Compiled by Janice Llanes Fabry

<<This Weekend>>

Every Bird Counts

The Great Backyard Bird Count is taking place February 16-19. Do the counting on your property if there’s a feeder or head to the Rye Nature Center Saturday at 9. For more information, visit http://gbbc.birdcount.org/.

Clean Sweep

Join the Read Wildlife Sanctuary Saturday at 10 to help clean up the grounds and the beach. Tasks include invasive vine cutting and trail work as well.

Jazz in the Afternoon

A quintet composed of faculty members of the Manhattanville College Music Department will present originals as well as jazz standards Sunday from 3-5 in the college’s Reid Hall.

The concert is free and open to the public.

<<Don’t Miss>>

A Magic Touch

The Rye YMCA’s annual Magic and Merriment benefit will be held on March 2 from 7-11 at Shenorock Shore Club. It promises to be an evening filled with laughter and amazement provided by stand-up magician Derek Hughes.

Proceeds benefit the Y Cares Financial Assistance Program to ensure working families have safe, affordable childcare, cancer survivors can regain their health through LIVESTRONG, teens have a safe place, and kids can attend summer camp. 

Tickets start at $250. For more information and donation opportunities, visit ryeymca.org or contact Margaret@ryeymca.org.

Wrapped in a Mystery

Wainwright invites all to a Murder Mystery Dinner on March 3 at 7. This fundraising event for the holistic center’s many programs will have a roaring 1920s theme, a dinner catered by Corner Stone, and an open bar.

Tickets are $150 per person. For more information, call 967-6080.

<<Family Ties>>

Cheap Skate

Rye Recreation invites all ages to a free open skate at Rye Country Day School on February 19 from 2:15-4:30. All participants must provide their own skates and children 16 years or younger must wear a helmet.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. No registration required.

Pass the Syrup

Discover how trees produce sap and get a peek at the sugaring process at the Rye Nature Center on February 24 at 1. Participants will tap a tree the old fashioned way and learn all about maple sugaring.

The cost is $10 per family for members, $15 non-members. Call 967-5150 to reserve a spot.

Wild Tea Party

Families with kids over 12 can enjoy the taste of teas brewed from wild plants at the Read Wildlife Sanctuary on February 24 at 1. Sip Sweetfern, Sassafras, Pine, Goldenrod, and more.

Register by calling 967-8720. The fee is $5 per person.

<<Arts & Entertainment>>

Good Vibrations

A Southern California concert will be held at Wainwright House on February 21 from 3-4:30. Local musician Gary Adamson will perform songs of the 1960s and 70s and share the stories behind them.

The event is free, courtesy of SPRYE.

With poster

A Princess, a Pirate, and a Captain Walk Into a Bar

The Rye library’s midday video operetta series presents “Naughty Marietta” by Victor Herbert on February 26 from 12-2. Set in colonial New Orleans, the story features a countess, an arranged marriage, and trouble at sea. The score includes many well-known songs, including “Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life”.

Tour de Force

Join The Rye Arts Center on a tour of the Katonah Museum of Art March 1 from 10-12. The current exhibit, “Long Winding Journeys: Contemporary Art and the Islamic Tradition,” focuses on a group of artists of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent. Their works explore religion, culture, and socio-political issues of the day.

View centuries-old forms, such as calligraphy, miniature painting, geometric patterning, textiles, and architecture. For more information and to register, visit ryeartscenter.org. The fee is $35.

With photo of John Fumasoli

Rhythm and Blues

John Fumasoli and the Jones Factor will bring jazz standards and high-energy funk to The Rye Arts Center on March 2 from 8-9. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door for members; $35 and $40 for the general public.

A Moment in Time

“Reflections of Color”, works by Elissa Carroll, will be on display at the Rye library from March 3-29. Carroll is inspired by the vibrancy of color, natural light, and movement. Her pieces depict a moment in time.

<<Talks, Workshops, & Just for Fun>>

Fewer Shakes of Salt

Join the Rye YMCA February 21 from 11:30-12:30 for a nutrition seminar on reducing sodium intake in your diet. For more information, email elana@ryeymca.org.

Beyond the Call of Duty

African-American members of the community will be honored for their professional and civic accomplishments at Westchester County’s Annual Black History Month and Trailblazer Awards ceremony at the Jay Heritage Center February 22 from 5:30-8:30.

The Trailblazer Awards is sponsored by the Office of County Executive, the County Board of Legislators and the County’s African American Advisory Board.

World’s Oldest Medical System

The Rye library is offering a talk on Ayurvedic medicine February 22 from 7:30-9. The program, presented by Holistic Moms of Westchester, will focus on the practical uses of this science of life to maintain and regain health.

Sip and Stretch

Wainwright House is offering a Vino and Vinyasa evening on February 22 from 7:45-9:30. Practice yoga with experienced teacher Laurie Jordan and then sample wine with Wainwright’s general manager and wine connoisseur.

The fee is $25 per person.

With book jackets

War and Peace

The Rye library’s Thursday Afternoon Book Group is reading “Hello Girls: America’s First Women Soldiers” by Susan Ericksen. The story of how these soldiers helped win World War I, fought in the U.S. Army, and earned the vote will be discussed March 1 from 1:15-2:30.

The Friday Book Café is reading the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Foreign Affairs” by Alison Lurie. The splendid comedy about romantic liaisons in London will be discussed on March 2 from 9:30-11.

Adding a Woman’s Perspective

In honor of Women’s History Month, Jay Heritage Center requests everyone’s help in adding more female narratives to Wikipedia. Head to the Jay House for a Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon March 3 at 10.

The online resource acknowledged in 2015 that between 84 and 91 percent of editors are male and, as a result, the imbalance “contributes to the systemic bias in Wikipedia.” One effective way to counter that disparity is to help add researched biographies of notable women. Learn the basics at this introductory tutorial and discover what people are doing to change the dialogue about women’s history.

For more information, call 698-9275.

En Garde

Head to the Rye library for a fencing demonstration March 3 from 10-11:30. Three-time Olympian Tim Morehouse of Port Chester’s Fencing Club will explain how the sport challenges the brain as well as the body.

Eco-Avengers

Put your ideas for saving the planet to work at Read Sanctuary March 3 at 1. A workshop with live animals presented by Anthony Cogswell will cover how man’s actions can help animals in their natural habitats.

Made in the Shade

The Little Garden Club of Rye presents a “Shade Revealed” program at the Rye library March 6 from 10:30-12. Master gardener and author Amy Ziffer will talk about shade-adapted plants and explain how to garden successfully in low light.

<<Teen Time>>

Team Tech

The Rye library is offering two technology-based workshops for grades 6-12. On March 6 from 6:30-7:45, learn the basics of animation application software and learn to make digital cartoons.

On March 8 from 6:30-7:50, create your own app by using a unique software program through coding and design.

Registration starts 2 weeks before the program dates at ryelibrary.org.

Ace the ACT

Take a full-length practice ACT exam under real test conditions at the Rye library on March 10 from 10:30-2:45. Detailed score reports high-lighting personal strengths and weaknesses will be available at www.applerouth.com the Friday after the test. The exam and reports are free.

Register at www.applerouth.com/signup. Call 371-8000 for more information. Test takers should bring water, a snack, pencils and a calculator.

<<Children’s Corner>>

Polymer Panda

Create a panda out of clay at The Rye Arts Center on March 3, from 2-3 for ages 5-8 and from 3-4 for ages 9-12. Kids will transform balls, coils and cones of polymer clay into a one-of-a-kind sculpture.

The fee is $20 with a discount for members. Register at ryeartscenter.org.

Animal Planet

Ages 3½ to 6 can meet lots of animals at the Rye Nature Center on March 9 from 9-1. They will go on a hike and learn a lot of fun facts, from how fish know what direction the school is swimming in to what a group of skunks is called.

The fee is $70 per child for members, $80 for non-members.

<<Save the Date>>

with pix of Chris Brown

Pop Songs and Irish Melodies

Enjoy the music of some of your favorite local musicians while brunching at Wainwright House on March 11 from 11:30-2:30. Listen to singer/songwriter and master storyteller Chris Brown while dining on Corner Stone Caterers delights and sipping wine and champagne.

Along with Brown’s repertoire of rock & roll, folk, and country music, he will add some Irish songs in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

The fee is $55 per person. Visit wainwright.org for reservations.

Painting the Town

Rye Recreation is hosting a Ladies’ Night Out on March 15 from 7-9:30. “Paint With Me” will have participants creating artwork while enjoying light refreshments. Kathy Pasquale will provide step-by-step painting instruction for all levels.

The fee is $30 per person. Space is limited. Sign up by calling 967-2535 or visit ryeny.gov/recreation.cfm.

Live to Tell the Tale

SPRYE is offering a talk on “Writing About History” at Wainwright House March 21 from 3-4:30. Paul Hicks, the ever-popular local historian and Rye Record contributor, will share stories about his favorite people.