Sound Shore

Thsi just in: HomeMade Pizza Company Opens First NY Store – Promises a Fresh Way to Think About Dinner. HomeMade Pizza is kicking off the opening in Rye with a three-day launch party complete with kids’ activities, fresh produce giveaways and free pizza. Here’s their info.

Who: Chicago-based HomeMade Pizza Company opens its doors for the first time in the New York area with promises of a new way to think about pizza. With dedication to fresh, all natural ingredients that customers can feel good about eating, HomeMade Pizza Company has redefined bake-at-home pizza and is expanding in New York with a new store on Purchase Street. What: HomeMade invites Rye and New York area residents to join in the three-day neighborhood welcoming celebration that includes meeting the founders (Chicago natives), dough tossing demos and free samples of pizza, salads and cookies.   Store openings at HomeMade Pizza means turn-away crowds with more than 1,000 New Yorkers expected to be served during the opening. When: 4-7 p.m., Nov. 16 and17; 2-9 p.m., Nov. 18
Where: 25 Purchase St. Rye, NY

Join The Mental Health Association of Westchester County, Inc. (MHA) this holiday season in helping Westchester children and families in need of holiday cheer. Each year, MHA helps the families it serves by identifying their personal wish lists, matching them to individuals and groups, and delivering the new clothing, toys, food, household items, and store gift cards.

There are many ways to help – sponsor an individual or family to help make their holiday wishes come true; make a financial contribution so that MHA can help more people in need; purchase food, clothing, household items or toys that MHA will match to a child or family; or donate a store gift card that enables an individual to shop for the holidays. MHA’s holiday gift drive is a great opportunity for groups – schools, churches, synagogues, a department at work.

Donations should be delivered to MHA, 2269 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford and are due by Decr 10. To help a family or individual this holiday, e-mail holidayoutreach@mhawestchester.org or call 914-345-5900, Ext. 292.

Keep up to date with animal adoptions and events by “Liking” the SPCA of Westchester’s Facebook Fan Page. Once you are a Fan, you can help them spread the word about the shelter. Click here then choose “Share with Friends.”

This just in: On Saturday, Nov. 13, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, an internationally accredited nonprofit guide dog school headquartered in Yorktown Heights, will proudly offer the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen test to all interested dog owners. The test simulates everyday experiences owners and dogs may encounter in a relaxed, noncompetitive atmosphere. All dogs passing the assessment receive a certificate from the AKC. The test can also be a stepping stone to therapy certification.

A Canine Good Citizen is a friendly, well-behaved dog that can go virtually anywhere without risk or bother to others. The program was developed by the American Kennel Club in 1989 as a way for owners to gauge their dogs’ relative behavior. Guiding Eyes staff members are certified evaluators and the public testing is administered at the Yorktown Heights facility. Two tests will be given on Nov. 13, at 1 and 2 p.m.. The cost is $20 per dog and proceeds benefit Guiding Eyes’ Training School Kennel Enrichment Program.

Program specifics and the required online pre-registration is available at www.guidingeyes.org/caninegoodcitizen. Any breed of dog is welcome to participate and there is no age limit for dogs taking the test as long as they are fully vaccinated. For more information, contact Danielle Whitmarsh at dwhitmarsh@guidingeyes.org.

Guiding Eyes for the Blind is located at 611 Granite Springs Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. Guiding Eyes does not charge the blind and visually impaired men and women for the life-changing services they provide. It costs approximately $45,000 to breed, raise, and train a guide dog. Funded solely by contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations and organizations, Guiding Eyes is able to cover all costs.

This just in from the United Way of Westchester and Putnam:

The weather is predicted to be crisp, clear and perfect this Saturday, Nov. 13. A perfect day to take a run and benefit a worthwhile cause by participating in “Run United – A 5K Run” at SUNY Purchase College.

Individuals, corporate and community teams and running clubs will run or walk to raise funds to support United Way’s new health initiatives, “Healthy Living” which fights childhood obesity, and “Green Thumbs Up!” an exciting new community gardening program that promotes healthy eating in families and individuals by planting, harvesting and then enjoying delicious and healthy fruits and vegetables.

Competitors will be timed by Westchester Road Runner. The course, designed by Ernie Palmieri, Athletic Director at Purchase College, also includes a toddler dash and children’s 1-mile run.

For information or to register, go to www.uwwp.org/run.htm. Or call event coordinator Shelia Abrams at 914-997-6700, Ext. 741.

This just in: Archbishop Stepinac High School’s award-winning Drama Club will present Arthurs Miller’s “A View from the Bridge” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5 and 6 and 3 p.m. Nov. 7 at the school’s Major Bowes Theater, 950 Mamaroneck Road, White Plains.
Tickets are $15 per adult, $10 for senior citizens and children under 12. For details, or group rates, call 914-946-4800, Ext. 243.

The show features students from Stepinac and other local schools, including Maria Regina High School of Hartsdale, Good Counsel Academy of White Plains, The Ursuline School of New Rochelle, White Plains High School, Harrison High School and Blind Brook High School.

“A View from the Bridge” is a two-act play by Arthur Miller set in 1950s New York, in an Italian American neighborhood near the Brooklyn Bridge. Eddie Carbone, the leading character with a character flaw that leads to a tragic ending.
Stepinac High School’s renowned Drama Club has performed a variety of dramatic plays and musicals including Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible;” “Jekyll and Hyde;” “Inherit the Wind” and “Singin’ in the Rain.” In addition, last year, Stepinac was one of 60 schools out of 1,600 invited to represent the United States at the American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Come in costume if you wish!

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)

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.

This just in: “For Those Who Have Served,” the first inter-hospice countywide program, will commemorate Veterans Recognition Month and honor Westchester County residents who have served in the United States Armed Forces, Thursday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Marriott hotel in Tarrytown. The program will feature a discussion about Medicare and VA benefits; a remembrance and recognition ceremony; and a musical tribute by the Somers High School Chamber Group.

The event is being co-sponsored by Westchester County’s hospice organizations: Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester; Hospice Care in Westchester & Putnam; Jansen Hospice and Palliative Care; and Phelps Hospice.
Attendance is free, but registration is required due to space limitations. For additional information, or to register, call William Dawe at 914-682-1484, Ext. 148.