Here’s an event with some serious potential: “A Taste of Port Chester.”

This is a village famous for its many tastes drawing from Italy, India and just about every corner of Central and South America. It sounds like a lot to do in one day, but the Tamarack Tower Foundation, which provides grants for school programs and special projects, has organized this event for Sunday, June 5. Participants pay $25, or $30 the day of the event, to tour the village’s restaurants at their own pace. Here’s the flier for details:

The Scarsdale/Edgemont Family Counseling Service’s annual Gourmet Galaxy benefit is set for 6:30 p.m. May 4 at the Westchester Country Club in Rye.

Honored this year are the late Rita Aranow and the Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation, who will receive the Open Door Award for community services. Their “integral and generous support has enabled the birth of the “At Home In Scarsdale Village” program,” according to the organization’s press release.

The gala features food from the area’s caterers and local restaurants and a silent auction. Tickets are available to the general public. Invitations for the event will be sent out shortly, and can be seen on the organization’s website: www.sfcsinc.org/Upcomingevents.

‘At Home In Scarsdale Village’ was launched in November 2010 and was created to allow village residents over the age of 60 to live in their homes and remain connected to their community.

SFCS, founded in 1920, is a nationally accredited nonprofit family service agency offering programs encompassing youth services, older adult services, family and individual therapy and family life education.

For further information about Gourmet Galaxy Tickets, SFCS programs or volunteer opportunities, please call 723-3281, or visit www.sfcsinc.org. Tickets also are available at the agency’s office, 405 Harwood Building, Scarsdale.

Steven Hernandez of Rye and his daughter Tara Shanes-Hernandez lead hundreds of walkers as they set out on the second annual Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk at Rye Town Park this morning. The two organized the walk in memory of Steven’s wife and Tara’s mother Gigi Shanes-Hernandez, who died of pancreatic cancer two years ago. About seven-hundred people took part in this year’s 5k walk, which started and finished at Rye Town Park. This year’s event raised over $250,000 for pancreatic cancer research. Photo by Seth Harrison

Look for coverage in tomorrow’s edition of The Journal News. Also view a gallery of photos from the event at Lohud.com.

Tandoori restaurant in Port Chester will be a fund-raising venue Thursday for a fund-raiser for survivors of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. The Port Chester / Rye Brook Rotary Club is organizing the event along with the group One World United and Virtuous. The Indian restaurant is donating all of the food, and the suggested donation for dinner is $50.

New Rochelle Youth Lacrosse, a nonprofit sports program for kids in grades 1-6, will hold a scholarship fundraiser Saturday in memory of Eric Tutera, “the epitome of a team player,” who died in 2008. The information is at www.nrlax.com.

Tutera, at 28, died in an accident in Hong Kong harbor, where he had traveled on a business trip. He was a former captain of the New Rochelle High School lacrosse team, said his coach, Pat Swift.

According to a fundraising letter, “some of Eric’s greatest assets were his deep-rooted friendships, leadership and his drive to achieve success.”

Celebrity wedding planner David Tutera will return to his home parish March 26 for a fundraiser at Corpus Christi-Holy Rosary Church and School in Port Chester.

Tutera is lending his expert advice as a member of the event committee organizing the celebration.

The Father Peter M. Rinaldi Awards Dinner is a first-annual event that will benefit the Salesian elementary school and its mission for children in the community.

The honorees are Sister Frances Gumino and the Fox and Diaz families; Eugene and Mary Fox, their daughter Margaret Fox Diaz and granddaughter Christina Diaz.

(File photo: Stephen Schmitt / The Journal News)

Obituary: Sydney Stanton, former reporter and editor for the Port Chester Daily Item

Sydney Stanton, a former reporter and editor for the Port Chester Daily Item, a predecessor of The Journal News, died Feb. 10 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Rahway, N.J.

She was 89.

Born in Gloversville, Stanton earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and began working as a reporter for The Daily Item on Oct. 17, 1966.

Stanton became the Sound Shore newspaper’s features editor, writing and overseeing coverage of local arts, entertainment and culture at the Daily Item, one of 10 Lower Hudson Valley newspapers purchased by Gannett Co.

In a 2001 interview with The Journal News, Stanton recalled working out of the Item’s historic former home on Westchester Avenue.

“As far as we were concerned, it was the greatest place there was,” Stanton told the newspaper. “There were crazy things that were happening all the time.”

Stanton, a resident of Rye Brook, continued to work as a features editor until her retirement in 1989, just four months shy of her 23rd year with the paper.

“She was truly dedicated to community journalism, and she was a great ambassador for the newspaper in the community,” recalled Journal News morning local editor Mike Meaney, who worked with Stanton at the Daily Item. “Among her co-workers, she was known for the great parties she threw at her home. She was such a warm person. She made us all feel as if we were family.”

Her son Thomas spoke fondly of his mother’s ties with the community and the friendships with her co-workers.

“She was very warm and a had a great sense of humor,” he said.

Stanton also instilled an appreciation for journalism and education in her children.

“We are all good writers in some manner,” said her son, a public relations executive for McGraw-Hill.

Stanton remained in Rye Brook after retiring, and was an occasional contributor to the newspaper where she once worked. She moved to Rahway in recent years.

Stanton is survived by her daughters, Lynn Bains of Scotland, Susan Kane of Washington and Hilary Zunin of California, and a son, Thomas Stanton of Roselle Park.

She is also survived five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, her family said.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Rye Brook Police Department D.A.R.E. Program at Friends of Rye Brook/D.A.R.E. Program, Village of Rye Brook, 938 King St., Rye Brook 10573.

Funeral services were handled by Sullivan Funeral Home in Roselle, N.J.

A million-dollar renovation is under way at the Port Chester Rye Brook library now through September. The place will remain open for the most part, but will close down Feb. 28 and reopen March 7. At other times, ear plugs might come in handy.

An elevator, expanded children’s room and two ground-floor meeting rooms are among the new features. The project is being funded by a bequest from Elise Lefferts and Douglas Lefferts, who owned Jack Fabrics and antiques shop in Port Chester. Elise Lefferts was a longtime patron who used the library’s services for the homebound.

Programs at the library have been cut back, but there are still ESL classes on Monday nights and tax assistance through April. For more info, and updates on the work, check the library website.

Rye Brook-based Cerebral Palsy of Westchester is holding a gold-exchange fundraiser in early February at three locations in the area.

The organization accepts a portion of the cash you receive through its 2011 Gold Exchange Fundraising Event. Gold, platinum, silver and diamonds are accepted, including broken items and silverware. The proceeds go toward programs for adults and children with developmental disabilities.

For more info see Cerebral Palsy of Westchester’s site.

Here are the dates and locations:

• Thursday, Feb. 3, 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.: David G. Osterer Cerebral Palsy Center; 1186 King Street, Rye Brook.


• Friday, Feb. 4, 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Adult Day Habilitation of New Rochelle; 10 Commerce Drive, New Rochelle.


• Friday, Feb. 4, 12:30 p.m-4:00 p.m.: The United Preschool; 456 North Street, White Plains.