Northern Westchester

Chabad Lubavitch of Briarcliff- Ossining is hosting a holiday party May 27 to celebrate Shavuot, the day when the Torah was given to the Jewish people.

It will be at 11:30 a.m.  at the Chabad center, 11 Orchard Road, Briarcliff.

The program will commence with the special Torah Reading of the Ten Commandments – “to reenact the Sinai experience,” Rabbi Dovid Labkowski, director of Chabad of Briarcliff-Ossining explained in a press release from Chabad.  “Our festivals do not merely mark events of the past. We are enjoined to relive the historic occasions and making them relevant and meaningful today.”

The feasting and partying will be highlighted by the children taking center stage to hear to Ten Commandments being read.  The children will have the opportunity to create and participate in holiday activities.

The party will feature ice cream and cheesecake.  The custom of eating dairy foods on Shavuot began back when the Torah was presented 3,324 years ago and participants ate dairy food.

It is  is free and open to the public.  Reservations are appreciated but not required. Please call Chabad, 914-923-2522 or info@ChabadBriarcliff.com to reserve.

Actor Peter Falk, a native son of Ossining who made roughly 50 films, will be remembered this week at a special screening of his movie “The In-Laws” at the Ossining Public Library.

He grew up on nearby Prospect Avenue. He died at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif., on June 23, 2011 at the age of 83. Falk was known for a range of movies from comedies to dramas and he appeared in stage productions as well. He was particularly known for his police detective character, Columbo where he wore a tattered khaki raincoat.

The film evening is at 5 p.m. Thursday and will feature an introduction to the film by  John Farr, who analyzes movies and stars at bestmoviesbyfarr.com.  Farr  has appeared on PBS, CNN and NBC, is  A wine  and cheese reception follows the film and there will be a display of Falk memorabilia, including the infamous Columbo raincoat and some of Falk’s excellent art work.

The event is co-hosted by the Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough, and Ossining Historical Societies. Members of either group will be admitted for $12; friends for $15.

Library rules require all payments to be made in advance. Please send checks to “BMSHS”, Box 11, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. 10510 or call 941-4393.

The event will be held in Budarz Theater in the lower level of the Ossining library at 5:00 p.m.

Westchester County will thank veterans and service members by inviting them to be the county’s guests at Playland Amusement Park in Rye on May 27.

That will be the county’s fifth annual Veterans Appreciation Day and Memorial Day Tribute at the amusement park.

Veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), as well as More →

Members of the Mt. Kisco community will be marking the 100th birthday of the building that is now Mt. Kisco Elementary School at the Cornerstone Celebration this Saturday.

The event is from 10 a.m. to noon. Festivities will include the local Fife and Drum Corps, a flag raising, cheerleaders, and tours of the school, which will include the “museum” of photos, maps, and artifacts now are on display in the school library as well as the garden, on the site of the old high school tennis court.

It is from 10 a.m. to noon.

From the announcement to the public:

Artifacts have been lent by community members, including members of the Mt. Kisco Historical Society. Students have also been interviewing alums, including senior citizens who attended high school – and some who attended all 12 grades – at what used to be the Mt. Kisco Public School/Mt. Kisco High School. Yearbooks and photos will be displayed and videotapes of interviews will be played.

 

All are welcome and a few surprises are in store.

It must really be springtime, because the library book sale events and activity days are underway across the region.

The Ruth Keeler Memorial Library is hosting its annual Book, Bake and Plant Sale, and its Library Fair tomorrow through Sunday.

Here are the details

Preview Party – Friday, May 11th

6:30-8:30  p.m. $50/ person. Wine and hors d’oeuvres prepared by famous North Salem cooks first crack at the 1000’s of books for sale. Reservations were due by May 1, but space could be available. Call the library.

Library Fair – Saturday, May 12th

8 – 10 a.m. Bike ride around the Titicus and pancake breakfast when you return.

9- 10 a.m. Early Bird Special- shop in peace before the crowds come – $25.

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Library Fair – Books, home-made baked goods, plants and herbs from local gardens, lunch from the grill, fire trucks, old-fashioned lawn games for children, local bands, crafts, poultry, egg contests and decorating, fresh flowers in Keeler Homestead milk bottles courtesy of the Historical Society, bring your largest egg for judging.

Half-price sale – Sunday, May 13th

11:00 – 3:00 Sale merchandise.

The library is at 276 Titicus Road North Salem. Telephone: 914- 669 – 5161.

David Arturi, a senior at Somers High School, is hosting a car show this weekend to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

“Engines of Excellence” will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the school, 120 Primrose Street in Lincolndale (10504).

This project started from an independent study program through WISE.  The car show started off being for the class and to benefit a charity, “but the more time I put into it, the more important it became to me,” he said in an email exchange  today with The Journal News/LoHud.com

Arturi  said the show is in honor his uncle who passed away from Leukemia. All of the proceeds will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

“I’ve spent a great amount of time recruiting cars, organizing the event, dealing with legal work, and advertising,” he said.

The show is mainly focused on classic cars, but there will be high-end foreign imports such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Mercedes along with some as “funny cars and dragsters.” The cars, he added, will come from local car clubs and residents of Somers.

There will be no cost to attend, but donations are suggested. Food and beverages will be available. For those who want to donate to Arturi’s cause before or after the car show, go to this website.

Rain date  is June 2.

Who’s running in your school district in the Tuesday, May 15, election? Find out on LoHud.com’s School Board Elections, 2012 voter guide. It’s got candidate info, news coverage and more.

Go to the school elections guide at http://LoHud.com/schoolelections.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli discusses various issues with the Editorial Board at 1 p.m. Thursday on Editorial Spotlight.

The state comptroller audits municipalities, school district and other entities. The comptroller also administers the New York State and Local Retirement System for public employees and maintains the state’s accounting system, along with other duties.

DiNapoli has been critical of quasi-governmental agencies, including local development corporations and industrial development agencies. In a 2011 audit of the Town of Ramapo, the comptroller’s office was highly critical of the financial relationship between the town and the Ramapo Local Development Corp., which built the Provident Bank Park, home field of the Rockland Boulders baseball team.

To submit a question or comment for DiNapoli before the live session, email adelgado@lohud.com or tweet @lohudopinion.

To watch, go to www.lohud.com/editorialspotlight.

To submit a question or comment during the LIVE session, engage the “CoverItLive” blogging feature.

It looks like the June 26 Congressional primary, the second of three primaries this year, will feature contests for the Republican challenger to U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand; the Republican challenger to U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey in the newly-drawn and newly-numbered District 17, which takes in all of Rockland and large parts of Westchester; and the Democratic challenger to U.S. Rep. Nan Hayworth in District 18, which takes in all of Putnam and part of Westchester (and Orange and part of Dutchess).

In the Republican primary in the 17th, Francis Morganthaler was thrown off the ballot and is challenging the decision in court. Joe Carvin, one of the Republican candidates, didn’t succeed in securing the Conservative line. Lowey failed to get the Independence line.

So far there are no primaries in the new District 16, held by Eliot Engel. Aniello Grimaldi, who wanted to challenge Engel on the Democratic line, was thrown off the ballot. Engel’s Republican challenger is Joseph McLaughlin. The final names could change as court challenges play out but should be final by the middle of next week. Here is the list of candidates. A * indicates a primary contest:

United States Senator:

Republican*

Wendy Long of Manhattan

Bob Turner of Breezy Point

George Maragos of Great Neck

Democratic

Kirsten Gillibrand More →

Lisa Mitchell  and Valerie Goodwin  are organizing a second annual Somers Walk for Stroke. It’s set for  May 20th, a week after Mother’s Day.

The goal is to raise money and awareness  for Strokes and Goodwin and Mitchell, sisters and registered nurses, emphasize  that May is National Stroke Awareness Month.

“Our mother is a 52-year-old stroke survivor. In August of 2009, she woke up to her alarm clock but was unable to turn it off. She had no use of her left arm. When she went to get out of bed, she felt dizzy and was off balance. She tried waking up our dad to tell him how she was feeling, but he couldn’t understand her slurred speech. We took her to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a Stroke. After speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy, our mom has 95 percent recovered. Our mom was a healthy, young, physically fit and active woman with no known health issues. That is why we want to raise awareness in our community and the surrounding communities,” the women wrote in an email to The Journal News.

The event is a 3-mile walk. All proceeds will go to the National Stroke Association.

Last year, the Mitchell sisters drew more than  200 walkers and raised close to $9000, surpassing their goal, they said.  This year they hope to raise $10,000.

The Somers Walk for Stroke will take place at Somers High School on Primrose Street. Registration starts at 9 a.m.; event will start at 10 a.m. The Somers Lions Club is sponsoring this event.

The walk will end at Reis Park  with a brunch/lunch under the pavilion. The Somers Lions Club is sponsoring the event.

To  participate in this walk, there is a minimum donation of $25 which can be paid to the website (below) or by check/cash on the day of the event, or sent to PO Box 46 Baldwin Place, N.Y. 10505. Make checks payable to National Stroke Association.

For more information or to register, go to  the event website or on the Facebook page.

UPDATE: We’ve corrected the Facebook link.