The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Town of New Castle

Remembering Richard Lange

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Whenever you walked into Lange’s Little Store in Chappaqua, Richard Lange would greet you with a big smile and his twinkling eyes, and he was always at your service. Whether the store was busy or not, he took the time to chat and ask how you were doing. He always had time for his customers and neighbors.

Richard Lange, best known as the owner of Lange’s Little Store and Deli in Chappaqua, passed away on April 9, 2024. He was 87 years old and is survived by his wife Christa, his daughters Vicki (Bergstrom) and Heidi and his granddaughter Madelyn Bergstrom and her fiancé David Anderson III. He was predeceased by his son-in-law Charlie Bergstrom. Lange was born in Wanna, Germany on Dec. 22,1936 and grew up on his grandparents’ farm. He immigrated to the United States in 1956 and served briefly in the United States Army. In 1968, the family settled in Chappaqua where Lange owned The Little Store. He and Mrs. Lange opened Lange’s Deli in Scarsdale in the mid-1970s, and in Bronxville in the 1980s. They returned to their Chappaqua store in 1989 where it became a focal point in the town.

Lange’s motto was “You need something, I’ll help.” With his warm smile and great laugh Lange touched so many lives from the daily regulars to the store, to very young people, returning college students, and first-time visitors.

A welcoming personality…

Town of New Castle Supervisor Victoria B. Tipp wrote, “Mr. Lange, through the force of his unique personality, created a haven, a second home where people gathered to catch up, have impromptu meetings, and run into friends, neighbors, and familiar faces. He remembered everyone and would chat about what mattered to them. During my years on the school board, he would always ask ‘so, how are the schools doing?’ and had detailed questions about current projects and happenings. Upon learning of my new role with the town, he would simply say with raised eyebrows ‘so…how’s everything?’ and would always listen with great interest and patience.”

A helping hand…

Beth Kuck Hundgen, owner of Whispering Pines of Chappaqua will never forget the day her store caught fire. “It was a devastating moment, watching everything I had worked for go up in flames. But, in the midst of that chaos, one person stood out for his kindness and compassion, Mr. Lange. As I stood outside, feeling helpless and overwhelmed, Mr. Lange appeared by my side. Without hesitation, he rolled up his sleeves and began helping me salvage what we could from the burning building. As we worked together, I couldn’t help but notice the tears in his eyes. He wasn’t just helping me; he was feeling my pain, too. His empathy and concern for my well-being meant the world to me! Mr. Lange’s selflessness and kindness didn’t stop that day. He continued to support me and the community in countless ways, always willing to lend a helping hand or listening ear.”

A generous soul…

George Haletzky, a manager of Lange’s Little Store for 30 years, has known Lange since his childhood, and has fond memories of learning the ropes from Lange. “He took you under his wing and he’d teach you if you wanted to learn. He was a wealth of knowledge. He tried to keep this store like a family atmosphere.” Haletzky cited that most employees have worked there for many years. “The most important thing was the customers,” said Haletzky. Lange, who knew everybody’s name, encouraged his staff to talk to the customers and get to know them as well. “Mr. Lange saw many generations come through here, and always said that the children were the future. He always talked to the kids.” Lange donated to all the sports programs in town. “He was one of the most generous people you’d ever meet in your life, between giving you goodies and actually caring about you.”

A wise man…

Longtime Chappaqua resident Don Roane has known Lange since the Lange family moved to Chappaqua in 1968. “Richie was very appreciative of this country,” said Roane. “Having seen loss and hunger at the end of World War II in Europe, that impacted Richie in the way he lived and treated people. He was wise in his ability to see things. When he saw hunger, he did something about it. He took care of his family, and he took care of yours too. We need more people like Richard Lange. They make the world a better place.”

A man of grace…

At a Celebration of Life Service on April 21 at The First Congregational Church in Chappaqua, his daughter Vicki said, “My father was a wonderful person. He treated everyone the same. He was everyone’s Opa. He was selfless. He loved to give and expected nothing in return. He was the most down to earth person.” Reverend Martha Jacobs spoke of Lange as a mensch (the Yiddish word for a good person) and all the mitzvahs (good deeds) that he was known for, and that he had dignity and a generosity of spirit.

Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe called Lange Chappaqua’s rebbe–the one who serves as the spiritual and emotional nerve center of the community whose mission is to care for the well-being of each-and-every person in the neighborhood. “No one brought us together like Mr. Lange,” said Jaffe to the nearly 700 people of all faiths and backgrounds who filled the church.

Hillary Rodham Clinton said that Lange, “left us a great legacy of love.” President Bill Clinton credited Lange as the big reason he has spent the last 25 years in Chappaqua and spoke of Lange’s compassion and the way he treated people. He said that Lange’s life was uncommonly grateful and graceful. “He was incredibly graceful in all the ways that count. As for me and our house, we are grateful for the grace he showered on us.” The same could be said by all who knew and loved Richard Lange.

A Spirit of Collaboration and Good Will Stressed at New Castle’s 2024 Inauguration

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Top Row (L-R): Former State Senator Stephen Saland swearing in Deputy Town Supervisor Jeremy Saland; Secretary Hillary Clinton swearing in councilwoman Jennifer Naparstek Klein; and councilwoman Alexandra Chemtob, also sworn in by Hillary Clinton.
Bottom Row (L-R): President Bill Clinton administered the Oath of Office to: Town Justice Douglas Kraus, Chairman and Westchester County Legislator Vedat Gashi, and to New Castle Town Supervisor Victoria Bayard Tipp.
Inside Press Photos

Heartfelt messages of appreciation along with ones expressing respect for a diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints, plus lighthearted exchanges, were heard from the stage of the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center during the Town of New Castle 2024 Inauguration held January 11.

Those attending witnessed the swearing in of four New Castle public officials and the chair of the Westchester County Legislator, the Oath of Office administered by former State Senator Stephen Saland, neighbors Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton. The final swearing in was that of Victoria Bayard Tipp as Town Supervisor. See also Zoya Nabeel’s report and reflections of this historic moment and poignant testaments to Tipp.

Following honored traditions, State Senator Peter Harckham stated: “It’s a new day” and a time to celebrate the peaceful transition of power… everything we do is best when we work in collaboration.” Assemblyman Chris Burdick noted the “tremendously proud moment.” Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins introduced Saland, who served the 41st district for 22 years, and who swore in his son Jeremy Saland for a second time, this time as Deputy Town Supervisor. “At times he can be a handful,” quipped father about son. “But I know the kind of person he is… he’ll give you 110 percent.” “This community is great because of its volunteers…” Jeremy Saland emphasized, noting contributions from long time town administrator Jill Shapiro, staff and volunteers on boards, and first responders.

Harckham introduced Hillary Clinton as “an amazing Secretary of State, a mother, grandmother, a fierce advocate for children and health care reform…” Hillary Clinton swore in town council member Alexandra L. Chemtob who emphasized that public officials “need to lead by example.” “The world gets scarier and more divided by the day,” said Chemtob. “I might not be able to change the world. but I can make my side of the street a little bit better.”

Hillary Clinton also swore in councilmember Jennifer Naparstek Klein. Klein noted that even “small bits of work and effort matter; it’s an imperative in our life to be committed.” She quoted Hillary Clinton’s “One must bloom where one stands,” with a tip of her hat to members of the New Castle Democratic Committee, New Castle Blooms, and Up2Us.

Councilwoman Holly McCall introduced former 17th district Congressman Mondaire Jones as “the first black openly gay person ever elected to Congress and as the youngest member of House leadership, he has kept our congressional district in his sights.” Jones introduced President Clinton as “…a father, a husband, a saxophonist, a patron of Crabtree’s Kittle House in Chappaqua – See? I did my homework! – founder and chairman of the Clinton Foundation, and as the 42nd President of the United States of America, and a damn good one.”

President Clinton, before inviting Town Justice Douglas Kraus to be sworn in for a 9th term, stated: “We are not expecting you will be perfect but that you will do the best you can with an open heart and an open hand and without the venom and hatred which causes so much of our politics today.”

Bill Clinton also swore in Chairman and Westchester County Legislator Vedat Gashi who shared that his work has included landmark legislation to protect the environment, protecting a woman’s access to health care, and passing a first in the nation gun safety law, “all while passing a fiscally responsible budget to help restore Westchester’s economy.” Gashi, the first Muslim elected legislator, quoted Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Hate can not drive out hate, only love can do that.” He promised to “celebrate the love in our community rather than focusing on the hate.”

Tipp, last to be sworn in by Bill Clinton, stated that in her years of public service, she has worked “to gain the trust of constituents without regard to affiliation.” And that even in this “deeply divided political climate”, she would “continue to view residents through the lens of friends, family, and neighbors… I promise you it will always be that way.”

In a benediction, Rev. Dr. Martha Jacobs of the First Congregational Church announced her impending retirement, and offered, “May differences be celebrated and lifted up and move this town forward where all feel welcome and where are all views are welcomed and heard.”

Town of New Castle Supervisor Lisa Katz Enthusiastically Honored for 10 Years of Service

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First Neighbors Bill and Hillary Clinton along with County and State Officials, Friends and Neighbors Offered a Host of Warm, Appreciative Remarks at Festive Town Hall Event.

‘Town Cheerleader’ and ‘The George Bailey of Chappaqua’ were among Descriptions of Town Supervisor Katz during the Celebration of her Decade-long Tenure.

“Never Stop Talking about what’s Right,” Katz Urged.

December 13, 2023, Chappaqua, NY–Admiration, reminisces and well wishes were offered at a Town Hall celebration held to honor Town of New Castle Supervisor Lisa Katz for her ten years of service–eight years as councilwoman and two years as New Castle town supervisor. First neighbors and honorary guests Bill and Hillary Clinton, fellow town board members and county and state public officials, family, neighbors and friends presented statements extolling Lisa’s accomplishments with an emphasis on her leadership style which several pointed to as open, amenable to compromise and distinctly non partisan. For her part, Katz told those gathered that she set out to treat everyone with respect regardless of “whether they were red, blue or purple.” She also reminded everyone to “be the light during times of darkness.”

Inside Press Photo Collage

The emphasis on accomplishments during Katz’s decade of public service–the launch of the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center (ChappPac), her most passionate endeavor, was notably mentioned several times–along with a focus on her distinctly non-partisan approach which some said helped win her the confidence of residents of every political persuasion.

“We are here today with ‘the woman of the moment’,” began New Castle Deputy Supervisor Vicki Tipp, who will be succeeding Katz as Town Supervisor at a swearing in ceremony on January 11 at ChappPac. Tipp cited Katz’s “steadfastness, dedication, and your tireless effort for 10 years…” “Many of us know that public service is not easy… “We’ve all seen you navigate so many challenges placed before you with resilience and determination. You have the capacity to stand so strong when the going gets tough and your energy and your enthusiasm really shines through in all you do.” She said that board members shared the values of inclusiveness and valuing residents–with Katz ‘the constant’ among them as the board changed hands–even when there was disagreement. “We will miss the fiery debates we’ve had,” said Tipp,” but ultimately the disagreements have made us stronger….” With Katz’s departure, Tipp said, “Things will be a little more boring and less colorful!”

‘Exhibit A and Exhibit B’: Secretary Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton

Hillary Clinton was invited to the podium. She thanked Katz for “committing yourself to public service and the leadership we have seen over so many years now. 

“You’ve already heard from everyone here that public service is not easy. Well, we can certainly agree with that,” the former Secretary of State and two time U.S. Senator and Presidential nominee, quipped. “People who willingly do it deserve our gratitude because we’ve got to keep our democracy going from the local level all the way to the top, and we can’t do it without good people willing to serve. And even when good people disagree, that’s part of the whole process to come to some kind of understanding and compromise. We’re kind of here as Exhibit A and Exhibit B as people who willingly do it.” At that juncture, she asked Exhibit B to come up to the mic.

“I’ll make it brief,” began President Clinton, “I like Lisa Katz.”

And then he continued: “We are living in a time where more and more people get whatever they call news in bite sized amounts real fast from sources which may not be accurate,” Bill Clinton said, “the result of which is to put us all in a defensive, untrusting angry frame of mind,  in which we believe that what really matters is our differences.

“As the old saying goes, ‘Just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not out to getcha.’,” continued the former President to some chuckles. “What I want to say is: All over the world if you can get people to agree on a common end, and work from where they are toward that end together, 70 percent of the time, agreements are produced, and that’s a pretty good record.  If all that matters is our differences, we can’t get there.  Too often, people would rather tear the barn down than build it up.”  It’s so much more satisfying, Clinton concluded, to build up the barn. 

Town Board Member Jeremy Saland commended Katz’s foresight in establishing ChappPac, and said, “You made a really smart and difficult move.” He said taking chances, “a roll of the dice”  are also part of public service.  “If you don’t have the foresight, energy and vision to make it happen, you don’t belong up here.”…”You will be missed and I’m confident your voice is not gone.”

Holly McCall, who had run against Katz for the supervisor role two years ago, and who is  on the board, noted that “public service is not for the faint of heart or unmotivated, thin skinned or passive… In the past decade, you’ve proven yourself to be a fierce advocate for New Castle, a strong promoter of the arts, and a leader when it came to supporting the merchants and commerce in town.”

Town Board member Ally Chemtob said Katz who juggles marriage, parenting, and a law practice with public service, “makes it all look easy even when it’s not.” She added Katz’s leadership “comes from a place of love, from loving this community so much and only wanting what is best for it.”

New Castle Town Supervisor Lisa Katz with her daughter Arden and husband, Steve

State Assemblyman Chris Burdick presented a NYS proclamation to honor Katz.  Burdick said that Katz’s “spectacular leadership”  had helped rally many Westchester leaders to oppose a zoning requirement introduced by the Governor that he said was unfortunately wrong for different county municipalities.  “She  had to get into the trenches in dealing with a terrible plan… and to get the community to understand that it would upend local zoning.”  Burdick thanked Katz for her leadership, resolve, persistence  and deep understanding of her own community and also her loving family who gave her the room to do that.” 

County legislator Vedat Gashi said “public service comes with its challenges to self and to family.. to do that and do it on your own terms is impressive. On that note, he proclaimed December 13, 2023  Lisa Katz day in Westchester County, an honor the County bestows on community leaders.  State Senator Peter Harckham’s office also presented a proclamation honoring Katz’s work on a $16 million downtown infrastructure project.

Comments from Neighbors and Friends 

Warren Gottleib, a member of the New Castle Zoning Board of Appeals, said Katz led “with kindness, a big heart and humanity. She treated everyone with respect…

“I never for one second doubted that she was serving for the right reasons and her undivided loyalty was to the people of New Castle.  She wasn’t restrained by party politics… she put people in the community above partisanship.”  Gottlieb also said “she knew which battles were worth fighting. “She stood up for people. Lisa showed when local government listens to its citizens rather than succumbing to partisanship, it becomes a beacon of accountability, and fosters trust and collaboration for the betterment of the community.”  He called her service an “enduring gift to our community.”

Adam Brodsky, a member of the original Team New Castle which included Lisa Katz, together with former Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein, cited Katz’s “devotion and tenacity to move this community into the future” and that she was leaving New Castle “a vastly improved place.”  “She worked tirelessly to create a foundation of warmth and engagement… You literally and figuratively embraced this town over ten years of service and are the town’s cheerleader… With your love of the arts and Broadway, you spearheaded ChappPac.”  Brodsky said Katz also figured out how to break through the opposition and anger to Chappaqua Crossing and bring additional amenities to town. He commended her for her “openmindednesss to pursue any idea if you thought it would make our home a better place.”

Michele Gregson, who heads the Friends of ChappPac said she met Katz two years into being on the town board, and called her the “driving force” of the performing arts center,  “With the board, it has become a huge success. I’m incredible grateful to this woman… I’m blessed that our paths crossed here in town.”

Chappaqua-based singer and performer Frank Shiner said he chooses his friends in town very carefully–and that he considers Lisa Katz a friend whom he respects for her kindness. From the start, Shiner, had worked closely with Katz to foster the arts at ChappPac. “l remember her smile every time I walk around and meet the people of this town.”

Similarly Robert Fleischer, who is on the County airport advisory board as a New Castle appointee, said he was grateful for Katz’s friendship. He said Katz did her best to serve all the residents regardless of their backgrounds or political affiliation.  He said he also appreciated that “she helped New Castle be a steady beacon of light in standing up against antisemitism. Lisa has never stopped trying to make a kinder world.”

Former Town Board Member Chris Hildenbrand said he has always admired Katz’s intelligence, grace, charm and compassion for every issue and every resident.

Captain Jim McCauley, New Castle’s long time Marshall and Memorial Day committee chair, noted ‘the great job Lisa has done” and all she has done to respect the Veteran community. 

“It has always been about community for you,” said resident Roger Klepper. “And when there was an issue, you would always be our leader. You were always the person through whom our voices could be heard.”

Larry Liu, the former co-head of the New Castle Committee for Race, Equity and Inclusion, stated that he is an immigrant from China, “a country under dictatorship.”I always watch local politics with a sense of wonder and admiration. Sometimes the disagreements can be sharp and the criticisms can be brutal, but believe me, the alternative is unthinkable… It works because of leaders like you.” He said Katz reached out to the growing Asian American community in Chappaqua. “It’s not the grand gestures but the little things,” said Liu, “Your care and attention generated a lot of good will.”

Richard Diefenbach, a trustee to the New Castle Historical Society, said he moved to New Castle in 1996 when he covered Bill Clinton’s reelection campaign for CBS News. The same year, he also produced a 5oth anniversary story about the holiday classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” He cited the famous quote at the end of the movie: “No man is a failure as long as he has friends.” Turning to Katz, he said: “You are the George Bailey of New Castle. Thank you for making us all your friends.”

Katz was last to speak, thanking fellow board members, and town hall staff: “Without your tireless work, I wouldn’t be here.”  She said she set out to make sure that all residents “felt represented… we would always listen to your voice, even when we didn’t agree, we’d listen to you with respect. She added that she would always be the biggest cheerleader for the town, and said she planned to continue public service. She urged everyone that no matter how dark the world gets, “be the light” and always bring joy to those around you.”

“If you care about something, use your voice to make a difference… never stop talking about what’s right.”

She said that she has tried to come from a place of “yes” whether it was “You are not right. I am not right. But together if we put our minds together we can come up with something that’s better than anything any of us could have imagined.”

Katz added that whether it was talking about antisemitism or against gun violence, “it’s just not that hard to do the right thing.  It takes a little bit of courage. If you can put the politics aside, and put all the voices yelling in different directions aside, there’s a guiding star that you know is right.”

 

Attendees Bear Witness at New Castle Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony

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Eva Wyner, deputy director of Jewish Affairs for Governor Kathy Hochul, delivering remarks on behalf of Gov. Hochul to those gathered at the site of the Holocaust Memorial in Chappaqua to remember the six million who perished and to hear Holocaust survivor Arlette Levy Baker’s testimony at the Town of New Castle Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony on April 24. 

“Remembering is no passive act.”  Governor Kathy Hochul

Chappaqua, NY – At the Town of New Castle’s annual Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony on April 24, 2023, everyone in attendance at the bucolic site of the Holocaust Memorial, and in proximity to sacred stone benches memorializing Holocaust survivors Jacob Breitstein and Jack Feldman, had the opportunity to bear witness by listening to an elegant and determined keynote speaker: Holocaust Survivor Arlette Levy Baker. That opportunity is growing increasingly precious as the survivors age and pass on.

Baker, who taught French and classical Latin for 21 years at the Robert E. Bell Middle School in Chappaqua, offered a devastating account of her parents being arrested in front of her at her home in Paris when she was just four years old, how she cried Mama and Papa until the very moment of separation, of how her father bribed a Nazi, saving her from her parents’ own cruel fate first at Drancy concentration camp and later in Auschwitz, where they perished.

Holocaust survivor Arlette Levy Baker with Stacey Saiontz (left) and Ali Rosenberg, co chairs of the Town of New Castle Holocaust and Human Rights Committee

She described a life shattered by these events which haunt her to this day.

Prior to her testimony, and near the start of the ceremony, New Castle received a proclamation from Governor Hochul recognizing the town’s Holocaust and Human Rights Committee and students of E.N.O.U.G.H. for its solemn observance and for the town’s and people’s “strength and perseverance.”

The full proclamation was read by Eva Wyner, Deputy Director of Jewish Affairs for Governor Kathy Hochul, who also read Hochul’s statement “to help honor the memory of six million lives taken during the  darkest chapter of human history… to reflect on the atrocities of the past… to reaffirm our commitment to never forget… to take our righteous anger and sadness and turn it into action… to not only listen to the stories of those who survived but to heed their warnings of the devastation that can be wrought when hate is allowed to fester… to continue the legacy of courage of standing up to evil. Remembering is no passive act.”

Wyner, a daughter and granddaughter of survivors, reminded that in the last two years antisemitic incidents in NYC have more than doubled, and also hit an all time high in New York State. In response, she said, Hochul earmarked millions of dollars toward a state hate and bias prevention unit. She also signed a Holocaust education bill into law “so that every child who grows up in New York will know what ‘Never Forget’ truly means.”  The service included a statement read by Ally Chemtob on behalf of New Castle Town Supervisor Lisa Katz; remarks by Deputy County executive Ken Jenkins; a representative from Congressman Lawler’s office who issued a Congressional Proclamation; remarks by Stacey Saiontz and Ali Rosenberg, co-chairs, Holocaust and Human Rights Committee and by Jack Rosenberg and Elliott Saiontz, co-presidents of E.N.O.U.G.H. Writing and art contest awards to middle and high school students were presented by committee members Rhonda Regan and Pat Pollock and E.N.O.U.G.H. students Eva Millerman and Robyn Keiles.

Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins delivering his remarks and  on behalf of County Executive George Latimer

A beautiful Memorial Candle Lighting took place which included a gathering of middle school and high school students, and Arlette Levy Baker lighting one of the candles with the E.N.O.U.G.H. Club students.

Included in and concluding the service was a Mourners Kaddish reading and songs and additional remarks by local clergy who included: Rabbi Aaron Brusso of Bet Torah Synagogue, Cantor Ines Kapustiansky of Temple Shaaray Tefilla and the Rev. Dr. Martha Jacobs of the First Congregational Church speaking also on behalf of Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe of Temple Beth El and the Interfaith Council. Also attending were the Rev. Alan Christopher Lee of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin and Rev. Merle D. McJunkin of the Antioch Baptist Church. Gratitude was also expressed to the New Castle Parks & Recreation staff for their help maintaining the New Castle Holocaust Memorial.

Holocaust survivor Arlette Levy Baker lighting a candle together with Co-Presidents of Horace Greeley High School’s Club E.N.O.U.G.H Jack Rosenberg (left) and Elliott Saiontz 

 

 

Victoria Bayard Tipp’s Inspiring Journey to Public Service

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A Passionate Voice for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Town of New Castle

PHOTO BY CAROLYN SIMPSON

Town of New Castle Deputy Supervisor Victoria Bayard Tipp is the first person of color to be elected and to serve on the town board. Tipp has lived in Chappaqua with her husband Robert for 22 years. They have four grown children. Tipp shares her thoughts on diversity, equity and inclusion, her aspirations for the town, and her inspiring personal journey.

Born in Port au Prince, Haiti, Vicky Tipp immigrated to the United States in 1963 when she was almost two years old. As she and her mother were boarding the plane, Haitian military police pointed guns at them. Tipp was terrified and did not want to walk. Fortunately, an American flight attendant saw this and took the toddler from her mother. She carried Tipp onto the plane preventing the police from shooting the child and her mother because an American was present. When they arrived in the states they first lived in New York with her grandmother, an award-winning educational leader in Haiti, who had fled the country earlier. They were later joined by her father who was an attorney.

Tipp, whose first language was French, entered Kindergarten in a public school in Jackson Heights, Queens where they had no program for non-English speakers. When her mother took a job at the United Nations, they moved to Manhattan and Tipp was enrolled in first grade at the United Nations International School, a multicultural school with students from over 100 countries. She then went on to earn degrees from Barnard College and Harvard Law School.

Education was very important to Tipp and her family, so it is no surprise that she began her public service work on the Chappaqua Board of Education. “The most important aspect of education was my family’s attitude about it as the way to live a fulfilling life and gain independence and stability,” says Tipp. “That was a big influence for my running for the Board of Ed.”

Equity, diversity, and inclusion have been important issues for Tipp. When she was elected to the Chappaqua Board of Education in 2011, she had discussions with the then superintendent about equity and inclusion and what they could do in Chappaqua to expose students to more diversity. “At the time people were not focused on issues of equity like they are now,” says Tipp. “However, when Christine Ackerman became superintendent, she was very responsive to those concerns and willing to open up our professional development to work with Ossining and other school districts, which provided a good perspective for our faculty.”

Then with the Black Lives Matter movement, the school board started to hear from alumni whom they then invited to a meeting to share their stories as they began an equity audit. “We wanted to open that up to our alumni and our community, so people could understand the extent of the inequities that had taken place,” says Tipp. Christine Ackerman, Superintendent of Schools, acknowledges Tipp’s significant role in this work. “As a member of the Board of Education and past president, Vicky’s leadership, insights, and advocacy for action were instrumental in shifting our practices to respond to the needs identified by our students and community in our equity audit,” says Ackerman. “Her unwavering commitment to ensuring all students are seen and valued for who they are in our school community resulted in revising several Board of Education policies, forming the CARES committee, and selecting Insight to support professional learning for all staff.”

Tipp did a considerable amount of equity advocacy work on the Westchester Putnam School Boards Association where she was chair of the advocacy committee for three years and president for three years. She also served on the steering committee for the Lower Hudson Education Coalition, an organization that does legislative advocacy. “I was able to do a lot more equity work through those regional organizations than I was able to do just being on the local board level,” says Tipp. “That made school board work for me a very rich and rewarding experience. It gave me a perspective into what other school districts were experiencing including children who are not as fortunate as children in Chappaqua.”

New Castle Supervisor Lisa Katz says that Tipp’s diverse background gives her the perfect perspective to address diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in the town as the board liaison to the Committee on Race, Equity and Inclusion (CREI.) “Vicky is an incredibly thoughtful and intelligent woman who is singularly focused on doing what’s right for our community. Having served as the non-partisan president of the school board, she understands the importance of listening to all viewpoints and treating our neighbors with genuine respect.”

Tipp has a vision for how she hopes the CREI will do their work with the community. “In my experience, both on the school board and on the town board, when people think about these entities–schools, or governments or organizations–it’s important to understand that these are not static and impersonal, they’re made of people, and they’re living and breathing systems. They are made up of relationships and interactions,” says Tipp who thinks that good communication is key and ground rules should be set. “It’s important to establish environments where there is trust, where we can create safe spaces to have real conversations. People need to feel that they can come forward with their ideas without fear of being stigmatized,” says Tipp. She would like the focus to be on understanding, rather than having to agree, and for people to be willing to talk through differences. “I think that the hardest thing to do is to create common understandings to have constructive conversations to move forward together in a productive way. These are the things we need to do as a community.”

Collaboration is a word that resonates with Tipp. “Diversity, equity and inclusion are paramount to the growth and health of a community,” says Tipp. “There are nine of these committees doing this work in the town.” In addition to the CREI that was appointed in May, the Chappaqua School district has the Board’s CARES committee, plus seven PTA committees–one district-wide and one at each of the six schools. And there is also the DEI work being done by the four other school districts within the Town of New Castle. “It’s important to form partnerships so that we have a community that’s racially, culturally, and socially inclusive and it gets hard to do that if you’re working in different silos.”

In addition to serving as the liaison to the CREI, she is also the liaison to the Beautification Advisory Board. The Town expects to form an LGBTQ committee to which Tipp will be the liaison as well.

Like Supervisor Katz, Tipp would like to see more cultural celebrations in town. “This is something we can do by working with our different town committees, the CREI committee, EPIC, and Holocaust and Human Rights Committee. We have these committees to provide a more inclusive process and to have more input from residents in town. It’s important for all the committees to work together to bring programs, events, presentations and get togethers–formal and informal,” says Tipp.

Tipp sees a way to bring the town together. “In order to do anything from equity work, zoning, revitalization, and bringing vibrancy to the hamlets, we would want to be inclusive with that work as well. There’s so much we can do together. I really believe in the power of collaboration of groups, and I think if we do that, we will create a sense of belonging because we’ll be creating more connections between groups and people.”

Tipp’s experience on the town board has surpassed her expectations. “I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. What’s been wonderful is peoples’ willingness to take on challenging tasks that are important to our community to move the community forward. It’s an honor to serve.” She finds the challenges motivating, and likes that she can help people, and listen to their stories and perspectives. “That’s what makes us a community. We learn about each other, and we learn from each other.”