Sound Shore

Sound Shore residents will have a chance to chat with their local elected officials.

On Sat. Jan. 30, head over to Ruby’s Oyster House on Purchase Street in Rye from 9:30 to 11 a.m. to meet County Legislator Judy Myers and State Assemblyman George Latimer.

If you miss it, you can also catch them at The Nautilus Diner on W. Boston Post Rd. near Richbell Rd from 2 p.m. 3:30 p.m.

Latimer and County Legislator Vito Pinto will also greet constituents Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. at Mirage Diner in New Rochelle.

If you’re in Port Chester Feb. 13, you can meet up with Latimer and Marty Rogowsky at 9:30 a.m. at PC Coach Diner.

For more information, contact Legislator Myers at 995-2802 or Assemblyman Latimer at 777-3832.

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The New Rochelle school district today replaced the roof of the high school’s south tower more than a year after lightning destroyed it. Here are some pics the school district provided of crews hoisting the roof into place.

Got this today from the New Rochelle Sister City Initiative:

The New Rochelle Sister City Initiative is seeking volunteer New Rochelle families to host high school students from La Rochelle, France for two to three weeks this coming summer as part of its youth exchange program.

The program involves a direct family-to-family exchange whereby a high school student from selected schools in La Rochelle France will live with a New Rochelle family and experience life in and around New Rochelle, including trips to New York City.

2009 was the year of the citizen versus City Hall, according to our friends over at MyRye.com

The Rye blog lists the Schubert pond fiasco and the ongoing battles on Hen Island among the most read stories of year.

The Hen Island controversy also included frequent postings about Mr. Floatie, Rye’s ubiquitous 8-foot-tall human waste mascot.

Readers also flocked to stories about Bob Schubert, the 86-year-old World War II veteran who insisted the city allowed work in a neighbor’s yard that cut off the water to Schubert’s natural pond.

(Photo by Seth Harrison)

A New Year, a new Rye City Council.

On January 1, four new members, including the mayor, will officially be sworn in at 4 p.m.

Mayor Doug French beat Steve Otis, Rye’s longest serving mayor, in November. Otis, a Democrat, was one of many incumbents in the region to lose their seats.

The Republican ticket that swept the election also includes Suzanna Keith, Peter Jovanovich and Richard Filippi.

(Republican Doug French will take office Jan. 1. Photo by Robert F. Rodriguez)

Police Chief David Hall, who is the second-longest serving chief in Harrison, will retire Dec. 31.

He was with the department for 37 years and served as chief for 13.

He tells The Journal News in an exit interview that he enjoyed his job until the last several years when the department was hit with numerous civil rights lawsuits from officers. Of the 13 lawsuits, 9 have been withdrawn, dismissed or ended in favor of the department. Four are pending.

“I loved the job,” Hall said of his time. “Thirteen years as police chief is a long time, but I have no regrets. I enjoyed 95 percent of it.”

It’s still unclear who will replace him. Longtime Capt. Anthony Marraccini tops the civil service list for chief. Lt. Douglas Buschel and Lt. Lawrence Marshall are also in the running.

Read more about this in The Journal News.

(Photo by Ricky Flores)

Nanuet defeated New Rochelle 54-37 in the Slam Dunk Tournament at the Westchester County Center in White Plains on Saturday evening.Nanuet defeated New Rochelle 54-37 in the Slam Dunk Tournament at the Westchester County Center in White Plains Dec. 26, 2009. Nanuet defeated New Rochelle 54-37. ( Frank Becerra Jr. / The Journal News )

To see more photos from the Slam Dunk Tournament click here.

Peter Sileo of Rye Brook, a Vietnam veteran, salutes during the playing of Taps at a ceremony remembering Vietnam veterans at the Port Chester Vietnam War memorial Christmas morning.

Sileo and almost 40 other veterans, family members, and members of the community gathered at the site for the annual Christmas day remembrance ceremony. The ceremony is held every year to honor Vietnam veterans, and to especially remember the six Port Chester natives who died fighting in Vietnam. Look for Randy Weiner’s story in tomorrow’s edition of The Journal News. To view photos from this event and from Christmas events in the Lower Hudson region, click here.

A woman called us from Port Chester today to share an experience and put out a call for helping the less fortunate — just in time for Christmas.

Pamela Katz has been volunteering to serve food to the needy at Grace Church on Wednesdays. That work hit home when she noticed a man going through the garbage near her King Street home, she said. Katz asked if he was looking for food, and he said yes. She went back inside and brought him the food she had on hand.

Katz said she’s been looking for a job herself, having spent many years looking after her parents before they died two years ago. In the meantime, she put out a call to fellow volunteers.

By telling her story, she said, “Maybe someone else will think about giving instead of taking.”

The City Council approved taking $1 million in savings last summer to help a not-for-profit purchase a 19-century historic farmstead on Milton Road.

The Council said they expected to be reimbursed with state, county and federal grants. But with the down-and-out economy it may take a lot longer, said Assistant City Manager Scott Pickup.

“It’s an issue we have to pay attention to, and, potentially, it could be concern,” Pickup said.

The city should soon have $250,000 from a state grant through Assemblyman George Latimer’s office, but the others are in limbo, Pickup said.
The city still needs to recoup $350,000 from the state Historic Preservation Office, $200,000 from a federal Long Island Sound program and $200,000 from Westchester County.

Pickup said with the change in county adminstration, getting the funds may take longer and aren’t guaranteed.

“I can never say definitely,” he said of whether the city will see the money. “Whenever you are involved in the grant process, until you get a check, you can’t say yes. But we’re confident.”

Read more about it in The Journal News.