UPDATE: Results of the School Budget Vote

vote
See more photos inside.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
by Christine Yeres

Around 1,200 residents came out to vote yesterday.  The 2012-13 school budget and library budget passed handily; Board of Ed President Alyson Gardner Kiesel was reelected for a second three-year term; and, through 34 write-in votes, Gerry Golub was elected to fill the vacant library board position.  Two write-in votes were cast for Bill Clinton.  See the numbers in “Read more…”

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UPDATE: Ossining School Budget Results

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Ossining’s school budget passed by 1,879 Yes votes to 1,049 No votes.  Kim Case (1,661 votes) and Dana Levenberg (1,516 votes) were elected to the two board positions.  The third candidate, Sharon Abreau, received 933 votes.

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UPDATE: Calendar for New Castle: Wednesday, May 16—and forward

pancakes
Rotary’s Pancake Breakfast and Blood Donation Day is Saturday, May 19.

• Thu. May 17: Webinar on Lyme Disease: How to prevent infection, reduce severity 7-8:30 pm

• Big Day Saturday, May 19:  Rotary blood-giving and pancake reward, Chappaqua Farmers Market, Two Open Day Secret Gardens

• Sun. May 20: Big 10K Race—$15 if you register by May 18, $20 on-site the day-of.

• Check out NCNOW’s Calendar page for more—like

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Review of 2012-13 Chappaqua School District Budget, up for a vote on Tuesday, May 15

vote
May 11, 2012
by Christine Yeres

The CCSD 2012-13 budget of $112,208,000 represents a $754,400 increase over the current year’s budget of $111,448,488.  The budget increases spending next year by 0.68%, “the second lowest increase in the last eight years,” according to Assistant Superintendent for Business John Chow. The lowest was a zero percent increase in 2009-2010; the highest was 8.7%, in 2005-2006.

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What happened to the League’s Candidates’ Night and Voter Guide?


May 11, 2012
by Lea Barth and Sheila Bernson

Are you wondering where your School Board and Library Board Voters Guide is? It’s usually in your mailbox by now.

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Open Letter to the Community: NCCRE supports CCSD budget, urges support for mandate relief

May 11, 2012

This year, because of the 2% Tax Cap, Chappaqua School Board, Superintendent Lyn McKay and Assistant Superintendent for Business John Chow had the difficult task of finding budget savings without sacrificing the quality of the Chappaqua Schools. We commend their efforts and the resulting budget which is under the 2% Tax Cap.

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Letters to the Editor:  In support of the Ossining school budget

May 11, 2012

Editor’s Note: Below are four letters to the editor in support of the Ossining Union Free School District’s 2012-13 budget.  Voting takes place at Ossining High School Gymnasium on Tuesday, May 15, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. To view the district’s budget page, click HERE.

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Letter to the Editor: Vote for Levenberg and Case for Ossining school board

May 11, 2012
by Shami Arslanian

I would like to thank Dana Levenberg and Kimberly Case for running for the Ossining school board again this year. Their past service has shown them to be exemplary leaders. They have accomplished the near impossible; balancing educational ideals with financial responsibilities.

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WEDNESDAY: League luncheon speaker on “Human Trafficking in Our Own Backyard”

League Luncheon at noon on Wed., May 16, Kittle House
Monday, April 30, 2012
by Lea Barth and Sheila Bernson

Everywhere you look there’s another article about human trafficking.  People tend to think that human trafficking occurs in other countries or to people of other nationalities.

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NEW: Free Carnival to Celebrate 40 Years of Play Care*– May 19, 1 – 3pm

playcare
Monday, May 14, 2012
by Carol Cleary

To celebrate and thank the community for all the support over the years, we are thrilled to be holding an amazing carnival on Saturday, May 19, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., at the First Congregational Church, 210 Orchard Ridge Road at Route 117 in Chappaqua.

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WED-THURS: In JCC’s “Arts in Action” fundraiser, young residents lend insight into troubled pasts

May 11, 2012
MONDAY, May 14, 2012
by Marci Garson

At what age should our children be aware of the adversity that the abused and neglected kids at the Cottage Schools in Pleasantville have been subjected to all their lives?  That was the question floating around the table of volunteers meeting with JCCA members to plan this year’s Arts in Action Fundraiser scheduled for May 16 and 17 at the Pleasantville Cottage School Dining Hall.

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Sunday, May 20, The Chappaqua Orchestra presents: Music Inspired by Nature

At Horace Greeley HS Auditorium, 3:00 p.m.
harp
Monday, May 14, 2012
by Marjorie Perlin

The air smells of flowers, bright colors explode from the earth and the sun is still up after work! There’s nothing like spring and its abundance to inspire those, well, “spring” feelings.  Artists have been inspired by nature since charcoal left a mark on cave walls, and composers are no exception.

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Here comes the Friends of the Library Annual USED BOOK SALE 2012

book
Monday, May 7, 2012
by Christine Yeres

Hang onto those great, in-good-shape books a little longer, until doors open on Monday, June 4 for the big intake for the big Used Book Sale that will run from its Preview Night (only for members of the Friends) on Wednesday, June 6, to open-to-the-public day Thursday, June 7, through Sunday, June 10, when all remaining books are FREE.

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In the garden with Shobha Vanchiswar

allium with butterfly
Monday, May 14, 2012

Welcome, Visitors!

I’m in the thick of getting my garden ready for it’s Open Day this Saturday May 19.

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Real Estate Transactions

house
Five new transactions from the county clerk’s office for the week ending May 11
May 11, 2012

Editor’s Note: Since October, 2007, NewCastleNOW.org has published every week in its real estate section information about houses sold in New Castle as that information has been released by Westchester County. 

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UPDATE: Bring your extra seeds and seedlings to a community planting party Saturday, May 19

See our list of easy-to-grow vegetables in “Read more…”
cvac garden
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
by Susan Rubin

The Chappaqua Community Garden is having a planting party on Saturday, May 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The garden is located next to the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps headquarters, located at 323 North Greeley Avenue. We’ll be planting seeds and seedlings. Experienced veggie gardeners will be on hand to help coach beginners and share stories of what grew well in past sunny and rainy summers.

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NEW: A Brief History of the Fire Company Inspection

Millwood Fire Company Inspection
Mike Horan
Monday, May 14, 2012
by Christine Yeres

Last Saturday the Millwood Fire Company held its annual inspection.  Back in the 1800s, when fire companies were few and far between, they relied on each other for mutual aid, sharing equipment and manpower.  Often fires took more than one company to handle.  To receive mutual aid, fire companies had to be able to provide mutual aid, and it became the custom to check out, through official visits, what the other companies had. 

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NEW: Rare “Open Days”—a chance to peek at stunnng private gardens

Open Days
Monday, May 14, 2012
by Christine Yeres

Two best-kept secret gardens open to visitors only twice each year, autumn and spring.  Through the Garden Conservancy, his Saturday, May 19 two gardens—one small, one vast, both hidden treasures of New Castle—open themselves to visitors.

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NEW: Chappaqua Blood Drive and Rotary Pancake Breakfast Coming Saturday, May 19

blood
Monday, May 14, 2012
by John Ehrlich

The Annual Spring Community Blood Drive is scheduled for Saturday, May 19th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  “Volunteer donors from New Castle and the surrounding communities are expected to donate as many as 50 pints to help reduce the continuing blood shortage in the Hudson Valley,” according to Debbi Kleinman of the Greater New York Blood Program office in Elmsford which partners with Chappaqua Rotary to staff the drive.

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Conifer returns with altered Hunts Place plan—one story shorter, 48 feet longer

shorter by one floor
New drawings show a building shorter by one floor. See Conifer’s comparison of renderings in “Read more…”
May 11, 2012
by Christine Yeres

Last Tuesday, Conifer representative Andy Bodewes explained to town board members that his company specialized in affordable housing. “We build it, we own it, we manage it,” said Bodewes.  “We’re committed to providing a long-term asset for us and for the community. That’s why it’s important for us to provide a very high-quality product.  We heard the comments [from town boards and residents] and appreciate those comments, and want to address them the best we can.”  Gary Warshauer, the architect for Conifer Realty’s Hunts Place project, then showed town board members a plan that maintains all 36 rental units, but brings down the building’s five stories to four and extends its north end by 45 feet. 

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Advice to Conifer from court-appointed monitor of affordable housing settlement

May 11, 2012

Editor’s Note: This week, the town released an April 12, 2012, letter from James E. Johnson, federal monitor for Westchester County’s settlement with HUD, to Conifer Realty, pointing out his concerns about the location and configuration of the Hunts Lane project.  Copies were sent to County and HUD representatives as well as New Castle town board and planning board members.  The letter is published below:

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Open Letter to Town Board Members: Revised Conifer plan still unacceptable for residential use

Monday, May 7, 2012

Editor’s Note: On Tuesday, May 8, Conifer will return to the town board with revised plans for its Hunts Place affordable housing proposal. Yesterday, members of “Chappaqua For Responsible Affordable Housing” (CFRAH) sent the following letter to Town Board members.

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Merchant of the Week: Le Jardin du Roi’s Joe Quaratararo

jardin
May 11, 2012
by Rob Greenstein

I went to Le Jardin hoping to see a former President . . .

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Millwood’s Little Red Stationhouse bites the dust, but could make a comeback

demolition
More photos in “Read more…”
May 11, 2011
by Christine Yeres

On Wednesday morning, a single backhoe made short work of Millwood’s the little red stationhouse. Within two hours it was reduced to a pile of wood siding, shingles and beams; slate roof tiles; the bricks of the chimney; the sawdust left by insects and squirrels that have had the run of it; and the ivy that had grown up its backside, into it, and out a hole in the roof.  By afternoon,  the footings had been filled in and smoothed over.

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Be part of a unique Chappaqua program: Host a student for 10 weekdays this summer

kids at graduation
More photos of last year’s CSSP graduation at the Community Center in “Read more…”
May 11, 2012
by Diane Albert

Want to give your family a special experience this summer? Host a Chappaqua Summer Scholarship student for ten week days and feel good, have fun, and participate in a program that is unique to Chappaqua.

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NEW: Greeley Varsity Baseball: Young Team Moving in the Right Direction

seniors
Left to right, seniors Robby Attia, Leo Wolfensohn, Matt Re, Andreas Larramendi and Jarrod Hamburg.
Monday, May 14, 2012
by Matt Meshberg

The Quakers had a rough start to the season before the improvement and maturity really showed. It started with hard fought games against some tough opponents. The Quakers lost 7-6 to a very strong New Rochelle team and 8-7 to Westlake in The Dave Basso Memorial Tournament in Harrison. These losses, however, lead to a three game winning streak. The winning streak began with a home and home sweep of Port Chester, winning both contests by scores of 17-3 and 8-4.

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NEW: Sports Calendar for Monday, May 14 - Thursday, May 17

Monday, May 14, 2012
~ from the Greeley Sports Boosters website

High School sports for this week.

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NEW:  Greeley Varsity Tennis Team Serves Up Some Fun at Tennis Fest 2012

tennis
Joe Roediger, President of the USPTA, Eastern section briefs the team on the Tennis Fest activities
May 14, 2012
by Andrea Jayson

The boys on the Greeley Varsity Tennis team are taking their love of tennis and serving up some good deeds starting at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 20 at the Saw Mill Club in Mt. Kisco during TennisFest 2012.  Entertainment will be provided by Disney singing star Tiffany and tennis legend Nick Bollettieri will be a guest speaker.

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