Archives for July 2015
Empty Nester Needs
“How to Keep Empty Nesters in the Community” is a second subject area to be addressed on Thursday, July 30, 7:30-8:30 p.m., during a Second Roundtable Discussion at the Chappaqua Library. Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein states that “these discussions provide an opportunity for participants to share their views about important issues facing New Castle.”
The following questions will be included:
1) Why stay in town & pay taxes after your kids have left the house?
2) Would you want to downsize–to save money and time on maintenance–and still stay in town?
3) If you downsized, what type of housing would you prefer (condos, townhome, one-story house, active upscale living communities)?
4) Would housing near the train station interest you?
5) What are the services available for seniors (transportation, meals on wheels, volunteer opportunities)?
Rabbi Joshua Strom: New Leader at Congregation B’nai Yisrael
Editor’s Note: Congregation B’nai Yisrael is hoping members and prospective members will take the time to “get to know” their new Rabbi–Rabbi Joshua Strom–who just recently joined this vibrant North Castle congregation. Rabbi Strom joins B’nai Israel with not only an impressive Rabbinical background, but with a strong love for musical theater and hockey too!
Here are some highlights B’nai Israel provided about Rabbi Strom:
Rabbi Strom was born in northeast Philadelphia and raised in the suburb of Yardley, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He is the younger of two sons born to Rabbi Elliot and Susan Strom, brother to Adam. He grew up spending summers at URJ Camp Harlam in the Poconos, through which he made many lifelong friends and met his wife, Tali, and many weekends throughout the school year with NFTY-PAR.
He graduated Pennsbury High School in 1998 and went on to attend Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, where he received a BA in English, graduating magna cum laude in 2002.
While matriculating at Colgate, Rabbi Strom became very involved in the men’s a cappella group, the Colgate 13, as well as musical and dramatic theater, appearing in half a dozen productions of various genres. Colgate is also the place where Rabbi Strom discovered his aspirations for a career in the congregational rabbinate, as well as where he learned to tolerate the cold and love the beautiful game of hockey.
In the year following his graduation, while applying to the rabbinical school of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, he worked at Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction, New Jersey as the assistant director of the religious school and youth group advisor.
Rabbi Strom began his rabbinical studies in the summer of 2003 in Jerusalem, and returned the following spring to begin studying at the New York campus. He served Temple Beth El in Chappaqua as a rabbinic intern for that year, and also began to teach at Temple Shaaray Tefila of New York City, where he would eventually become a rabbinic intern. Upon his ordination from HUC-JIR in 2008, Rabbi Strom went on to serve Shaaray Tefila as their assistant and then associate rabbi until the spring of 2015.
Rabbi Strom and Tali were married just weeks after his rabbinic ordination in 2008, and are now blessed with sons Jonah, born in May 2010, and Gabriel, born in December 2013.
Update on Quest for Affordable Housing Inside the Chappaqua Crossing Cupola Building
Release from Town of New Castle:
Earlier this week, the Town received a rezoning petition from Summit Greenfield that would allow them to use the iconic cupola building at Chappaqua Crossing for the development of affordable housing. Specifically, Summit Greenfield has proposed relocating its previously approved affordable housing units to the upper two floors of the cupola building, which have been vacant for years.
Summit Greenfield has been exploring the feasibility of adaptively reusing the cupola building for residential purposes for the past several months. At a public work session on May 12, 2015, Summit Greenfield told the Town Board that utilizing the cupola building would better integrate the approved residential and retail uses on the site, and will allow them to build affordable housing units at the property sooner than otherwise feasible. Westchester County planning officials have expressed support for Summit Greenfield’s initiative.
According to Summit Greenfield, the upper floors of the cupola building can accommodate approximately 32 affordable apartments. With the re-adaptive use of the cupola building, Summit Greenfield would drop its previously approved plans to construct two new, multi-family residential buildings on the site, and would develop all remaining residential units on the property as fee simple townhouses.
Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein stated, “I believe that Summit Greenfield’s proposal offers the opportunity to create affordable housing choices in our Town that we all can be proud of. I am also pleased that the remaining residential units which the Town approved in 2012 will now be taxed as fee simple townhouses, rather than as condominiums.”
The Town Board will be holding a public hearing on Summit Greenfield’s proposal during which we will receive further input from our Planning Board, residents and other interested parties.
Editor’s Note: We learned from Geoff Thompson, representing Summit Greenfield, that the planned apartments in the Cupola Building will be a mix of studio, 1, 2 and 3-bedrooms. Specific breakdown of how many of each and floor plans are still to be determined. “They meet the Federal-County settlement guidelines,” said Thompson. “County housing officials have seen the concept and have expressed support.”
More news re the building as provided on behalf of Summit Greenfield:
The 111-unit residential layout on the 30 acres of the site that was approved in 2011 will be adjusted to show all 91 market-rate units as fee-simple townhomes, while the 20 affordable apartments that had been planned for that site will be included in the Cupola Building along with an additional 12 affordable apartments.
“We believe this is a unique opportunity to create high-quality affordable housing in a distinctive setting,” said Felix Charney, President of Summit Development, a Summit/Greenfield partner. “We are very pleased to be able to adaptively re-use office space in this classic building while providing much- needed affordable housing.”
With the zoning in place for 120,000-square-feet of retail space at Chappaqua Crossing that is now in the final stages of review by the town, Chappaqua Crossing will provide future residents with direct access to shopping. Chappaqua Crossing will also offer regular shuttle service to the Chappaqua MetroNorth train station, as well as proximity to schools and other services.
In addition to the future retail uses, Chappaqua Crossing also includes [more than 450,000] [500,000] square feet of office space that currently includes a mix of tenants including North Westchester Hospital and the Mount Kisco Medical Group, thereby offering opportunities to work as well as live on the beautifully landscaped campus-like property that overlooks the Saw Mill River Parkway and the wooded hills beyond.
“After many years of review, the future of this signature property is at last coming together,” Charney noted. “Once again, the site will be the valuable asset for the town and its residents as it was in its heyday as a corporate center, while offering so much more.”
(Side)Walk this Way
Article and Photos By Beth Besen
What glorious days these are for Chappaqua to kick off its annual Sidewalk Sale event. Town is hopping with shoppers, and merchants have lots of great buys to tempt one and all.
The Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber and Inside Chappaqua breakfast kick-off was a tasty way to start the morning–the mouthwatering menu at Le Jardin du Roi is always spot-on, and the conversation flowed along with the cappuccino. Says Chamber Executive Director Dawn Greenberg, “We always love Chappaqua Sales Days; it’s a tradition, calendars are marked and people know to show up bright and early on the first Thursday. And, because it stretches through Saturday, with more added all the time, it’s a true long weekend event.”
Early shoppers were enthusiastic. Jill Sokol, a Katonah resident marks her calendar every year, and comes to visit a Chappaqua friend and to shop. As she shares, “it’s not that far.”
Squires owner Michael Kushner points out. “This is probably the first sidewalk sale in many many years where we’ve had nice weather.” And, he adds, “It seems there’s more merchant participation this year as well.” Out on the sidewalk, Joe Galgano was busy helping customers.
The sidewalk tables outside ICD Contemporary Jewelry are bustling. Viriginia Shasha, taking a break from helping a customer, exclaims, “Great community event – we love seeing everyone come!”
Newcomers to town, House of 29 and Hip-Kid, are not-to-missed. House of 29 owner Sarah Mass, with her gift for style and design, has her finger on the pulse of cutting edge jewelry and fashion. Similarly, Hip-Kid owner Trish Kallman, with a background in art direction, is the essence of creative cool, and her children’s fashions reflect both that and a decision to source only socially and environmentally conscious brands. Kallman’s new shop will be both a retail and event space and, while still under construction, she is participating in the Sidewalk Sale because, as she enthuses, “I wanted to be part of it!”
This, and the accompanying photos are but a brief snapshot of the goodies (from wine to lingerie) and good times in town. Even goldendoodle Casey and havanese Harley enjoy walking shopping with Mom, Ellen Fiorella. So, bring yourself, your family, your friends and, yes, your dogs. And come shop local.
Beth Besen is Executive Editor of Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk magazines.