Sound Shore

Mamaroneck town fire fighters have begun a toy drive that will give gifts to kids in local hospitals. The toy drive is happening now until Dec. 13th. You can donate a new unwrapped toy at the firehouse, located at 205 Weaver Street in Larchmont.

The fire department will also be collecting toys on Dec. 13 with a special event called Skate with Santa & Firefighters at the Hommocks Ice Rink in Larchmont. The event will take place that day from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, visit the fire department’s Web site.

(Photo by Tania Savayan / The Journal News )

This weekend, Catherine van Eyck of Larchmont will head to Albany to compete in the Miss New York Teen USA Pageant.

“I am so excited and honored to be representing our area,” she said in a release. “I’ve lived here my whole life and I can’t wait to meet girls from all over New York.”

van Eyck, 15, is a student at Mamaroneck High School. Aside from playing JV tennis and varsity basketball, she’s in intern at the Larchmont Historical Society, member of MHS Students for Senegal and a spokesperson for Queen for a Day, a group providing play therapy programs to child cancer patients.

If van Eyck wins this weekend, she’ll be representing New York in the annual Miss Teen USA Pageant.

EndFragment->

Nursery school kids at Beth El Synagogue in New Rochelle prepared a Thanksgiving celebration for senior citizens today.

Pei Morris, 4, sang a Thanksgiving song with Alma Maffucci as she and other four-year-olds from the temple’s nursery school prepared the celebration for senior citizens who participate in the temple’s seniors program. The kids made turkey shaped cookies, pumpkin pudding, vegetable soup, and muffins. They also made gift necklaces for the seniors. The children have come to know the senior citizens as they join them twice a week for an exercise program. To view more photos from the celebration, click here.

The Port Chester Carver Center is completing some renovations on its quirky building, a former YMCA on Westchester Avenue.

The Knicks head coach was among those trying out the new gym floor on Friday. Mike D’Antoni was there along with team president Donnie Walsh. Read our story on LoHud.com here.

Here is assistant coach Phil Weber giving some pointers.

The center also has a new dance studio. Executive Director Kerry Walsh was happy to give us a look.

Photos: Angela Gaul, Leah Rae / The Journal News

New Rochelle High School’s varsity cheerleading squad claimed the top trophy in tonight’s 61st annual Westchester County Cheerleading Invitational at County Center!

You can see more photos from the event in a special gallery by clicking here. Also, cheerleaders, coaches, parents and fans: did you know you can share the photos with your Facebook friends? Click on any picture in the gallery, then click “Share on Facebook” in the pop-up window.

Don’t forget to look for Debbie Schecter’s story in tomorrow’s edition of the Journal News!

I’ve never seen a celebrity go out of his/her way to disassociate connections to Westchester.

Lady Gaga was on The Jay Leno Show this week and Leno asked her what rumor out there bugs her the most.

Apparently it’s the rumor that she’s from Yonkers. She’s from New York City and she goes on to say how much she hates the fact that people think she’s from Yonkers.

I’m sure that’s not going to sit well with some of her local fans.

I am blogging live from the exhibition floor of the Westchester County Center as cheerleading teams from Westchester, Rockland and Putnam compete for the Grand Championship.

The competition is running a few minutes behind schedule, but the final teams are warming up at this very moment! New Rochelle has a long history of excelling in this competition, but North Rockland just nailed their performance in the preliminary round. It’s going to be a very exciting night!

Click here for a photo gallery from the event.

David Alexander’s daughter Angela killed herself on Dec. 19, 2008. As a means to cope with the devastation, Alexander decided to bike across the country to spread awareness about teen suicide.

Today the Michigan resident took a pit stop in Port Chester before heading to Manhattan later in the afternoon.

“I’m trying to make parents aware that they need to spend time with their kids,” he said. “Don’t just shove them away or put them in front of a tv.”

Alexander started the journey in May this year and biked across about 10 states so far. He intends to do all 50.

What’s been therapeutic for him, he said, is meeting people along the way, especially teens that have pondered suicide at some point in their lives.

“I can’t bring her (Angela) back but I can be a better father to my other daughter,” he said. “I’m tired of kids killing themselves. So many kids are being abused and mocked. They need to know that somebody cares for them.”

Mayor Noam Bramson of New Rochelle has named two people to city judge positions to fill vacancies following the election of sitting Judge John Colangelo to the Westchester County Court.

Acting New Rochelle Judge Gail B. Rice, who sits on the bench part time, will take Colangelo’s seat.  Her job will be filled by Anthony A. Carbone, currently chairman of the New Rochelle Planning Board.

Here is professional background info, sent from the city:

Students in fifth grade at the George M. Davis Jr. Elementary School in New Rochelle created an American Living Museum on Friday. Students took on the role of historical figures, landmarks and monuments and engaged in conversations based in history. Before the event, students researched and learned about the historical significance of presidents and their wives, American Indians, explorers and inventors. About 120 students took part in the Living Museum. (Information and picture provided by New Rochelle School District.)