Town of New Castle Archives - Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk: The Magazines for New and North Castle

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Chappaqua’s Streetscape Project: JULY 13

July 5, 2017 by Inside Press

Per the Town of New Castle: All are invited to attend a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Chappaqua Infrastructure and Streetscape Project. It will take place July 13, 10 a.m., at 200 South Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua. “We are very excited to get started on this monumental project that will include replacement of critical infrastructure and new wider sidewalks, effective new spaces and charming details throughout Chappaqua’s downtown. More importantly, the Streetscape work will have new crosswalks and traffic/parking improvements that will make it safer for residents to walk around our downtown.”

The project, town officials say, “will accomplish the much-needed repair, replacement and upgrading of critical infrastructure systems in our downtown business hamlet, including sanitary sewer, stormwater, water mains and roadways.

In the Spring of 2015, the Town enlisted the services of the international engineering firm WSP. In the Summer of 2015, a Streetscape Committee was formed chaired by New Castle Deputy Supervisor Adam Brodsky chaired.

The committee was made up of members of the Architectural Review Board, Beatification Board, Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce, merchants, residents and Town staff.

The Streetscape Committee met many times, including taking several field trips, giving serious consideration to the overall theme of the Hamlet with a goal toward making it as pedestrian friendly as possible and an eye toward being fiscally responsible with resident tax dollars. On May 9, 2017, the Town Board voted to award the Downtown Infrastructure/Streetscape Project to ELQ Industries, Inc., a construction company located in New Rochelle, NY.

The genesis of this project is for infrastructure replacement. Nearly century old water mains are years beyond their design life of 75 years. Sewer mains, installed over 50 years ago, are corroding from the outside in from sitting in acidic and unstable soil. This shift in the position of the main and manholes has contributed to the spike in sewer blockages which wreak havoc on our downtown businesses. This is evidenced by the pricing of the project–approximately 80% of the cost and over a hundred pages of plans are dedicated to the piping under the ground. Some of the major Infrastructure elements:

Replacement of approx. 1,650 feet of 12-inch water main • Replacement of approx. 2,650 of 8 inch and 15-inch sewer mains • New storm water management systems along N. and S. Greeley to alleviate flooding • New Traffic signal at the intersection of King and Greeley with formalized crosswalks
The project also includes streetscape improvements: new lighting, sidewalks, curbing and landscaping. Residents can look forward to new wider sidewalks, attractive new public spaces, new crosswalks and traffic/parking improvements.
Some of the major Streetscape Elements: New Concrete Sidewalks with Brick Paver Trim • Decorative Brick Crosswalks • ADA Compliant Tactile Warning Surfaces • Bluestone in Public Gathering Areas • New Granite Curbing • Ornamental LED Lighting • New / Refinished Benches • Trash Receptacles • Fluted Bollards • Bicycle Racks • Seating Walls • Ornamental Fencing • Planter Boxes with Plantings • New Trees with Identification Plaques and Grates • Clock

The contract contains the following completion milestones that the Contractor must meet:

October 1, 2017 — Installation of new water system • October 1, 2017 — Installation of new sewer system north of Rite Aid on North Greeley Avenue • March 2, 2018 – Completion of all remaining sewer work in the Chappaqua Hamlet • November 20, 2018 — Completion of the entire project

The Town promises to minimize the disruption. Some residents are already experiencing this inconvenience with the preliminary gas line replacement work currently being done by Con Ed. To help mitigate these issues, the Town’s construction management firm, Boswell Engineering, will be located in our hamlet in the former EZ Sports space with a 24/7 presence. Merchants are being kept informed of project scheduling, and how to stay safe during construction. Go to www.DowntownStrong.com to find out more about the project. Residents can also sign-up for project updates.

New Castle’s Longest Serving Scoutmaster Dr. William Flank Steps Down

June 14, 2017 by Inside Press

Troop 1 Scoutmaster since 1990

News from the Town of New Castle: Last Wednesday we marked the end of an era! Dr. William Flank has stepped down as Troop 1’s Scoutmaster, a position he has held since 1990. He has been Troop 1’s longest serving scoutmaster. He leaves behind some very big shoes to fill. Over the Troop’s history, which is 105 years, 112 scouts have reached the rank of Eagle Scout. Dr. Flank participated in 94 of the Eagle projects. Under Dr. Flank’s tenure, 55 of his Scouts became Eagles! “We would be hard pressed to find anyone, anywhere, who has trained more Scout leaders!,” said Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein. “He will be missed but always remembered by those whose lives he’s touched, and he has touched many young lives, for sure!”

In Two Key Ceremonies, Vets Honored During Chappaqua’s Memorial Day Parade

June 2, 2017 by Inside Press

By Justin Ellick

Despite the rain on Monday, visitors and residents of Chappaqua gathered with great anticipation and excitement along King Street and Greeley Avenue for the annual Memorial Day Parade. The rain worried some parade attendees that the festivities might be cancelled, but after the green light was given, all systems were GO!

The Victory Corners Ceremony kicked off the parade at around 10:45 a.m. from the corner of Ridgewood Terrace and Bedford Road, with Grand Marshal James McCauley calling the attendees to attention followed by Rabbi Maura Linzer’s opening prayer. The Presentation of the Wreath was next, as Girl Scout Troop 2395 came to the podium. The ceremony closed with the playing of “Taps” by the Horace Greeley High School Buglers, along with one final appearance by Reverend Holland for the closing prayer.

Following the closing of the Victory Corners ceremony, the line of March was set and ready to begin its trek down King Street and into the heart of Chappaqua. The question of whether the Clintons would be in attendance had been answered earlier when the Clintons emerged from their limousine for their traditional meet up with the town board and greeting of avid fans and longtime supporters, all pre-March, so as not to upset the parade schedule. The Secret Service and New Castle Police Officers directed the parade past the Chappaqua Fire Department and onto King Street, with former President Clinton–former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton-Governor Andrew Cuomo, and State Assemblyman David Buchwald, Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein, and town board members Lisa Katz and Adam Brodsky.

Grand Marshal James McCauley leading the parade. PHOTO BY Grace Bennett/Inside Press

The parade moved through the middle of town to the delight of everyone along the way, with iPhones and cameras ready to support the marchers in every category, whether they were Brownie Troops, our First Responders, or the Clintons, all along the route leading to the Chappaqua Train Station, the parade’s final stop.

The Marshal then called the parade to attention for the Memorial Plaza Ceremony. Right around noon, the sizeable crowd, still well into the hundreds or more gathered around the Memorial at the Chappaqua train station, where a small podium was set up, along with a few chairs for the parade’s esteemed guests and veterans. Invocation would follow with the help of Reverend Dr. Martha Jacobs from the First Congregational Church.

Next, the students of Horace Greeley High School band flawlessly performed their renditions of the “Star Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful. Kevin Moore and the Kerry Pipers followed the performance with their rendition of “Amazing Grace,” which acted as an opening for the two readings that would follow, each of which an oral history of a New Castle veteran who had passed.

Samantha Morrison, from Girl Scout Troop 1033, recited the first reading in honor of Gerald Helm who was formerly a part of the U.S. Air Force.

“On November 24^th, 1943, Gerald’s family received word from the Air Force that their son was reported missing after taking off from Shaw Airfield on a basic training mission,” read Morrison. “On September 23^rd, 1946, over two years after Gerald had gone missing, a skeleton was found near Shaw Airfield and it had been identified as Cadet Gerard Helm.”

Following the readings was the traditional Honor Roll of names that were added to the Memorial at the train station, as the Marshal and a few of his fellow veterans recited the additions to the Memorial.

To conclude the festivities, Girl Scout Troop 2320 approached the front of the podium for one final Presentation of the Wreath and the 5^th New York Regiment—Revolutionary War Squad, executed the Musket Volley. It was at this point, after one final rendition of “Taps,” that the Marshal brought the parade back to attention to conclude the ceremony. This marked the end of what was another wildly successful and fun Memorial Day Parade here in Chappaqua.

Greeley grad Justin Ellick, who has completed a junior year majoring in Media and Communications Major at Ursinus College in Philadelphia, joins Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk Magazines for a second internship this summer.

For a full gallery of our photos of the 2017 New Castle Memorial Day Parade, please visit us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/theinsidepress/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10155358951498669

Prevention Advice Regarding Ticks and Lyme Disease

May 25, 2017 by Inside Press (Edit)

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from a Global Lyme Alliance Forum held at the Chappaqua Library to Spread Awareness

By Justin Ellick

Chappaqua, NY—The Global Lyme Alliance recently held a forum at the Chappaqua Library offering tips to the audience on how to prevent Lyme disease from the get-go. The forum was sponsored by the Town of New Castle’s recently formed Health and Wellness Committee.

The Global Lyme Alliance, which was originally formed by the merger between the Lyme Research Alliance and the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance, is a leading private nonprofit organization across the United States that is dedicated to finding a cure and more accurate testing for the disease. Today, the Global Lyme Alliance has gained national recognition for its commitment to shifting the course of Lyme disease. They’ve accomplished this by funding ground-breaking research, while also expanding education programs for the public and physicians.

While it’s possible to to catch the subtle disease in its early stages,” said Global Lyme Alliance Board Member Derin Walden, “in many cases, the disease can be active for months before it becomes noticeable.”

“Lyme disease wasn’t even a thought,” continued Walden when she spoke at the forum. “There was no tick-bite or rash and it just did not occur to either myself or my doctor. After three to four months of my symptoms just rapidly increasing, with the help of the internet, I finally approached my doctor and asked her to test me for Lyme disease.”

As Walden pointed out when she spoke, there was no rash or infamous bulls-eye mark to provide her with a red flag. As a matter of fact, fewer than half of the people who contract the disease ever develop a rash or a bulls-eye, which has historically served as the universal way to tell whether you’ve caught Lyme or not.

Because of this, it’s important for people to be somewhat educated when it comes to the several possible symptoms of Lyme besides just the rash, as well as adopting safe and efficient techniques to prevent the disease altogether.

The forum was of special import to parents in Chappaqua, as attendees learned from the Global Lyme Alliance presentation that children are at the greatest risk for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. The presentation also offered several prevention tips for parents to implement into their daily lives, as ticks can be a problem all year round, not just in the spring and summer months. One technique the Alliance recommended was to apply EPA-approved repellents like DEET or permethrin to clothing, skin, and shoes as directed. One audience member at the forum shared her experience using one of these repellents, which she says works great for her and her kids.

“I spray my kids’ baseball bags, knapsacks, winter coats, basically their entire wardrobe”, said the Chappaqua mother. “Once it’s dry, the repellent can last up to six weeks. It’s really saved me and my family a lot of stress when it comes to ticks and Lyme disease.”

Besides equipping parents with prevention techniques and tips, the Global Lyme Alliance has also developed a curriculum called “It’s Time to Be Lyme Alert” so that kids of all ages can learn about the disease in a fun and interactive way. The curriculum was designed by the Alliance in partnership with educators to be shared with kids while in the classroom, at camp, or any other youth-focused organizations. The program, available in three age-group levels, includes a student workbook that outlines the objectives and key talking points, along with a supporting teachers’ guide.

Parents and children alike need to learn more about Lyme disease, how to recognize early symptoms and how to prevent it, especially because medical professionals are still learning about it themselves; it’s vital to be vigilant or yourself and your children, the speaker urged. “We want people to be able to recognize early symptoms so that they can be their own advocate when it comes to the disease. Medical professionals are now learning more and more about these tick-borne illnesses, but you have to be your own advocate for yourself and for your kids.” For more information, visit www.globallymealliance.org

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Remembrance and Celebration Encouraged During Keynote Speech of Chappaqua’s Memorial Day Parade

May 31, 2017 by Inside Press

Memorial Day is not a day of mourning, Captain Melkon told those gathered, but instead a day of celebration in which we honor those who fought and fell for the United States, championing their selflessness, loyalty, and courage.

By Gillian Hand

U.S. Army Captain John Malkon with a visitor following the conclusion of his keynote speech. PHOTO BY Grace Bennett/Inside Press

The Memorial Day Parade is among the most cherished of Chappaqua traditions. In honor and remembrance of those who have fought for our nation, residents line the streets of downtown Chappaqua, following the parade from its start at the top of King Street to the concluding Memorial Plaza Ceremony in front of the Chappaqua Train Station. Each year, the community comes together in this celebration of American servicemen and women.

Despite mediocre weather conditions, Chappaqua residents came out in full force for the 2017 Memorial Day Parade. Throughout the light rains most of the morning, supporters brandishing American flags cheered on the marchers and attended the moving closing ceremony. This year, the parade featured many familiar appearances, from AYSO soccer teams, to girl and boy scout troops, to school district bands, to Chappaqua and New Castle administrative board members. Also present were first responders from the Chappaqua Fire Department and the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps, as well as members of the 5^th New York Regiment Revolutionary War Squad, among many others.

Grand Marshal James McCauley and Girl Scouts in a Wreath Laying Ceremony PHOTO BY Grace Bennett/Inside Press

In a greatly anticipated appearance, Hillary and Bill Clinton as well as Governor Andrew Cuomo also marched in the parade together with Town of New Castle’s board and regional leaders as they have done in prior years. Although the rain made this Memorial Day different than it has been in the past, the parade still obtained the important attendance and spirit levels which make the tradition so important to Chappaqua historical identity. As marchers completed the parade route, attendees convened at the Memorial Plaza Ceremony.

Veterans present at the parade were recognized and honored by speakers, and the stories of local servicemen were conveyed to listeners. Among the presenters was keynote speaker, the Army’s U.S. Captain John Melkon of the Center for the Study of Civil Military Operations at West Point. After being introduced by Grand Marshal James McCauley, Melkon discussed the men and women who have lost their lives in service to our nation. He remarked that Memorial Day is not a day of mourning, but instead a day of celebration in which we honor those who fought and fell for the United States, championing their selflessness, loyalty, and courage.

“Their lives are dedicated not to conflict or to death, but to compassion and to light,” said Melkon, tearing up in remembrance of fallen soldiers, including comrades of his own who gave their lives in the line of duty. Melkon’s words were passionate and deeply personal, urging attendees to commemorate the honorable service of those who have fought for the safety of the United States.

The Memorial Day Parade embodies the meaning of community, bringing together Chappaqua residents young and old. Each year, families, neighbors, and friends come out in celebration of servicemen and women and the sacrifices they have made for our nation.

Inside Press intern Gillian Hand is a senior at Horace Greeley High School.

For a full gallery of our photos of the 2017 New Castle Memorial Day Parade, please visit us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/theinsidepress/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10155358951498669

Excitement Builds for Chappaqua’s 2017 Memorial Day Parade: A Preview

May 26, 2017 by Inside Press

By Justin Ellick

At a prior Victory Corners Ceremony which immediately preceeds the town’s Memorial Day parade: Town of New Castle Grand Marshal Jim McCauley, with Temple Beth El’s Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, girls and Girl Scouts participating

Memorial Day weekend is commonly looked at as the official kick-off of summer. Things are no different in Chappaqua, as families across the township are already in the throes of another fun and activity-filled weekend.

But there is a uniqueness when it comes to Memorial Day weekend in New Castle as opposed to anywhere else. There is a distinct excitement we all feel about living in a community that holds an annual world class parade that in recent years has attracted key public officials like Governor Andrew Cuomo, State Assemblyman David Buchwald, County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz, and, of course, Chappaqua’s most famous couple, Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Whatever the year or the turnout, the meaning of Memorial Day and why we celebrate it is always first and foremost in the hearts and minds of New Castle residents on this special weekend.

“Memorial Day is a day to pay tribute to all the military men and women who have died fighting for our freedom,” said New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein of the festivities.

“Those who gave their lives represent all different races, religions and backgrounds. Let’s honor and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting four our founding principles and use the opportunity to promote diversity, inclusion and love,” continued Greenstein. “I encourage all members of the community to bring signs that symbolize the diversity, inclusion and quest for peace that those soldiers America lost had fought so valiantly to preserve. And, because we will have our armed forces and veterans joining us, let’s show our honored guests what we stand for.”

The parade will commence at 10:30 a.m. on the corner of Bedford Road and King Street for the “Victory Corners” Ceremony, in which the Grand Marshal will call the parade to attention. At this moment the march will start, as the parade will move off Ridgewood Terrace and down into the heart of Chappaqua, eventually coming to a stop at the Chappaqua Train station at around 11:30 a.m. This is where the “Memorial Plaza” Ceremony will be held, in which the Marshal will again bring the parade to attention for Invocation, as well as for various recognitions, readings, speakers, performers, and eventually the dismissal of the parade entirely.

The line of March will consist of the middle and high school bands, town board members, youth sports organizations, volunteer groups, and of course the veterans we’re meant to honor, among other participants as well. Many attendees and visitors to town will also be on the lookout for Chappaqua’s celebrated neighbors, “the Clintons,” and perhaps in particular for 2016 Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Hillary Clinton & Gov. Cuomo at the 2012 Memorial Day Parade in Chappaqua Photo Credit: Grace Bennett/Inside Press

It’s not confirmed whether Clinton, who is a resident of Chappaqua, will indeed make an appearance this year at the parade, but the fact that she hasn’t missed it in 11 years gives some hope to her followers in the area that might be trying to catch a glimpse of the former Secretary of State. Regardless of who is marching, Monday promises to be a special day here in Chappaqua, as we celebrate the beginning of summer and the lives of those who paid the ultimate price so we can enjoy it in peace and freedom.