Northern Westchester

The Chili’s restaurant chain in Somers is hosting a fundraiser this Thursday for veterans.

Here’s how it works: Dine at Chili’s in Baldwin Place on May 31st,  present your coupon and Chili’s will donate 10 percent to the Somers VFW Post 8213 Relief Fund.

The coupon is valid from  11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Chili’s, 80 Route 6.

Coupons were available at Monday’s Memorial Day parade in Somers and are also available  here.

Graduates toss their caps in the air after graduation at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

See more photos of graduation at West Point

Albertus Magnus shortstop Sara Chivelly tags Pleasantville baserunner Nicole Gagliardi and throws Alicia Marino out at first for a double-play to end the fifth inning during the softball Class B first round playoff game at Pleasantville High School on May 25, 2012. Albertus Magnus beat Pleasantville 6-1. ( Xavier Mascareñas / The Journal News )

See more photos from the Albertus Magnus against Pleasantville softball Class B first round playoff game at Pleasantville High School in a photo gallery, and go to LoHud.com for the game story.

Pearl River’s Rich Masley avoids the tag of Byram Hills’ Jack Hathaway at second base during a Class A first-round baseball playoff game at Pearl River. Byram Hills won 4-1.

See more photos of Byram Hills at Pearl River baseball

For an upcoming story on food trucks, we want to know your favorite spots. We’d like to know about those hot dog trucks, sure, but what we’re really looking for are the trucks that are doing something out-of-the-ordinary.

Let me know and we might feature your favorites in the paper!

Read on for how to link in to the town hall with Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, which starts at 7 p.m. May 30.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE ASTORINO TO HOST “ASK ASTORINO” TELE-TOWN HALL

Residents invited to call in with questions or just listen

Want to ask County Executive Rob Astorino how he is working to lower your taxes or any other question? You will get your chance on a live telephone town hall meeting hosted by Astorino next Wednesday night, May 30 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

To ask a question, or just listen in, residents are invited to call toll-free 877-228-2184 and enter event ID 19135. More →

The owners of the Birdsall House are opening an artisanal pizza restaurant called Gleason’s in Peekskill in August.

The restaurant will serve pizzas and flatbreads made with a sourdough pizza dough created with yeast propagated from New York state beer, most likely from Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

The menu will also have pasta of the day (or week, maybe) as well as small plates. There will be eight draft lines for craft beers, and, says John Sharpe, one of the owners, “we are certainly going to step up the wine program on this one.” (He mentioned cocktails, too!)

The partners—Sharpe, Tim Reinke, Bryan Delaney and Damian Collemo—named the restaurant after Jackie Gleason, who had a house in Peekskill. The building was for many years a place called Miller’s, and Sharpe says Joe Namath was a regular.

“We have to assume that if Joe Namath was hanging out there that Jackie stopped by a couple of times,” laughs Sharpe.

There is a 1940s bar in the restaurant—“old bars seem to find Tim and I,” says John—but there is little more worth saving. So unlike Birdsall House, which was renovated to its former glory, Gleason’s will have a more contemporary and classic look. They are still working out design details, but they are considering a tin ceiling in the bar area and a more modern feel for the dining room.

Sharpe, Reinke and Delaney also own the Blind Tiger Ale House in Manhattan.

You can keep up with the progress on the Gleason’s blog here: http://www.gleasons-peekskill.com/blog/

Here’s the announcement:

PLANNING PROJECTS TO BE SHOWCASED AT JUNE 7 AWARDS DINNER

Westchester Municipal Planning Federation celebrates best of local efforts; two county government projects among the award winners

The winners of successful planning projects that enhance Westchester’s quality of life will be honored at the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation’s (WMPF) 39th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 7, at 6 p.m. at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough.

Winning projects were in New Castle, Ossining Village, Pelham Manor, White Plains, Yonkers, Mamaroneck Village and Rye Brook, plus two county government projects. Three individuals will also be given special recognition. More →

The Chabad of Briarcliff-Ossining is hosting a Women’s Gala on May 31 to honor Jewish women.

The keynote speaker will be Devorah Halberstram whose talk will be about “A Journey of Faith: When Tears Formed a Rainbow” the story of her  grief when in 1994 her 16-year-old son was shot and killed by a terrorist. She waged a campaign against terrorism becoming a global activist and helped build the Jewish Children’s Museum in Brooklyn, which is aimed at teaching tolerance.

The event at The James House Mansion in Sleepy Hollow features cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dessert and raffles. Cost: $54. For more information, go the website or contact Rabbi Dovid Labkowski, Chabad of Briarcliff-Ossining, 11 Orchard Road, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. 10510; 914- 923-2522. Reservations requested by Thursday.

Thursday night Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers holds its annual President’s Dinner.  This year’s featured guest is Cardinal Timothy Dolan who will speak and receive the school’s Lux Christi award. The event is at Monteverde at Oldstone in Cortlandt Manor.

But with all the hoopla about meeting and hearing the new cardinal, school officials want to also  highlight others who will be recognized for achievements at the dinner:

Divine Compassion Award

Linda Troani of Somers

Teacher of the Year 

Gina DiSenso ’99 of Mahopac

The 2012 Students of Excellence

Richard Aprile (18, Carmel), Kimberly Bruenn (17, Goldens Bridge), Megan Callaghan (17, Holmes), William Crockatt (18, Purdys), Kevin Delfino (18, Carmel), Jena Lynne DiFrisco (18, Patterson), Anthony Djerdjaj (17, Mahopac), Keriann Eliseo (18, Katonah), Mackenzie Feehan (17, Brewster), Kristen Gold (18, Somers), Matthew Infantino (18, Patterson), Erin Joyce (18, Cortlandt Manor), Catherine Kastberg (18, Katonah), Katherine Lange (18, Bedford Hills), Andrew Ledley (16, Brewster), Gerard Ledley (18, Brewster), Jacqueline McAvoy (17, Brewster), Louis Sarro (17, Brewster), Daniella Torchia (18, Ossining) and Kathleen Tucker (17, Pawling).