Happy September! I hope that everyone had a wonderful summer, and that those sending kids to school had an easy transition. Personally, I love seeing the smiling faces of the little ones in town playing tag at the school bus stops as backpacks line the ground. And we had our first Friday of the new school year where throngs of middle school kids ran through the Chappaqua hamlet in search of ice cream, pizza and candy after school!
We have a lot to look forward to this fall including the Ragamuffin parade, the Children’s Book Festival, the farmer’s market and even a local election (where incumbent Town Board member Chris Hildenbrand is running in a special election against Holly McCall to finish the remainder of the 4-year councilmember term in which he currently serves). With all the fun in store for us, let’s remember to enjoy each other, and to embrace our merchants, restaurants, friends and neighbors with love, kindness, and respect.
Happy 5th birthday to BORA YURTSEVER!
Happy upcoming 11th birthday to EMMA ALLEN!
Happy upcoming 16th birthday to JASCH!
Happy upcoming 6th birthday to ISABELLA HALVORSON!
Happy 9th birthday to ALBA WONG!
Look for the community’s best wishes to you all on the electronic sign across from the train station! We love the sense of community (and the smiles) that this brings!
If you have a community shout-out (birthdays or otherwise), please send an email to CommunityCorner@mynewcastle.org. We make our Community Corner announcements at each of our public meetings. And you can see your name in lights!
The 9/7/22 Town Board Meeting Recap
The Town Board met on Wednesday this week, instead of our usual Tuesday, in order to host an On the Horizon Westchester County Airport Master Plan meeting right here in New Castle. Thank you to all who came out to the airport meeting to discuss your thoughts and concerns re the Westchester County Airport Master Plan. For those who are interested in continuing to advocate for New Castle, please consider joining our Airport Advisory Board. You can apply HERE.
In our Town Board meeting this week, we discussed creation of a reserve fund for the purpose of acquiring real property for open space and conservation purposes. We don’t want to increase taxes to do this, however, so the Board envisions transferring excess general fund monies into this proposed open space reserve fund, to be earmarked for open space acquisitions. We have asked the Conservation Board to weigh in on our proposal, and we look forward to continued conversations to effectuate this important goal.
We also received an update from the Chief of Police on our request to improve signage and to have “SCHOOL” marked on the pavement in front of the Grafflin and Roaring Brook elementary schools. We are moving ahead with this, with the approval of the NYS Department of Transportation. Hopefully we can expedite the NYS DOT Highway Work Permit approvals to get this done quickly.
Importantly, we heard the results of the Northern Westchester Wireless Plan Master Survey here in New Castle. Not surprisingly, we have cell service issues here!! The vast majority of respondents were in favor of new, concealed cell towers (like those hidden in flag poles or made to look like trees). You can find a summary of the survey results HERE. The Town Board will be considering next steps soon – we know that connectivity is of utmost importance in Town.
We also continued our public hearing with respect to a proposed local law to deal with certain property maintenance issues in our community. The proposed law is meant to establish a procedure under which the Town could, as a last resort, perform essential maintenance on “zombie” or otherwise neglected properties that have failed to cure significant maintenance issues that violate New York law and are endangering public welfare, jeopardizing the security of private property, and adversely impacting the value of surrounding buildings and properties. The law would allow the cost of the work to be allocated as a tax lien on the property. The current version of the law contemplates that residents may wish to intentionally plant flower and pollinator gardens on their property, and we encourage those plantings. Following discussion, we closed the public hearing, leaving it open for written comments until noon on September 12th.
The Board also considered various administrative items, and then formally established a new advisory committee, known as the LGBTQIA+ Committee, to recognize and establish channels for outreach and inclusion for members of our community who identify as LGBTQIA+ and their allies. The Committee will be comprised of up to ten members. You can apply to be a member of the Committee HERE.
Want to See for Yourself?
For more information on any of these items, please watch the recording of the Town Board meeting HERE.
Our next Town Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 13th.
9/11 Memorial Ceremony
The Town of New Castle will commemorate September 11th this weekend with a memorial service, honoring and remembering all those affected and the thousands who lost their lives. The memorial ceremony will be held this year on Sunday, September 11, 2022 at 5:30 P.M. at the New Castle 9-11 Memorial in Gedney Park.
Ribbon Cuttings
I am thrilled to announce that we have two new ribbon cuttings coming soon!
GREEN & TONIC will soon be opening on S. Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua! It will be offering delicious, plant-based, crave-able food designed to nourish the mind, body, and soul. The ribbon cutting will be held on Monday, September 12th at 3PM.
MAKERSPACE is also coming soon to S. Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua! It offers STEAM Education Programs for grades K-12 as well as adults. A makerspace is a collaborative workspace filled with creative tools such as computers, robots, electronics, 3D printers, woodworking tools and more. The ribbon cutting will be held on Friday, September 16th at 3PM.
Mark your calendars and come join us to welcome our new neighbors!
Paving
Paving continues as the wet weather this week and a late start by our paving contractor delays our schedule into September.
Grant Opportunities
Over the summer, staff has been researching grant opportunities to help defray the cost of the Town’s many infrastructure projects. At Wednesday night’s Town Board meeting, there are two resolutions supporting grants the Town is applying for. One is in support of a clean water grant for the significant work proposed for the Bedford Pump Station.
The second is in support of a NYS infrastructure grant for shared municipal projects for the roof replacement at the Millwood Water Treatment Plant(MWTP). As the Board is aware, because the Village of Pleasantville and the Town of New Castle jointly own and operate the MWTP, there is a separate funding opportunity for these types of projects because they are shared services and provide water to communities beyond just New Castle and Pleasantville.
2022-2023 School Tax Bills Have Been Mailed
The 2022-2023 School Tax Bills have been mailed. The first half of the 2022-2023 school taxes are due without penalty on or before Friday, September 30. If you, as opposed to your bank, are responsible to pay school and town taxes, and you have not received your tax bill or you have any questions, please call the tax office 238-4773.
Please Complete the New Castle Natural Resources Inventory Public Outreach Survey
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Program (NYSDEC HREP) defines a Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) as a compilation of a town or region’s naturally occurring resources (e.g., forests, wetlands, streams, aquifers, parks and open spaces). Funded by the NYSDEC HREP grant awarded to New Castle in 2022, your NRI is in the process of being prepared and reviewed courtesy of the New Castle Conservation Board, Town’s Development Department staff, NYSDEC Project Manager and the consultant MAD Scientist Associates, LLC. NRIs often include three components: 1) Map series detailing locations and extant of known natural resources; 2) associated data, sources, and descriptions; and 3) a comprehensive descriptive report describing goals, methods, and summaries of inventoried resources.
To gather community specific natural resource interest and experience in support of preparing our NRI, the NRI ‘team’ is requesting the participation of all New Castle citizens in completing the survey found at the hyperlink below. Results of the survey shall be included in the NRI report. We anticipate a draft NRI for public review in fall 2022.
Saturdays, 8:30am to 1pm
South Lot of the Chappaqua Train Station
Take It or Leave It “Shop” - Saturdays
(Weather Permitting)
The Take It or Leave It “shop” (TIOLI) is a place where residents can leave usable things they do not want, and pick up things they can use. No money is involved – everything is free. Location: 1st left as you enter the station parking area from South Greeley Avenue.
The Take It Or Leave It will be open, weather permitting (no rain, strong winds or excessive heat), on Saturdays until the end of October. Drop-off hours are from 8:30 to 11:00 am. Shoppers will be welcome from 9am to noon, although the volunteers will start packing things back into the shed at about 11:30. Only New Castle residents may leave things, because we have limited room in the shed and everything must be stored there if not taken by noon.
Shoppers may be asked to limit their shopping time to let everyone have a chance at our wares. Signs will indicate the drop-off area.
Please note these updated rules: NO books, clothes, cassettes or VHS tapes, electronic equipment or things in poor condition (including chipped china). NO items heavier or bulkier than one person can handle. NO car seats, cribs, bed frames, or skis. Staff volunteers will have the right to refuse items. Children must be supervised, and please, no strollers or dogs.
Eyeglass Donations supporting Horace Greeley Australian Exchange Club
There will be a special collection box for eyeglass donations to Lions Club International who are sponsoring the Horace Greeley Australian exchange Club. The collection box will be set up at TIOLI every Saturday, weather permitting.
Join NCPD for Ice Cream With A Cop
Saturday, Sept. 10 at 1PM
New Castle Community Day Saturday, Sept. 17
Registration is OPEN!
Confidential Paper Shredding Event
Saturday, September 17th 10am-1pm at the Recycling Center
Confidential Paper Shredding Event Saturday, September 17th 10am-1pm at the Recycling Center
Please be patient as we are expecting a large turnout
Residents line up on Joan Corwin Way
Recycling Staff will direct residents
Proof of residency will be required
USA Shred staff will load your paper into truck and shred it
Residents are welcome to watch their documents loaded into the shredder
The Recycling Center Yard will be open. Lines are expected.
Access to the Residential Yard Waste Area will be a challenge from 10am-1pm during the event please plan accordingly.
LemonAID Stand Fundraiser
Saturday, September 24
New Castle Historical Society
The Civil War Comes to New Castle!!!
Chappaqua Continuing Education
Fall Session Registration is Now Open!
"Try to learn something about everything, and everything about something." - Thomas Huxley
We are happy to announce that CCE has an exciting line-up for the fall. Our program will be a hybrid of in-person classes, which will meet at Horace Greeley High School (unless otherwise noted), and online classes via Zoom, which can be taken from the comfort of your home!
Art / Art Appreciation / Art Virtual Classes & Tours - College Prep - Culinary - Exercise - Finance - Games & Fun - Garden & Home - Hobbies - Photography & Technology - Self Discovery & Wellness - World Languages
Some classes begin as early as September 19th
Register early to ensure your spot - Many classes do sell out
We offer plenty of one-day classes
We do cancel classes for lack of enrollment, so don't delay in expressing your interest.
AYSO Soccer Registration is open for the Fall/Spring 2022-23 season
The Fall 2022 soccer season will run from September to November. The Spring 2023 season will run from April to June. Please register, and a coach or coordinator will reach out to you as soon as the exact dates are finalized.
The U5, U6, U7, U8, U10 & VIPs will practice and play on Saturdays.
The U12, U14, & U19s practice on Saturdays and play games against other Westchester towns on Sundays.
We have a new registration system so you’ll have to re-register if you are a returning player. Sign up today! https://chappaquaayso.org
Play Care Early Learning Center has received a very generous donation and is able to offer tuition assistance for children whose families cannot afford to pay full tuition fees to attend preschool.
For information about the Mattias Edstrom scholarship click here:
Donations to the scholarship fund are always welcome.
New Castle
Recreation & Parks
Scarecrow Building Festival
Saturday, October 1st
New Castle Senior Services
Senior Happenings
We look forward to seeing you at future events and programs. Please call the Center at 238-8888 for more information, and continue to check this enewsletter for weekly updates.
The Town of New Castle strives to identify sustainable policies, practices and procedures that promote equal access to civic involvement opportunities to all its citizens regardless of race, gender, or other protected class, thereby creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive systems of community governance. All qualified and interested residents are strongly encouraged to apply.
LBGTQIA+ Committee
The Town of New Castle is looking for volunteers to serve on a new committee for LBGTQIA+ advocacy.
If interested please complete the Committee Application at the link HERE.
Environmental Review Board
The Environmental Review Board (ERB) is governed by Chapter 137 “Wetlands” of the Town Code of New Castle. The ERB is the primary approving authority for applications submitted in connection with the Town’s wetlands regulations.
Members are expected to be familiar with the regulatory thresholds and requirements of the Town ordinances relating to environmental protection, including steep slopes, trees, and especially wetlands and wetland buffers. They are also encouraged to develop skill in reading blueprints, maps, and draft plans, as well as the basic science underlying environmental evaluation.
The Environmental Review Board was established on November 14th, 1989. The term of office is three years.
If interested please complete the Board Application at the link HERE.
Ethics Board
The Ethics Board renders advisory opinions on specific situations or when requested, on the conduct of an official or employee, in accordance with the provisions of the adopted Code of Ethics (PDF).
The Ethics Board was established on June 25th, 1970. The term of office is three years.
If interested please complete the Board Application at the link HERE.
Recreation Commission
The Recreation Commission is currently accepting applications to fill a vacancy.
The purposes and objectives of the Commission are available HERE.
To plan and provide opportunities for the residents of the Town for recreation, relaxation, and enjoyment through participation in a wide variety of programs of a recreational nature.
To study the recreational and parks needs and resources of the Town.
To achieve maximum return from moneys expended for such programs by encouraging broad use of such programs, by good management and prudent selection of such programs, and by establishing an appropriate division between tax-supported, partially tax-supported, and self-sustaining programs.
To encourage recreational programs and activity, whether directly sponsored by the Commission or otherwise.
To encourage broad community participation in its programs and coordinate its policies and activities with those of the Town Board.
Members of the Recreation Commission serve a term of seven years.
If interested please complete the Board Application at the link HERE.
COVID Update
09/08/2022: 2,755 Countywide, 41 New Castle
08/30/2022: 3,205 Countywide, 35 New Castle
08/21/2022: 3,674 Countywide, 61 New Castle
08/16/2022: 4,104 Countywide, 67 New Castle
08/11/2022: 4,694 Countywide, 67 New Castle
08/09/2022: 4,957 Countywide, 82 New Castle
08/02/2022: 5,285 Countywide, 107 New Castle
07/26/2022: 5,555 Countywide, 99 New Castle
07/19/2022: 6,007 Countywide, 103 New Castle
07/12/2022: 5,618 Countywide, 98 New Castle
07/5/2022: 5,054 Countywide, 83 New Castle
06/28/2022: 4,667 Countywide, 90 New Castle
06/22/2022: 4,519 Countywide, 94 New Castle
06/15/2022: 5,015 Countywide, 89 New Castle
06/07/2022: 5,629 Countywide, 101 New Castle
05/31/2022: 6,698 Countywide, 172 New Castle
05/24/2022: 8,093 Countywide, 247 New Castle
05/18/2022: 8,304 Countywide, 282 New Castle
05/10/2022: 6,944 Countywide, 248 New Castle
05/03/2022: 5,411 Countywide, 160 New Castle
04/26/2022: 4,683 Countywide, 127 New Castle
04/20/2022: 4,834 Countywide, 126 New Castle
04/13/2022: 4,074 Countywide, 106 New Castle
04/05/2022: 2,751 Countywide, 87 New Castle
03/30/2022: 2,279 Countywide, 66 New Castle
03/24/2022: 1,875 Countywide, 39 New Castle
03/22/2022: 1,696 Countywide, 38 New Castle
03/17/2022: 1,550 Countywide, 38 New Castle
03/15/2022: 1,516 Countywide, 43 New Castle
03/11/2022: 1,463 Countywide, 47 New Castle
03/08/2022: 1,469 Countywide, 48 New Castle
03/03/2022: 1,337 Countywide, 46 New Castle
03/01/2022: 1,559 Countywide, 46 New Castle
02/24/2022: 1,784 Countywide; 45 New Castle
02/17/2022: 2,600 Countywide; 50 New Castle
02/15/2022: 2,837 Countywide, 58 New Castle
02/10/2022: 3,797 Countywide, 69 New Castle
02/08/2022 4,614 Countywide, 86 New Castle
02/03/2022: 6,982 Countywide, 135 New Castle
02/01/2022: 8,779 Countywide, 174 New Castle
01/26/2022:16,093 Countywide; 276 New Castle
01/24/2022: 20,176 Countywide, 324 New Castle
01/19/2022: 34,213, Countywide, 491 New Castle
01/18/2022: 37,378, Countywide, 513 New Castle
01/12/2022: 48,574, Countywide, 659 New Castle
01/05/2022: 43,469, Countywide, 563 New Castle
01/03/2022: 38,802, Countywide, 538 New Castle
The Westchester County Covid-19 Dashboard can be viewed HERE
Get Vaccinated!
COVID vaccines are now widely available at pharmacies, clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers and other locations across the state. Visit Vaccine Finder or the NY State vaccine appointment website or call 833-NYS-4-VAX.
Town Hall: Learn More and Contact Us
Town Hall Meetings and Board Packets
Agendas, supporting documents, and minutes for Board meetings:
To watch videos from recent meetings recorded by New Castle Community Media Center, click here.
Stay Connected
To stay informed about your local government and community, click here to sign up for Town Hall e-News and Community e-News, and sign up with Nixle and Code Red to receive text messages and/or emails for emergency alerts and community events.
Community e-News Submissions
The Town uses the eNewsletter to keep residents informed about community news, meetings, events, initiatives, announcements and other important information. In addition, civic groups, not-for-profit and charitable organizations are welcome to submit time, place and date announcements for their upcoming events for inclusion in the eNewsletter free of charge.
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