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Town Hall

The Inside Scoop on Discovering Chappaqua

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After living in Chappaqua for 23 years, it’s hard to imagine calling anywhere else home. Between raising my two wonderful kids here and running (since 2003) the Inside Press, a print and online publishing company – its flagship pub, Inside Chappaqua & Millwood regularly highlights the fun and fabulous options here – I can honestly tell you that I’m filled with joy and gratitude every single day. I am also always ‘discovering’ something new here, too, whether it is the opening of an exciting new arts venue like the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, a new hiking trail or new shopping or dining option. It is with these sentiments that I’m pleased to present to you the Discover New Castle guide. I hope it will prove useful and handy to long-time residents and also to any visitor considering calling New Castle home too. The guide has been produced in collaboration with Town Hall and all its articles can be found on a Town Hall website called Discover Chappaqua. Discoverchappaqua.com intends to continue to support, advocate for and promote our beautiful town, and I applaud those efforts.

Highlights from the 2016 New Castle Town Hall Inauguration

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Article and photos by Grace Bennett

At a sometimes light-hearted and sometimes poignant inauguration ceremony at Town Hall on Monday: Hala Makowska and Jeremy Saland were sworn in to serve first terms on the Town Board, Justice Douglas Kraus was sworn in again (after running uncontested and following 22 years of service to New Castle), and Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein was sworn in for a second term. Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino swore in Greenstein and Kraus, and former state Senator Steven Saland swore in Makowska and his son, Jeremy Saland.

Sworn in to serve (l-r): Jeremy Saland, Hala Makowska, Douglas Kraus, and Robert Greenstein
Sworn in to serve (l-r): Jeremy Saland, Hala Makowska, Douglas Kraus, and Robert Greenstein

• Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Town Board member Lisa Katz offered a welcoming statement. Of public servants, Katz stated: “We all aspire to stay united as a community…and all take pride in calling New Castle our home. Public officials in attendance, included the Clintons’ Director of Operations Oscar Flores; a district director for Congresswoman Nita Lowey; County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz; and former town supervisor Jan Wells.
• Former Town Supervisor Mark Tulis was introduced with a summary of his many accomplishments by Town Board Member Adam Brodsky. Tulis, in turn, introduced Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.
• Astorino immediately quipped, “It’s great to be here in the heart of Trump country…Oscar, I’m joking!” He reminded everyone that “the hardest thing to run for is local office, “ and how fortunate we are to live in a society that engages in “a peaceful transition to power…the people of New Castle have decided in which direction they wanted to go.”
• New Town Board Members Hala Makowska and Jeremy Saland were both sworn in by Jeremy’s father Steven Saland, who served the 41st district as member of the New York State Senate, from 1990-2012. Stated Steven Saland: “There’s no more challenging spot than to be a member of the town board.” The proximity of a town board member’s constituents is what makes it so challenging and rewarding. “You don’t get the face to face time with state and national reps, but you can always get face to face time with your local reps…Labels don’t mean as much at a local level.” On Jeremy and Hala’s election to the town board, Steven Saland said: “Jeremy has always been a source of great pride to me and his mother.” He described Hala as “totally dedicated to the town,” citing her work as a fire commissioner, in particular.
• Post her swearing in, and following a thank you to New Castle first responders for all they do, Hala Makowska stated that “it’s local government that has the greatest impact on the quality of our lives and value of our properties.” She said that she “hopes to offer an independent voice” and is always “willing to listen to anyone who has something to say.
• Jeremy Saland choked back tears recounting his father’s accomplishments as state Senator including, he said, redrafting domestic violence laws, and more, laws that protected children, describing these undertakinigs as “the foundation of who he is.” A lesson from his dad, he noted, is “that the end result is equally as important as how you get there.” He emphasized the need for transparency in government and how important it is to consider the opinions of opposing views.
• Justice Kraus, before being sworn in, added lightly: “I know..this was a real cliffhanger,” referring to his uncontested candidacy. Nonetheless, he added, that he does not take New Castle’s support for granted.
• County Executive Rob Astorino swore in Robert Greenstein to serve a second term as Town Supervisor.
• Greenstein noted that he didn’t know what to expect when he was first sworn in, but does now! He said he was warned his position “might be viewed by some as a ‘thankless job,’ but it has been anything but.” He took the opportunity to thank Town Administrator Jill Shapiro stating, “much of what we do can’t be done without her,” Town Hall staff and all the volunteers for the town’s many advisory boards. “I’m looking forward to two more years of progress.”

County Executive Rob Astorino swearing in Robert Greenstein for a second term.
County Executive Rob Astorino swearing in Robert Greenstein for a second term.
Former state Senator Steven Saland swearing in Hala Makowska as a town board member
Former state Senator Steven Saland swearing in Hala Makowska as a town board member
Steven Saland, swearing in his son, Jeremy, as a member of the town board. Behind them (l-r), Robert Greenstein, Rob Astorino and Mark Tulis
Steven Saland, swearing in his son, Jeremy, as a member of the town board. Behind them (l-r), Douglas Kraus, Robert Greenstein, Rob Astorino, Mark Tulis, Adam Brodsky and Lisa Katz

Inside my New Castle: Welcome to the Neighborhood!

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INSIDE-my-New-Castle-logo-onlyDear New Castle Neighbor,

After 12 years of faithfully publishing Inside Chappaqua and benefitting enormously from being an 18-year citizen of New Castle myself, I am engaging in a unique collaboration with the Town of New Castle.  Together with the fantastic cooperation of multiple departments in Town Hall , the Chappaqua Central School District, the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce and an array of other organizations from in and around town, I am thrilled to be managing a team of contributors who have been hard at work this spring producing pages for a quintessential welcome guide for families just moving into the neighborhood but useful for any one residing here already too!

I have always been dazzled by the vast array of programming available in the larger New Castle community, and heartened by the vote of confidence from so many corners as we create this exciting new resource.

It is such an exciting time when you first arrive–exploring offerings in and around town, understanding the lay of the land and forming new, life-long friendships for you and your children!  There can be challenges too, so this guide is being produced as a handy free resource for present and prospective residents–and will shortly be offered to New Castle and Chamber merchants next for sponsorships too!

Inside my New Castle  will be chock full of relevant information to take advantage of as a year-round reference rounding up and highlighting programming here and near, in our town and in our schools, and so capturing “The Spirit of New Castle.”  The guide will be available online too post print publication via Town Halls’s site, www.mynewcastle.org and my own, www.theinsidepress.com.

A Key Feature:  “What New Castle Residents are Saying!”

I need your help for the guide too!  I would really love to hear and include what you are thinking about your years living in New Castle.

Inside the guide, I hope to include different quotes from many of you too so that TOGETHER  we can help explain to any prospective resident why choosing New Castle to raise your family is the best decision you will ever make!   Please send your comments ASAP in confidence by May 20 to insidemynewcastle@gmail.com or “speak to me” openly on “Chappaqua Moms” where I will be asking too!

— Grace

*The guide’s launch has already been made possible due to generous merchant cover support, and via the generous sponsorships of area realtors who will be distributing thousands throughout the year to prospective residents too.

New Castle… Yours, Mine, and Ours

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nc-meetingby Eileen Gallagher

THE place to be on Wednesday evening was Bell, as a large crowd of residents came together with at least one thing in common: their love of New Castle.  Likened to a traditional “town hall” gathering by one of the attendees, this public outreach event had both new and seasoned community members coming together with a united goal– to make New Castle the best town it can be.

“Why Do You Love New Castle,” set on a colorful display in the middle school’s auditorium, invited residents to brag about their town via “Post-it” note comments. “Great schools,” “small town feeling,” “friendly community,” and “involved citizenry” were among several observations conveying the pride and affection felt by many.

This first of four sessions officially kicked off the master plan undertaking, an 18-24 month process, and appeared well received by the 75 or so participants. As both new and seasoned residents checked in (no pre-registration required), they were given an agenda with one of five random group assignments.

Tiffany Zezula of the Pace Land Use Law Center opened the evening with a brief orientation, setting out the “ground rules” of group discussion. In order to accurately record everyone’s responses which will be compiled by Pace and submitted as a report to the town, Zezula encouraged creativity, courtesy, patience, and open mindedness. The groups gladly complied.

nc-meeting2Zezula, John Nolon, and three other Pace staff members each filled several easel pages with the attributes, negatives, and suggestions for improvement regarding the environment, housing, infrastructure, public service, and commercial development of New Castle. Residents across the board had both praise and criticism, and, as observed in one group, benefited a great deal from the experience of those living in town as long as 60 years. Sabrina Charney Hull, the town planner, and board members Adam Brodsky, Jason Chapin, Lisa Katz, and  Supervisor Rob Greenstein individually observed a sampling of each room’s discussions.

As the evening wound down, Maud Bailey of the steering committee remarked, “Tonight was about visions, not necessarily where the barriers are — it’s all about the big picture.”  Pleased with the success of the event, Greenstein observed the “incredible display of community engagement.” Praising the experience of Pace, he concluded, “they lived up to their reputation.”

One For The Books

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Gathering for coffee and conversation at Chappaqua’s Le Jardin du Roi: Team New Castle with IC intern Zarah Kavarana and myself.
Gathering for coffee and conversation at Chappaqua’s Le Jardin du Roi: Team New Castle with IC intern Zarah Kavarana and myself.

Just between us, indeed. This column was on a whole ‘nother topic while Inside Chappaqua patiently waited for “the word” from Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein for a date for Team New Castle’s swearing in ceremony. He and the team were busy coordinating with Secretary Clinton and Congresswoman Nita Lowey so they could preside.

So in the ‘nth hour before IC was off to press–with Team New Castle election victory coverage already slated as the cover story–I was thrilled to work in some images from Town Hall’s Jan. 22 swearing in, and managed to post some video right away.  Pictures by the fabulous Carolyn Simpson, www.doublevisionphotographers.com, followed to inform and entertain a social media audience, primarily. I also very much appreciated a wonderful “reunion” moment I shared with Secretary Clinton–making this whole event another one for the IC books.

You can find our story as it ran that night by clicking on the “New Castle News” link or look under “Cover Stories” on our home page here for expanded coverage. One highlight was the portion of Rob Greenstein’s statement that elicited a hearty laugh: He turned to Clinton after being sworn in, stating: “Since I know that fairness is so important to Secretary Clinton, I’m confident that if the occasion should arise when Secretary Clinton is sworn into office in the next few years–she should know that we would happily 
return the favor by attending her inauguration. Fair is fair.”

A moment with Secretary Clinton following a Swearing In Ceremony for Town Officials
A moment with Secretary Clinton following the Swearing In Ceremony

Our Town Hall coverage in this edition also includes bios of  Councilman Jason Chapin and Councilwoman Elise Mottel (both of whom Sec. Clinton graciously acknowledged for their continuing service) and those of County Legislator chairman Michael Kaplowitz and State Assemblyman David Buchwald. Ronni Diamondstein checked in with “New Castle Democrats” for their plans moving forward. And Sarah Ellen Rindsberg highlights the outstanding generosity of Town Justice Doug Kraus.

Our sponsors are, of course, well represented in this 6th annual “Merchant Profiles” edition, and we hope you will read through the many profiles that accompany their spots. We invite you to show IC some love back by acknowledging their support here and hopefully visiting shops or trying out services.

Given that it’s Valentine’s Day, we remembered LOVE. Maggie Mae knows many owners like to take their pets shopping for V-Day, and has some great advice.  Don’t miss Anna Bennett’s reminders that not all kids enjoy the intense peer pressure V-Day can invoke.

At the ceremony, Secretary Clinton commended first responders as “the backbone” of our community.
At the ceremony, Secretary Clinton commended first responders as “the backbone” of our community.

Finally, we highlight loving efforts by the Women’s Leadership Council of the United Way, and offer good news from inside the pediatric oncology department at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital.  Love on.