Sound Shore

Come in costume if you wish!

Rooney, who officially retired this month, walked down a “red carpet” lined with Rye cheerleaders and sat in a black-and-red decorated chair as teachers, students, and officials praised his dedication. The crowd waved fans with a picture of his smiling face.

“The halls will be empty without him, and I will miss Dr. Rooney’s big smiles, friendly hellos and words of encouragement, but I know I will see him around,” senior Brittany McCormack said in a speech.

Rooney, 62, worked as the high school’s assistant principal before becoming principal in May 1992.  He has been credited with creating the school’s writer mentoring program and improving the visual and performing arts programs. Rooney has a doctorate in education and authored a book about affordable housing in the Bronx in the 1980s.

Read more about this in next Thursday’s Sound Shore Express.

(Rye high school’s a capella group Rhythm on Rye performed for retiring principal Jim Rooney on Oct. 27, 2010. Theresa Juva/The Journal News)

The Pelham Art Center is accepting entries for the sixth Alexander Rutsch Award and Exhibition For Painting, a juried competition open to U.S.-based artists age 19 and up. A $5,000 cash prize and a solo exhibition at Pelham Art Center are awarded to the winner.
The competition and award are named in memory of Rutsch, an artist who actively supported center for more than 25 years. After his death, friends, supporters and his family established a significant fund to support the bi-annual competition in a range of mediums.
For a prospectus and entry form, visit www.pelhamartcenter.org, e-mail rutschaward@pelhamartcenter.org or call 914-738-2525. Entries must be received by Feb. 4. The center is at 155 Fifth Ave. in Pelham (NY)

The League of Women Voters of Larchmont-Mamaroneck will host a presentation by Diane MacEachern, author of “Big Green Purse,” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at Mamaroneck High School, 1000 W. Boston Post Rd. Admission is free.

MacEachern will talk about affordable ways that families can be “green” in tough economic times. “Diane will show you how to harness your purchase power, share her list of do’s and don’ts and answer your questions about living a greener life,” the League writes.

Autographed copies of her book will be available at the event.

See a video slideshow from visual journalist Carucha L. Meuse on kindergartners decorating pumpkins with funny faces at the William B. Ward Elementary School in New Rochelle.

MAMARONECK—Reed Peterson’s musical talent has brought him to the stage of one of Manhattan’s most prestigious venues.

The Mamaroneck 11-year-old made it to the finals of the Tureck International Bach Competition for Young Pianists, age 6 – 19, at Lincoln Center earlier this month.

He was the only American finalist in his category “Inventions, Sinfonias, Duets,” competing against nearly a half-dozen other pianists from Taiwan, China and Russia, according to mother Laura Mazziotti.

Two Chinese pianists tied for first place.

“It was quite an accomplishment” just advancing to the finals, Mazziotti said. ”(Reed) is well on his way to an exciting career as a concert pianist.”

Contestants had to perform before a panel of judges. Prizes included medals, cash and award certificates.

The competition is held in memory of Rosalyn Tureck, an American pianist and harpsichordist from Chicago who died in 2003. She was known for performing the works of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Give & Grow, a new program introduced into the Hudson Valley region served by The Journal News, is designed to benefit local charities and nonprofit organizations. The program pairs them with local creative agencies and graphic arts firms that will provide their services pro bono to create advertising messages in support of the organization of their choosing. The purpose is to get their message out to the thousands of daily readers of The Journal News by way of free advertisements in the newspapers.
The Journal News has teamed up with the Advertising Club of Westchester, which has promoted the concept to its membership and furnished the judges. Judges will select three outstanding entries among all the submissions for recognition at a special awards event. “We are so pleased to have been asked by The Journal News to participate in this unique endeavor in support of our area noniprofits and delighted by the enthusiastic response and the high caliber creative produced by ACW member agencies.” said Rodica Ceslov, president of the Advertising Club.
A dozen firms have responded to the challenge in support of 14 different organizations — Visual Language LLC, The Byne Group, Wild Frog Studio, TFI Envision, Berlin Productions, Froehlich Bonini Associates, DesignWorks NY LLC, The Journal News Ad Design, CRM Associates, Create & Associates, Harrison Edwards, and Anne Kasdin Advertising.
The organizations for which creative work has been submitted for this initiative are: Midnight Run, SPCA of Westchester, Nyack Hospital, The Anne Frank Center USA, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Research Foundation, Vision Aware, JA of the Hudson Valley, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, New Rochelle Humane Society, Food Bank for Westchester, Neuberger Museum of Art, and Gilda’s Club.
For more information, e-mail info@acw.org, call 914-202-3116 or visit www.acw.org.