Edward T. Dempsey is Rye through and through. His grandparents landed here after emigrating from Ireland, living at Park Lane off Milton Road. His father was a carpenter working on a project on Long Island when he met his future wife, who was from Port Jefferson. His mother and father were living with an aunt and uncle in Mineola when Ed was born on July 3, 1922, and immediately returned to Rye after the job ended. Ed’s father then built a home on Manursing Avenue near Midland for his growing family, of which Ed is the eldest of five.

Barnet Schecter spoke to a full house at the Rye Historical Society’s annual history luncheon, held earlier this month at American Yacht Club. The topic of his slide presentation was the New York City draft riots of July 1863. Mr. Schecter is the author of “The Battle for New York” and “George Washington’s America: A Biography Through His Maps”.

Mother Nature has given us a taste of spring and we should celebrate it.  How, you ask? By wearing color, of course! The fashion world has embraced fluorescent colors this season and, although it might be hard to pull off a total look, just a touch of neon yellow is an easy way to make a look au courant.

Today, the women of Rye happily conduct their business on Purchase Street and attend parties wearing anything they please, from gym gear to runway fashion. They are even allowed to laugh aloud.