The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

town supervisor

Getting to Know North Castle’s Newly Elected Town Supervisor Joseph Rende

by

North Castle Town Supervisor Joe Rende PHOTO BY ELISE TRAINOR

After a nail biter of an election ultimately requiring a vote recount, the triumphant Joe Rende proudly took office as North Castle’s new Town Supervisor on January 1st with a positive outlook and a determination to make sure North Castle continues to be a town to take pride in.

Public Service As A Great Calling

A resident of Armonk for over ten years, Rende made this his home when he and his significant other, the Honorable Linda S. Jamieson, Justice of the Westchester Supreme Court, who has lived here for forty years, were seeing each other. Rende, a lifelong resident of Westchester, grew up and raised his family in Port Chester. As a young businessman running and operating his family’s home heating oil business, Rende Economy Fuel, with his dad, he was always very interested in politics. A registered republican at the time, Rende became active in various campaigns for different people running for elected office in Port Chester. His political career officially began when he was asked to take an open seat on the village planning commission. He eventually served as chairman of the village planning board, then as an elected member of the board of trustees, deputy mayor, and later as Westchester County’s deputy director of emergency planning and management.

Rende attributes his interest in government to his father, who was a big influence on him. Dinner table conversations often involved local and national politics. Rende’s father was always very active in their community and even ran for political office.

“I always viewed public service as a great calling and certainly necessary as an important part of our form of government,” says Rende. “I always had a sense that you need to give back to your community and what better way to do it than public service. It was instilled in me by my dad, who I was very close with.”

Living in North Castle, Rende, now an involved member of the local democratic party, continued to take an interest in town-related issues. When former Town Supervisor Mike Schiliro decided not to seek another term, Rende felt there would be a void in leadership and threw his hat into the ring.

On the Agenda

PHOTO BY ELISE TRAINOR

One of the first things Rende is focused on is getting the North Castle Eagle sign, a town landmark, back up. The sign, which greets visitors at the intersection of Route 22 and Route 128 was unfortunately knocked down on December 11th.

Rende is also turning his attention to several capital improvement projects. One of those projects involves renovating the recently purchased town swimming pool. He has been working with an engineering firm, the town administrator, and the superintendent of recreation to develop a plan to address those necessary improvements. Other potential projects include improving Town Hall, upgrading the crammed police department, assessing all the town facilities, and putting together a focused capital improvement plan to ensure that there is no further damage to the overall envelope of each of the town’s buildings. He also plans to address the highway department’s lack of a facility to house the newer bigger trucks used to maintain the roads. Storing the trucks outside where they are exposed to the inclement weather has led to their faster degradation and reduced years of service from these vehicles.

Also on the agenda is the review and approval of several large development plans that have already gone through lengthy processes of planning and zoning. Rende’s vast experience on the Port Chester planning commission and board of trustees has provided him with a great grasp for smart development and makes him an asset for the town in that regard.

Leadership Skills

As the current Director of Business Development at Judicial Title Insurance Agency, Rende has plenty of flexibility that will allow him to balance his profession with the role of town supervisor. His career has allowed him to develop management skills that will serve him well in his new position. His leadership experience came at a young age owning his own business with his dad. When he later sold his business to Robison Oil and took a management role there, he really honed his leadership skills.

“To me, leadership has always been about motivating people to work towards a common good,” he explains. “I like to empower people and give them the necessary tools to do their job and make sure they have the resources that they need. I encourage people if they come to me with a problem, to also try to bring a solution. I will never fault anyone for trying to solve a problem. If you need my help to figure out a better way, I will do that.”

Rende also emphasizes that the importance of compromise. Even though different members of the board and various elected officials can have different views, he recognizes that “everyone has the community’s best interest in mind, and he looks forward to working with them.”

In his Spare Time

When Rende has free time, you can find him just being “grandpa.” He and Judge Jamieson share ten grandchildren. Their weekends typically revolve around activities with the grandkids. In the summer, they spend time at the lake at the Windmill Club. They play some golf at various association outings, but most of the time they are enjoying their grandkids, their friends, and some traveling as well.

Pride in North Castle

One thing Rende really appreciates about North Castle is the community’s involvement and enthusiasm for the town. “Events like the Fol de Rol, the concerts in the park and town square, the Armonk Outdoor Art Show, the Stayin’ Alive Fun Run, the Frosty Parade, and the funds raised by these events for great causes really show me the heartbeat of the town,” he says.

Recognizing that it was a close election, Rende knows that he will have to stay on top of his game and hopes to prove to the entire community that he is more than capable of doing the job. “I won’t rest on my laurels and take anything for granted. Hopefully after my first term, residents who voted for me as well as the ones who supported my opponent will recognize that I was a good choice, and I was worthy of it. I am going to make sure this continues to be a town we can be proud of.”

Getting to Know Lisa Katz

by

New Castle Town Supervisor Lisa Katz   PHOTO BY Chad David Kraus

When Town of New Castle Supervisor Lisa Katz was growing up she always knew she wanted to be a lawyer, but she never thought politics was in her future. As a student at White Plains High School she was very involved in the school community as a managing editor of the newspaper, a cheerleader and on the tennis team, so it isn’t surprising that she got involved in New Castle first joining the Town Board in 2014, and then elected Town Supervisor last fall. 

“I started speaking out about Chappaqua Crossing. I thought it was too big. The project was changed, and it’s much better now. I met a lot of people at that time and Rob Greenstein approached me about running for office. I could either keep complaining or I could do something about it, and that’s what I did. The rest is history.” 

Katz has lived in Chappaqua since 2006 with her husband Steven, her daughter Arden, a sophomore at Rice University and her son Spencer, a senior at Horace Greeley High School. 

In 2008 Katz was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Her children were four and six years old when she began treatment. “We were too young to know how serious it was. To try to make it more fun for us our mother let us decorate her wig stand and put makeup on it,” says her daughter Arden. 

“Lymphoma made me realize what was important in life.” Katz is an honored hero of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and an Advocate who has given motivational speeches for the organization. 

Initially a corporate attorney, Katz made a switch to Estate Planning, Trusts and Elder Law after her bout with Lymphoma.  “When I had cancer sitting in the room with other chemo patients, people would say, ‘My doctor said I have to get my will together and get a health care proxy. And the lawyers are so matter of fact.’” She saw this as another opportunity to help people and opened her own practice in 2011. Katz loves this work, “I get to know my clients and to know about their families, their children, and their wishes for the future.”

The Pandemic has impacted her practice. “It has made my practice busier with healthcare proxies and wills.  People don’t want to think about it, but the Pandemic prompted people to start thinking about it.”

Katz developed a love of travel from her parents, and she has continued her passion for travel with her family. In December the family went to Alaska and two years before, prior to the Pandemic they visited Amsterdam and Munich. “I like to eat and travel, experiencing life.” Katz is quite adventurous and once ate a tarantula when she was on a food tour in Cambodia.

Theater is another one of Katz’s many interests and her daughter is her frequent companion on Broadway. “I’ve always been into theater, so I love seeing the shows with her. It’s a day in the city,” says her daughter Arden. 

Katz loves to cook and according to her family she’s quite good at it.  “I eat a lot of meals with my mom. She’s a good cook. I like breakfast food and she creates weird egg dishes.” says her son Spencer. 

Katz’s legal practice and the town keep her very busy but when she does have some spare time, she likes to read. “I’ll read everything.” Lately she is escaping into a book of poetry by Kahlil Gibran, and she has been listening to Audiobooks. The most recent was Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil which she was inspired to read after a brief trip to Savannah. 

In 2021 in her role as Town Board member, Katz organized a rally in the town to bring awareness to anti-Semitism.  This rally was personal for Katz. “I always want to fight against injustice, and anti-Semitism is on the rise. And it’s my past, my history.”

Katz has lots of ideas as to how to make the Town of New Castle even better than it is. She wants to figure out how to revitalize the hamlets and make New Castle a destination while keeping the charming feel. 

“There’s a way to accomplish both. To be a welcoming, vibrant, and exciting place to live while maintaining the feel we moved here for.” And she adds, “I’m looking forward to figuring out how we’re going to sort out the puzzle in a way that makes everyone feel included.” One of the first things she did when she assumed office in January was to initiate the Community Corner as part of the town’s e-Newsletter. She wishes to encourage people to share milestones in their lives.  “I think that we have the opportunity to connect with each other, open our hearts to each other. It fosters a sense of happiness.” And she adds, “Life is too short not to be joyful and spread joy.”

Katz is looking forward to the Memorial Day Parade in May, the first since the Pandemic. She also wants to have more community events. “We’re an amazing town with phenomenal people. I want to have events that bring our children in, bring our seniors in, bring everyone in, and get to enjoy each other, and everyone leaves happy.”

“We had the bonfire around Christmas time. We should have a Diwali festival and one for the Lunar New Year. We should have all different celebrations where we get to learn about our differences and the unique things we bring to the community.”

Her son Spencer is very proud of his mother’s role in town government. “I think it’s cool that she puts so much time helping the town. Her working for the town inspired me to join the Recreation Department too.” He serves on the Master Plan Subcommittee.

Katz just calls herself a “normal person” who fell into this. “I love it so much because I can see that we can do great things for our town, and it makes me happy to be able to help be a part of it.”

“I am a Democrat, but I believe that people aren’t defined by silos. People are people and I don’t care what party they are. It doesn’t matter to me. Politics aside, I just want to do what’s right for people,” says Katz.

Reflecting on her life, Katz gets inspiration from this quote attributed to Maya Angelou, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” She wears it on a necklace that she had made. “I try to make memories, and maybe it’s after the cancer, that quote speaks for itself and it’s very important to me.”

Catching up with the Very Decent Michael Schiliro

by

After nearly 20 takes, Michael, with the help of his daughter, compiled their first “watchable” video. His days during quarantine, just like the rest of ours, had gone a bit sideways. Mike played barista in the morning and his wife wore the chef hat come dinnertime. Something he admits he always wanted to do more of, COVID-19 finally afforded him the time he wanted to enjoy dinner at home with his family almost every night. Supervisor Schiliro also took this time to address his love for big, gooey, soft, homemade pretzels which took a hit when he became gluten-free. Not really known to be a baker, he wept. I’m kidding. COVID also afforded Michael the time to find some great recipes. In addition to the pretzels, he claims his gluten-free bread and chocolate chip cookies are also not to be messed with. Wow. Ok, I’m hungry!

As the Senior Vice President at PCSB Bank in Yorktown, Michael would tell you that his days were quite different both as a banker and Town Supervisor… conferences got cancelled, breakfast and dinner meetings were long-past rescheduling, golf outings were caput, and cocktail parties were no-more. Bank time was spent handling loan deferrals and PPP loans vs. new loan referrals and Town time was spent assessing and adapting by the hour vs. using year-old best practices.

It was mid-April, and Michael and his dog were out collecting litter left behind by a few bad apples and COVID-19. Keeping our 232-year-old town tidy is something he takes extremely seriously. Litter leads to more litter (broken windows do the same).

Schiliro was the only car headed north on the Taconic that day. Headed to work, busier than ever between his job as a banker and an elected official, when all of a sudden an eerie feeling set in. A pit in his stomach. He was never the only car on the road; not THAT road. Quick to find a smile, he reminded himself of the lady who greeted him at DeCicco & Sons the night before. She was proud to offer a smile that glowed through her mask, add him to the in-store headcount, offer gloves and a mask, and without saying anything, offered the comfort and reassurance he needed to feel safe shopping there. He smiled and felt eager to get off the Taconic and back into DeCicco & Sons.

Listen, Michael knows the school systems, the restaurant scene, open spaces, and claiming to be the pizza capital of Westchester is all incredibly appealing to a potential homeowner, but none of these matter if you don’t have soul. We. Have. Soul.

The proof is in the pudding…

A doctor Michael never met reached out to make an appeal to him during the early onset of the pandemic. Her medical facilities were already experiencing a shortage of masks and she needed his help blasting a call-to-action to the community. Done. Email sent. Well, the plastic bins Michael left on his lawn to collect the masks kept proving to be too small. As the days past the bins continued to overflow with donated masks; first medical ones, and then cloth. And WHOLLY CLOTH. LEARN THIS: our town is full of agile and scrappy seamsters and seamstresses. Photos of families in town with their sewing machines started popping up on social media outlets (and Michael’s inbox) and materials and ideas were flowing through town about how to even make one of these things. But not a soul was deterred… okay, maybe ONE person got fed up with the bobbin and threw in the towel, but Michael wasn’t kidding when he said THOUSANDS of homemade cloth masks were dropped off at his home to be donated. These savvy Mask-Makers were incredibly inspiring.

Got Soul?

As they reduced staff based on local orders, the excellent leadership of Town Administrator Kevin Hay and Confidential Secretary Mindy Berard stood strong with all of our employees and continued to service our community in the way it deserves. Thankful to the police, fire departments, frontline medical staff, clerks, supermarkets, deli-workers, sanitation contractors, and everyone who put themselves out there when other people were not even allowed to go to work, Michael will be forever grateful for your courage and bravery.

BE DECENT. My takeaway from our interview with Michael is that all he wants is everyone to be decent to each other and our environment. Small ask. Big task. But we can do it. Full speed ahead.

And some more pudding for you…

Emotional and Heartfelt: An Interfaith Vigil in New Castle Advocates for Racial Equality

by

“I can’t breathe.” These words are currently part of a national chorus as on May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man died of a cardiac arrest when white police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. His death sparked a wave of protests all across the country, with people coming together, either in person or on social media to advocate for racial equality. Demonstrations ensued in over 75 different U.S. cities surrounding the issues of police brutality and systemic racism. People are also coming together to remember the lives of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade and many other people of color who have lost their lives to law enforcement.

In New Castle, as previously reported here,https://www.theinsidepress.com/racism-hits-home-as-a-school-district-self-examines-and-commits-to-change-and-growth troubling videos and images have emerged on social media depicting local kids using derogatory words targeting people of color. This comes on the heels of Floyd’s death and has set off a multitude of discussions surrounding how we deal with racism in our local community. In an attempt to address this too, The Chappaqua Interfaith Council and the Town of New Castle hosted an online vigil on Sunday, June 7th, in order to provide a chance for the community to come together during this tumultuous time as well as to offer a voice for many who have been silenced in the past.

The HGHS Black Student Union and E.N.O.U.G.H. club, as well as the Town of New Castle Holocaust and Human Rights Committee, the New Castle Police Department, the Upper Westchester Muslim Society, Superintendent of the Chappaqua Central School District, Christine Ackerman and Town Supervisor Ivy Pool all came together to voice their support for a reform to a system that oppresses people of color.

The vigil began with strong words from Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, co-chair of the Chappaqua Interfaith Council. “The inspiring images of our youth taking to the streets of our cities and even here this weekend in Chappaqua have made it all the more apparent that for we of the older generations, now is not the time to lecture, but rather to listen. Not to speak, but rather be educated. If anything, this moment calls for a deep sense of humility and the willingness to readily acknowledge that we do not know all that we should know and that voices once overlooked demand to be heard.” He continued stating that there is much more work that needs to be done and that “tonight is not the end, but rather the beginning of a broader discussion.” 

New Castle Town Supervisor Ivy Pool followed Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe’s remarks. She passionately explained how we, as a community must work together and be there for one another, especially in times like this. “We long to be together, to wrap our arms around each other, to hold and lift each other up. And we will. My promise to you is that tonight is just the beginning. We must grieve in order to heal. We must listen in order to act. Tonight is not a box we are checking – it’s a journey that we are on together. I invite all of you to join me in making this a personal and community priority.”

Town Supervisor Pool stated that she understands how hard it is to grieve as tragically her 11-year-old son Mattias died three months ago. However, she continued, resolutely stating that “I am here. I am with you and I am listening, and I am grateful for you.”

“May we open our hearts and minds to the racism that lives within most of us. May we open our hearts and minds and be really honest with ourselves about how we feel about people who are different from us. God help us to acknowledge the pain of those who have been targeted because of the color of their skin. Help us to acknowledge our own tacit approval of those who are targets,” Reverend Dr. Martha Jacobs continued in prayer.

Emily Nobel, a member of Greeley’s graduating class of 2020 then delivered a stirring and passionate speech detailing her experiences with discrimination and racism. “I feel like … I’m underwater, drowning in a pool of my own thoughts and I don’t know how else to explain except by telling you sometimes the only place I feel safe is in my own bedroom.” Nobel detailed how her struggle with racial bigotry is present in her own family and community. “I don’t want the only place I ever feel completely safe to be my own bedroom because I know the minute I step outside my room, the minute I step outside my door, my pigmentation will determine how I am treated and it’s overwhelming. I don’t always want to be reminded that my skin color, something I had no choice over, something that I was born into, could be the same reason that I am perceived as a threat, that I am the one who is dangerous when all I ever did was live. That’s all we want to do. We want to live.”

“Although we cannot change our inaction in the past, we cannot continue to silence the power of our voices because this conversation could be too uncomfortable or too unfamiliar. We need to address the discomfort and invite it in with the stories and realities of the lives of others. We must use our voices to support people or color and organizations that fight for racial equality and legal protection. We must speak up and take active steps to call out and combat racism in our own lives. We must demand change from our institutions while also looking inwards to see how we can improve on a personal level,” declared Greeley junior and member of Saint Mary Virgin Church, Alexandra Fitzgerald.

James Blasdell, a graduating senior from Pleasantville High School and member of the First Congregational Church of Chappaqua also joined in and spoke on behalf of the United Church of Christ Leadership and the staff of the Open and Affirming Coalition. “We have been saddened and angered, but unfortunately not shocked to witness, along with the rest of the country the deaths of Geroge Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, James Scurlock and David McAtee. They are the latest in a long long line of black folk, queer, straight and transgender, our parents, siblings, children, neighbors and friends, God’s children, murdered by the white supremacy that lies so close to the heart of our nation like a cancer.”

Lauren Clark, a Horace Greeley senior alumni, also expounded on what she believes to be the core foundations of the ensuing protests. “The death of George Floyd sparked reactions all over the world. Some may find this time frightening, but it gives me hope. Speaking out against white supremacy and race-based violence doesn’t make you anti-white, anti-police, right or left. It makes you pro-justice, pro-accountability, and pro-racial equality. Caring about the life of another person isn’t political – it’s human.”

Following Lauren Clark’s speech was Sam Rosenberg, a member of Greeley’s junior class and co-president of the E.N.O.U.G.H. club. He advocated for ways in which we can be a more inclusive and wholesome community. “We can start by not allowing police officers with 18 previous complaints to remain active on the force. We can work in our schools to educate our youth in a way that allows them to grow without learning the terrible stereotypes that my generation and all the ones before have been plagued with. We can teach them that words can be poisonous. But most of all, we must make sure that in one week, in 5 weeks and in a year, that the urgency of this issue does not die the same way George Floyd did.”

President of Greeley’s Black Student Union and graduating senior Gavrie Wayne added: “I have been angry for most of my time in CCSD. I was angry when Trayvon Martin was killed. I was angry when I walked into my 7th grade history class and saw a Confederate flag. But some of you are new to anger. You were angry when George Floyd was killed. That was when you woke up. When I was new to anger I didn’t know how to handle it well. I was just angry with no action. That is when I started the BSU. With the help of the current administration, the BSU was able to make significant changes, so I implore those new to anger, find your BSU and create the change you want to see.”

Dr. Christine Ackerman, Superintendent of the Chappaqua Central School District also made an appearance, addressing the racial inequities present in the school system. “As the superintendent, I want to begin by apologizing – not just for the video that is circulating on social media, but to every student who has felt marginalized and not accepted for who they are as a student and a member of our school community. I accept responsibility for this – I am the leader of this district. It is unacceptable, it is wrong and it cannot be allowed to continue. For my part as an educator, I see this as a systematic curricular issue which needs a holistic approach.”

James Carroll, New Castle Chief of Police, and Zabeen Mirza, Interfaith Council Ambassador at the Upper Westchester Muslim Society, New Castle resident and Chappaqua mom, along with Ali Rosenberg and Stacey Saiontz who co-chair the New Castle Holocaust and Human Rights Committee, also delivered heartening messages aimed at spreading acceptance and inclusion within our society.

Reverend Canon Alan Dennis then delivered the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi in remembrance of all those who have died. Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe continued with a special version of Mourner’s Kaddish in which he included the names of those who have been the victims of racial injustice. Reverend Dr. Martha Jacobs delivered the closing prayer in which she advocated for unity and strength within the town of New Castle. The vigil concluded in song by Sophia and Michela Masotti as they sang Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.”

Interfaith Vigil:

New Castle’s Town Board Perseveres Through the COVID-19 Pandemic

by

April 3, 2020  Chappaqua, NY– It seems like many moons ago that New Castle’s town board–spirits running high and sleeves rolled up to serve New Castle–gathered for a packed inauguration ceremony on January 27 when the idea of social distancing could not have been more remote, or the idea of working ‘remotely’ was not on anyone’s mind, either. It’s safe to say too that no one that evening was thinking of how local public officials might navigate a global pandemic hitting home come mid spring. But here we are, with town boards everywhere, and New Castle being no exception, thrust into the roles of informing and leading residents on the best personal safety practices as they keep abreast of and share highlights specific to New Castle, and include near daily updates from the county, state and federal sources.

With all this on my mind, and on many of my neighbors’ minds, I decided to engage in a conversation to see how my own hometown board is faring.

Speaking for the Town of New Castle, Deputy Town Supervisor Jeremy Saland explained the board has been closely consulting with first responders–the Chappaqua and Millwood Fire Departments, the Chappaqua and Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps–and with other ‘essential’ town hall staff who remain engaged in moving town business forward, too… all the while juggling multiple family responsibilities and/or even personal crises themselves.  

“It is a responsibility that we accept–delegating different things to different people…  But it’s also important to remember that everyone has a role, everyone plays a part,” Saland shared. “We also all need a good bit of levity to maintain our mental health, so I like to say, ‘all hands on deck’ sure, but also ‘all clean hands on deck’– we all  have come together; everyone has really been fabulous and pulling their weight.”

To that end, Saland described Ivy Pool’s leadership during this period as “exemplary.”

“She has been conferencing weekly with other Town Supervisors to ascertain how she can protect and best serve our respective residents: said Saland. “Both she and I have been on multiple conference calls a week with the County Executive advocating for our municipality, seeking clarity on critical issues and asking the important questions.

“Ivy has been a pillar for New Castle managing the municipality along with the incredible efforts of Jill Shapiro, our Town Administrator.”

In the meantime, as residents all collectively hope for the best but steel for the worst, they are grateful for town hall efforts that include updates shared several times a week via Town of New Castle eNews. The updates are also posted to social media on the Town of New Castle Facebook page and a second page called New Castle Community Discussions.

Regarding the impact on small business, board members Lauren Levin and Lisa Katz are working in consultation with the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce too on a variety of initiatives to help small businesses, and/or directly with area businesses themselves, many of whom are assuming volunteer roles, too. Katz also said she has been fielding general questions from the public about COVID-19 especially those regarding the new social distancing.

Similarly, led by Jason Lichtenthal, town residents are rolling up their sleeves via the New Castle Volunteer Match delivering goods and services to those most in need, too, on account of the COVID-19 impact. In the meantime, town board meetings have gone virtual; basically, town board members, town staff and first responders are all working cooperatively and largely from home following stay at home health and safety guidelines too while assuming their respective roles and responsibilities.

New Castle Town Board on the evening of the 1/27/2020 Inauguration ceremony (left to right): Deputy Supervisor Jeremy Saland, Lisa Katz, Supervisor Ivy Pool, Laura Levin and Jason Lichtenthal  Photo by Carolyn Simpson

Keeping regular and vital business moving forward is a key goal too–whether a simple reminder to fill out the U.S. Census or issuing the town tax bill, which was recently sent out.  Essential staff includes those preparing town documents. “They can’t just sit. Whomever can work among support staff are doing things from home. The goal is to keep moving things forward. The County and the Westchester County Board of Legislators have proposed a plan to assist taxpayers and address penalties that we continue to review.”

Commenting on the pandemic and its impact here at home: As of April 2, the town board confirmed the number of positive cases in New Castle: 51.  Saland emphasized that “while the numbers are important, they don’t tell the whole story.”

 “You also have to be smart when you look at the numbers; we are in Westchester, where the numbers, especially those in the hardest hit municipalities of New Rochelle, Mount Vernon and Yonkers, are outpacing everyone in the state–outside of New York City. “We must keep taking the steps necessary to mitigate who will get this illness.” The bottom line,” Saland added, “is that the borders between counties, cities and towns are superficial, and we all have to follow the best practices to stay safe.”

A key goal has been to protect the health of first responders in the frontlines as they institute safety protocol in their interactions with the general public. Saland said there is also a mechanism in place that facilitates assistance between departments and even other municipalities.  It is referred to as “mutual assistance between first responders.”

The general population of New Castle has been generally very cooperative; the New Castle Police Department remains vigilant and ‘on top of’ any trouble, he said, if issues arise. He said it’s important to remember too that sometimes an incident reported online in social media is not necessarily as it is described, either; rumors easily spread. Officers will be deployed as needed to investigate.

I asked about sanitation schedules, which are contracted out these days by SaniPro. “There is nothing that would indicate that will stop or that they will alter their schedule.”

The U.S. Post Office continues to provide its service, too, at their Chappaqua and Millwood locations. The Town does not coordinate with them, said Saland, as “they answer to the federal government.”

Finally, I asked Saland how he is personally managing.  He immediately tipped his hat to his wife Leslie Saland, a physician treating patients, who is also working from home with three kids. “She is doing a yeoman’s job. I won’t ever take credit for my wife’s work. She is as smart and kind as she is giving and hardworking,” he said.

Saland also noted: “I have the same fears and concerns as everyone else. I started my own law firm. After years as a prosecutor, I built it into a successful and thriving practice. As New York City and New York State shut down, I took a frightening hit.”

We are all truly in this together, he said: “As I stated on inauguration night: there is no difference between ‘us’ (the town board) here and ‘you’– we just happen to run for public office. Everyone needs to do their part in maintaining child-care, education, mental health and general wellness. We need to be kind and respectful to one another, all the while knowing that we are going to get on the other side of this. There is a mountain to climb but we will summit it together.”

“It’s critical that residents understand, and I’m stating this with complete sincerity, that the town board, first responders and town staff are genuinely doing their best and want to see this community not just merely get through this but to be in an even better place when we are done.”

“People should feel good and comfortable and confident about that cooperation: we are fortunate that we have a concerned, educated community that cares about each other beyond their doorstep and property lines. That’s critical to effectuating the government and country’s role to minimize the spread and break us free from the grip of COVID-19.”

I hesitated to ask, but did: “Are you bracing yourself for tragedies in this town?”

Saland answered: “Can I honestly say that we are not going to have a loss of life here? And assert that there are not going to be very sick people here, either? No, I can’t say any of that. Things may be very, very bad, for some, and that would be extremely unfortunate, but if we follow all the guidance, the chances of that are greatly reduced.”

The crisis in fact hit home for Saland over the past week as his family met the critical health needs of his dad. “My father was diagnosed with cancer a month ago, and surgery was scheduled for him to remove a kidney and part of his bladder at a New York hospital. Surgery was cancelled because the doctor was concerned because of COVID-19 patients at the hospital and the risk it posed to his health.”

“Fortunately, after the hospital canceled and another could not perform the procedure even though he was about a month away from their physician suggested deadline, a team at the upstate University Hospital in Syracuse came through. “This past Friday, we got the call from Syracuse, and he drove up that night before undergoing surgery the following morning.

“Other than the expected post-surgery pain, he is doing well and has a positive attitude. I haven’t seen him and likely can’t for some time, just as my mom couldn’t go with him to the hospital,” said Saland. “He was alone, because he is one of those people with immunocompromised health for whom we all have to do our part to safeguard.”