richard Lange marched with the Rotary, and her husband Ex-Chief Charlie Bergstrom marched with the Chappaqua Fire Department.

Town of New Castle Supervisor Lisa Katz reflects on the spirit of the day. “It’s an atmosphere of festive reverence, as we come together to honor the memories of those who have given their lives in service to our country. The parade is an embodiment of the best of our community, as we come together to honor our veterans and to never forget the tremendous debt we owe to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”

From the marching bands to the muskets, and all the cheers and applause in-between, the sounds of celebration are memorable. Gaudet is optimistic that the day has real meaning for the community. “The concept is to bring out the family and kids for entertainment, and hope there is entertainment plus some deep thought about what makes America special, and why people signed up to give their life for our freedom.”

Photos by Grace Bennett, Ronni Diamondstein, Hannah Rosenberg and Carolyn Simpson. (All rights reserved)

New Castle Stands Against Gun Violence in Rally Also Urging National Changes

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Survivor Described the Personal Impact of Gun Violence and County Officials Discussed New York Law Changes and Plead for Additional Changes at Federal Level to Make a Real Difference

Inside Press Photos 

On Friday, dozens of people gathered at the New Castle Recreation Field Gazebo in Chappaqua in protest of continued acts of gun violence across the nation.

“Our country needs to do more to prevent gun violence,” said New Castle Town Supervisor Lisa Katz in her welcoming remarks following an opening prayer by Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe of Temple Beth El.

“When it comes to the safety of our children and fellow citizens, the toxic, hyper-partisan politics of the day must be set aside. We must come together in earnest to immediately effectuate change where there is common ground and at the same time create an environment for bridging the gap where more work needs to be done,” said Katz.

The call to action comes on the heels of the mass shootings in Buffalo, Uvalde, and Tulsa. As Katz, local and county public officials and members of Moms Demand Demand Action spoke, they looked out at concerned citizens attending wearing orange, the color which has become synonymous with the anti-gun violence cause. According to the Wear Orange website, the movement came about following the shooting of Hadiya Pendleton in 2013, after which her friends wore orange – the color hunters wear in the woods to defend themselves from other hunters – to commemorate her life.

“Gun deaths in our country are occurring at a staggering rate,” said Chief of Police Jim Caroll. “About one hundred Americans are killed every day and hundreds more are injured. The massacre in Uvalde was yet another grim reminder that in the U.S., children are much more likely to die by gun violence than any other cause…We have suffered too much at the hands of people who use guns to commit horrific acts of violence.”

Erin Fuller Brian, a Pleasantville resident and survivor of the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, went on to share her story: “My life was forever changed,” she said of experiencing the deadliest mass shooting in United States history.

Although she and her husband were fortunate enough to have escaped prior to the shooter opening fire, she described their fear and confusion in the ensuing chaos, and the years of trauma that followed.

Inside Press photo

Fuller Brian gave birth to two children during the pandemic, and became choked up as she described the ways in which the recent shootings have hit home for her and her family.

”To be perfectly honest, the anxiety I feel just about keeping them safe on a daily basis is sometimes too much to bear. I obsess over their safety constantly and have intrusive thoughts about what could potentially happen to them after experiencing just how fragile life is and how it could be taken away in an instant.”

“And then something like Uvalde happens,” she said. “Nineteen children and two of their teachers were slaughtered, and I am broken. We all are. We send our children to school assuming they will come home safe and alive. These parents and families and students are living in a horrific nightmare. I think about what I went through and how hard it was for me to process when I was 29 years old, but most of the survivors of this shooting are children. They are eight, nine, and ten years old. How are they supposed to move on from this?”

While Fuller Brian expressed her grief, she also shared a message of hope, offering ways for the community to get involved in the fight and prevent more lives being lost to gun violence.

Some of these include fighting for common sense gun safety legislation with organizations such as Brady, Moms Demand, or Giffords, donating to those efforts, voting for politicians who support gun reform, talking to friends and family, calling representatives, and joining the March for our Lives protests on June 11th in Washington, D.C., Manhattan, or one of the tens of other locations.

“Have conversations about this, especially with your friends who are responsible gun owners,” Fuller Brian said. “You’d be surprised how much common ground you’re able to find because the NRA wants us to believe that this is a left vs. right, red vs. blue, gun owner vs. non-gun owner issue, but it’s not. It’s a pro-safety vs. pro-violence issue, and I don’t know a single responsible gun owner who is pro-violence.”

“This should not be a partisan issue. This is common sense,” she said.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer expressed a similar sentiment, stating that: “We have a lot of work to do. We will do our share at the local government level in Westchester County, and we hope that we can put enough pressure on the existing decision-makers or vote and get some new decision-makers.”

Latimer referred to a comment made in a radio interview by Robert F. Kennedy in the wake of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death: “No one knows who next will suffer some senseless act of bloodshed,” Kennedy had said.

“I ask myself, what are the next places where this is going to happen?” Latimer told the crowd. “It could happen anywhere. It could happen when I sit at a restaurant in an outdoor setting, in a plaza, any place. If someone has access to a weapon of mass destruction, it depends on that day, if that person decides to shoot up every civilian in sight.”

New York State Senator Peter Harckham shared a legislative update on the steps which New York State is taking to increase gun safety, included in a package of ten more gun safety measures passed on Thursday to be signed into law by the governor.

Included in this package is an increase on the age restriction for purchasing semi-automatic weapons to 21, a ban on the purchase of body armor, such as the kevlar vests which rendered the bullets of the security guard in the Buffalo shooting useless on the armored shooter, microstamping technology to allow for the tracing of bullets, an expansion of red flag laws, a ban on long magazines and auto-feeders, and a proposal for tracking and reporting mechanisms for hate speech on social media to hold those platforms accountable, among others.

“While we continue to work hard in New York State to keep you safe and pass the laws that we’ve all been talking about, we need to get national movement because without national background checks and without some national regulations, the flood of guns is going to continue to come to New York.”

Instrumental music was performed by John Burton. On the way out, orange pinwheels were distributed to the audience to place around the gazebo and along the road to commemorate the lives lost in these tragedies and to ensure that the community’s effort for change is visible to all.

A Boost to Food Allergy Awareness in New Castle with New Playground Signs

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Following the unveiling of a Town of New Castle sign promoting food allergy awareness: (L-R) Vicki Tipp, Stacey Saiontz, Jared Saiontz, Lisa Katz, and Heather Orenstein Brown  PHOTOS by Grace Bennett/Inside Press

Chappaqua, NY–Food allergy awareness received a welcome boost in New Castle last week with the unveiling of a sign–offering key reminders to visitors. Ten are now in place in playgrounds throughout the area. In addition, a proclamation  designating May 8-14 Food Allergy Awareness Week in New Castle was announced by Town Supervisor Lisa Katz. See below for the full text of the proclamation.

To announce the development, Katz appeared at the playground outside Town Hall together with town board member Vicky Tipp along with three community food allergy awareness advocates–Stacey Saiontz, her son Jared, 14, and Heather Orenstein Brown–to unveil the sign and offer comments that convey the importance of these measures.

The board and citizen gathering conveyed that 1 in 13 children are being diagnosed with food allergies, and that with the numbers increasing,  it’s vital that every community take simple steps to help keep kids with food allergies safe.

“This is exactly what the Town of New Castle is doing,” said Saiontz.

Thanks to advocacy by 14 year old Jared Saiontz, the Town of New Castle decided to put up signs in all ten town parks advising our community on how to keep food allergic children safe–wash your hands before going on the playground equipment and don’t eat while on the playground equipment.

From Town Supervisor Lisa Katz writing in the Town of New Castle Supervisor’s Report:

“These signs provide education and awareness about allergies and teach community members how they can help play a part to help food allergic children.  They are also helpful as many who do not live with food allergies may not understand that food residue can lead to a reaction. There is no cure for food allergies.  Allergic reactions to food can range from mild symptoms to anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction that can occur rapidly and is potentially life-threatening. We are proud to help educate the citizens of New Castle on the serious nature of food allergies.  Thank you to Jared Saiontz for bring this to the attention of the Town Board, and to our Recreation and Parks Department, Recreation Commission, and our Town Administrator for helping us to get it done!”

TOWN OF NEW CASTLE FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, Food Allergy Awareness Week was established as a national week of encouraging food allergy awareness and supporting those who are impacted by food allergies and anaphylaxis; and

WHEREAS, a food allergy is an immune system response to a food the body mistakenly believes is harmful. When a person with food allergy eats the food, his or her immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, including histamine, that trigger a cascade of symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract, the skin, and/or the cardiovascular system; and

WHEREAS, food allergies affect approximately 32 million Americans, including 6 million children; and

WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of food allergies is significantly increasing among children under the age of 18; and

WHEREAS, nine foods account for 90 percent of all food allergy reactions: Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Milk, Egg, Wheat, Soy, Fish, Shellfish, and Sesame; and

WHEREAS, there is no cure for food allergies, strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction; and

WHEREAS, anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that comes on quickly and has the potential to become life-threatening; and

WHEREAS, each year an estimated 3.3 million Americans require emergency room treatment for symptoms of a serious allergic reaction to food. Reactions typically occur when an individual unknowingly eats a food containing an ingredient to which they are allergic; and

WHEREAS, emergency medical treatment for severe allergic reactions to food has increased by 377 percent in only a decade; and

WHEREAS, managing a food allergy on a daily basis involves constant vigilance and even trace amounts of an allergen can trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Lisa Katz, Supervisor for the Town of New Castle, do hereby proclaim May 8-14, 2022, as Food Allergy Awareness Week in the Town of New Castle, New York, and encourage the residents of New Castle to increase their understanding and awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis.