Facts of Life

Dominick Accurso III of Rye Brook was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. He was initiated at Florida State University and is among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10% of seniors and 7.5% of juniors are eligible for membership.

Jennifer McKay of Rye Brook was named to the Dean's List at Bates College in Lewiston, Me. for the fall/winter semester ending in December 2023. This is a distinction earned by students whose grade point average is 3.92 or higher. Jennifer is majoring in Economics and Classical and Medieval Studies.

Jesse Heinberg of Rye Brook, from the Class of 2024, was named to the Winter 2023-2024 Honors List at Pomfret School in Pomfret, Conn. To achieve this level of distinction, Jesse earned a grade point average of at least 3.330 and received no grade lower than a B.

In celebration of Women's History Month, the Westchester County Board of Legislators honored two outstanding women leaders at their meeting Monday night, Mar. 18: Elizabeth (Liz) Rotfeld, deputy village clerk and senior citizen coordinator for the Village of Rye Brook, and Dr. Suzanne D. Phillips, an educator and community advocate.

The board proclaimed Mar. 23, 2024, as Elizabeth Rotfeld Day and Mar. 26, 2024, as Dr. Suzanne D. Phillips Day in Westchester County.

The next Port Chester High School Marching Band bottle and can recycling collection will be Sun., Mar. 24, 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.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer has announced that service changes have taken effect on Bee-Line bus system on routes 3, 7, 13, 20 21, 30, 42 & 68. Riders should consult timetables for specific details about each route. For a full list of service changes and new bus schedules, go to www.westchestergov.com/beelinebus or call 914/813-7777 Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-9 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Automated information is available 24 hours a day.

The Westchester County Department of Planning is asking for the public’s help in crafting its Consolidated Plan, a five-year plan to access affordable housing need and development goals in the 31 municipalities that make up the Urban County Consortium which includes Port Chester, Rye Brook and Rye Town. Residents may complete a survey at www.research.net/t/Westchester-conPlan. Stakeholders may complete a survey at www.research.net/t/Westchester-Stakeholder.Conplan

Rye Brook Recreation has announced that their Spring/Summer 2024 Brochure is online and available for viewing at www.ryebrook.org/documents/2024-spring-summer-brochure. You may register through your Community Pass account. New programs include Youth Cooking: Fill Me Up Buttercup; High Five Sports: Badminton; Snapology: Creature Creator Robotics, Scavenger Hunt and Casino Night. www.ryebrook.org

The League of Women Voters of Westchester County advises that Early Voting will be held Sat.-Sat., Mar. 23-30. The last day for an application for a mailed absentee ballot or a mailed early mail ballot to be received by the Board of Elections is Mar. 23. The Presidential Primary in NYS will be held Tues., Apr. 2.

Manhattanville College will be known as Manhattanville University effective Apr. 3.

Stop & Shop has announced the 23^rd Annual Help Cure Childhood Cancer campaign to support two of the nation’s leading pediatric cancer centers—Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund in Massachusetts and MSK Kids, the Pediatric Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. The campaign will run in all stores thru Mar. 31. Shoppers may donate at checkout by rounding up their total to the nearest dollar or by donating $1, $3, or $5.

County Executive George Latimer and the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board hosted an event recently at SUNY-Westchester Community College Yonkers for the County’s annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program which helps low- and moderate-income individuals and families eligible for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit file their taxes for free. The program also provides help for people with disabilities, senior citizens and those for whom English is a second language. The program is operating thru Apr. 15 at locations in Westchester including the White Plains Career Center, 120 Bloomingdale Rd., 2^nd floor, Mondays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. by appointment only at 800/899-1479.

Playland Park has launched its Community Program, #OurPlayland. This initiative aligns with the vision that Playland is a place to gather, share and create new memories. Playland is calling on the community to be a part of the Playland Hometown Heroes Banner Program which will serve as a living tribute in the community to honor veterans, past and present, throughout Westchester County and beyond by displaying personalized banners along the waterfront boardwalk starting Memorial Day through Veterans Day. Purchase a Hometown Heroes Package at playland.com. All entries must be submitted by Apr. 8.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced four additional 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]

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.