View this email in your browser Friday, November 19, 2021 Edition Last night I found myself in my familiar, if not routine, Thursday evening position - propped up in bed, sight blurred not merely from the cobwebs of exhaustion but the creeping fatigue of nearly fifty year eyes, and Buddy, my four-legged, bat-eared and brindle Boston terrier-chihuahua-bichon menagerie of a mutt hailing from the mean streets of Atlanta, gently snoring just far enough out of reach to remind me that he likes my companionship but not as much as he loves his soft warm spot on my bed. Spending far more time nodding off than typing, I was stirred from my brief slumber time and time again by either the faint cries of the train piercing the stillness of the night or our resident Great Owl’s melodically calming “hoo-hoo” softly prodding me to keep pushing forward to finish what I started. But as sagely advice as it may have been (I promise I am really not that crazy to think a darn owl is talking to me straight out of “Secret of NIMH”), the reality is that I have not started anything that I need to finish. With likely weeks, not months, before Supervisor-Elect Lisa Katz takes the helm and our new colleagues join us shortly thereafter, we as a Town Board and as a community will always have something new to start and something to work towards finishing. No matter the decisions to be made, paths to pursue, and adventures to embark upon, there will be no “I” but only “us”. While elections and politics can turn even the tightest communities and friends into camps of two, when it comes to our collective present and future in the town we all call “home”, “I” and “me”, gives way to one unified “we”. As we look forward to Thanksgiving and recognize what brings us together instead of what pulls us apart, we need to rally around that which strengthens our bonds, sets aside our differences, and recognizes those among us who give of themselves – from our volunteer committee and board members, first responders, and coaches to our classroom parents, PTA members, and all those serving the needs of our residents and others beyond New Castle every day. Yes, there are things to both start and finish, but we need to do so together. The fact that we can and will do so is enough reason to give thanks. As I close my laptop and think of what we have all gone through together over the past twenty months, I remain proud of our stamina and fortitude as well as excited for what lies ahead. No matter where we find ourselves as a community, I have the confidence it will be the right place. That is worth being thankful for… Happy Thanksgiving to all! Residents, Dogs & Ducks Celebrate: Walkway Opens Month Early While we all will definitely have much to give thanks for in less than a week when we gather around our turkeys (or tofu, of course), the New Castle DPW, Town engineer, and other staff deserve a double serving of gratitude. Why?!? The pedestrian path, aka, one of the Duck Pond bridges, opened a month early…as in this week! Please keep in mind that the bridge has some bumps and bruises leaving the surface possibly a little uneven in spots but is healthy and stable. As we work towards a permanent fix, we will also monitor the bridge to ensure its safety when the next round of inclement weather pays us a visit. Two and four legged residents, rejoice! Ducks? You never really needed it in the first place What You Missed This Week: SAM Presentation After taking the time to meet with Town Administrator Extraordinaire Jill Shapiro and I, or as former Supervisor Rob Greenstein liked to call her, “Jill Shapiro, Shapiro”, before doing so with your entire Town Board last week, Street Art for Mankind, aka, SAM, joined us once again this past Tuesday and presented their ideas at our work session. From New Rochelle to Chatou, France, SAM has created incredibly vivid murals in public spaces and on private buildings to address social issues in the communities their artists come from around the world to share their talents. Creating artistic paths and tying murals together along certain themes, SAM helps create true destinations, accentuates their artwork through audio tours and events, and sets the stage for collateral benefits to local businesses. At a cost of $20,000 per mural, a fee that includes all expenses for the artists including paints, flights, lodging, and food, SAM asks that private building owners agree to allow the murals to remain for at least a year (with hope that owners would keep them or far longer) and expects that the paintings would last at least ten years or longer in their vivid conditions before slowly starting to fade depending on conditions. Identifying dozens of potential locations in the Chappaqua Hamlet that would need further review and buy in, SAM has not looked yet into Millwood. That said, whether steps are taken now or in the incoming year to approve SAM’s work, should this or next year’s Town Board approve the Chappaqua Hamlet as a location for these mural, there is an ability to access dollars from the agreement with Summit Greenfield to defray or pay for some of these costs such as for a mural under the Saw Mill bridge. Please take a moment to learn about SAM and review the materials they provided. I believe the Town Board is collectively excited about this opportunity and possible collaboration and I hope the community I interested too. West End Advisory Board: Back Up and Running I am pleased to report that last night was the first meeting of the Millwood West End Advisory Board at Millwood Fire House No. 2, on Route 134. They had 8 people in attendance. We are very excited to see grass roots support for this committee and look forward to seeing them join the ranks of our many active and engaging volunteer boards who contribute so much to New Castle. For anyone interested, the committee meets the third Thursday of the month, 7 pm at Millwood Fire Station No. 2. COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Monday, November 22, 2021: Vaccination event for kids 5-11, Boosters for Adults. Monday, December 13 for 2nd dose age 5-11, Boosters for Adults. The Town of New Castle is pleased to announce that Phelps Hospital Northwell Health and Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps will partner this Monday, Nov. 22 to provide a vaccination clinic at the Millwood Firehouse from 3pm to 6:30 pm. This clinic focuses on providing the low dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 - 11 as well as both Moderna and Pfizer boosters for adults. Many thanks to the Millwood Fire District for providing the venue for this important community event. No appointment necessary. Photo ID is required for adults. Identification for children, birth certificate or passport is required for children. Stay Informed: Nixle, Code Red & Alerts Since I can’t click my shoes together to magically get the right information in your hands, please remember that you can sign up for alerts such as the NCPD Nixle and the Town of New Castle Code Red online. When you do so, you must specify if you want to receive emails and/or texts. Signup here. COVID Update: November 19th Our collective efforts to vaccinate and follow best practices is still commendable but we must all be aware of the uptick in COVID cases and the highly contagious delta variant that continues to be the dominant strain. As of November 18th, Westchester County has 184 confirmed new COVID-19 cases and a total of 1,685 active. We may be below the peak of the pandemic, but the total active cases continue to rise even if our new confirmed cases have dropped. Equally concerning, confirmed new New Castle infections are growing upward. We need to remain on alert. Please consider wearing a mask indoors even if you are vaccinated. 11/18/2021 1,685, Countywide, 39 New Castle 11/11/2021 1,112, Countywide, 37 New Castle 11/4/2021 1,066 Countywide, 34 New Castle 10/28/2021: 1,022 Countywide, 21 New Castle 10/20/2021: 1,276 Countywide, 27 New Castle 10/13/2021: 1,423 Countywide, 19 New Castle 10/07/2021: 1,451 Countywide, 21 New Castle 09/30/2021: 1,799 Countywide, 27 New Castle 09/23/2021: 2,231 Countywide, 41 New Castle 09/16/2021: 2,284 Countywide, 42 New Castle 09/09/2021: 2,368 Countywide, 22 New Castle 09/01/2021: 2,655 Countywide, 24 New Castle 08/25/2021: 2,752 Countywide, 20 New Castle 08/18/2021: 2,706 Countywide, 18 New Castle 08/11/2021: 2,326 Countywide, 24 New Castle 08/03/2021: 1,572 Countywide, 21 New Castle 07/26/2021: 929 Countywide, 13 New Castle 07/13/2021: 349 Countywide, 4 New Castle 07/06/2021: 214 Countywide, 3 New Castle 06/28/2021: 202 Countywide, 2 New Castle 06/14/2021: 304 Countywide, 2 New Castle 06/06/2021: 361 Countywide, 2 New Castle 05/03/2021: 1,923 Countywide, 13 New Castle 04/05/2021: 5,458 Countywide, 41 New Castle 03/03/2021: 5,815 Countywide, 59 New Castle 02/01/2021: 9,883 Countywide, 61 New Castle 01/19/2021: 11,372 Countywide, 139 New Castle (Peak) 01/04/2021: 9,406 Countywide, 69 New Castle 12/04/2020: 7,100 Countywide, 58 New Castle 11/03/2020: 1,666 Countywide, 20 New Castle The Westchester County Covid-19 Dashboard can be viewed here: https://arcg.is/10naWv0 Vaccines As of November 17th, 491,632 Westchester County residents have been vaccinated. In Chappaqua and Millwood, 91.6% and 99.0% of your fellow residents respectively have received at least one vaccination dose while 76.7% and 88.6% received two. A special “Thank you” to the men and women of Millwood who continue to carry Chappaqua. Armonk remains ahead of Chappaqua with double vaccinations making up 77.0% of their eligible populace, but we are one the cusp of seizing victory from their hands. Millwood is still setting the pace with Mt. Kisco’s 80.2% taking the local silver medal, but heads can still remain somewhat high as we continue to keep Pleasantville and its 74.8% vaccination rate in our rear view mirror Further information for Westchester County is available 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. Refuse and Recycling Holiday Schedule The New Castle Recycling Center will be closed Thursday, November 25th and Friday, November 26th. It will be open Saturday, November 27th. Refuse and Recycling for the Thanksgiving Week: SaniPro Disposal will not make refuse and recycling collections on Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 25th. Thursday, Zone 4 collections will be make on Friday, November 26th and Friday, Zone 5 collections will be make on Saturday, November 27th. No change to Zones 1, 2 and 3. Westchester County Needs Your Input on Their Hazard Mitigation Plan The County is looking for YOUR input on the final draft of the Westchester County Hazard Mitigation Plan! The Public Review Period is open until December 17th. Click HERE to learn more about all 8 hazards of concern for the County and how YOUR community is working to improve resiliency! All comments provided will be reviewed before the plan is submitted – don’t miss your chance to make a difference! Help Wanted! Mission Statement 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. Ethics Board Vacancy Mission Statement 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). This Board meets when necessary. The term is 3 years. To learn more about the Ethics Board: https://mynewcastle.org/281/Ethics-Board Interested candidates should submit a volunteer application form HERE by Friday December 10, 2021. Planning Board Vacancy The Town of New Castle is seeking an interested individual to fill a five-year Planning Board vacancy. Experience in architecture, planning, engineering and/or environmental sciences is not required. Candidates should possess a judicial temperament and be able to evaluate applications fairly and without bias. Candidates must be able to adhere to statutory authority outlined in and implemented through the New Castle Town Code. The candidate must have an interest in community service and be willing to dedicate time to attend two meetings a month - the Board meets the first and third Tuesday’s of each month, except for the month of August. The Planning Board’s purview surrounds applications for subdivision approval, site plan approval, special use permits and other associated environmental permits for projects throughout the Town of New Castle. There is required training the successful candidate must complete in order to serve on this statutory board. Interested candidates should submit a volunteer application form HERE by Friday January 7, 2022. Recreation Commission The Recreation Commission is currently accepting applications to fill a vacancy. The purposes and objectives of the Commission: 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 form in the link HERE. Board of Assessment Review The Town of New Castle Is Seeking Qualified Candidates For One Open Position on the Board of Assessment Review. Candidates shall have a solid knowledge of values of all types and classes of property throughout the Town of New Castle as well as a firm understanding of ad valorem taxation. Members of the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) have been vested with the duty and responsibility of hearing assessment complaints in the first instance. You will be asked to exercise judgment and discretion to render an impartial, objective determination on assessment complaints brought before the board, including a statement of the reasons for the determination. The Board of Assessment Review (BAR) is a quasi-judicial body and the members of the board are charged with judicial responsibility to get all the facts, and apply appropriate laws and reasoning to the facts in a fair and judicious manner. Accordingly, each member of the board of assessment review should: 1. Possess judicial temperament, patience and tact. 2. Provide a fair hearing. 3. Safeguard the constitutional guarantees of due process of law. 4. Withdraw from a case where he/she deems themselves disqualified by reason of personal or business relationships or interest. A mandatory training module must be completed after each appointment in order to serve. The Board of Assessment Review’s primary annual meeting is on the third Tuesday of June (Grievance Day), and members must be available throughout the summer for additional deliberative sessions. The term of Office is five years. Please fill out the volunteer application form HERE. Millwood West End Advisory Board Seeking volunteers to join the Millwood West End Advisory Board (MWEAB). The Advisory board monitors land use applications, and the general interests of Millwood and the West End including correcting zoning violations and improving the general appearance of Millwood and the West End. The Advisory Board advises and reports to the Town of New Castle and works in cooperation with the other town boards. The Board meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7 PM. Term of Office is three years. Interested? Please fill out the volunteer application form HERE. Questions? Please contact Jill Shapiro at JShapiro@mynewcastle.org New Castle Community Media Center is seeking volunteers to join the Board of Directors. The mission of NCCMC is to foster community dialogue and individual expression through television, the internet and other electronic media. New Castle Community Media Center is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit community media facility serving the the Town of New Castle, New York and it’s hamlets of Chappaqua and Millwood. NCCMC broadcasts public, government and educational material on six channels on cable as well as provides a robust live internet and video on demand service on nccmc.com and Youtube. NCCMC also operates the Town of New Castle's websites, newsletters, and other media. The volunteer Board of Directors governs NCCMC and oversees the work of the Executive Director who supervises NCCMC staff and volunteers. The Board Meets the third Thursday of the month at 4pm. Board Term is two years. Please contact info@nccmc.com if interested. Chappaqua Farmer's Market Open Every Saturday 8:30 am to 1 pm Gloria’s Miami Nights TONIGHT - Friday November 19th at 8pm The dazzling tribute to Gloria Estefan, starring Nikki Torres and The Nikki Torres Experience Nikki Torres is joined by a pulsating troupe of musicians, singers, and dancers to celebrate the music and career of Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine. Estefan, the Queen of Latin Pop, is famed for dozens of hits, including “Conga,” “Words Get in the Way,” “Anything for You,” “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” and “Get on Your Feet.” This show has thrilled audiences from coast to coast! Information & Tickets HERE Desert Highway Band The Absolute Best Tribute to the Eagles TOMORROW - Saturday November 20th at 8pm The Eagles’ greatest-hits album is the top-selling hits collection in American history, and no one nails those hits better than Desert Highway Band. Their note-for-note renditions of beloved Eagles classics have sparked sellout performances across the country. Spend your evening with the soft-rock sounds of “Tequila Sunrise,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “The Best of My Love,” “Take It to the Limit,” “Witchy Woman,” “Hotel California,” and so many more . Information & Tickets HERE Feast of Laughs November 24th at 8pm All Star Pre-Thanksgiving Comedy Night Enjoy your last night before the holiday season — with six comics who will crack you up until you’re ready for anything! The show spotlights longtime New York City and national headliners Buddy Fitzpatrick, Mike Gaffney, Billy Garan, Melvin George II, John Iavarone, and Gene Trifilo. You’ll wish you could keep them around for the rest of the year! Information & Tickets HERE A Charlie Brown Christmas LIVE ON Stage! December 3 - December 19 A present the whole family can enjoy! Adapted from Charles M. Schulz’s timeless story of the spirit of Christmas and features the unforgettable music of Vince Guaraldi. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the Peanuts gang as they mount a play, save a tree and uncover the true meaning of Christmas. After the final bow the audience is invited to join the Peanuts gang in singing traditional Christmas songs and carols. There’s no better way to discover the magic of the season! Information & Tickets HERE Direct from Las Vegas The World Famous Edwards Twins December 20th 2pm & 8pm A Holiday evening with Cher, Elton John, Bette Midler, Andrea Bocelli, Barbra Streisand, and many more, Starring The World-Famous Edwards Twins. Direct from Las Vegas! Audiences around the globe have been spellbound by the stunning recreations of iconic performers by brothers Anthony and Eddie Edwards. As “Master Vocal and Make-up Illusionists,” they look and sound incredibly like your favorite superstars. In this show they’ll feature these stars plus cameo performances of dozens more. Information & Tickets HERE Chappaqua Performing Arts Center Programs for 2022 FCC Christmas Tree Sale!! The First Congregational Church Christmas Tree Sale begins on November 20th. Because there is a shortage of trees this year, they are at the “mercy” of the tree distributor (yes, not Santa Claus), and they expect to sell out quickly. So please Shop Early! New Castle Historical Society The Great Holiday Train Show NCUFY Sponsored Film: Talk to Your Kids Take advantage of the opportunity to expand your parenting arsenal on NCUFY for two more weeks! Have you ever wondere about how or when to talk to your kids about alcohol and other drugs? Don’t Wait is a short f ilm about the importance of conversations about substances, with an emphasis on how to talk about alcohol and other drugs with kids of different ages. After watching the movie, you can also make use of the excellent parent discussion guide! We like this discussion guide because of how thorough and varied the advice it contains is. There’s a discussion section for parents, a question and prevention activities section for parents to use to engage their kids, and four different advice sections for how to talk to kids of all ages, from preschool to high school. New Castle United for Youth has arranged for a license through November 22 for Chappaqua parents to watch Don’t Wait - use this form to take advantage of our license and receive access to the film and the parent discussion guide. Wine Around Town - Friday, Dec. 3rd CVAC Blood Drive - Dec. 4th - Please Donate! There is currently a critical shortage of donated blood in our area. On December 4, from 9:30 to 3:30, the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps will be sponsoring a New York Blood Center blood drive at Millwood Fire Station, 100 Millwood Road. Please join us and co-sponsor Millwood Fire Company to replenish the blood supply. Sign up for a time by calling 1-800-933-2566 or at the following: https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/297833 Holocaust & Human Rights Committee Learn more about the Town of New Castle Holocaust & Human Rights Committee and how you can get involved here. Follow us on Social Media for the latest News & Events. HUMAN RIGHTS DAY EVENT: A Conversation with Journalist ELIZABETH RUBIN and Afghan Rapper and Activist SONITA ALIZADA Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 8PM via ZOOM Join us to hear from Elizabeth Rubin, American journalist and award-winning war correspondent in conversation with Sonita Alizada, Afghan Rapper and activist whose family was brought to safety through Elizabeth’s efforts. Advance registration required. To register, click here. New Castle Holocaust and Human Rights Committee Mission Statement: The mission of our Committee is to educate residents of all ages and create community awareness about the Holocaust, other genocides and human rights violations. The Committee will work with other groups and organizations to educate the community to never forget the horrors of the Holocaust and other genocides and to apply these lessons to today’s world. The Committee will also work to promote the teaching of the Holocaust and Human Rights in our schools. Garden Dedication Ceremony Sunday, Dec. 12th 3:30 pm Join us to honor and thank those who gave of themselves to help others during the pandemic, and remember those we have lost. If you know someone who should receive a personal invitation to this event, please email me at lmorton@mynewcastle.org with their email contact info. CSF HOLIDAY COOKIE VIRTUAL BAKE SALE CSF has, once again, partnered with the Westchester-based, female-owned company, Baked in Color, to launch CSF’s holiday cookie virtual bake sale. Baked in Color is the creator of a delicious rainbow chocolate chip cookie and they have created an “off the menu” item for us - a jar with 21 rainbow chocolate chip cookies! It will be a great holiday treat for friends, family, teachers, coaches, and anyone who needs a positive boost. New Castle Recreation & Parks Update Winter programs are available for viewing! Registration begins November 29th at 10am Non-Resident registration begin December 13th New Castle Senior Services More Senior Program, Event & Service Information Available HERE Latest Senter Street Spotlight Newsletter HERE Westchester County Department of Senior Programs & 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. December 12/1 -Danbury Mall & Christmas Tree Shop All trips will leave from Town Hall at 10am and return to Town Hall by 4pm. Masks must be worn at all times while on the bus Visit the library website for the most up to date information. Read the latest Library New & Events Newsletter HERE. Sign Up to receive Library Newsletter direct to your email. Programs Town Hall: Learn More and Contact Us Town Hall Meetings and Board Packets Agendas, supporting documents, and minutes for Board meetings: Town Board Work Session Agendas Town Board Meeting Agendas Town Board Work Session Packets Town Board Meeting Packets Architectural Review Board Agendas Architectural Review Board Submissions Planning Board Agendas Planning Board Submissions Zoning Board of Appeals Agendas Zoning Board of Appeals Submissions 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. Send submissions to eNewsletter@mynewcastle.org Community Newsletter guidelines can be found HERE. Contact Us! - Email Your Town Council and Town Administrator You may contact your town board members and town administrator by using the links below, or as a group. For a full list of town contacts, click here. Jeremy M. Saland, Acting Town Supervisor - JSaland@MyNewCastle.org Lori G. Morton, Acting Deputy Town Supervisor - LMorton@MyNewCastle.org Lisa Katz, Council Member - LKatz@MyNewCastle.org Lauren L. Levin, Council Member - Llevin@mynewcastle.org All - TownBoard@MyNewCastle.org Jill Shapiro, Town Administrator - JShapiro@MyNewCastle.org or 914-238-4742 New Castle Community Calendar Click here to view the calendar. Click here to view the calendar guidelines. School Calendars Chappaqua Central School District Ossining Union Free School District Bedford Central School District Yorktown Central School District Byram Hills Central School District New Castle First Responders Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corp Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corp Chappaqua Fire Department Millwood Fire Department Mount Kisco Fire Department Mount Kisco Volunteer Ambulance Corp Storm Central Click here for Con Edison's Storm Central including outage location maps, storm preparation, and recovery tips! Click here for New Castle's storm FAQ. Share Tweet Forward Copyright © 2021 Town of New Castle, NY, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? 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