Sound Shore

Purchase resident and author Andrew Gross will be the featured speaker at the Harrison Public Library, 2 Bruce Avenue, Wednesday, March 28 at 7 p.m.

Gross will talk about his book “Eyes Wide Open,” based on two real-life experiences – the tragic loss of his nephew and a chance encounter years before with the nation’s most notorious cult killer.  He also  will also talk about his new book coming out in July — “15 Seconds” — described as a “story of how even the best of lives can change in just an instant – and of an innocent man, framed for murder, who has to save the person he loves the most, and who cannot go to the police to clear his name.”

Andrew Gross is the author of the New York Times and international bestsellers “Blue Zone,” “Don’t Look Twice,” “Reckless,” and “Dark Tide.”  He is also co-author of several number one bestsellers with James Patterson, including “Judge & Jury” and “Lifeguard.”  Books will be available for purchase and signing.

The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Harrison Public Library.  For information call the Library at 914-835-0324.

The Larchmont Historical Society and Clarke auction house are teaming up once again this year, on Saturday, March 31, for an antiques appraisal day.

The event will run from 12 to 4 p.m. at Clarke’s facility at 2372 Boston Post Road in Larchmont. Certified dealers and appraisers will be on hand in the fields of Asian Art and Antiquities, European and International Fine Art, Jewelry, Silver, Traditional American Antiques, Paintings, Sculpture and the Decorative Arts.   A fee of $20 will be charged for the first appraised item, $10 will be charged for each additional item, with a maximum of three objects being appraised per person.

Light refreshments will be served. Call  914-381-2239 or email LHSantiquesday@gmail.com with any questions. All proceeds will benefit The Larchmont Historical Society.

The Friends of the Larchmont Public Library will air “The Surgeon and the Saint” — a documentary about a local resident – Sunday, April 1 at 4 p.m. in the Larchmont Village Center, 121 Larchmont Avenue.

Here’s the description: “Larchmont resident Dr. Louis Del Guercio — a cigar-smoking, Masserati-driving 77-year-old surgeon – abandons his life of comfort and embarks on a grueling pilgrimage along age-old paths and roads, and across 2 mountain ranges to the tomb of St. James in the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostella,.seeking a miracle for his grandson, who is seriously ill. Come see “The Surgeon and the Saint”, the powerful documentary of Del Guercio’s journey, as both his physical and religious strength are seriously challenged every step of the way.”

The event includes complimentary wine and snacks at 3:30.

Via press release:

Patients Rights Council Executive Director Rita Marker will give two free presentations on March 19 in New Rochelle discussing the legal and ethical aspects of end of life issues, the various types of advance directives and which ones are problematic.

Her presentations will answer questions like:  What are end of life issues?  What can be wrong with advance directives?  (living will or durable power of attorney for health care).  Could my advance directives put me at risk?  What should I know about Health Care Reform “End of Life” counseling?

She will talk at the Hugh A. Doyle Senior Center at 94 Davis Avenue at 1:00 pm and at Holy Name of Jesus Church’s Halligan Hall, 75 Lispenard Avenue at 7:00 pm.  For more information call Dan Gallo at (914) 235-6026.

From Mamaroneck:

GAR Associates, the consulting firm which is administering the Town of Mamaroneck’s property revaluation project, has constructed a website dedicated exclusively to the revaluation process. The GAR website can be accessed directly at http://www.mamaroneckreassessment.com  or through the Property Revaluation Portal on the opening page of the Town’s website at www.townofmamaroneck.org.

A 15-pound wild turkey injured yesterday on the Hutchinson River Parkway near Mamaroneck is recuperating in Pelham, thanks to Dr. Richard Jakimer and animal lover Tina Coleman.

Coleman, who was driving south on the Hutch at about 2 p.m., saw the turkey lying immobile in the median. “She was clearly distressed,’’ says Coleman, who pulled over, put the turkey in her car and drove to Manor Veterinary Clinic in Pelham.

The bird, likely a female, probably bumped its head on a windshield, says Jakimer, noting that low-flying turkeys are not uncommon in the region.

“Driving down the Sprain, I’ve had them fly across my window not 10 feet away,’’ he says.

The turkey that Coleman rescued arrived at Jakimer’s veterinary office panting and in shock, he says. He administered fluids, pain medication and antibiotics, and today the bird, nicknamed Thomasina, is “up and conscious.”

The plan, says Jakimer, is to transfer the turkey to a wildlife rehabilitator in the coming days.

Jakimer says he’s treated sparrows, pigeons and sea gulls, but this is his first injured turkey.

“God willing, she’ll pull out of it,’’ he says.

Earlier this week, the Mamaroneck school board voted to put a capital bond before voters in May. Today, Superintendent Richard Shaps released a YouTube video about the bond. You can watch it below:

The Mamaroneck School District is considering switching the transportation for six private and parochial schools from district busing to public transportation; a meeting on this will be held tomorrow night.

Below is the announcement sent out by the superintendent, Robert Shaps:

Dear Parents, On Tuesday, March 6 th , at 7:30 p.m. in the MHS Tiered-Classroom, the administration will present the Board of Education with an updated report on District Transportation Services. The purpose of our public discussion will be to further consider potential cost saving measures that would result from shifting private and parochial bus routes to public transportation services and fully outsourcing transportation services.

It is important to note that during the December 6 th Board of Education transportation services discussion, the Board identified criteria that would be used as guidelines to determine which private and parochial bus routes would be considered for public bus routes. Criteria includes:

• Routes for students in grades 6 -12
• Access to safe travel (e.g., walking routes, sidewalk accessibility, and distance)

• Maximum two-hour travel time each way (including walking distance, bus stop and seat time).

  In response to the Board’s feedback, the administration plans to discuss public transportation services for private/parochial school travel routes associated with six schools:
  French American School
  German School
  Holy Child
  Iona Prep
  Rye Country Day
  Ursuline School

  Transportation services for students attending all other private/parochial schools not listed above will continue to be supported by school bus transportation services . On the issue of outsourcing, the Board will look at moving towards full outsourcing, versus our current level of outsourcing, which includes the majority of our out-of-district students as well as some in-district students. In doing this, the Board will keep the safety of our children and the quality of our transportation services the top priority. To this end, under a full outsourcing model, the District will continue to identify/design bus routes, coordinate/monitor transportation services, evaluate driver performance records, and serve as the direct contact for all transportation issues. We look forward to our conversation with the community next week and hope that you will join us if you have interest in this topic. As always, public comment is welcome.

  Regards, Dr. Robert I. Shaps
  Superintendent of Schools

The first ever “Green Screen” environmentally-oriented film festival is under way in Mamaroneck and Larchmont. It features eight environment-themed movies, including Gasland, Josh Fox’s critically-acclaimed documentary on fracking, and The Lorax, a first run children’s movie based on the book by Dr. Seuss.

Each screening will be followed by a question and answer session with an expert speaker. The showings are free.

Here’s the remaining schedule for the films:

No Impact Man
Monday, March 5, 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Mamaroneck Town Center
Speaker: Director and cinematographer Justin Schein

Extreme Ice
Saturday, March 10, 12 p.m.
Venue: Mamaroneck Library

Flow: For the Love of Water
Saturday, March 10, 2 p.m.
Venue: Mamaroneck Library
Speaker: Elizabeth Royte, author of Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and How We Bought It

Gasland
Sunday, March 11, 2 p.m.
Venue: Larchmont Village Center
Speaker: Paul Gallay, Executive Director of the Riverkeeper environmental group.

Carbon Nation
Monday, March 12 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Mamaroneck Town Center (Conference Room C)
Speaker: George Klein, Chair of the Sierra Club, Lower Hudson Valley

The Berklee College of Music’s 44th Annual High School Jazz Festival in Boston this Saturday will feature competitors from Mamaroneck High School, seeking students to compete for the $175,000 in available scholarships. The event is the largest of its kind in the US and will showcase over 3,000 students and 200 bands and vocal ensembles from California to Canada to New England. Last year, Mamaroneck won 2nd Place in the Large Ensemble Div. (Class 2).

The entire event is free and open to the public, and will take place on Saturday at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Scholarship and award winners will be announced at 6:00 p.m., followed by a winners showcase concert at 7:30 p.m.