Features

Around the Garden: Hail to Houseplants

Monday, 13 February 2012 12:15

Just because your yard is gray and lifeless this time of year, doesn’t mean you can’t fill your house with freshness and color. Houseplants are the best antidote to winter.

In Praise of Geese

Monday, 13 February 2012 11:52

The nursery rhymes of Mother Goose taught us to appreciate geese, especially those that could lay a golden egg. Unfortunately, the good name of the goose family has been tarnished in recent decades by the increase and habits of the Canada species. Despite these drawbacks, they still have many redeeming features.

Green Space: Eat Less Meat

Monday, 13 February 2012 11:17

You may equate cold days of winter with roasts and big meals. But for your health and that of the planet, we should all be striving to eat less red meat. Here are ten reasons why.

Rye Merchants Part II

Thursday, 09 February 2012 18:02

In praise — and in awe — of the many retail businesses that have been in Rye for more than a decade, we decided to celebrate them, beginning in our last issue.
At the start, we had no idea there were well over 40 shops and restaurants — not to mention architecture and insurance firms, dance and language classes which we’ll highlight this spring — that have been here in good times and in bumpy ones for a decade or more.

After receiving the January 27 issue, in which Part I, a three-page feature, was published, we received dozens of phone calls from residents and business owners. The conversation generally began, “We loved the article, but we hope you won’t overlook the GiaQuintos, the Pinskers, the Stones?” The list doesn’t end there.
We didn’t forget about any of you other wonderful merchants — and there will be a Part III! More importantly, we wish one and all of you hard-working, cheerful, and industrious owners and employees many years to come.

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Long Island Sound: Making a Commitment

Thursday, 09 February 2012 15:00

In the early 1970s, the nation finally awoke to the damage that decades of pollution and neglect had caused to the environment. In quick succession, Federal laws were passed to improve air and water quality, restrict hazardous wastes, and curtail other activities detrimental to the environment. With these laws came new initiatives to clean up the water, including massive amounts of spending on sewage treatment plants.

An Event That’s Built to Last

Thursday, 09 February 2012 14:57

Rye Pack 2 Scouts held their annual Pinewood Derby February 3 at Christ’s Church. With 81 cars, the largest field ever, the track was jumping. Some of the entries were built strictly for speed, while others were more whimsical in design.

Teamed for Life

Thursday, 09 February 2012 14:32

When she starting working at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Westchester/Hudson Valley Chapter five years ago, Erika Francisco never anticipated how her job would change her whole life.

Valentine’s Day Gems

Friday, 27 January 2012 13:52

Nothing expresses love and romance like fashion, flowers, confectionery, and precious stones. Downtown Rye offers extraordinarily special gifts from him to her for Valentine’s Day.

Veterans Tale: Carmen Vecchiolla Recalls Old Battles and The Building of The Stilwell Road

Friday, 27 January 2012 13:50

If not for the Second World War, Carmen “Carmine” Vecchiolla would have spent his life within a radius of a few miles of his birthplace, 112 Maple Avenue in Rye. He was born on July 16, 1924, when Rye was still a Village, and moved with his family to 94 Webster Avenue in Harrison where he attended public schools.

Leaping Naturally Into 2012

Friday, 27 January 2012 11:49

With all the high-tech, Internet-based calendars making it possible for us to get through our daily lives, we often forget that none of it could function without an understanding of natural history. The earth and the sun in particular, and, even more particularly, leap years.

Liz Perelstein Helps Families Make Well-Educated Choices

Friday, 27 January 2012 10:38

This month Greenhaven resident Liz Perelstein celebrates her 14th year as President of School Choice International. She developed the business while living in London, where her husband’s job took them for several years.

Rye Merchants

Thursday, 26 January 2012 18:02

A good thing to do at the start of every year is to take a walk through town. Have a good look at all the small businesses that make Rye the great place it is. If you’re new to town, you might not know that many of these businesses are older than the average resident – and still thriving.
Many have changed the way they do business and the kinds of services they offer to keep up with the times. They’ve been here in good times and bad, and they’re still smiling.
Starting with this issue, we celebrate all the businesses that have been in Rye for more than a decade.

Right In Our Backyards: Those Foggy Days

Friday, 13 January 2012 16:15

I’ve lived with fog most of my life. Growing up in York, Pennsylvania, which is located in a valley surrounded on all sides by fairly high hills, many were the mornings my friends and I walked to school unable to see more than a few feet ahead of us. And because York was a factory town, what we encountered was more smog than fog. 

Hail to January, and Those Resolutions

Friday, 13 January 2012 15:18

If you have not made your New Year’s resolutions or are not ready to begin implementing them, you could claim to be following the ancient Roman lunar calendar. It had only ten months, ending in December (literally the tenth month), and began on March 1.

Veteran Tale: Bob Schubert, Built to Last

Friday, 13 January 2012 15:04

Many readers of this newspaper knew Bob Schubert as the fierce combatant who took his fight over the destruction of a pond on his property to the councils and committees of the City of Rye, as well as to the courts of justice and public opinion. His advocacy was not always polite, and the ferocity of his verbal attacks sometimes seemed offensive to those on the receiving end.

Buckle Down and Up

Thursday, 12 January 2012 13:21

There is a wonderful tradition in golf that is meant to give some relief to those who practice that sporting religion. It is especially helpful to the most par-challenged players, who find their ball in a sand trap, pond, or do not find their ball at all. There are several variations on this tradition, but the most common ones involve the ability to take a shot over once in a round, or sometimes, once on each of the front and back nines. We call it “taking a Mulligan”.

Branching Out Beautifully

Monday, 19 December 2011 12:53

The Little Garden Club of Rye hosted “Berries and Branches”, a grand garland boutique and luncheon, December 7 at American Yacht Club. Over 200 guests attended, and the many stunning arrangements and wreaths made by club members quickly sold out. Rita Schubert, Connie Macleod, and Dolores Eyler co-chaired the event.

Casting a Warm Holiday Glow

Monday, 19 December 2011 12:31

For twenty-seven years Rye Recreation has helped us into the holidays with their annual bonfire and sing-a-long. This year’s fun, festive, and well-attended event featured a pre-bonfire magic show with Justin the Magician. Mayor Doug French opened the festivities with a few words to the children in attendance, telling them that the bonfire was the mayor’s signal to Santa that Rye’s children have “been very good this year.” Holiday carols were led by the talented Hand to Mouth Players. The city’s police and fire departments ensured everyone’s safety throughout the bonfire.

Gifts for Dog Lovers

Monday, 19 December 2011 12:06

While most dog owners consider their pooch part of the family, some of them consider theirs to be the No. 1 family member. That makes that person easy to shop for.

Model Green Home Finds New Home at Jay Heritage Center – Visitors Welcome!

Monday, 19 December 2011 12:04

The Rye Garden Club’s model green home has been “mobile” the last two years. Now it has found what everyone hopes will be a permanent home, at the Jay Heritage Center. 

Holiday Traditions — The Good, the Great, and the Green Pajamas

Monday, 19 December 2011 10:44

The importance of holiday traditions cannot be underestimated or undervalued. Family traditions define and distinguish us from other families and give us some of our individuality. And though they’re often goofy and seemingly senseless, I believe that as we slip quickly into mass reliance on technological contact, we need more than ever to maintain time-honored traditions.

Along for the Rye’d Full Disclosure on the Family Christmas Card

Friday, 16 December 2011 16:45

The holiday cards are starting to roll in. It’s my very favorite part of the season, with all the voyeuristic joys of facebook but with photos that you can actually touch. Some people like to string theirs along the mantle or tape them to the refrigerator. I prefer to pile them on a lovely tray and sift through them at day’s end. They are magical to me, all those smiling faces and catchy holiday wishes. They are windows into the lives of the families who sent them. And my card lies among them, the big fat lie that I distribute annually through the mail.

Dick Schneider, Guided by Spirit, Renewed by Faith

Thursday, 15 December 2011 13:17

In World War II, Dick Schneider served with the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army in France, Belgium, and Germany. During the Battle of the Bulge, he was in the Ardennes forest with a company that had only carbines for their defense.

Organizations That Make a Difference: Rye Recreation Spreads Good Cheer All Year Long

Thursday, 15 December 2011 12:56

Have you ever wondered who provides the podium at the Veterans’ Day ceremony, sets up the tents and chairs at the 9/11 Memorial, and aerates and fertilizes the city’s sports fields? One super organization, Rye Recreation, does all three — and more.

Windows into a Winter Wonderland

Tuesday, 06 December 2011 15:33

New York City glistens more than usual around the holidays. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade set the festivities in motion. Rockefeller Center just celebrated its 79th annual tree lighting. Cartier’s has been wrapped in a gigantic, red sparkling bow for weeks. Rye has a dazzling downtown of its own. On a stroll down Purchase Street, one can spy flickering lights, ornate wreaths, pinecones, nutcrackers, snowflakes, and velvety Santas.