All Entries in the "The Examiner" Category
New Castle to Cancel Several Specialty Camps This Summer
Five summer specialty camps that have been offered by New Castle’s Recreation and Parks Department and use Chappaqua School District facilities will not be offered this summer following a change in the district’s fee schedule. Robert Snyder, the town’s Recreation and Parks superintendent, said the $75 hourly rate that is in effect is too cost […]
Chappaqua Fire Displaces Seven Residents, Floral Shop
The house containing Whispering Pines of Chappaqua may have been irreparably damaged from last Friday’s devastating early morning blaze but the popular floral shop is expected to soon be back in business. Stetson Hundgen, the son of owner Beth Hundgen, said Monday his mother is in the process of searching for a temporary location in […]
Board Still Mulling Mount Kisco’s $20.7M Village Budget
There will be no service reductions in Mount Kisco’s proposed $20.77 million budget for 2014-15 despite its staying within the state-mandated property tax cap. Village Manager James Palmer told trustees Apr. 7 that the general fund would include a tax rate increase of nearly 3 percent. The spending plan also includes a tax levy increase […]
Hope’s Door Presents ‘Shining Star Scholarship’ to Westlake Senior
Hope’s Door, a Pleasantville-based charity that seeks to end domestic violence and to empower survivors to achieve safety, independence and healing, recently presented is second annual “Shining Star Scholarship” to Westlake High School senior Sarah Fiegura during the 30th annual Women’s Hall of Fame and Scholarship luncheon. Fiegura, awarded $2,000 toward her college expenses, was […]
Pleasantville Waits for Answers From DOT on Stone Wall Dilemma
Pleasantville officials are still waiting to learn from the state Department of Transportation (DOT) if a 800-foot-long stone wall must be moved 10 feet, which could significantly impact Benchmark Senior Living’s proposed assisted living facility. Village Administrator Patricia Dwyer said the agency’s engineer who sent out an eleventh-hour email regarding the issue shortly before the […]
Armonk Woman to Be Honored for Creating NWH Caregivers Center
Having a loved one in the hospital is often a harrowing experience. It doesn’t matter if the patient is receiving outstanding medical attention, the primary caregiver may feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of keeping a family going amid the stress, worry, and in certain situations, grief. Marian Hamilton knows that feeling well. Her husband, Ken, […]
State Board Closes Hearing on Chappaqua Affordable Housing Fire Safety
Public comments concluded Tuesday morning in front of a state panel that is weighing whether the Chappaqua affordable housing project would comply with fire safety codes. Representatives for Conifer Realty argued that the 28-unit Chappaqua Station slated to be built on Hunts Lane meets or exceeds all fire safety code requirements despite the need for […]
Revised Chappaqua Crossing Plan Submitted By Developer
The highly anticipated revised Preliminary Development Concept Plan for Chappaqua Crossing was filed last Friday featuring the previously discussed “traditional neighborhood design” for the project. Representatives of developer Summit/Greenfield submitted on Apr. 4 the reworked proposal to the Town of New Castle. The town board is tentatively scheduled to vote to refer the matter to […]
Regeneron Unveils Teacher STEM Training Program
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced a new program last week to promote and improve science, technology, engineering and math education in the region. During an education symposium it hosted at its Tarrytown headquarters on Apr. 3, company representatives announced the creation of the Hudson Valley STEM Teaching Fellowship program in collaboration with NASA, the Teachers College at […]
Mt. Pleasant Teacher Honored By Knicks for Work With Autistic Students
Last Wednesday was quite a night for Virginia Campbell. Campbell, a Mount Pleasant School District special education teacher, was honored at Madison Square Garden by the New York Knicks for her work with autistic children during the team’s Apr. 2 game against the Brooklyn Nets. The Sweetwater Clifton City Spirit Award, recognizing Nat “Sweetwater Clifton,” […]
County Lawmakers Step Up Call to Raise Age of Legal Tobacco Purchases
Democratic county lawmakers intensified calls on Wednesday to raise the minimum age to legally purchase tobacco products in Westchester to 19 years old citing evidence that smoking at early ages increases the likelihood of addiction. Democratic Majority Leader Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining) was joined by Chairman Michael Kaplowitz and Legislator MaryJane Shimsky (D-Hastings-on-Hudson) outside Rocky’s Deli […]
Latino Community Benefits From Mt. Kisco’s Pair of Rising Stars
By Janine Bowen Bridging the gap between the local police department and the community it serves can often be a difficult task, but two members of the Mount Kisco community were honored recently for doing just that. Mount Kisco Police Officer Edwin Ramirez and Karine Patino, program coordinator for the village’s Police and Community Together […]
P’ville Assisted Living Facility Rezone Vote Postponed
By Janine Bowen In a surprising turn of events, the Pleasantville Village Board’s anticipated vote Monday night on a floating zone to accommodate Benchmark Senior Living’s assisted living facility near the United Methodist Church was postponed indefinitely. The sudden development came after the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) gave village officials new information […]
Byram Hills Celebrates its Diversity With Fourth Global Village Day
Westchester communities are sometimes thought of for their wealth and not for their riches of cultural and ethnic diversity. Over the past five years, however, the Byram Hills School District in Armonk has showcased the wide diversity within its community at one of the most enjoyable events of the year. Last Saturday was the district’s […]
Mt. Pleasant Rejects Second Group Home; Appeal Planned
For the second time in three weeks, the Mount Pleasant Town Board rejected a proposal to convert a private house into a group home. The board voted 3-1 against a plan from Yonkers-based Ferncliff Manor to convert a house at 330 Bear Ridge Rd. into an individualized residential alternative for six adults with developmental disabilities. […]
Agency Drops Mount Pleasant Group Home Appeal
The agency that sought to convert a Mount Pleasant house into a group home for autistic adults has decided against pursuing an appeal of the town board’s decision to block its proposal. Devereux New York Executive Director John O’Keefe, who threatened to ask the state to overturn the board’s decision after the March 11 vote, […]
P’ville Middle School Students Shine at Science Olympiad
By Janine Bowen A group of Pleasantville Middle School students are proud to be GEEKS. The acronym stands for Great Enthusiastic Educated Kid Scientists, a team that competed in the March 8 regional Science Olympiad at Scarsdale Middle School on March 8 and took home a fourth-place prize. Nearly 30 students from the school competed […]
Residents Blast Benchmark Proposal as Spot Zoning at Hearing
By Janine Bowen Neighbors of the proposed 87-unit assisted living facility in Pleasantville once again leveled a barrage of criticism against a possible rezoning to accommodate the project during Monday night’s village board meeting. At the resumption of the public hearing, opponents of the Benchmark Senior Living plan expressed concern about the concept of a […]
New Castle Starts Work on Public Outreach for Master Plan Update
Obtaining community feedback that accurately reflects public sentiment for New Castle’s Master Plan update may be one of the biggest challenges facing officials in their quest to update the town’s blueprint for the future. Last week, the town board and Master Plan Steering Committee sat down with two representatives from the Pace University Land Use […]
Swim and Tennis Club Site Sold for $2 Million in Chappaqua
By Tom Auchterlonie The Twin Oaks Swim and Tennis Club’s property in Chappaqua has a new owner. The site was sold on Dec. 23 for $2 million to 54 Kids LLC, according to New Castle property records. A transaction involving the deed was recorded by Westchester County on Jan. 29. The property, located at 348 […]
Pleasantville School Officials Mulling May Bond for District Repairs
By Janine Bowen Pleasantville School District officials are planning a May referendum to help pay for close to $4 million worth of repairs and upgrades to the district’s three schools. Architect John D’Angelo provided officials and the public with an overview of the work during a presentation at the Pleasantville Board of Education’s March 18 […]
Hearing on Second Mt. Pleasant Group Home Scheduled for Tuesday
Two weeks after turning down a proposal for a group home for four autistic adults, the Mount Pleasant Town Board will hold a public hearing for another proposed home on Tuesday night. The hearing, part of the board’s regularly scheduled meeting, is for Ferncliff Manor’s plan to operate an individualized residential alternative at 330 Bear […]
P’ville Rotary Gears Up for Westchester Wine Experience This Saturday
By Janine Bowen If you’re looking for a relaxing way to spend an afternoon and get a taste of some of the best wines and local restaurants, the 14th annual Westchester Wine Experience may be the right place. “It’s always a good event. I don’t think that people have really gone away from it and […]
Westchester Jewish Film Festival Returns to the Burns This Week
It is an event as welcome to many Westchester residents as the start of spring. The annual Westchester Jewish Film Festival will begin this week at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville. This year’s festival, which will be held from March 19 through Apr. 10, has been expanded to feature 40 programs. The festival […]
Affordable Housing Developer Accuses New Castle of Discrimination
The developer of the stalled Chappaqua affordable housing project has filed a discrimination complaint against New Castle alleging that the municipality is delaying the building’s development based on potential residents’ race or ethnicity. Conifer Realty, LLC submitted its complaint to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on March 6, claiming that the […]
Mt. Kisco Woman Throws Her Own Wake–While She’s Still Awake
A 75th birthday party is certainly a special occasion. Margaret Marcogliese did something for her milestone year that her friends and family won’t forget. Last Saturday, the Mount Kisco resident commemorated the day by throwing herself a wake to share a good time with those who know her best and love her most. There was […]
Via Vanti! Owner Pledges to Fight New Castle on Train Station Lease
The proprietor who thought she had reached an agreement with New Castle officials to operate a restaurant at the Chappaqua train station has vowed to fight the town unless a lease agreement is extended to her. Chappaqua resident Carla Gambescia, owner of the Italian cafe and restaurant Via Vanti! in Mount Kisco, issued a one-sentence […]
P’ville Residents Urge Rejection of Floating Zone for Assisted Living Project
By Janine Bowen Pleasantville residents came out in full force last Monday night to heavily criticize a requested floating zone to accommodate Benchmark Senior Living’s proposed assisted living facility. The three-hour public hearing at village hall focused on the text and map change sought by the applicant to create the zone an 87-unit facility on […]
Latimer, Buchwald to Host Office Hours Saturday in Armonk
Assemblyman David Buchwald and state Sen. George Latimer will be hosting district office hours this Saturday, March 15 at Tazza Café in Armonk from 9:30 to 11 a.m. to give their constituents an opportunity to discuss issues over coffee and refreshments. “Hosting district office hours with Sen. Latimer is an opportunity for me to […]
Family Fitness Event to Fight Pediatric Brain Tumors
By Janine Bowen - Statistics show that every day there will be another nine families somewhere in the United States who will learn that their child has a brain or spinal cord tumor. That’s a sobering and frightening reality, but for the past four years the organizers of an annual local event have been hard at […]
