Compiled by Janice Llanes Fabry
<<This Weekend>>
Training Day
The Jay Heritage Center is holding an open house for grades 7-12 at the Jay House Saturday at 10. Earn community service hours and learn about training as a tour guide, transcribing historical documents, doing research and invasive species management, and assisting with archaeology digs.
For more information, visit jayheritagecenter.org.
Maker Day
The Rye Arts Center’s most popular event of the year is back Saturday from 1-4. Maker Day offers one and all free workshops and hands-on opportunities. Explore the cutting-edge tools of creativity as the arts are integrated into STEM learning.
Feathered and Fierce
Learn what special traits, adaptations, and survival strategies birds employ to survive the many challenges of nature Saturday at 1 at Read Wildlife Sanctuary.
Origami for Gamers
Sixth graders on up can create their favorite characters in an origami workshop at the Rye library Saturday from 3-4:40. Work on Minecraft and Super Mario figures, as well as Roblox avatars, slimes, and creepers.
Register at ryelibrary.org.
Middle Ground
On Saturday night from 7-10, middle school students are invited to the Rye YMCA, where teen staff will supervise fun games and exercises.
Free for family/youth members, $5 non-members.
Champagne Brunch
Enjoy a variety of music while overlooking Rye Harbor at Wainwright House’s brunch on Sunday from 11:30-2:30. Listen to jazz drummer Joe Corsello and dine on delicious fare from Corner Stone Caterers.
Make a reservation at wainwright.org. The fee is $55 per person.
Landmark Visit
The 1838 Jay Mansion offers docent-led tours starting this Sunday from 2-5, and most Sundays through November. The Jay Estate is where Founding Father John Jay (1745-1829) grew up. See the ongoing restoration efforts of this Greek Revival masterpiece, the only one of its kind open to the public in the lower Hudson Valley.
Enjoy the sylvan and historic 23-acre oasis that boasts a magnificent view of the Long Island Sound. For more information, visit jayheritagecenter.org.
The Road Not Taken
Join the Rye library for a lively and informative discussion of selected poems of Robert Frost on Sunday from 4:30-6. Dr. Mark Schenker, a senior dean at Yale College, will discuss the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet’s realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech.
RSVP to Allen Clark at amcrye@gmail.com. Refreshments will be served.
<<Arts & Entertainment>>
Wildlife Moments
The Rye Arts Center celebrates wildlife with an exhibit of “Birds and Beasts: Near and Far”. The paintings of artists Alison Nicholls, who works in Africa, and Sean Murtha, who has an affinity for birds, are influenced by the natural world and give special attention to wildlife environments.
The artists will discuss their inspirations at a presentation on April 17 from 11-12. The exhibit runs through April 21.
Canvas Calling
Head to The Rye Arts Center for a free painting demo April 16 from 9:15-10:30. The fast-paced and informative adult workshop covers all the fundamentals and all the mediums. Learn about acrylic gels, pigments, color-mixing tips, proper grounds, and varnishing.
Register at ryeartscenter.org.
Bel Canto
The Rye library is showing one of the most popular operas ever recorded at Italy’s famed La Scala on April 16 from 12-3. Gaetano Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” is a masterpiece of comic opera.
With pix
A Perennial Favorite
Few flowers trumpet the arrival of spring like daffodils. Their green shoots pushing up through the newly thawed earth, their buds swelling in anticipation, and finally, their bright yellow petals unfurling and announcing, “Spring has sprung!”
Few events announce the arrival of spring like the Little Garden Club of Rye’s Annual Daffodil Show. The show will take place in the Jay Heritage Center Carriage House. Hundreds of daffodils will be showcased, each a specimen in one of the 13 daffodil divisions recognized by the Royal Horticulture Society. The flowers will be judged by American Daffodil Society judges, and ribbons will be awarded for the best blooms. The show is officially sanctioned by the American Daffodil Society.
All, including children, are encouraged to enter cut daffodils grown in their gardens. Youth entries will be accepted on Wednesday, April 18 from 3-5 p.m. and all other entries on Thursday, April 19 from 8-10:15 a.m. Entrants will need to be able to identify the cultivar of their flower, but there will be materials and experts on hand to help.
The show is open to all April 19 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Come and experience first-hand the wonderful variety of this spring flower.
For more information, visit The Little Garden Club of Rye website, (lgcofrye.org) or contact Daffodil Show chair Kathleen O’Hare at kmohare@aol.com.
With photos
#3315, #3311, 3317, 3319
#3311 Autumn landscape by Lane Middleton
#3315 Studio art by Debbie Mawhinney
#3317 Still life by Angie Mancini
#3319 Portrait of an eagle by Betty Chateauvert
Artists in our Midst
Works by resident artists at The Osborn are on view at the Rye library. A reception celebrating the talent behind the paintings created in the senior living community’s art program will be held April 20 at 1.
Mic Night
The Rye Arts Center presents fRYEday Night Live April 20 from 7-8. The high school talent show includes a wide range of performances from music to theater and poetry. Refreshments will be served.
Tickets are $5 at the door, or you can register beforehand at ryeartscenter.org.
Wild at Heart
Join SPRYE at the Rye library for a screening of the documentary “Jane,” an intimate portrait of Jane Goodall, on April 21 from 3-4:30. Award-winning director Brett Morgen tells the story of the woman whose chimpanzee research challenged the male-dominated scientific consensus of her time and revolutionized our understanding of the natural world.
The film draws from over 100 hours of never-before-seen footage that was tucked away in the National Geographic archives for 50 years. Refreshments will be served.
<<Talks, Workshops, & Just for Fun>>
Lesson Plans
Dr. Tony Di Giacomo, CEO and founder of Novella Prep, will lead a discussion of how decisions made by students in grades 6-12 impact college planning. The program will be held at the Rye library April 17 from 6:30-8.
A lifelong educator, Di Giacomo will discuss standardized testing, study skills, finishing the year strong, and making the most of summer months.
Hearty Meals
The Rye YMCA is offering a nutrition seminar focused on a heart-healthy diet on April 18 from 11:30-12:30. For more information, email elana@ryeymca.org.
Passage to India
Pam McGuire will share a fascinating, in-depth travelogue about her recent trip to India at a SPRYE-sponsored talk at Wainwright House on April 18 from 3-4:30.
Living on the Edge
Learn all about the new features in the Windows 10 program at the Rye library April 19 from 10-12. Mike Negrelli will cover the Edge operating system and focus on setting up home pages, search functions, page editing, and clearing Internet surfing history.
First-come, first-serve. Attendees with laptops with Windows 10 should bring them to the seminar.
Meet the Candidates
The Osborn is holding a forum with State Senate candidates Julie Killian (R) and Shelley Mayer (D) April 19 at 3. Both are vying for the seat vacated by George Latimer, now County Executive, in the April 24 special election. The discussion will be moderated by the League of Women Voters.
Energy Healing
Join Reiki practitioner Andrea Deierlein for a talk about the natural healing practice at the Rye library April 21 from 10:30-12. Reiki promotes relaxation and wellness, and it can help restore balance to body, mind, and spirit.
Pollinator Pizzazz
Learn the basics of planting a garden April 21 at 1 at Read Wildlife Sanctuary. Rye Garden Club member Karen Thomas’s presentation will cover the importance of butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to plant reproduction.
Pull Up a Chair
Starting April 23, join SPRYE for gentle chair yoga led by member Joan Gibbons on Mondays and Fridays from 11:30-12:30 at the Rye Brook/Port Chester library. Free and open to the public.
With bookcovers
Book Groups
The Rye library’s Current Events Book Group is reading “Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World” by Jeff Goodell. The eye-opening account of the world’s coasts will be discussed April 24 from 6:30-8.
The Thursday Afternoon Group will be reading “Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane” by Lisa See. The thrilling novel about the lives of a Chinese mother and her daughter, who was adopted by an American couple, will meet on May 3 from 1:15-2:30.
Let’s Talk About It
A free “Heard in Rye” talk at the Rye library on April 26 at 7 will focus on how anxiety affects our youth and the best strategies to support them. Following the screening of a documentary, “Angst”, a panel discussion with mental health professionals in our community will be held.
What’s Next?
Discover the possibilities available after age 50 when employment expert Marie Riffel addresses the concerns of mature workers at the Rye library on April 28 from 10-11:30. Learn what’s new in job search strategies and what potential employers are looking for in a new hire.
<<Family Ties>>
Ecology Club
Children with special needs and their family members or caregivers are invited to the Rye Nature Center on April 21 from 3:30-4:30. Enjoy animal programs, hikes, and other fun science and sensory adventures.
For more information, email marygillick@ryenaturecenter.org.
<<Earth Day Celebrations>>
Into the Wild
The Jay Heritage Center invites all to a series of events on April 21. “What Grows in the Garden” will be led by NY Botanical Garcden Edible Academy educator and author Anne Mottola. The free workshop, from 9:30-11:30, will have kids ages 4-8 learning to identify what grows and lives in the garden.
At a “Wild Brunch” from 11:30-1:30, enjoy plants with unique flavors. Meet award-winning author Tama Matsuoka Wong, a local forager for the Gramercy Tavern, Daniel Boulud, and Fresh Direct. Experience a new “field-to– bar” trend as Darryl Chan, the head mixologist at Bar Pleiades, prepares signature creations. Dress casually and be prepared to get out in the field to forage for ingredients.
The cost is $20 for members, $35 non-members. Reserve a space by emailing jayheritagecenter@gmail.com.
Environmental educators Jessica Schuler and Tate Bushell lead a free program on “Restoring Our American Landscape” from 3-5. They will discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by restoring native plants and invasive species. Schuler is the Director of the Thain Family Forest, and Bushell is the Director of Stewardship with the Westchester Land Trust.
Spring in to Action
It’s annual Pitch-in for Parks Day and Read Wildlife Sanctuary is calling all volunteers on April 21 at 10. Cleaning up is great for nature, exercise, and fun.
The Earth Laughs in Flowers
The Rye Nature Center invites families with children ages 4 and up to celebrate at an Earth Art Club on April 21 at 1. A naturalist will lead a short hike to collect natural artifacts, including forsythia and daffodils. Young artists will then create a piece of art with their findings.
The cost is $5 per person for members, $8 non-members.
<<Children’s Corner>>
Got Homework?
All elementary school students can seek help with their homework at the Rye library Monday through Thursday from 3:30-5:30. Rye teachers are offering this service to public and private school children in the area the rest of the school year.
Vroom, Vroom
Sixth graders and up will learn to design and build an electric racer car at a STEM workshop at the Rye library April 19 from 4:15-5:45. Gears and pulleys will be utilized to magnify the power of the motor. Register at ryelibrary.org.
Batters’ Up
Rye Recreation’s annual baseball contest will be held April 20 from 4-5 at Disbrow Park. “Scott’s Pitch, Hit and Run” will test the skills of girls and boys ages 7-14 in this nationwide event. Winners in each age group will move on to regional competition.
Pre-register at ryeny.gov/recreation.cfm.
Date Night
Moms and dads, mark your calendars for a night out April 20 from 6:30-9. Drop off the kids at the Rye YMCA, where supervision and entertainment will be provided. Storybook time and a snack for ages 3 months to five years, Karaoke, and a light dinner for kids in grades K-6.
The fee for the younger set is $20 per child for family members, $25 for youth members, $40 non-members; for the older kids, the fee is $25 per child for members, $35 for youth members, $50 non-members.
Registration is required at ryeymca.org. Email kellylewin@ryeymca.org with any questions.
Fauve Tape
Ages 11 and up can participate in a tape collage workshop at The Rye Arts Center April 21 from 2-3:30. They will create a work of art in the style of Henri Matisse’s <Blue Nude> and <The Dance> using tape and canvas paper. Craft book author Richela Faian Morgan will teach the class.
The fee is $30. Materials will be provided. Register at ryeartscenter.org.
<<Teen Time>>
Spur of the Moment
Ages 12-17 can discover the world of improvisation at The Rye Arts Center on April 21 from 2-3:30. Not just for actors and comedians, improv is for everybody. It makes you say yes to the moment, relieves stress, and is super fun.
The fee is $25. Register at ryeartscenter.org.
<<For a Good Cause>>
New Beginnings
All are invited to the Carver Center’s third annual community-wide baby shower for its client families on April 28 from 2-4. The event, sponsored by the Junior League of Westchester on the Sound, offers new and expecting mothers the opportunity to receive the supplies they need to raise a family, from diapers to formula.
The Carver Center, Port Chester’s only full-service community learning center, along with the Junior League, an organization of women committed to improving the Sound Shore communities, are gratefully accepting donations. For more information, call David Brown at 305-6033.
<<Save the Date>>
That’s All Folks
The Rye Arts Center presents an exhibit on the history of the comic book, ranging from humorous cartoons to social satire to superheroes. “Turn the Page: The Evolution of Cartoon and Comic Art” is on view April 28-June 9. The opening reception is April 28 from 1-3.
On hand will be a working comic book artists’ studio to demonstrate the technical print processes that bring a concept to publication.
With photo #OBH
Conserving a Community’s Character
The Bird Homestead and Meeting House nonprofit will screen the award-winning documentary, “One Big Home”, April 28 at 3. The film follows a carpenter’s journey to understand the trend toward giant houses. When he feels complicit in wrecking the place he calls home, Thomas Bena takes off his tool belt and picks up a camera.
The film demonstrates that a community can determine its own destiny by working with planning boards and elected officials. “Toward Sustainable Communities” author Michael Kraft says the film “tells a fascinating story of conflicting visions of economic development on Martha’s Vineyard, and by extension, the entire country.”
Admission is free. Donations will be gratefully accepted. For further information, call 967-0099.
On Your Mark, Get Set, Go
The Rye YMCA is holding its 30th annual Rye Derby on April 29. The 5-mile/5K championship road races start at 9:15, the 1-mile fun run/walk at 11. The fun-filled community event and fundraiser also celebrates Healthy Kids Day with festivities starting at 9.
All are welcome to the awards ceremony, barbecue, and raffle afterwards. For more details and to register, visit ryeymca.org or call 967-6363.
