A Tisket, a Tasket, an Easter Egg Basket

Fine Dining This Easter
Celebrate the end of Lent by indulging in fine contemporary French cuisine without having to travel far. La Panetière, 530 Milton Road, is offering a special prix fixe Easter menu Sunday, April 12, at $68 per person with optional wine pairing available.
Starters include the Traditional Vegetable Tourte “Pascaline” and move to heartier fare, including Slowly Cooked Monkfish (with hearty cabbage and apples, garlic-almond emulsion) and Roasted Colorado Rack of Lamb (with variation of beans, rosemary infused jus). Top off the meal with the Contrasted Dome for Chocolate Lovers (with crunchy ganache ad apricot coulis).
La Panetière, a staple in Rye, has been serving fine French cuisine for over 20 years. Call 967-8140.

Shine Revises Budget Proposal: 1.8%
Tax Rate Increase, Portable Classrooms
At the March 31 Board of Education meeting, Rye City School District Superintendent Dr. Edward Shine presented a revised version of his recommended 2009-10 school budget. Spending increased from $67.8 to $68.8 million, resulting in a 0.81% budget-to-budget increase versus the 0.66% decrease in February’s initial proposal.

Little League Parade and Opening Day
On April 18, Rye Little League will hold its 52nd Annual Parade and Opening Day Ceremonies. The parade, including all Little League and Rye Girls Sports teams, begins at the Rye Train Station at noon, travels down Purchase Street to Milton Road and concludes at Grainger Field in Disbrow Park. Dixie Dandies, RHS Drum Corps and NYPD Pipes & Drums will provide the musical accompaniment.

Affordable Housing Developer Proposes New Units For Rye
Port Chester native Louis Larizza could rightfully be dubbed the “White Knight” of affordable housing in Westchester. Or perhaps the George Bailey (“It’s A Wonderful Life”). Here in Rye, he has already built what county housing officials have called “top quality” affordable three-bedroom homes for nine families on Cottage Street.

Rye Toasts

Twenty-nine years after the “Impossible Dream Came True” for Team USA, the Rye Rangers performed their own miracle in the same arenas that became legendary during the 1980 Olympics. All four Rye teams that took part in the Can-Am Challenge brought home medals in this spirited youth hockey competition played annually in Lake Placid, N.Y.
The Mite A team (ages 8 and under) took home the Gold with a 4-2 victory over the Raiders. The Bantam A team (ages 13-14) won the Silver, while the Squirt A (ages 9-10) and Pee Wee A (ages 11-12) teams each received the Bronze.

Farrington Wants to Be a Millionaire;
Becomes a 16-Thousandaire
On Tuesday, April 21 Jeremy Farrington of Rye walked away with $16,000 in winnings on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”, hosted by Meredith Vieira.

State Senator Oppenheimer to Speak on Proposed Education Legislation at Rye Library April 18
The Westchester4Change Education Task Force, a grassroots organization that is part of Organizing for America, is sponsoring an event on Saturday, April 18, at 1:30 p.m. at the Rye Free Reading Room. State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, Chairperson of the New York State Senate Education Committee, will discuss the impact of the Federal Economic Reinvestment and Recovery plan on education in our area and will talk to us about proposed legislation in the Education Committee. A Q&A will follow the presentation.

Central Avenue Bridge Delayed, But City Pushing the Timetable
While the City has “a great eagerness” to move forward on rebuilding the Central Avenue Bridge, which was severely damaged and closed after the 2007 floods, it has had its obstacles along the way. After expecting Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding, City officials were informed that the project was ineligible because the bridge is designated a State highway. The City is eligible for state funding, with a 20% match requirement.

Latimer, Oppenheimer Explain Votes on NY Budget
Using an infusion of $6.2 billion in federal stimulus money, the 2009/2010 state budget will increase spending by $9 billion. An array of higher taxes on health insurance, utilities, fishing licenses, car rentals, wine, beer and soda pop, combined with $4 billion in higher income taxes, add up to a $7-8 billion tax increase.

Late Nights with George Pratt
The time was 11:12 p.m. and our printer had given us a firm deadline of 1 a.m. Dumping my laptop, stream of papers and camera into my purse, I left the City Council meeting at City Hall and walked quickly back to The Rye Record to write the last story.
After over three hours of discussion at the Council meeting I, like the other reporters and residents, had hoped to hear about the timeline for rebuilding the Central Avenue Bridge, the proposal to extend the downtown parking meter hours to 9 p.m., and the latest news from the Recession Task Force.

RTA Hopes to Unseat Board Members
With three seats on the Board of Education up for grabs in May’s election, the Rye Teachers Association has begun a search for candidates who support their goals.
George Krajca, an English teacher at Rye High School, has been authorized by the Executive Committee of the RTA to head the hunt for contenders to replace the Board members whose terms expire June 30 – President Josh Nathan, Vice President Laura Slack, and George Cady.

Public Hearing on Parking Meters
The City Council is considering extending the hours of parking meter operation from 6 to 9 p.m. At the Council’s March 25 meeting, Councilwoman Catherine Parker noted that the meters have brought a sizable amount of money to the City and the Central Business District.

Wry Moments

– By Lexi Hart