Sound Shore

Runners pack the course at the start of the Westchester County Cross Country Championship Boys 5k race at Somers High School Oct. 31, 2009.

For more photographs from this event, click here to check out our daily sports gallery at Lohud.com.

Odane Franklin of White Plains tackles Sir-Tay Jackson of New Rochelle during their game at New Rochelle High School Oct. 31, 2009.

New Rochelle won the Class A match 24-7.For more photographs from this game click here and check out our daily sports gallery at Lohud.com.     ( Joe Larese / The Journal News )

What a thrilling finish by Poughkeepsie. Everybody was standing as they witness Pioneers Josh Graham catch a pass and run in for a touchdown in the final seconds of play to win the game.

Rye’s Cole McCormack congratulates Poughkeepsie.

For a gallery of tonight’s photos, go here on Lohud.com. You can also watch a replay of this game at Lohud.com by clicking here.

Read more about this game and other games played in the lower Hudson Valley by visiting www.lohud.com/sports.

Barnard Early Childhood Center Playground  had a ribboncutting cermony. The new playground was a big hit with the kindergarten class. To see more check out lohud.com or the Sound Shore Express.

Coco Darelius, who dives for the Rye/Blind Brook/Rye Neck combined team, was all smiles tonight at the Section 1 girls diving championship at Pace University in Pleasantville. Dive after dive, she was just on top of her game.

You can see more photos from the event here. Be sure to check out Debbie Schecter’s story in tomorrow’s Journal News and track your favorite local athletes at Varsity Central, here on Lohud.com.

Local chefs Andy Nusser of Tarry Lodge, David DiBari of The Cookery, Anthony Goncalves of Peniche and John Halko of Comfort offered samples off their menu to shoppers at Bloomingdale’s in White Plains today. The event was hosted by Journal News and LoHud Food Editor Liz Johnson as part of The Shopping Benefit at Bloomingdale’s.

Samples of beets and goat cheese salad by chef Andy Nusser at Tarry Lodge in Port Chester. Photo by Tania Savayan / The Journal News.

Click here to check out more photos from the event.

Republican candidates for City Council apparently want to remove the segment from Council meetings when citizens get to voice complaints, offer praise, or illuminate a problem in front of their elected officials.

Former Councilman Matthew Fahey, who is supporting Mayoral candidate Doug French and company, told MyRye.com that the regular “open mic” sessions “have alienated Rye residents from their elected officials.”

He goes on to write:

“First, it takes away valuable time from official city business. Secondly, it requires that anyone looking for guidance or help from the city council to appear on city-wide TV, no matter how small or trivial their request. Thirdly, it attracts publicity-seeking stunts designed to politicize personal issues and win public support.

Holding an “Open Forum” night, with only one or two council members and the city manager in attendance to work constructively with residents to resolve their issues is a great idea, just one of many the “Change for Rye” team has.”

City Council meetings have attracted bizarre audience members in recent months, including “Mr. Floatie,” an 8-foot-tall human waste mascot used to bring attention to the alleged health and envioronmental problems on Hen Island.

I had an assignment where I got to photograph nine-year-old Meredith Karle, who is a wonderful reader. She went to Hudson Country Montessori School in New Rochelle along with her dog, Dusty, a therapy dog. Therapy Dogs International Inc. is a program to assist new readers with their reading fluency by reading to a trained dog. Children develop confidence and self-esteem by reading to a non-judgemental audience.  To find out more about this story go to lohud.com

Something kept catching my eye whenever I headed from Rye Brook to I-287 at Westchester Avenue — the hot dog truck with the “CASH FOR GOLD” sign in the window.

I have a story in today’s paper about the hot dog/pawn shop combo business, owned by Anthony Romeo. (Note that he’s never actually exchanged gold for dogs.) Apparently a lot of retailers, from hair salons to check-cashing stores, are getting into gold. Romeo uses the sign mainly to advertise his gold parties, held in private homes.

One advantage for this particular location — it sits amid three of the nation’s wealthiest zip codes: Rye’s 10580, Harrison’s 10528, and Purchase’s 10577. Each is on the Forbes top 100 list, linked here.

I covered volleyball this afternoon at New Rochelle High School. Clarkstown North traveled to New Rochelle to face the Huguenots. Clarkstown North defeated New Rochelle 3 games to 0.

New Rochelle’s Ariana Ekonomou (3) returns a shot against Clarkstown North, during volleyball game at New Rochelle High School Oct. 27, 2009. Clarkstown North defeated New Rochelle 3 games to 0. ( Frank Becerra Jr. / The Journal News )

For more photos click here