Here’s some information from Grafflin Elementary School’s green initiative:

Learning doesn’t get much more hands-on than digging seeds out of cucumbers and holding red wiggler worms fresh from the compost bin. And that’s just how Grafflin Elementary School students learned about sustainability during the school’s annual Grafflin Goes Green Day last week.

Moving through a series of activities to earn an “I Went Green at Grafflin” sticker, the students learned how to pack waste-free lunches by using reusable containers rather than disposable packaging, and studied the earth’s air cycle, figuring out how they could help reduce natural and manmade pollutants. They used bottle caps to create artwork and learned about the school’s butterfly garden, which is currently being replanted.

Vermiculture was one of the most popular exhibits, drawing a large crowd. Susan Rubin, a local environmentalist and the self-proclaimed Worm Woman of Westchester, placed wiggly worms in the hands of eager students. While they watched her find the red wigglers in a worm composting bin Ms. Rubin explained how worms break down organic matter. “This is a perfect example of sustainability that the students can touch and feel,” Ms. Rubin said.

Students also harvested seeds from peppers and cucumbers, learning about the cycle of growing from plant to fruit and back to plants again; they were tested on environmental trivia topics such as carbon footprints and pollution-free living; and they saw some of the hydroponically-grown plants grown in the school’s greenhouse.

Grafflin Goes Green Day is the culmination of a year’s worth of initiatives out of Grafflin’s Environmental Committee, chaired by Cathy Hildenbrand and Lisa Haunss Sanz. This year these have included recycling drives, waste-free lunch weeks, take-home questionnaires, and the sale of reusable lunchbox items such as Kleen Kanteens and Lunchskins. “We try to remain a presence throughout the year,” Ms. Hildenbrand said.

Ms. Hildenbrand said organizers of Grafflin Goes Green hope students will take away new ideas and knowledge – as well as more environmental awareness – from the day’s events. “We hope they will try to make more responsible choices on their own, such as turning off lights or the computer, and that they will share what they have learned with their families so that they can initiate making change together,” Ms. Hildenbrand said. “We hope to create a school spirited, environmentally-driven experience for all the kids at Grafflin. We look forward to putting it on every year and we think the kids really do get something out of it.”

Just received an email  from Briarcliff School Superintendent Neal Miller thanking the community for approving the budget and bond proposition.

Here is his message send to all Briarcliff residents:

Thank you to the Briarcliff Community for your support of our district budget and facilities improvement proposition. Both passed last night by significant margins, which shows the strong support our community has for its schools and the children of Briarcliff Manor. With an 81% voter approval on the budget, one of the highest in the area, I am pleased that you recognized the many elements of the budget that were preserved in a very difficult economic climate. The budget you passed will provide:

• a Tax Levy below the tax cap

• the continuation of all teacher positions

• the continuation of all district programs

• an enhanced Technology budget

• an enhanced Professional Development budget

• a Security Consultant & safety improvement

• the full funding of Reading Street & Singapore Math at Todd

• a class size reduction at each building

71% of voters approved the facilities improvement bond that will provide:

• a stadium field and baseball field with synthetic turf

• Todd educational murals

• facility upgrades at Todd

• an Exploring Music Lab at the middle school

• a new state-of-the art high school science lab

• the expansion of the high school fitness center

• computer lab upgrades at each school

In addition, I congratulate Dina Brantman and Michael Haberman on their election to the Briarcliff Manor Board of Education. Their terms will begin July 1, 2012.

 

Emerson wrote, “The secret of education lies in respecting the pupil.” I applaud the great respect you have shown our students, and I write this message with gratitude and enthusiasm for all that your positive votes will provide our students in the coming year and beyond.

 

Neal S. Miller

Superintendent of Schools

 

 

 

Katonah-Lewisboro voters passed the budget for 2012-13 by a wide margin Tuesday, 1,393 to 849, and also voted to authorize a $5.9 million expenditure for capital projects. In a competitive school board race, Marjorie Schiff and Stephanie Tobin won seats on the board.

Here are board President Mark Lipton’s comments after the results came in:

For 364 days a year, the community speaks though the Board of Education as their representatives. On election night, the community gets to speak for itself. As one of your representatives, I am always grateful when we get to hear your voice, which we use to direct us in the management of your schools.

 

Tonight you voted to pass the 2012-2013 budget as adopted by the Board of Education. By doing so, you tell us that this budget identifies your goals for your schools and gives the Board of Education the means to achieve those goals. We are grateful that so many of you voted to adopt this budget, and we will work hard together with the administration to ensure that the children of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District receive the education that you are paying for.

 

Tonight the community also voted to support a capital project to maintain and improve our school buildings. We thank you for your confidence in making this large expenditure. By making these much-needed improvements, we hope to extend the useful life of our buildings as well as reduce overall expenses by making our buildings more efficient.

 

I would like to extend my thanks to Mindy Yanish and Rich Delin for running for a seat as a Board of Education Trustee. While your efforts did not yield you the desired results this time, I encourage you to stay active and involved. Your voice during this election cycle does help us understand our community better.

 

To Stephanie Tobin and Marjorie Schiff…...Your Thursday nights are no longer your own! I hope that in your term you find public service as fulfilling as I do. I look forward to serving with you both.

 

Thank you all, and thank you again to the community for making your voice heard.

 

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 any active duty members and their families, will receive a free parking pass and free ride bands or entrance bands.

All other veterans will receive a free parking pass or entrance bands and discount ride coupons.

The county-sponsored event runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Westchester Police Emerald Society Pipe and Drum Corps will perform at the main gate at noon.

At 1:30 p.m., County Executive Robert P. Astorino will deliver a tribute in memory of those who have lost their lives in defense of the United States. The U.S. Marine Corps will provide helicopter and Osprey Flight demonstrations at 2 p.m., weather permitting.

The  barbecue is co-sponsored by Fordham University and The Generoso Pope Foundation.

The county urges Westchester veterans to pre-register for this event. A valid military and or veteran organization/ VA Health ID card is required.

For more information, contact the Westchester County Veterans Service Agency at 995-2145 or 995-2146, or www.westchestergov.com/veterans

Pre-register at one of the following locations:

May 14 – 25

9 am to 5 pm, Westchester County Veterans

9 am to 4 pm, Yonkers Veterans Service Agency

May 15:

9 am to 11 am, Maple Moor Golf Course.

1 pm to 3 pm, Saxon Woods Golf Course.

May 16:

10 am to noon, Dunwoodie Golf Course

12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, Sprain Lake Golf Course

10 am to 3 pm, Peekskill City Hall

May 21:

9 am to 3 pm, Glen Island Park

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.