Facts of Life

Happy 41^st anniversary to Denise and Ed Quinn of Rye Brook who celebrate Oct. 15.

Port Chester schools will be closed Fri., Oct. 11 in observance of Yom Kippur.

During the month of October, whenever a $3 Give Back Where It Counts Reusable Bag is purchased at the Acme, 261 S. Ridge St., Rye Brook, $1 will be donated to the Friends of Crawford Park.

Westchester County will hold its 4^th Household Recycling Day (HRD) Sat., Oct. 12, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in parking lot #11 at Westchester Community College, 75 Grasslands Rd., Valhalla. HRDs offer an opportunity for residents to recycle household items like old medications, chemicals, paints, electronics, textiles (clothing, footwear, handbags, linens, leather, small area rugs) and more! Remain in your car and staff will remove items from your vehicle. If you cannot make it to this event, or want to avoid potential wait times, you can schedule an appointment at DEF's Household Material Recovery Facility located on the Grasslands Campus, 15 Woods Rd., Valhalla, The permanent facility accepts the same items as the HRDs and is open year-round. Household hazardous waste and other items worthy of special handling are accepted from Westchester County residents on an appointment-only basis. For additional information go to www.westchestergov.com

Rye Brook Recreation has announced that registration is open for Youth Basketball. This year they are looking to create an 8^th grade girls’ division. Rating Sessions: 2^nd & 3^rd grade girls, Wed., Oct. 16 or 23, 6:30 p.m.; 2^nd & 3^rd grade boys, Wed., Oct. 16 or 23, 7:15 p.m.; 4^th & 5^th grade boys, Tues., Oct. 15 or 22, 6:30 p.m., 4^th & 5^th grade girls, Tues., Oct. 15 or 22, 7:15 p.m.; 6^th & 7^th grade girls, Thurs., Oct. 17 or 24, ,6:30 p.m.; 6^th & 7^th grade boys, Thurs. or 24, 7:15 p.m. Practices will begin Nov. 11 for grades 4-7, Tues.-Thurs., 6:30-9 p.m. at Blind Brook HS/MS, Ridge Street school or Bellefair. Games for all participants will begin Dec. 7. www.ryebrookny.gov

Fall leaf collection in Rye Brook has begun and will continue through the third week of December. It is the Village’s goal to provide leaf collection service with a maximum of three weeks between collections at peak periods (weather depending). During the 12- to 13-week program season, highway department employees will travel each street of the Village and collect leaves placed curbside. For equipment to be efficient, leaf piles need to be placed in a row along the curb line, not in the roadway. Please advise your gardeners not to create mounds of leaves at the curb, over storm drains or in the roadway but to create long rows.

The Port Chester-Rye Brook Public Library, 1 Haseco Ave., Port Chester, and the United Way of Westchester and Putnam are participating in a Fall Clothing Drive thru Oct. 21. The library will accept donations of winter coats, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens and socks for families in need. For information, call 914/939-6710.

The next Port Chester High School Marching Band bottle and can recycling collections will be Sun., Oct. 20, 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.

Mayor Luis Marino is asking Port Chester residents if they are interested in having an evergreen on their property evaluated to be the Village of Port Chester’s 2024 Christmas tree. If you are interested, please contact Mayor Marino’s office by telephone at 914-939-2200 or send an email to Mary Anne Veltri at [email protected] by Nov. 18. The selected tree should stand approximately 21 feet tall to be placed in Liberty Square for the holiday season. The village tree lighting will be held Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.

Clay Art Center, 40 Beech St., Port Chester, has announced that enrollment is open for their Fall Session B. Weekly clay classes for adults—mornings, afternoons and evenings—will begin Oct. 29 and include pottery wheel throwing, sculpture and handbuilding and are available for all levels. For information and to register, go to www.clayartcenter.org

Congregation K.T.I. is participating again this school year in Food 2 Grown On to provide bags of groceries each weekend and during school vacations to alleviate hunger and food insecurity among elementary-aged children at Edison, Park Avenue and King Street school in Port Chester. Checks made payable to Food 2 Grow On are also welcome and should be mailed c/o the Rotary Club, P.O. Box 26, Port Chester, NY 10573. Food donations requested include healthy cereal, peanut butter (14-16 oz. jars), tuna fish, canned fruit (14-18 oz. size)—store brands are OK. Food donations can be dropped in the box at 48 Meadowlark Rd., Rye Brook or purchased through the Amazon link, Holiday Food Drive 2024. For questions or to arrange a pickup of donations call Leslie at 914/939-8659 or email her at [email protected]

The Village of Rye Brook has partnered with Westchester County to offer residents a free cell phone app called RecycleCoach where you can look up your Rye Brook sanitation schedule, view holiday week changes, and receive answers to commonly asked questions such as if a particular item is recyclable. It is a very useful tool, is relatively user-friendly and can be downloaded from the App Store.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has launched the New York Mobile ID, a highly secure digital version of a state-issued driver license, learner permit or ID on a smartphone. The Mobile ID is a voluntary product designed for the convenience and security of New Yorkers and is available to IOS and Android users. Anyone who has a valid, state-issued driver license, learner permit or non-driver ID can download the secure Mobile ID app through Google Play or the App Store.

The Westchester County Clerk's Office is open with extended evening hours for their popular mobile passport services weekdays from 5-8 p.m. at 110 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., White Plains. The U.S. Department of State estimates standard passport processing times at 6 to 8 weeks and expedited at 2-3 weeks, with an additional charge. Remember to bring all necessary documents, like proof of citizenship (birth certificate, consular report of birth abroad, or naturalization certificate) and proof of identity (driver’s license or government-issued ID). For renewal applicants, there are specific guidelines to follow, and for minors under 16, both parents need to be present, unless specific conditions apply. All details and forms are on their website, www.WestchesterClerk.com. Fees: $130 for adults; $100 for minors under 16. Payment is by money order or check payable to the U.S. Department of State, plus a $35 service fee payable to the Westchester County Clerk (credit card, money order, or check). Passport photos are $10 each ($7 for seniors). For questions, call 914/995-3082 during the week or go to the website.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum, located in the footprints of the Twin Towers in NYC, offers free admission exclusively to New Yorkers on the first Monday of each month, providing New Yorkers a special opportunity to see the Museum with one another and to reconnect with the feeling of community and cohesion that blanketed the city and nation in the wake of 9/11. The Memorial can be visited daily 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; the Museum is open Wed.-Mon., 9 a.m.-7 p.m. For regular admission rates, go to https://visit911memorial.org

Westchester County Executive George Latimer has announced the debut of the new Westchester Craft Beverage Trail and free online passport. The trail includes more than 24 distilleries, craft breweries and cideries throughout the region. A free, online passport for users 21 and older allows them to easily sip and savor their way across the County while earning rewards for fun items reflecting Westchester’s craft culture. Learn more at www.visitwestchestercounty.com/things-to-do/dining/craft-beverage/trail/

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.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has designated Free Fishing Days in New York this year. The remaining day is 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.