Sound Shore

Hix Park and Glen Oaks residents have had to contend with a half-dozen burglaries since Oct. 30. Police are looking for commonalities among the struck residences which have been hit during the late afternoon and early-evening, thankfully when unoccupied. But these are not all homes where everyone is out at work or school and some residents are feeling that their comings and goings are being watched.

Jewelry has been the target.

Police are urging residents to report anything that catches their eye and makes them uneasy.

A story running Dec. 2 in The Journal News outlines some of the thinking of police and more info about the burglaries.

Maybe a discussion here of who has had work done at their homes recently and who has landscapers and the like in common with neighbors on hit streets might reveal a commonality police are looking for.

There’s a new movie coming out on Friday called “Everybody’s Fine” starring Robert DeNiro, Drew Barrymore and Kate Beckinsale that’s been generating a lot of buzz among movie critics. On Tuesday, the Pelham Picture House is offering an advanced screening of the film, followed by a Q&A with the film’s director Kirk Jones and editor Andrew Mondshein.

Mondshein lives in Larchmont and is no stranger to the film industry. He edited the Sixth Sense, which he received an Oscar nomination for, and other movies such as Chocolat and my personal fave, To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julia Newmar.

The screening will take place at the Pelham Picture House Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and the Q&A will follow.

(AP Photo / Miramax Films)

It’s always eye-opening to look at poverty statistics for Westchester County, more commonly associated with the modifier “affluent.” The number of food stamp recipients here is surging, as I noted in a story about a statewide anti-hunger campaign.

At the end of October, there were 57,162 people receiving food stamps in Westchester, according to county stats. That’s up from 39,000 since the same period in 2007, a 47 percent increase. If you figure that into about 950,000 residents, about 6 percent of the county population is receiving the aid.

The number of food stamp applicants in Westchester rose from 10,918 in 2007 to 17,572 so far this year — already a 61 percent increase.

A New York Times article Sunday focused on the share of residents who receive food stamps. Across the country, it’s one in eight Americans, and one in four children. In Westchester, one in five children are on food stamps, according to the Times.

Photo: Sister June Quinlan, right, helps distribute items at a food pantry at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Mamaroneck.

No, they didn’t mention asking the Road Runner for help.

There’s been a lot of chatter in the community after several parents spotted coyotes running around the Rye Neck section of Mamaroneck. In fact, a coyote ran onto Rye Neck’s high school track during a sports practice last week.

Anywho, Mamaroneck’s village manager Richard Slingerland sent me an email over the weekend about what local officials are doing about it. He echoed what Rye city officials are saying about coyotes — they’re staying alert but nothing else for now.

“At this time, it is not a priority for the Village of Mamaroneck to seek out and call a wildlife trapper for sightings,” Slingerland said. “However, if sightings or incidents become frequent, or if the animals become more confident or aggressive, we will revisit that policy.”

In the meantime, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has some tips on what to do in case coyotes visit your home.

(Photo by Frank Becerra Jr. / The Journal News)

More than three years after 10-year-old Jarrid Amico was killed on his bike on Midland Avenue, his father, Jimmy, has launched Stop For Jarrid, a Web site to promote pedestrian safety in Rye, particularly on Midland Avenue.

Amico has relentlessly pressed city officials to put a stop sign at Palisade Road, the T-intersection where Jarrid was hit by a van as he tried to cross the street.

Amico has said the stop sign could have saved Jarrid’s life, while city officials say a mid-block stop sign could  actually make the road more dangerous.

He writes on the Web site that “it is now almost 4 years later and Mayor Otis and the elected representatives of Rye have done – NOTHING.

Mr. Otis lied to me and used every political smoke screen and mirror he could to pressure me to go away.

All this just fueled the fire within me for public safety and, with the help of some very dear friends, I have fought on.”

Last month, Amico decided to take matters into his own  hands and planted a yellow caution sign to speeders in his own yard.

Maybe you’re struggling to complete a school project, or maybe you just don’t want to bother with pesky class assignments. Why not turn to Craiglist? That’s what someone in New Rochelle apparently did, after posting an ad on Friday offering cash for a college math and computer research project. Check it out:
School Project (New Rochelle)

Date: 2009-11-27, 3:14PM EST
Reply to: gigs-vt4jh-1484244860@craigslist.org

We need a college level school project written by November 30th, 2009. This is a college math and computer class research project that we need word, excel and power point all integrated into one. We need a 8-10 page written word analysis and excel analysis and a 8-20 slide power point ananlysis power point we want sounds and graphics. Anyone interested please respond. We are willing to pay by pay pal. Please only respond if you are serious about the project. Thanks

• Location: New Rochelle
• it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

• Compensation: Pay by Pay Pal up to $100

  PostingID: 1484244860

New Rochelle took on North Tonawanda in the Class AA state championship at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.

New Rochelle Lewis Edney is consoled by coach Ray Rhett following the Huguenot’s 14-7 loss to North Tonawanda. Edney was injured in the first quarter and was sidelined for the rest of the game.

This month the Mamaroneck Public Library announced they received a check for $1948 from the Larchmont Avenue Presbyterian Church. Library director Susan Benton said the money will be used to purchase children’s art and science books as well as fund a few literacy programs at the library.

Even your local hardware store is breaking out the holiday decorations today. This afternoon at the True Value in Port Chester, Giovanna Mustac, left, and Christina Vitiello were setting up Santa in the store window. He’s got a view of North Main Street.

Get ready for carols, a tree and menorah lighting and an appearance by Santa Claus. New Rochelle’s Holiday Lighting takes place Thursday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. See details below.