The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Streetscape

My Dad’s Most Impactful Contributions to New Castle As Town Supervisor

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Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein and Jessie

Last month right before Election Day, I was asked to interview and write about our Town’s Supervisor (aka my dad) Rob Greenstein, and hear what he thinks were his ten most impactful contributions to the New Castle community. Luckily, I have direct access to him so scheduling time with him wasn’t an issue. Here is what my dad believes are his ten most significant accomplishments, besides surviving Chappaqua Moms!

1. He helped to start the eNewsletter.  He tells me that the eNewsletter and his Supervisor reports inform residents on town updates and events. Does anyone really read them?

2. He planned and completed the infamous infrastructure & streetscape project. He tells me the project includes new sewers, drainage to stop downtown from flooding, and hopes to improve the appearance of downtown Chappaqua. It will also make it safer to walk around. Are you kidding Dad? The construction hazards were also treacherous. And what about all those cones?!?!

He worked on updating the zoning in downtown Chappaqua to encourage more housing. He even helped to plan our first all-inclusive playground. The new basketball court in the back corner of town hall parking lot will bring people to play and exercise, and maybe after a game they’ll stop at one of the many nail salons- only kidding :). To highlight all of this, DiscoverChappaqua.com was created. I can’t wait to see it…

3. My dad played a pivotal role in Chappaqua Crossing. Everyone loves Whole Foods & Life Time. And I can’t wait for the Starbucks! I mean a drive thru Starbucks right next to the high school, that’s a coffee addict’s dream come true. He tells me that some new restaurants are coming. We’ve been hearing that for a long time. When?

My dad told me that Chappaqua Crossing will once again become an economic engine that drives our commercial tax base. Huh? I do think it’s cool that the old Readers Digest headquarters is now housing. My dad is also very proud of the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. It is nice, and the price was right ($1) but it needs some work. It’s no Radio City Music Hall but it will only get better.      

4. My Dad also helped bring DeCiccos & Sons to Millwood. I mean their guacamole and chips is exceptional! But, rest in peace A&P.

5. He helped create the Distracted Driving initiative in town. His team started the “Hands Off the Phone and On the Wheel” project. He loves his magnets. Just look around. We have lots of SUVS in town–many with magnets.

6. Like my older brother, my dad is really into the environment. He tells me New Castle was the first municipality in New York State to choose green electricity.  That apparently means that our energy comes from renewable sources. He also helped ban plastic bags in town. The funny part is that he still forgets to bring his reusable bags to stores. It’s fun watching him juggle the groceries when he leaves a store. I guess I could help.

7. He helped institute the 2017 Comprehensive Plan. What the heck is that?  He tells me that we received an American Planning Association Award for it. Get a life, dad.   

8. He is proud of a few committees they started such as Every Person is Connected (EPIC), Community Inclusion & Diversity Committee and the New Castle Holocaust & Human Rights Committee.

9. He also helped pave a lot of streets. But, I think they forgot to pave our street.

10. Finally, my dad helped to create the New Castle Holocaust Memorial. With help from members of the community, 750 daffodils were planted. The Daffodil Project hopes to plant 1.5 million Daffodils in memory of the children who perished in the Holocaust. I can’t wait to see the flowers in the spring.

Dad, I know myself, the rest of the family, and the community have given you a tough time over the years. But retirement has come! Let’s buy a walking cane and anti-grey hair spray (oh wait, you don’t have hair)!  Thank you for all you have done for the town. Your efforts have most certainly not gone unnoticed. It was evident how much you cared and contributed to the town and I know you will forever leave a mark on the community.

Why this Town’s a 10

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PHOTO BY Ronni Diamondstein

I’m wrapping up a sweet 16th year of publishing in Chappaqua feeling personally grateful, and convinced this town’s, well, a 10! At a Nov. 6th ceremony unveiling a New Castle Holocaust Memorial, a new place for reflecting and remembering, a bench was also dedicated in loving memory of my dad, Jacob Breitstein, a survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau, ‘Poppy’ to many. Hundreds attended, including President Clinton and a host of public officials. Each speaker (I was very honored to speak too!) addressed the same basic wish – for anti-Semitism and all hate to stop. Story about who made it happen and how: https://www.theinsidepress.com/the-new-castle-holocaust-memorial/

As we went to press, another humongous project, the revitalization of downtown Chappaqua, ‘Streetscape,’ was finally being heralded as very near complete by Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein and former town board member Adam Brodsky, largely regarded as Streetscape’s chief overseer.

On Nov. 16th, Greenstein and Brodsky cut a ribbon surrounded by a newly launched ‘Discover Chappaqua’ town site team. Newly elected officials, town supervisor-elect Ivy Pool, and town board members elect Jeremy Saland and Jason Lichtenthal also attended the festivities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In another golden gesture, a bench was dedicated in the memory of John Magnotta, the long-time owner of Chappaqua Cleaners and Tailors. As recently stated by Greenstein, our residents make this town what it is.

Take Dawn Evans Greenberg, for example. Beth Besen highlights her monumental accomplishments for the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, for (914) Cares–be sure to check out her (914) Cares co-founder Jessica Reinmann’s ‘where to volunteer’ tips–and more! Also, read about Dawn’s closest associate at the CCBF, Madeline Finesmith.

Finally, the issue is packed with ‘Top 10’ articles, such as Stacey Pfeffer’s inspiring personal fitness journey (‘Part 1’), must-knows about candidate for Congress David Buchwald (our very own state assemblyman), a roundup of holiday arts and cultural events–and all kinds of timely advice, too, from our generous sponsors!

Wishing everyone a love-filled holiday season, and a glorious start to 2020!

The Light at the End of the Tunnel…

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… is a Cause for Celebrating in Downtown Chappaqua this Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Event to feature a Ribbon Cutting and Memorial Bench Dedication Honoring John Magnotta of Chappaqua Cleaners & Tailors 

By Grace Bennett

Town Gazebo Photo by Marianne Campolongo

A few words. The Town of New Castle is gearing up for a big party on Saturday. It is promising “sidewalk sales, music, art, food, a scavenger hunt and more,” said Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein, who led New Castle together with the town board and department personnel through an ambitious ‘Streetscape’ project to meet infrastructure and aesthetics challenges in downtown Chappaqua.

For most of Chappaqua’s downtown merchants, and for the residents here, the seemingly near completion of the project is likely to be music to anyone’s ears–the town experienced stressful delays testing merchant and resident patience as it impacted livelihoods and ease of travel, commuting and shopping for residents, with many or most making peace with it for the promise of the changes and improvements anticipated for the town’s future. So a downtown celebration heralding its at least near completion will surely bring a massive sigh of relief from all, even while work continues toward completion in different locations of the town. Greenstein has been regularly reporting continuing updates in his E-newsletter to the town and sharing these into social media on Facebook pages such as Chappaqua Moms and New Castle Community Discussions.

The event, called “Discover Chappaqua—A Celebration of All Things Local!” promises a festive ribbon cutting to take place at one of the project’s finished pedestrian plazas, its most prominent one to date, complete with tables and chairs for enjoying your lunch or sipping your latte at the downtown intersection of Greeley Avenue and King Streets, outside of 1 South Greeley Avenue, a downtown corner commercial building. The safety improvements on that corner are a cause for celebration, too.

Everyone should come on down for this poignant reason too: The town plans to dedicate a bench to John Magnotta who passed away last year. “Magnotta was the prior owner of Chappaqua Cleaners & Tailors (also known as George’s Men’s Shop) and a merchant in Chappaqua for 47 years. His family has served Chappaqua for 85 years, spanning three generations, beginning with their grandfather in 1934,” said Greenstein.

The town is also coinciding this event with the launch of a new promotional, but advertising free site for the town  (noted per earlier conversations with the town) called ‘Discover Chappaqua’, * www.discoverchappaqua.com  “This new site, Greenstein noted, “will highlight all that Chappaqua has to offer—a great place to shop, eat & live.” Greenstein thanked Town Supervisor elect Ivy Pool, and a volunteer team for producing the upcoming site. They include Dana Berk, Linda Fears, Peg Kafka Sackler and Monique Ross Banks.

See you on Saturday!   Grace

Grace Bennett is founder, publisher and Editor in Chief of The Inside Press, now in its 16th year.

*For fair disclosure too, the Inside Press had received a modest commission from the Town of New Castle to help subsidize and produce a guide called Discover New Castle; all of its content which was completed last summer and mailed in a print edition in a back to school edition of Inside Chappaqua & Millwood Magazine has been shared with the DiscoverChappaqua.com team to help launch the new town site.

Full Steam Ahead for STREETSCAPE

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(L-R) County Legislator Chairman Mike Kaplowitz, State Assemblyman David Buchwald, and New Castle Town Board’s Adam Brodsky, Supervisor Rob Greenstein, Matt Slater (chief of staff for Senator Chris Murphy) NCTB’s Lisa Katz and Hala Makowska at a groundbreaking ceremony for Streetscape.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place earlier this summer celebrating the launch of Streetscape – an ambitious Town of New Castle construction project intended to fix and enhance sidewalks, public
spaces, infrastructure, roadways, and add streetlamps and plantings.

The work, the town officials promised, will alleviate infrastructure challenges in and further beautify downtown Chappaqua; the ceremony brought together virtually everyone involved in bringing the project to fruition. “We are replacing our historic foundations that in some cases are over 80 years old, with a new and reimagined Hamlet,” stated Town Council member Adam Brodsky, who was at the helm of the project. “This hard work will be the basis to allow our businesses to grow and more people to call the Downtown home over the distant future. Our Hamlet has gone too long without the attention it deserves. Having a beautiful and functioning Town will entice new businesses to our Downtown and help those already here to prosper.”

Brodsky thanked present and past town board members for their efforts, and also those involved in volunteer committees and to environmental and engineering consultants to the project, as well. He also quoted New Castle’s most famous resident, Horace Greeley: “I think we all, as we grow old, love to feel and know that some spot of earth is peculiarly our own–ours to possess and to enjoy, ours to improve and to transmit to our children.”

These remarks, he said, will be after careful consideration by the New Castle Historical Society engraved on a brass plaque to be forever affixed into the sidewalk in front of the Horace Greeley House. “They truly encapsulate why the beauty of our hamlet is so important. It is an extension of our homes and a place we possess, enjoy and will pass on to our children.”   — Grace Bennett

Toward Community Renewal: An Update on the Streetscape Improvement Project

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streetscape_1a

New Castle’s Adam Brodsky (left) and Robert Greenstein at an Election Watch Party at Chappaqua Tavern
New Castle’s Adam Brodsky (left) and Robert Greenstein at an Election Watch Party at Chappaqua Tavern
We’ve all heard the saying, “Good things come to those who wait,” but we’re guessing no group believes in it more than the members of the New Castle Town Board. For the better part of the last three years, the Board-appointed Streetscape Committee been vigorously reviewing, revising and deliberating over various developments concerning the Chappaqua Infrastructure and Streetscape Improvement Project.

Now, with the late September announcement that final plans have been approved and are officially underway, New Castle residents are anxious to see the outcome of the result. No fear, Chappaquans. Board members attest that if there’s any truth to the aforementioned adage, you’ll be anything but disappointed.

Fueled by the urgent need to replace the rapidly-failing waterlines and overall underground infrastructure_a project that was initially attempted, then halted, with the rebuilding of the Route 120 Bridge in 2012_the idea was revisited anew in May 2014, when members of the Town Board saw the perfect opportunity to revitalize the downtown landscape, and joined forces with national engineering firm WSP Sells to make it happen.

“The idea was ‘if we’re going to rip up the sidewalks [anyway], why put in concrete? Why not take a step back and put [in] something more aesthetically pleasing?’” explains Deputy Town Supervisor Adam Brodsky, who chaired the aforementioned Streetscape Committee in charge of green-lighting the majority of the enhancements. In addition to correcting the pipeline issues, “this new plan will also improve the layout of the sidewalk, as well as the regulation of both pedestrian and automobile traffic,” while adding a fresh, new vibrancy to the hamlet. In simplest terms, “it’s a win-win for everyone.”

As New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein outlined in an earlier statement, residents can look forward to enjoying a variety of new amenities when the project reaches completion, from bike racks to bus shelters to spacious communal gathering spots_the most notable to be a 3,000-square foot seating area stationed at the corner of King Street and S. Greeley Avenue. On the whole, “It’s going to be a fundamental change to the downtown [area] that’s never really been seen before,” comments Brodsky, with a smile.

On the financial end, Greenstein commended his staff for “[striking] the right balance between being cost effective and selecting quality materials and finishes that are timeless and classic.”
To that point, Brodsky admits to feeling the pressure of the economic factors looming over him throughout the entire deliberation process, fully aware that “we didn’t have a blank check [and] we couldn’t buy gold faucets,” so to speak. For that reason, he too, commends himself on “striking that balance” — without fully compromising the style of the finish — calling the feat his proudest achievement within the scope of the project. (Rather than have the entire area done completely in solid brick, the final product will be a sidewalk constructed in concrete with “beautiful brick accents along the perimeter.”)

No doubt these intricate details will breathe new life into our little town. But it’s not all about the beautification. As mentioned, the new developments also–and perhaps most importantly–aim to improve pedestrian safety.

First, the plans will see the removal of the slip lane at the intersection of King Street and South Greeley Avenue, to be replaced by a stoplight, to “allow for better traffic flow,” says Brodsky. “It’ll become more of a traditional intersection with two lanes… You’ll come to the traffic light and either turn left or right.”

streetscape_2aAdditionally, “the parking spots on the right hand side of on North Greeley Avenue are being flipped to the other side of the street,” Brodsky explains. “There’s a jog in the road as you’re coming down to the hill, and by flipping the parking spots, that jog will be removed, so when you drive, you’ll actually go straight into the lane.” Furthermore, the triangle at the South Greeley Avenue and Quaker Street coming off the Route 120 bridge will be reconfigured into more of a teardrop shape, and the lane configuration will be modified to allow for better traffic flow.
But Brodsky also wants to remind residents that it’s not all done yet, adding, “We still haven’t hired a contractor.” Bids are expected to go out this winter with construction slated to begin in the Spring.

And how to answer to those who are worried that such massive construction will disrupt the daily function of downtown activity? “We’re going to require that the majority of the work be done at night,” Brodsky responds. And yes, he acknowledges the proposal may upset those residents living downtown “who don’t want a jackhammer going off at 3 a.m.,” but urges all residents to trust that, with negotiation, “we’ll find a nice balance.”

Regardless, it’s just one price to pay for the incredible transformation we’ll get in exchange, notes Brodsky, claiming he can only see the upside: “It’s a real vision for the future, and it’s [ultimately] going to be a reflection on our whole community,” he says, calling it a “brand-new welcome mat for visitors. If you take a snapshot three years from now, you’ll see how much it will help to increase property values, overall appeal, and more. Without a doubt, it’s going to be a change for the better.”

For more information on the Streetscape Project, please visit www.mynewcastle.org.