Join Your Friends and Neighbors for Family Fun and Small Town Spirit on April 11th, 11am-4pm for Chappaqua's First "It's A Beautiful Day in Our Neighborhood" Event

On Saturday, April 11th from 11am to 4pm, downtown Chappaqua will be abuzz with neighbors families and friends for the first annual “It’s A Beautiful Day in Our Neighborhood” community awareness/spirit event offering children and their families an opportunity to meet town officials, first responders, shopkeepers and other “important” neighbors with a map that pinpoints all of the fun stops and activities, special treats, programs, projects and give-aways. Chappaqua will become a springtime small town utopia with balloons, fire trucks, kids activities, fun and friends. One of Chappaqua’s important neighbors Louise Weadock, founder and president of WeeZee-The Science of Play, has helped to make this important new event possible as the event’s major sponsor.

“This event is in sync with WeeZee’s emphasis on and mission to promote acceptance, compassion, understanding and support for people of all ages and abilities,” says Louise Weadock, founder of WeeZee-The Science of Play. “We proud to have helped to make this important event happen and to bring together New Castle’s children and families for a day of learning and fun.”

The “It’s A Beautiful Day in Our Neighborhood” event was created and is being hosted/run by the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce, who will have a booth at the event. Anyone who joins the Chamber during the event will not have to pay the annual dues until May 15th and will therefore, receive a full free month. In addition, the Chamber will be collecting business cards from anyone with a business in New Castle or anywhere else at their booth that day to raffle off a free year-long membership.

Says Executive Director Dawn Greenberg, who has been instrumental in bringing businesses together for this event, “It’s vitally important that our children grow up with a sense of community, as well as feeling a close interaction and a sense of being grounded within our community. Our intent with this first-ever “A Beautiful Day in Our Neighborhood” event is to convey that sense of connectedness; that we are all interwoven and even stewards of our town. Chappaqua is a special place and has been for 100+ years and we want to honor and build on that.”

Says Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein: “I want to thank everyone who made this family fun, meet and greet event possible, especially the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce and WeeZee-The Science of Play. It encourages small town spirit and community comradery -- I am very much looking forward to it! This is what we are all about. I hope it becomes a yearly tradition.”

On April 11, families will be given a map to take a self-guided tour, which includes the opportunity to personally meet the fire, police, mail, town and school officials, as well as many participating merchants. Senter Street (the street housing the New Castle Community Center and the Chappaqua Fire Station leading to Bell Middle School) will be closed off to traffic so that WeeZee-The Science of Play can set up a sensory play-and-learn area that includes some of the activities that this three-year 18,000 square foot sensory gym is known for. In addition, more activities on Senter Street will include a BBQ lunch, available for purchase from the French restaurant, Le Jardin; and the Mike Risko Band will play from 2:00-3:30pm.

Other highlights… Ice cream will be given free to the first 250 customers at Hall of Scoops, courtesy of Camp Kiwi and the shops on Lower King Street will host a “Chappaqua Moms Facebook page” meet-up. Other businesses who will be participating in the event include Chappaqua Paint and Hardware, New Castle Historical Society and Barry Goldstein Dentistry.

Inside Chappaqua Magazine is also a major supporter/sponsor of this event and will be working on stories and features about this important first-ever event for an upcoming issue of Inside Chappaqua magazine. Here’s a rundown of some of the day’s activities:

WeeZee-The Science of Play with 8 Sensory Stations

1. Bean bag toss – blindfolded and not blindfolded

2. Egg on sand bags and vestibular board

3. Scooter races (seated) around the cones

4. Candy Taste/texture station

5. Balloon volley & water balloons

6. Taste testing

7. Freeze dance

8. Make your own WeeZee Stress Balloons

Town Hall

Tours - 11:00 - 1:00 and 3:00 - 4:00

An opportunity for kids to meet the Town Supervisor, Rob Greenstein and to receive a key to the city. Also, kids will get a tour of the Courtroom and other departments in Town Hall.

Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce

Sign up for Chamber membership at the “Beautiful Day” event and get one month free membership. Bring your business card – we’ll raffle off a free year-long membership. This is a great opportunity to promote and grow your business.

Police Department

Meet Police Chief Ferry

Tours - 11:00 - 1:00 and 3:00 - 4:00. Tour: Holding Cell, Booking Area, Equipment (breathalyzer, fingerprinting, etc.), Vehicles (hummer, motorcycle, patrol car). “KidFind” will also be featured including forms and photo so that the police will have information on file.

Fire Department

Meet the Fire Chief and Take A Tour of the Truck

Library

Self-Guided Tour with Activity Map - 11:00 - 4:00pm. Circulation Desk - get a library card; Teen Zone - how to use databases to find books; Kid Area - make bookmarks; Auditorium - Book Dominoes; Resource Area - Stamping Activity

Post Office

Kids will mail out “Beautiful Day Postcards” to themselves. They will also learn what happens to the postcard after it’s put in the mailbox slot.

Meet and Greet: At Sherry B’s from 1:00 - 2:00pm

Dr. Lyn McKay, Superintendent, and Dr. Heidi McCarthy, Director of Special Education, and Joan Corwin, Chappaqua Transportation.

Participate in the Creation of Our Community Quilt -- Tie together the threads of our town. Mindy Kombert will work with you and your kids to help them create their own square which could be a photo, drawing or quote about Chappaqua. We are charging $10/square to pay for this 5 ft by 6 ft masterpiece.

WeeZee is also planning a “Special Ed PTA Family Social-After Party” with the Chappaqua Special Ed PTA from 4-6pm at WeeZee-The Science of Play, 480 Bedford Road at Chappaqua Crossing. Says Chappaqua SEPTA president, Jackie McCarthy, “This event will give our kids, their siblings and families a chance to socialize with each other while enjoying two-hours of complimentary play at WeeZee’s sensory playground. For parents, we get to socialize too, as well as have a chance to ask an expert any questions we might have on sensory issues. The whole family is invited! We’ll also have pizza and snacks. We need for you to RSVP - but only if you’re coming - if you have not already done so, with how many adults and children to chappaquaptaspecialeducation@gmail.com.”