On the Record With Oppenheimer and Feld

Click Candidate photo to see interview

This fall’s State Senate race promises to be a competitive one. The Rye Record sat down recently with State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (D) and her opponent Larchmont Mayor Liz Feld (R) for a discussion of the issues.

When You’re Let Go: Advice to Wall Streeters
Several months ago, my boss at the investment bank where I worked for over a decade called me into a conference room. There were just the two of us. He said: “A firm-wide restructuring is going on. Today’s your last day.”  The shock convulsed me – physically, emotionally and spiritually – and the ensuing months were a roller coaster. But the result, remarkably, was a greater, not lesser, sense of self-confidence. My clients and former colleagues stood up for me and inspired me; and I gained an appreciation of the necessity not to bemoan life’s challenges but to overcome them.  The following highlights the best advice I can give to anyone on Wall Street who finds oneself “in transition.”

Flood Projects Flowing Faster
Rye may become a sluice-gated community after all. At its August 13 meeting, the City Council authorized funding for design of a sluice gate at Bowman Avenue. Hoping to implement the project in 2009, they needed to approve funding for the design process quickly. The motion is subject to review by the Corporation Counsel.

Friends of Rye Town Park Seeks Your Stories And Photos
If you reach your centennial, you have quite a story to tell. Rye Town Park officially turns 100 next year and The Friends of Rye Town Park is looking for stories and old photos for a commemorative booklet they are putting together for the annual dinner in January. If you have fond memories of the park to share, contact Vicki Farrington at 967-0160 or vfarrington@optonline.net. Please send entries by September 15.

Mosquito with West Nile Virus Found in Rye
Despite the County’s best efforts to prevent it, 2008’s first sign of the West Nile Virus has cropped up in Rye. A mosquito trapped in the city July 22 tested positive for the virus at the New York State Health Department’s testing lab.

Rye’s 2007 Revenues Exceed Expectations
At a time when New York State, its towns and cities are experiencing budget problems, the City of Rye reported a substantial surplus in 2007. The just-released 167-page Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for 2007 states that revenues were substantially in excess of expenditures — in contrast to a budgeted deficit. The report characterizes the City’s financial condition as  “healthy” and “robust”, with an increase in net assets and a decrease in bonded debt and long-term liabilities.

Wainwright Plans Spark Spirited Comment

Wainwright House is planning two building projects which have met with opposition from several of its neighbors and a number of longtime supporters of the non-profit spiritual and healing organization. They propose building a new 140-foot seawall along Milton Point. Additionally, the center announced, at meetings with the Planning Commission and Board of Architectural Review (BAR) that they planned to blacktop their long gravel driveway.

EDITORIAL
It May be Time to Take Back the Keys
Elsewhere in this paper comes the news that Rye’s Safe Routes Committee is helping to sponsor ”Walk to School” days and Golden Sneaker awards to encourage our children, especially elementary school children, to get to school on foot. Great work by the Committee, but judging by the full-to-overflowing parking lots at the high school in the recent past, a lot more can be done.

Follow-Up on the News
How’s the Blower Ban Doing?
Through August 10, the City of Rye reports that a total of 30 summons have been issued to offenders of the new leaf-blower law. Rye Police Lt. Joseph Verille told the paper that the police do look for leaf-blower law violations as they go on their regular patrols, in addition to responding to complaints. Lt. Verille senses fewer summons have been issued recently because “people are getting it.” 

Business Students Study
Beer Drinking 101
While most college students are pretty well versed on the subject of beer, thirty-five honors students from Boston University’s School of Management recently learned a great deal more about beer drinking when the school treated us to an all-expense paid trip to Ireland. While the goal of this “field seminar” was to gain an international perspective on business as it’s practiced today, the most important lesson I learned was taught by a man who has been dead for over 200 years.

CAPITAL PROJECTS
City Comptroller Michael Genito presented the Capital Improvements Plan for 2009-2013 at the August 6 Council meeting. The plan identifies $26 million in project and funding requirements that make up the City’s “wish list” over the next five years. Details are available on the City of Rye website.

Help Rye Nature Center Write Its History
Rye Nature Center volunteers and staff are working on a commemorative book to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. The photo-rich volume will be a retrospective and tour of the Nature Center and its history.

Support to Save Bird Homestead Grows
Last August, this paper reported on the efforts of Save the Bird Homestead Committee to preserve the nearly one-acre Bird family property. The site, nestled behind trees on Milton Road, is directly adjacent to the Friend’s Meeting House and just down the street from the old Rye Schoolhouse.