Sound Shore

Judy Graham recently opened a new handbags and accessories store, Clutch, near her clothing store, Pink, in Larchmont.

Clutch owner Judy Graham is photographed at her store with a selection of b. may bags at 1905 Palmer Ave. in Larchmont on Nov. 30, 2010. ( Xavier Mascareñas / The Journal News )

Stay tuned for an upcoming Sound Shore Express story by Linda Lombroso on the new handbags and accessories shop.

Local kids can build and paint their own menorahs, make Chanukah candles, and play dreidel games at The Dreidel House, a holiday-themed shop at 1985 Palmer Ave., Larchmont.

Chanukah begins Wednesday evening.

The store is open through Dec. 12, from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 12:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

New attractions this year include a nine-foot-high dreidel that kids can go inside, and a “Kids in the Kosher Kitchen” cooking club for ages 6-13, to be held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Participants will make donuts on Dec. 1 and latkes on Dec. 8.

Chanukah-themed activities for kids of all ages include building and painting menorahs, decorating mosaic dreidels and beading Chanukah bracelets and necklaces. Olive-oil refining shows and candle-making workshops are held throughout the day. The shop also features a toddler area and a retail space where adults can browse a large selection of Judaica.

Entry to the store and some activities are free. Crafts cost between $3 and $7.

For more information call, email info@jewishlarchmont.com.

CAPTION: Arts and crafts at The Dreidel House, a Chanukah-themed shop at 1985 Palmer Ave., Larchmont. (contributed photo)

United Hebrew of New Rochelle residents in their nursing home and rehabilitation center warmly greeted their friends from Temple Israel of New Rochelle.
Volunteers of all ages from the Temple recently made 100 gift bags and cards for the residents of the United Hebrew nursing and rehabilitation pavilion.
The bags were filled with cookies, lotion and greeting cards. The residents of United Hebrew, a campus of residences and services for older adults, were thrilled to receive these special gifts.

(L to R) United Hebrew of New Rochelle resident Ruby Fitts and Joan Cullen; Rabbi Scott Weiner, Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel of New Rochelle; Mila Levine, United Hebrew director of recreation; UH resident Rose Henderson; Temple Israel President Marji Karlin (standing far right); (seated left) UH resident Nancy Williams; (r) Deborah Blatt, Chairwoman of Temple Israel’s social action committee.

The Larchmont-Mamaroneck Interfaith Council will host speeches and discussions on the topic “Women in Islam” at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at St. John and Paul Church, 280 Weaver St., Larchmont. All are welcome to attend.

For information, call Jan Rising (914)-632-7735.

Joseph Califano, author of “How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid,” will talk to parents about how to keep their teenagers healthy and drug-free at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 in the McClain Auditorium of Mamaroneck High School, 1000 W. Boston Post Rd.

Califano’s book will be for sale at the event.

North Avenue: Malik Thompson, 19, of 55 Beechwood Ave., was arrested for trespassing at Iona College. Thompson was spotted in the women’s rest room in the Murphy Center at 2:43 p.m. Monday by a Iona College student, who reported it to campus authorities, New Rochelle police said. Thompson was held by campus officials at the North Avenue college and turned over to city police. He was charged with criminal trespass, a misdemeanor.

MAMARONECK — A controversial legal settlement that would allow a yacht club to build seasonal housing on its shorefront land is entering the home stretch this week, as village officials weigh whether to grant the project a final set of approvals.

If the approvals are denied, the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club could bring back a multimillion lawsuit against the village that it shelved under the agreement reached this past September.

The seasonal housing proposal, scaled down as part of the settlement, cleared a major hurdle Monday night when the village Planning Board voted 3-to-1 to adopt a 27-page environmental findings report on the project.

If the Harbor and Coastal Zone Management Commission approves the project Thursday, the planning board could then decide as early as that same day whether to grant wetland permits and, as a final step, site plan approval.

The approval would pave the way for the club to secure the building permits it needs to begin construction. The village has given the club six years to finish the work.

The village had faced a Nov. 30 deadline to grant the proper permits and approvals, but the club recently agreed to stretch the deadline into early December.

Joel Sachs, the club’s attorney, said on Tuesday he was optimistic about securing final approvals.

The planning board’s vote  Monday night, Sachs said, was “a major step forward” for the project. “I think that it constituted an endorsement of our site plan.”

Steve Silverberg, the attorney representing the village, said there are still some outstanding concerns that need to be addressed before the planning board can consider signing off, however. Those include lingering questions about how much access the public will have to the private club.

The beachfront venue, which hosts weddings, benefits and bar mitzvahs, sought $30 million in damages after the planning board in 2004 denied its proposal to build 32 seasonal units on its property. Attorneys for the club have argued that the short-term rentals are needed to make it financially viable.

Some village residents have opposed the project, citing traffic and water-quality concerns.

In September, the village Board of Trustees agreed to the $825,000 settlement in which the club agreed to drop six years’ worth of legal actions, including the lawsuit over the housing, and start over with a scaled-down proposal for 23 rental units, including 19 in three new buildings. The club also said it would seek approval for renovations to its marina and cabanas.

Over the past few months, however, the club — under pressure from planning officials and residents — has dropped plans to renovate the marina and agreed to build eight of the 19 units further inland, according to Frank Fish, a consultant for the planning board.

Sachs said the hope is to get construction started as soon as possible if the project is approved.

The harbor commission will discuss the plan at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Pavilion Building at Harbor Island Park. The planning board then meets at 7:30 p.m. at the Emelin Theatre, 153 Library Lane.

Crestview Place: A New Rochelle man was robbed at gunpoint as he walked on Crestview Place at 3:32 p.m. Sunday, police said. The victim told New Rochelle police that a blue sports utility vehicle with two men inside pulled up to him. One man brandished a handgun and demanded his money. After taking $800 the SUV sped off, police said.

North Avenue: A North Avenue apartment was broken into and two gold bracelets, a gold ring and $200 in cash were stolen, New Rochelle police said. The 34-year-old woman who lives in the apartment located on the 300 block of North Avenue told police that she left the house at 6:15 p.m. Friday and returned about two hours later to discover her door kicked open and home burglarized.

Main Street: Tires were stolen off of five cars at two Main Street car dealerships, New Rochelle police said Monday. Four 2001 Honda Accords that were parked on the 149 Main St. lot of a Honda dealership were put up on cinder blocks and all of the tires were removed. The 16 tires were valued at $4,800. Next door at a Hyundai dealership at 139 Main St, a 2006 SR7 Chrysler that was parked on the lot was put on cinder blocks and four wheels and tires valued at $4,000 were removed. New Rochelle police believe that it was the work of the same people. The thefts happened between Wednesday and Friday.

Clay Art Center in Port Chester is holding a studio tour and holiday sale Thursday through Sunday. Talk about shopping local – you can get one-of-a-kind pottery and sculpture by 39 artists:

Participating artists include: Tomoko Abe, Caitlin Applegate, Keiko Ashida, Sally Aldrich, Peter Arnow, Dalia Berman, Douglas Breitbart, Monique Brooks, Julie Buyon, Jennifer Cherpock, Paula Cook, Andrew Coombs, Karen Ford, Robin Henschel, Beth Herod, Debra Holiber, Natalie Kase, Reena Kashyap, Sarah Koster, Kazuko Lee, Janet Lipow, Loren Maron, Leigh Taylor Mickelson, Bob Miranti, Doris Montagna, Rimmie Mosley, Kiyomi Noda, Mari Ogihara, Marilyn Richeda, Barbara Rittenberg, Roberta Shapiro, Kristina Stafford, Florence Suerig, Hatsumi Suyama, Priya Tambe, Georgia Tenore, Jackie Welsh and Susan Wortman.