Facts of Life

Happy birthday to my good friend Dana Poulin of N. Kingstown, R.I. who celebrates Feb. 26. Wishing you health, happiness and a terrific year of travels. Love, Jananne.

Sara Socualaya, Cinthya Tigre and Esdras Velasquez, all of Port Chester, and Anton Schlueter of Rye Brook have been named to the Dean’s List for Fall 2023 at the University of Buffalo. To qualify for the Dean’s List, full-time undergraduate students must demonstrate academic excellence by earning a grade point average of at least 3.600 while completing a minimum of 15 or more credit hours of which 12 are graded A-F credits.

Lubiha Perez of Port Chester has been named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2023 semester at SUNY Delhi. Lubiha is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Dean’s List is a recognition of academic achievement for students who are enrolled in six or more credits and earn at least a 3.5 grade point average for the semester.

Vanessa Vasquez of Port Chester has been named to the Fall 2023 President’s List at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga. Vanessa is majoring in Nursing. To qualify for the President’s List, students must achieve a 4.0 grade point average and complete a minimum of nine credit hours.

Joshua Levy of Rye Brook, a member of the Class of 2027 at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., was named to the Dean's List for the Fall 2023 semester. Dean's List honors at Tufts University require a semester grade point average of 3.4 or greater.

Ceren Gol. Justin McFadden and Jaxson Doornick, all of Port Chester, have been named to the Dean’s List at Rochester Institute of Technology for the Fall semester of the 2023-24 academic year. Ceren is in the graphic design program; Justin is in the management information systems program; and Jaxson is in the mechanical engineering technology program. Full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students are eligible for Dean's List if their term GPA is greater than or equal to 3.400; they do not have any grades of "Incomplete," "D" or "F"; and they have registered for, and completed, at least 12 credit hours.

United Way of Westchester and Putnam will hold a canned food drive Sat., Feb. 24-Sat., Mar. 2. All donated canned goods will be given to food pantries in Westchester and Putnam. Donors can drop off canned goods locally at the Port Chester-Rye Brook Public Library, 1 Haseco Ave., Port Chester. Those who wish to volunteer for the food drive can help by sorting, documenting and packaging donations for distribution to recipient food pantries Sat., Mar. 2. Register at www.uwwp.org/canned-food-drive-volunteer-sign-up/

Clay Arts Center in Port Chester has announced that their listing of Spring Classes is online now. Registration for non-members will begin Fri.., Mar. 1. The Spring session runs Mar. 10-May 4. For a listing of classes for adults and teens and to register, go to www.clayartcenter.org

Westchester County Parks, in partnership with the Westchester Parks Foundation, is offering 10 scholarships to local students to fund Lifeguard Certification courses for those who want to work as a Westchester County Parks Lifeguard this summer. Students must be 15+ and are encouraged to write explaining why they want to be a lifeguard and how they will benefit from the experience. Submissions should be at least 250 words and emailed to [email protected]. Deadline is Fri., Mar. 15. Those awarded scholarships will be expected to work at any of the following facilities: Croton Point Beach, Glen Island Beach, Saxon Woods Pool, Sprain Ridge Pool, Tibbetts Brook Pool or Willson’s Woods Pool.

New York State is developing a Master Plan on Aging and seeking input from seniors (and/or family members or soon-to-be seniors).

The overall theme is familiar. Most seniors want to age in place. But all too often they feel forced to leave the state at some point after they retire—due to taxes and/or other reasons. The state is asking people to help identify the issues and possible solutions.

There is a survey form that is open until the end of this month, and there is a Westchester County Town Hall meeting tentatively scheduled for Mar. 7. Additionally, comments can be sent by email before or after the town hall meeting to [email protected]. 

The next Port Chester High School Marching Band bottle and can recycling collection will be Sun., Mar. 3, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. in the Middle School parking lot on Bowman Avenue, Rye Brook. Collections generally take place on the first and third Sunday of each month. Call 914/200-1464 for updated information.

ArtsWestchester has announced that the application portal for the 2024 Arts Alive grant program is open for funding requests from nonprofit groups and individual artists in Westchester and Rockland counties for arts projects. This grant program is made possible through a New York State Senate Arts Initiative. Applications to ArtsWestchester to support cultural activities are being accepted thru Mar. 14. For more info, visit: https://artswestchester.org/grants/

Chill Bucket Productions has announced that submissions are open for their 3^rd Annual Below the Line Film Festival which will take place Oct. 4 & 5 in NYC. The festival aims to recognize and honor the often-overlooked contributions made by professionals working behind the scenes, including cinematographers, editors, production designers, sound designers and more. Submissions are welcome from all genres and award category honors. To submit a film, go to www.chillbp.com/belowthelinefilmfestival.html. The submission deadline is July 15.

Maria Regina High School in Hartsdale has won the College Board's 2023 AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, one of only 225 high schools in the U.S. to achieve the prestigious honor. The accolade recognized the school’s work in engaging young women in computer science and encouraging positive female representation in this growing field of study.

ASSE International Student Exchange Program, a non-profit public benefit organization, is inviting local families to discover the rewards of hosting a foreign exchange student. Students come from more than 50 countries worldwide and are between the ages of 15 and 18. The exchange students have pocket money for personal expenses and full health, accident and liability insurance. They are carefully selected based upon academics and personality and host families choose their student from a wide variety of backgrounds, countries and personal interests. If interested, call Alina at 1-800/677-2773, go to www.asse.com or [email protected]

Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced six designated Free Fishing Days in New York: June 29 & 30, Sept. 28 and Nov. 11. During these days, the fishing license requirement is waived for freshwater fishing on New York’s waters. The Free Fishing Days program provides a great opportunity for aspiring anglers to try freshwater fishing for the first time or former anglers to reconnect with one of America’s favorite pastimes.

Congregation K.T.I. is participating again this school year in Food 2 Grow On to provide bags of groceries each weekend and during school vacations to alleviate hunger and food insecurity among elementary-school aged children at Edison, Park Avenue and King Street schools in Port Chester. They also welcome checks made payable to Food 2 Grow On, mailed c/o the Rotary Club, P.O. Box. 26, Port Chester, NY 10573. Food donations needed include: healthy cereal, peanut butter (14-16 oz. jars), tuna fish, canned fruit (14-18 oz. cans)—store brands are OK. Food donations can be dropped in the bins at 48 Meadowlark Rd., Rye Brook. For questions or to arrange a pickup of donations call Leslie at 914/939-8659 or email her at [email protected]

The Westchester County Department of Health is reminding families to book vaccine visits with their child’s healthcare provider or at the free back-to-school clinics. Families with no insurance, ChildHealthPlus or Medicaid should call the County Health Department to schedule an appointment for vaccines at no charge. Call 914/995-5800 to see if you qualify and to secure a spot at the Health Department Clinic, 134 Court St., White Plains. Appointments are Fridays 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

At Congregation KTI it is a Mitzvah (good deed) moment for all to help feed those in the community who are needy. All food collected in KTI’s ongoing drive is being given to the Salvation Army in Port Chester. Food requested includes cans of tuna, chicken, vegetables, beans and fruit as well as pasta, 10-16 oz. bags/boxes of white rice, snacks, shelf-stable milk, healthy cereals, macaroni and cheese and canned meals like Chef-Boy-r-Dee, chili, etc. The food can be left in bins in Leslie Brandeis Novack's driveway at 48 Meadowlark Rd., Rye Brook.