Facts of Life

Purchase College recently opened The Center for Engagement. Part of an ongoing commitment to fostering dialogue and community, the new Center will bring together organizations whose projects inspire community engagement, encourage open dialogue, and impact social change. This alliance of organizations includes a variety of non-profits whose initiatives include creating arts programs in prisons, encouraging civic dialogue, supporting local Latinx populations, and rebuilding a corner of Detroit, among other projects. The alliance members will use the Center as a creative hub as they tackle urgent issues in contemporary life through multi-disciplinary research, advocacy, and innovative programs in the arts, humanities, and sciences.

Gretchen T. Wright has joined Westport Country Playhouse as director of development, She is responsible for the professional, non-profit theater’s annual sustaining support from public and private constituencies, including corporations, government agencies, foundations, and individual donors. She comes to the Playhouse from the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, where she was development manager for special contributions and brand awareness and was involved in fundraising efforts for the theater’s 50th anniversary season. She also co-developed a business plan and sales strategy for the Alliance@work corporate educational program. She was previously an associate consultant with Organizational Performance Group in Woodbridge, Conn., orchestrating strategic plans and other organizational development projects for an array of clients, including non-profit theaters. Wright was with Yale Repertory Theatre as associate managing director and served Yale Summer Cabaret as managing director. She was also with the Court Theatre, University of Chicago.

We want to wish our beautiful granddaughter, Sofia Scappatura of Rye Brook, a very happy birthday. She will be 17 on the 18th of March. Much love always, Grandpa and Grandma. xo.

Happy birthday to Clara on Mar. 21, you’re a wonderful wife and mother! Enjoy your day as you deserve it! Much happiness and health. Love, Jerry.

Happy birthday, Mom, on Mar. 21. We wish you the happiest of birthdays! You’re the best mom a daughter could have. You are our best friend, too. Enjoy the day! Love always, Jessica and Nicolette.

Happy 19^th birthday to Melissa Ann Stracuzzi of Port Chester who celebrates Mar. 20. She is the daughter of former Port Chester Mayor Christine Korff and Gary Stracuzzi.

Happy birthday to Ashley Pezzella of Port Chester who celebrates Mar. 22.

Christine Argentino of Rye Brook, a member of the Blind Brook High School class of 2018, made First Honors for the fall 2018 semester at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where she is a freshman.

Jeanette Dick of Monroe, N.Y. was named to the Dean’s List at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, N.Y. for the Fall 2018 semester with a GPA of 3.9. Jeanette is a 2018 graduate of John S. Burke Catholic High School in Goshen, N.Y. She is the granddaughter of John and Mary Beth Dick of Port Chester.

Riley Holmes of Port Chester has been placed on the Deans' Commendation List for outstanding academic achievement in the Fall 2018 semester at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pa. Students with a quality point average in the range of 3.300 to 3.599 for a semester's work are placed on the College's Deans' Commendation List.

Rye Brook Recreation’s 2019 Spring/Summer Brochure is now online for viewing. Registration is now open. For information go to www.ryebrook.org.

Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law (Pace Law) was ranked number one in the country for environmental law, a signature program at the school, by the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings, released recently.

Kingfisher Philanthropies, a Chappaqua based 501(c)3 charitable foundation, has announced the formation of Round Rock Preserve -- almost 12 acres of privately-owned wooded hill and meadow soon to be opened to the public. The Preserve will officially open on Apr. 22 to all who enjoy taking a quiet hike in nature. A serene park with trails, this beautiful landscape is nestled near the northeast edge of the town of New Castle in Mt. Kisco. The property once slated for development was acquired in 2018 by Kingfisher Philanthropies. The Preserve offers hiking trails, scenic views and lots of peace and quiet. Visitors may see all kinds of wild creatures including raptors, bluebirds, wild turkeys, deer, fox, and even a coyote---all live in these woods.

The Preserve offers approximately a half-mile of winding hiking paths, nicknamed “Bunny’s Trail." While most of the trail is gentle, there are sections where hills present a moderate challenge. Get to the top, and you will be rewarded with stunning views that stretch for miles. The Preserve will house a fenced apiary (bee hives) tucked away on the edge of a meadow, the perfect place for honeybees to thrive. To encourage and expand the honeybee population locally, Round Rock Preserve will host two hives that the public will be welcome to view from outside the fencing. Round Rock Preserve will be open daily, year-round, sun-up to sunset. For more information, please visit www.roundrockpreserve.com.

Mortgage foreclosure filings across New York dropped 46 percent between 2013 and 2018, from 46,696 to 25,334, according to a report issued recently by NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. He said that the decline in foreclosures means fewer people are losing their homes and our municipalities are seeing some relief from the collateral damage associated with shrinking tax bases and neglected properties.

Free tax assistance is available at the Port Chester-Rye Brook Public Library Thurs. & Sat., thru Apr. 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For information call 914/939-6710 x103.

Westy Self Storage is again hosting a suit drive for Dress for Success® Mid-Fairfield County through Apr. 15. Westy, located at 351 N. Main Street, across from Police Headquarters in Port Chester, will serve as a designated dropoff location for donations. Items needed include suits, pants, skirts, jackets, blazers, blouses, tops, shells, cosmetics and toiletries, handbags, portfolios, jewelry, scarves, interview appropriate footwear and unopened/unused pantyhose. Dress for Success® Mid-Fairfield County promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Creating a good first impression during a job interview has never been more important. Westy is open for dropoff 7 days a week. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Call 914-937-2222 or visit www.westy.com for directions.

The Village of Rye Brook has announced that effective June 1, 2019 single use plastic bags can no longer be used by retail stores. Paper bags will have a 10-cent charge. Effective the same date, plastic straws cannot be displayed on counters in Rye Brook businesses; they can, however, be provided upon request.