Clinton's Neighbors are Campaign Workers

A rally to support voting for Hillary Clinton will take place at the Grafflin Elementary School on King Street in Chappaqua at 7 a.m. April 19, the morning of the New York primary.

Chappaqua Friends of Hillary has organized the event and are inviting supporters to turn out in as large a number as possible.

The Clintons both vote at Grafflin.

“We completely believe in Hillary as both a brilliant public servant and exceptionally experienced candidate, but just as much, we cherish her as a neighbor and friend of our town and causes,” said Dawn Greenberg, who founded and now spearheads the efforts of CFOH. “Our goal as Chappaqua Friends of Hillary is to share the warm and generous spirit she has shown our town, and to be ambassadors for both Secretary Clinton and for Chappaqua.”

The group formed a few weeks after Clinton announced her candidacy, as 10 neighbors met to toast to their neighbor's success.

A few weeks later, the group, made its first public show of hometown pride and support for their friend and neighbor at the annual New Castle Memorial Day Parade – an event they said Clinton rarely misses – with a cheery and noisy display of American flags, balloons and T-shirts bearing their new slogan: “It Takes A Village: Chappaqua for Hillary.”

“Our initial goal was simply to celebrate her entry into the race and brainstorm how or if we could eventually help the campaign with gatherings and local publicity,” said Greenberg. “We evolved from purely a fan club/coffee klatch, to occasional bull sessions, to monthly meetings, and now I feel we're a full-blown, important part of her campaign.”

The Chappaqua Friends of Hillary group has grown from a small gathering of well-wishers to about 330 men and women of all races, income levels, and ages -- even some teens and children. And though many of them have never worked on a political campaign before, they’re now an integral part of the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, said Dawn Dankner-Rosen, president of the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce.

Greenberg said that the group’s efforts are meaningful to its members on multiple levels: They are working to ensure that Clinton, as the best, most qualified candidate, secures the nomination – and the presidency. But they are also proud on a personal level to serve and support their Chappaqua neighbor and friend.

"When Clinton, today known by everyone as just “Hillary,” moved to Chappaqua in 1999, her warm, unassuming demeanor swiftly assuaged any early concerns that her fame might compromise the small hamlet’s bucolic charm," Dankner-Rosen said. "She was quickly embraced as a welcome addition to the community and is now a familiar shopper and friendly face around the town.

“Hillary is a really good neighbor and holds a special place here,” Dankner-Rosen said. "She and Bill make sure to shop and dine locally. And, they are always around town before Christmas, going in and out of many of the stores here shopping for the holidays. Even throughout the year, it’s no longer a surprise to bump into Hillary downtown at the jewelry store, book store, market … everywhere! Hillary is always friendly, especially to the children – and she tries to be very helpful and an active community member, including attending many of our town events.”

In fact, Clinton has been an unpaid speaker at the graduations of numerous low-income, high achieving students from the Chappaqua Summer Scholarship Program, a volunteer, nonprofit group that matches New York City high school students with host families in Chappaqua for an enriching educational experience, said Dankner-Rosen.

And recently, despite her demanding campaign schedule, she made time to address the students at Horace Greeley High School.

“I was humbled when Hillary swore me in as Town Supervisor of New Castle – and at the time, I said I would happily return the favor by attending her inauguration as President of the United States,” said Rob Greenstein, supervisor of New Castle, which includes the hamlet of Chappaqua. “The Clintons are incredible and loyal members of our community.”

This loyalty is obviously reciprocated by her hometown supporters, said Dankner-Rosen. At any given time, you’ll find at least 20-30 Chappaqua Friends of Hillary volunteers working and showing their support at meetings and rallies, holding phone banks and canvassing across the county -- and the group is preparing for a full-time push over this next critical weekend leading up to the New York State primary.

“We completely believe in Hillary as both a brilliant public servant and exceptionally experienced candidate, but just as much, we cherish her as a neighbor and friend of our town and causes,” said Greenberg. “Our goal as Chappaqua Friends of Hillary is to share the warm and generous spirit she has shown our town, and to be ambassadors for both Secretary Clinton and for Chappaqua.”

And this movement will not be contained to just New York. Members of the group said they will hit the road to canvass ahead of upcoming primaries in Pennsylvania and California – and then on to the swing states in the fall.

PHOTO/ CFOH at Crabtree's Kittle House in Chappaqua, 2015/contributed