The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

seniors

New Castle Town Hall Advisory Boards & Volunteer Opportunities

by

The modest building across from the Chappaqua Library on Greeley Avenue is the long-time home of Chappaqua’s Town Hall where multiple departments work to make New Castle a safe, welcoming and smooth running home. The town encourages residents to take full advantage of its services and opportunities–and to become an actively involved citizen too.

The New Castle Town Board is comprised of the Supervisor and four town board members. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, while informal work session meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays. The Town Board adopts and amends local laws regulating the town governance, controls the use of all Town property–except that directly supervised by the Recreation Commission–adopts the annual Town Budget–establishes the tax levy for General, Highway and related funds, and much more.

The Town Administrator oversees the Town’s day-to-day operations and recommendations on personnel matters and prepares the tentative budget for presentation to the Town Board. The Town Administrator is responsible for implementing policy adopted by the Town Board and provides advice and assistance to the Town Board as requested. For complete info about New Castle Town Hall, visit mynewcastle.org.

Opportunities for Seniors

New Castle is proud to note that many residents remain in the community long after the kids have ‘grown and flown.’ The Recreation and Parks Department oversees senior programming to help promote and enhance the quality of life of adults 60 years and over living in the community. Recreation programs, fitness classes and a comprehensive array of supportive services are offered regularly, and encourage both continued independence and involvement in community life. Popular classes at the New Castle Senior Center on Senter Street include artistic pursuits like Watercolor & Drawing and Passport to Active Living daily workouts. Games such as Bridge, Mah Jongg and Poker are another great way to socialize and have fun, and all ability levels are welcome. Music-loving seniors appreciate the free Open Rehearsals of the Chappaqua Orchestra. Lectures, also free, cover topics as far-ranging as classical music to health and fitness. There is even a weekly Pizza ‘n Cinema meet-up featuring vintage and classic films. Senior transportation is available and affordable, and the Senior Watch, a voluntary program open to all, offers peace of mind to those who may not have family or friends available on a regular basis. Further information including the Senter Street Spotlight bi-monthly newsletter: mynewcastle.org/170/Senior-Programs

New Castle Town Camps

Summer is everyone’s favorite season. Longer days, sunshine and warmth, and lots of great outdoor activities make for very happy campers–figuratively, but also literally. New Castle Town Camps are the very definition of happy kid campers. Open to all town recreation residents, there are camp groups for all ages: Tot Camp, designed with young three to five year old children in mind, offers half-day enrollment. Camp Adventure, loaded with fun activities for first through fourth graders, meets at Bell Middle School but includes off-site activities like field trips as well. On-the-Go Camp, for fifth through eighth graders, offers exciting daily excursions to all kinds of kid-approved fun destinations; and the C.I.T program for ninth and tenth graders prepares young teens to move from camper to counselor. There is also a Summer at the Art Center camp for children aged four through seven with a special interest in art. mynewcastle.org/173/Summer-Day-Camps

Recreation and Parks

The Recreation and Parks Department in New Castle is proud to offer something for everyone. Offerings include the finest art workshops in Westchester County along with a wide range of children’s programs from infants to toddlers and preschoolers, as well as a very successful dance program. Looking for camp? The town has a variety of Summer Camps per above for children ages 4 through 8th grade and also Specialty Camps such as Soccer, Lacrosse and Basketball.

Annual events include the adorable Halloween Ragamuffin Parade, a free Fishing Derby and a very challenging 10K & 5K Road Race which traverses the hilly terrain of New Castle. In cooperation with the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce, residents enjoy a series of summer concerts at Recreation Field. There are also a fair share of youth sports here in town as well; youth athletic programs include Baseball/Softball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Field Hockey, Flag Football, Wrestling and Basketball.

For more info, call 914-238-3909 or visit mynewcastle.org

Volunteering for New Castle

New Castle offers many volunteering opportunities for residents to share their time and skills. The volunteer options allow residents to play an active role in developing town policies, events, and programs. Here are ways to get involved in helping make New Castle the best it can be:

Every Person is Connected

EPIC promotes the inclusion of community members with disabilities through implementing programs, advising the town board, and developing opportunities for those with special needs. The board informs residents with disabilities on the town’s recreational, educational, and social opportunities, and aims to improve their quality of life. Contact: EPIC@mynewcastle.org

Arts & Culture Committee

This committee supports the growth of the arts in New Castle through promoting and proposing events and programming, such as art exhibits, music, dance, theater, and film. The organization meets twice a month and collaborates with the town and third parties to enhance the community’s events and programs dedicated to the arts. NCACC members also research arts programming of interest in neighboring communities and gather feedback on past and future events. Contact: arts@mynewcastle.org

Beautification Board

The board supports and develops programming that enhances the appearance of New Castle, often collaborating with the Parks and Recreation Department. The Beautification Board sponsors the annual Clean-Up Day in April as well as the “Adopt a Bench” program, which commemorates loved ones and special events. Board members also choose holiday lights and décor for the downtown area during wintertime. Contact: BAB@mynewcastle.org

Community Preparedness Committee

The committee facilitates emergency preparedness for severe weather conditions and power outages. Members advise the town board, educate residents on preparing their homes for emergencies, and coordinate volunteer neighborhood emergency teams. Contact: prepare@mynewcastle.org

Health and Wellness Task Force

Health and wellness are high priorities for the citizens of the Town of New Castle. This committee provides the community with educational resources about public health matters and providing support on a wide variety of health and wellness matters.

New Castle for Inclusion & Diversity Committee

The committee promotes the town’s inclusion and diversity goals through programming in New Castle. To create community awareness about differences in others and encourage respect for these qualities, the organization hosts fundraising events and community celebration. It published a book list (prepared by the Chappaqua Library) which celebrates diversity. Contact: inclusion@mynewcastle.org

New Castle Conservation Board

Studies and advises the Town Board and other Town departments, boards and commissions on developing sound open space planning and assuring preservation of natural and scenic resources within the Town of New Castle.  For more information, please contact Dennis Corelli, Town’s Environmental Coordinator at dcorelli@mynewcastle.org

Sustainability Advisory Board

This board’s many tasks include waste management, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and educating residents. A committee advises the board on local construction projects to promote more sustainable practices. Visit www.newcastlesab.org/

Finally, Friends of ChappPac is also a new and vital board supporting the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center.

For more information about any New Castle advisory board, please visit www.mynewcastle.org/250/Boards-Commissions

Sustainability in Action

The Take It Or Leave It Shed

The shed was first opened over a decade ago by volunteers and the Department of Public Works. Located behind the Shell station on South Greeley Avenue, the Take it or Leave it Shed  is open May through October on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon to coincide with the outdoor season of the Chappaqua Farmer’s Market.

You never know what you’ll find at the shed, but it is guaranteed to be free.

Only New Castle residents can donate to the shed (ID is required) but residents and non-residents are allowed to reap the benefits of the items left behind. Items must be dropped off before 11:30 a.m., and there is a maximum of two carloads of items per family per week, so don’t be tempted to use the shed as your own personal dumpster!

For more information and a list of acceptable items for the shed, visit www.mynewcastle.org or call the Department of Public Works at (914) 238-3968.

Reusable Bag Law

In 2017, New Castle showed the world that every day is earth day when the Reusable Bag Law was officially passed. New Castle became the first town in New York State to adopt a ban/fee hybrid bag law. Under the legislation championed by the New Castle Sustainability Advisory Board, the law eliminates distribution of single-use plastic carryout bags at all stores and requires a 10-cent charge for paper shopping bags at the types of stores that use the most bags–grocery stores, convenience stores and pharmacies.

Every week New Castle saves tens of thousands of bags from entering our waterways and food stream, and littering our parks and roads. This initiative has been so successful that it has served as a model for other Westchester towns seeking to pass similar laws. For more information about this and to see how the Advisory Board is working on changing state and county-wide laws on this issue, visit mynewcastle.org or SAB@mynewcastle.org.

 

The Electric Ride

The Town of New Castle was named the first small community in Westchester County to be designated a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. A $100,000 grant to the town was used to purchase an electric shuttle which connects Chappaqua Crossing with the Chappaqua Train Station.

 

 Information: Courtesy of The Town of New Castle 

Northern Westchester Hospital Earns Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation

by

Patient in Northwell ED Photo credit: Northwell Health

MOUNT KISCO, NY – In recognition of excellence in care for older patients, Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) was among Northwell Health’s 17 emergency departments across Long Island, New York City and Westchester to receive recognition from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) for its expertise in caring for geriatric patients. Northwell is the first health system in the nation to have every ED in its network accredited.

“This achievement was made possible by the close collaboration between our emergency department teams, and geriatric and palliative care clinicians to deliver high-quality care to older adults who need a tailored approach to meet their needs during an ED visit,” said James Dwyer, MD, chief of Emergency Services at NWH. “Seniors who arrive in the emergency department need extra support and our staff recognizes it can be a challenge to navigate a complex medical system. I’m extremely proud of the teamwork demonstrated by our remarkable interdisciplinary team, and their energy and commitment in enhancing care for seniors during some of their most vulnerable times.”

The voluntary geriatric accreditation provides specific criteria and goals for emergency clinicians and administrators. The accreditation recommends more than two dozen best practices for geriatric care.  NWH was awarded a level 3 accreditation, which requires many of these best practices and geriatric education for emergency medicine staff, as well as screenings and programs focused on older adults.  Those include: geriatric-friendly equipment availability and policies regarding routine assessments for delirium, dementia or fall risk.

New York State is home to the third-largest elderly population in the country, according to the New York Academy of Medicine. Over the next decade, adults 65 years and older are expected to grow to 20 percent of the US population. Across Northwell Health, emergency departments report over 800,000 visits annually, of which nearly 30 percent of patients are 65 years and older.

About Northern Westchester Hospital

Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH), a member of 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 23 hospitals, about 750 outpatient facilities and more than 13,600 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 70,000 employees – 16,000-plus nurses and 4,000 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We’re training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Seven Byram Hills Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

by

Seven Byram Hills High School seniors have been named National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists. Front Row (L-R): Nicole Tissot, Emma Lucchino and Elyse Kanner. Back Row (L-R): Alan Chang, Jonah Schwam, David McDaniels and Joshua Freedman.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BYRAM HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT

The school year at Byram Hills High School started off with good news. Seven seniors at the high school were named semifinalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The students were Alan Chang, Joshua Freedman, Elyse Kanner, Emma Lucchino, David McDaniels, Jonah Schwam and Nicole Tissot.

“We are very proud of these students for this accomplishment,” Principal Christopher Walsh said. “It’s always great to have our students highlighted on a national level, and to have seven of our students ranked nationally speaks to the tremendous quality of education and support that we have here at Byram Hills.”

The Byram Hills students are among approximately 16,000 semifinalists, academically talented students who represent less than 1 percent of all high school seniors in the country and include the highest-scoring entrants from each state, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation said in a release.

They were chosen from more than 1.6 million high school juniors in about 22,000 schools across the country who took the 2017 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

More than 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to earn finalist standing, and about half of those will win a scholarship and the Merit Scholar title. The students are competing for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million, awards that will be announced in the spring and summer.

Get Ready, Get Set, Graduate! Byram Hills Graduation Prep by the Numbers

by

In one sense, it’s been a lifetime coming. The young students at Byram Hills High School in Armonk have been preparing for their high school graduation not just for four years but far longer than that, growing and changing and expanding intellectually. Now, though, parents, loved ones, faculty, staff and other officials will gather to recognize their hard work as they leave behind what the Byram Hills school system had to offer and embark on their adult lives. Inside Armonk spoke to officials to get a better sense of what goes into preparing for the big day.

19 of June is when the seniors at Byram Hills High School will graduate, indoors at SUNY Purchase, a location Byram Hills Principal Chris Walsh said is “beautiful even in the worst weather.”

205 newly-minted high school graduates will take on the world. Declining enrollment is causing the population at many local high schools including Byram Hills to get slightly smaller.

1372 is the number of seats available in the hall at SUNY Purchase. The graduates, of course, will be seated on the stage. Custodians will work hard the day before and the day of the graduation in order to transport and set up risers, banners, diploma covers, and much more, according to Deepak Marwah, fine arts director at the school. Marwah helps manage logistics for the graduation. “There are a lot of moving parts,” he said.

5 is a big number for this long-awaited event; 5 speakers will address the crowd at the Byram Hills High School graduation: a valedictorian, a salutatorian, Walsh, Superintendent Jen Lamia and the president of the board of education,Robin Glat. The valedictorian and salutatorian will be determined late May, when final grades are released. “That gives them time to work on their addresses,” Walsh said. The ceremony is at 5 p.m.–and each family automatically gets 5 tickets to the event.

1 or 2 extra tickets may be had, though, depending on availability and how many requests for extra tickets come in, Walsh said. Many families have grandparents and other loved ones in town to celebrate.

97 percent and more of Byram Hills students will continue on to college – Walsh expects this year’s numbers to be close to 98 percent, but an exact number wasn’t available at press time.

4 years of fundraising by these seniors, who’ve helped with prom and graduation expenses and more, and now it’s time to present a class gift with the money they have remaining. “Last year it was a sign for our new Coffee Cafe,” Walsh said. “The year before, the class donated informational monitors for the hallway.” What’s coming from the Class of 2018? It’ll be a surprise, announced during the ceremony.

0 Regents diplomas will be awarded by Byram Hills. “We do what’s called a local diploma,” Walsh explained. “We feel like what we do is more advanced and more rigorous than a Regents diploma, but all of our students take all the Regents classes and go beyond that.”

23 AP classes are available at the alma mater of this year’s graduates, and other high-level learning opportunities such as a science research program, and in addition, a class called Perspectives in Literature, which is a two-period class that’s considered honors level.

11 months in advance, district residents are alerted of the next spring’s graduation dates when the district calendar is finalized and mailed.

45 sports teams of various levels and seasons are available at Byram Hills High School.

90 minutes or a bit more is the projected length of the graduation ceremony, with a lot packed in: besides the speeches and awarding of diplomas, there will be several pieces of music performed by the band and chorus, and the class gift presentation.

“We really take it seriously and we really think it’s important to present an event that represents all the hard work the students have put in over four years,” Walsh said.

Greeley Grad’s Passionate Plea to Reject Choice of Trump National for Senior Prom

by

Calls Prom Venue Choice “A Short Sighted Loyalty”

Editor’s Note: On Friday, February 17, Horace Greeley High School (HGHS) Principal Robert Rhodes sent a letter to HGHS seniors and their parents explaining the reasons as put forth by a Senior Leadership Council behind the decision to hold this year’s prom at the Trump National Golf Course in Briarcliff Manor.  HGHS  grad (Class of 2012) and Harvard grad  (Class of 2016) Aemila Phillips immediately sat down to write a response–in the form of an open letter to HGHS students–and asked if Inside Chappaqua would publish it. Here’s Aemilia’s letter which speaks for itself. Rhodes’ letter follows as a reference point; Rhodes states that the Council has scheduled a meeting on March 2 “for any students from the Class of 2017 who feel that attending Prom at Trump National is not something they are comfortable with.”

Aemilia Phillips

By Aemilia Phillips

Dear HGHS students,

Eleven years ago, my Dad began a tradition of speaking to Bell Middle School’s fifth grade class during their annual Latin America unit. He’d bring artwork and family photos, piñatas and the ever popular Carlos V chocolate bars, all the while laughing and joking with kids he’d coached on the baseball field, and kids he’d met only a few minutes prior.

A Mexican immigrant himself, he used his story to provide a cross-border snapshot, to answer any and all questions from a bunch of bright-eyed 10 year-olds. That first year, he came to just my classroom. A year later, he presented to four more classes. And for the eight years after that, he spoke in front of the entire fifth grade.   

These are the values I choose to remember about my time in the Chappaqua school system – an emphasis on not only learning about other cultures, but celebrating them. Encouragement to embrace and welcome the diversity of the student body. Teachers who see education as not only a compiling of facts, but as a way for students to become intelligent and active citizens of this nation and the world.

The recent decision to hold this year’s senior prom at Trump National Golf Course stands in complete opposition to those supposed values. It shows a short-sighted loyalty to a single night of partying instead of a commitment to stand by the principles and values taught to students over the course of their 12-year education.

This decision is not about party politics. This is not a partisan debate regarding the nation’s controversial immigration policies. This is about the President of the United States, a man holding the highest office in this country, referring to Chappaqua students, to members of our own community, as murderers, rapists, and criminals. As not the best and brightest this country has to offer. As people who should be embarrassed to come from diverse backgrounds.

As we’ve seen play out on the national stage, the President’s business ventures and executive actions are one and the same. Money flows from Trump properties into Trump bank accounts, into the Trump campaign and into Trump national policies. The decision to hold senior prom at this location is an implicit endorsement of the President’s blatantly racist policies, and his exclusion of people we should be proud to call our own.

And so now, I’m calling on Greeley students to take a stand, in a way that I never had to during my time there. Say no to racism. Say no to the exclusion of your friends and family. Hold the prom in the gym, or under a tent on the soccer fields, if money is that big of a concern. Laugh, dance, and celebrate in a way that you can look back and be proud of. Next year, tell your college roommates that you had your prom in a ragtag tent with handmade decorations and stood up for what you believed in, rather than compromise your values for a party at a golf course. 

Now is the time to show up. Now is the time to ask how you as students and we as a community want to be remembered. And if I’ve learned anything from my time in the Chappaqua Central School District, it’s that Greeley students are more than up for the challenge – Now is your time to change the world.

In Solidarity,

Aemilia Phillips

Douglas G. Grafflin Elementary School ‘04

Robert E. Bell Middle School ‘08

Horace Greeley High School ‘12

Harvard University ’16     

 

Here is the letter sent by HGHS principal Robert Rhodes to Greeley Seniors and their parents with the subject line: Important Senior Prom Information for Seniors

Dear Seniors, 

Second semester of Senior year is upon us, and we are very excited for all it has in store for you.  We truly hope that you are able to fully experience the many moments to come!  We also realize that the arrival of Senior Prom may create a range of feelings given the Senior Leadership Council’s decision to hold the event at Trump National Golf Course in Briarcliff.  With our country already divided over political issues, we want to prevent the same divide from interfering with the Senior Class enjoying your experience.  Our hope is that the Class of 2017 can unite and leave Greeley remembering a great Senior Prom.  Typically, we see just about the entire class attend; it is a very special occasion for us as well.   

Regardless of your feelings about the Presidential election or current national climate, we hope that everyone will be able to attend the Prom.  We acknowledge that the heightened emotions carried by our current political climate may spill over to the selection of your prom venue.  On behalf of the Senior Leadership Council, we also want to share the process for selecting the venue so that everyone has the same information about how the decision was made. 

Every year the Greeley Senior Prom is sponsored and organized by the Senior Leadership Council.  This group of twenty to thirty students has been committed to working on class activities including: bonding events, charity events, fundraising, and planning for the Prom.  This started when you were in 9th grade; many of these students have dedicated the last four years to representing your class and promoting unity.  When it came time to decide on your Prom venue back in April of 2016, the Senior Leadership Council participated in a vote to decide whether to explore other venues or continue with Trump National as many previous senior classes had done before.  Students based their decision on:  1) financial information that was collected; 2) the seating capacity of the venue; 3) the close proximity to Greeley; and 4) the overall aesthetics of the venue.  If the Senior Leadership Council had one-third or more of the students ask to explore further options, the Council would have opened up the conversation to the full Senior Class.  The results showed overwhelming support to keep the venue at Trump National Golf Course based on the four factors listed above.   

The Senior Leadership Council students also carefully weighed the controversy around the selection of this same venue by the previous year’s seniors, the Class of 2016.  That class had systematically reviewed as many venues as possible without finding a suitable alternative, let alone one that matched their criteria.  The Class of 2016 did all this during the time that President Trump was a candidate running for election.   When it was time to make a decision, both Senior Leadership Councils, those of 2016 and 2017 decided that the venue was the best choice for their respective classes.  A deposit was paid months ago for the Class of 2017 Prom, prior to the election.  Large venues book quickly, months and sometimes over a year in advance during prom and wedding season.   

There are students in the Class of 2017 who support the President and those who dissent from him.  What unites you is that you are the Horace Greeley Class of 2017.  We want to both be mindful of individual feelings and decisions and support you as a group.  The last thing we would want to see is your class in conflict with itself.  The Senior Leadership Council has been hard at work planning for the Prom.  On their behalf, we are encouraging any students who feel uncomfortable with the venue decision to still attend because we would not want you to miss out on the memories.    

We also believe that there may be ways to maintain personal beliefs and still attend the Prom that would allow the Class of 2017 to remain unified AND support all its members.  The Senior Leadership Council has scheduled a meeting on March 2 at 7:45 a.m. in F1 for any students from the Class of 2017 who feel that attending Prom at Trump National is not something they are comfortable with.   The goal of the meeting is to help brainstorm ideas or action(s) that will support anyone who wants to attend and feel like they are being true to their beliefs.  That can only happen when people are talking with one another.  The Senior Leadership Council wants to support everyone and we encourage anyone with concerns to attend. 

Respectfully, 

Robert Rhodes, Principal 
Lyn Stewart, Acting Assistant Principal