Compiled by Janice Llanes Fabry
Local Artists Star in Beaux Arts Show
The Woman’s Club Beaux Arts Exhibit returns to the Rye Free Reading Room for the 62nd year. An opening reception will be held October 11 from 2-4. The juried show, which runs October 8-29, is a celebration of local artists. First-prize winners will advance to the Westchester County Federation of Woman’s Club Beaux Arts Finale. This year’s honoree is Janet Meyers.
This year, the Rye library is co-sponsoring the exhibit, and for the first time a silent auction of select works will be part of the show. Bidding opens October 9 and closes October 11 at 3:30. The artists donate a percentage of their commissions to fund art scholarships for Rye High School students.
For more information, call Melanie Ciraco at 437-7923.
Marshlands Adventures
Head to the Marshlands Conservancy on Saturday at 2 to learn the dos and don’ts of shelter building while you build one yourself. On Sunday at 2 look at different rock formations from the inside out in a geological time capsule program.
For more information, call 835-4466.
The Rye YMCA turned 100 this year and will celebrate in style with a gala at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College on October 25 from 6:30-11. The star of the evening is Paul Reiser, comedian, author, and actor of “Mad About You” fame.
Celebrate the “Y” in “You” with top-notch entertainment, cocktails, dinner, and silent and live auctions. Visit www.ryeymca.org or contact margaretmead@ ryeymca.org.
Oktoberfest
Pull on your lederhosen and dirndls and join Rye Nature Center for its fourth annual Oktoberfest on October 17 from 7:30-10:30. The Center’s grounds will be transformed into a festive German beer and wine garden and music of Mack Blackmon will fill the air.
The menu includes German-inspired fare from Standing Room Only, accompanied by handcrafted beer and cider from Port Chester Hall and German white and red wines courtesy of G. Griffin Wine & Spirits, Harrison Wine Vault, and Wine at Five. Finish off the evening with delicious desserts from Blue Tulip Chocolates, Kneaded Bread, and Whole Foods.
Proceeds from the event will benefit conservation projects and outreach services. Guests can also donate to the giving tree at the event and support the launch of a new teen program for next summer.
A limited number of tickets are still available at www.ryenaturecenter.org.
Paper at Play
The Rye Arts Center’s extraordinary solo retrospective of the whimsical paper sculptures of Rye’s own Irving Harper has been extended to December 6. The artist is known for his iconic contributions to the George Nelson Office, including the 1949 Ball Clock, Herman Miller logo, and the 1956 Marshmallow sofa. In a review last week, The New York Times described Harper’s paper sculpture as “masterful, whimsical, and impossibly intricate.”
By popular demand, Sunday afternoon at the movies returns to the Rye Historical Society’s Square House Museum – popcorn included. The fall film series will showcase some of the highlights from John Wayne’s prolific film career. Join fellow fans of the Duke on three Sunday afternoons, October 19, November 9, and December 14, at 2:30.
The first feature is “Red River,” a 1948 Howard Hawks classic about an epic cattle drive from Texas to Kansas along the Chisholm Trail. It features one of Wayne’s finest performances and co-stars Montgomery Clift in his first screen role.
“The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” and “True Grit” are the features scheduled for November and December.
Admission is $5. Seating is limited, so call 967-7588 to register.mead@ryeymca.org.
The Nest Needn’t Be Empty After the Kids Leave
Wendy Aronsson couldn’t set foot in a grocery store or a dinner party without someone remarking, “Oh, you’re going to be an empty nester.” The mother of two sons, 25 and 21, observed, “It’s palpable. Today, parents are so front and center in their children’s lives that they have to rewrite their life descriptions once the children leave.”
Recognizing all too well the impact this stage of life can have on parents, Aronsson, a psychotherapist of 33 years, started taking notes two years before her younger son’s departure for college. She integrated her own experience, extensive research, and real-life stories in her debut book, “Refeathering the Empty Nest,” which she will discuss at Wainwright House October 15, from 10-12.
Actually, “empty nest” is not how Aronsson describes this later-in-life phenomenon, because, as she noted, “parents still live in the nest.” Instead, she identifies this phase as “the shift.” Aronsson points out that Baby Boom parents have been much more involved in their children’s lives and more heavily invested in their children’s futures than previous generations.
Parenting has become more mindful, deliberate, and all consuming, so the kids’ departure presents a starker transition than in years past.
In her candid, refreshing book, she provides a look at an “evolving nest” and explores the broad range of emotions that comprise “the shift.”
From a personal standpoint, she admits it’s not easy letting go. “My son is studying abroad in China and I want to call every day,” she confessed, “But I try to be mindful.”
On a professional level, she offers practical advice for strengthening the parent-adult child relationship. “Improve your listening skills, ask more questions, and bite your tongue,” she said. “We have to be thoughtful that this is their time to try out their wings. They need the space and the stage to let it happen.”
In addition to her private practice, her therapeutic role extends to the community, from developing programs for the Learning Differences Network to consulting at local schools. For the last six years, Aronsson has been one of the facilitators of the Parents Exchange at Greenwich Hospital, a support-sharing group.
As a resource for parents whose kids are poised to fly the coop, she noted, “I look at the nest from a 360-degree perspective and provide support and understanding about the feelings and the stages parents go through during this important phase of life’s journey.”
— Janice Fabry
Cultivation Conversation
Join the members of the Little Garden Club of Rye for a conversation with Dick Button at the Rye Free Reading Room on October 14 at 10:30. Who knew the ice skating star and longtime TV sports analyst is also a champion gardener with an extensively landscaped property in Westchester? Hear about its creation and Button’s design process during a very informative discussion.
The Long and Short of Medicare and Long-Term Care
The Rye library is offering two programs this month covering areas of particular importance to seniors. On October 16 at 11, insurance and retirement representative and IRS Registered Tax Return Preparer Paul Jeffery will present “How Medicare Works and How to Adjust Coverage to Better Fit Your Needs.” He will explain when to join or change your plan, options for more coverage, Medicare supplement (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage plans, as well as the differences between HMO, PPO, PFFS, SNP, and MSA.
On October 23 at 11, Jennifer Lavelli, who holds a N.Y. State Life and Health Insurance license and is AHIP-certified, will address the “Ins and Outs of Long-Term Care.” She will present an overview of the demographic changes that are making long-term care an important societal issue, the physical conditions that cause the need for it, statistics about who is providing care at home, and the average cost for care in New York State.
The Most Mysterious Brontë Sister
Join Laura Inman, scholar and writer, at the Rye Free Reading Room on October 16, at 6:30 for an in-depth examination of the poetry of Emily Brontë. Presented by Rye U, a course of lifelong learning at the library, the evening will explore Brontë’s approach to poetry, the literary context of her writing, and the influences on her life and writings. Gain a deeper understanding of early Victorian writers and “Wuthering Heights” through this informative program. Copies of the poems to be discussed are available in the library and online.
SPRYE’s Next Stop
All aboard! On October 21 at 12:30, SPRYE is offering a guided tour of Grand Central Station. Attendees will take a 10:30 train from Rye and have lunch at Grand Central before a 75-minute tour. (Note: plenty of walking required.)
Tour is $15, plus cost of train and lunch. Payment for tour must be made in advance. Email director@sprye.org.
Homeopathic Remedy
The Holistic Moms will host an informative talk at the Rye Free Reading Room on October 22 at 7. Find out how homeopathy stimulates physical, mental, and emotional healing. Expert Janice Solomon will explain how a homeopath can identify your “simillimum” (homeopathic remedy).
Creating Memories
Creative artist Lavinia Wiggins will lead an adult workshop on “Building a Personal Shrine” at the Rye Free Reading Room on October 25, from 10-12. Honor a loved one by making an enclosure for displaying objects that hold special meaning and memory.
Knapping Through Rye History
In celebration of Archives Month, the Rye Historical Society invites the public to a one-day open house at The Knapp House on Rye Beach Avenue, October 25 from 10-3. Learn the value of historical records, the importance of preserving them, and how they are stored. Learn about the reference files, primary source materials, old maps, photos and digital records that make up the vital historic record of our community.
Director Sheri Jordan notes that New York State began celebrating archives in the late 1980s with special events and activities to increase public awareness of the importance and relevance of historical documents.
Throughout the nation, libraries, museums, and historical societies are celebrating Archives Month.
CUNY Director of Institute for Sustainable Cities William Solecki will discuss “Climate Change and New York City: Lessons and Implications from Hurricane Sandy” at the Rye Meeting House on October 25 at 3. Also a professor of geography at Hunter College and noted expert on climate and land use, Solecki has served on the Special Committee on Problems in the Environment (SCOPE). He was co-leader of several climate-impact and land-use studies in the New York Metropolitan region.
The lecture is part of the Bird Homestead nonprofit’s ongoing series, “After the Storm: Toward a More Resilient Shoreline.” The project is funded, in part, by a grant from the John E. Streb Fund for New York of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The series was inspired by the endeavors of archeologist Junius Bird, an ecologist ahead of his time. Admission is free. Donations will be gratefully accepted.
For further information, call 967-0099 or email Anne Stillman at birdhomestead.meetinghouse @gmail.com with subject line Solecki.
Warmer Future for Furry Friends
On November 2, from 10:30-1:30, animal lovers may bring healing comfort to dogs and cats by making beds and toys at Wainwright House through its Paws on Pillows outreach program. They will be donated to the animal shelters in Westchester. No experience necessary.
On October 18 from 1-4, families are invited to start a new fall tradition and create some lasting memories at the Square House Museum’s annual Family Pumpkin Carving Day. After carefully choosing just the right pumpkin from the Square House “pumpkin patch,” families can carve their very own masterpiece. Will it be scary or silly? Children will also be able to enjoy a selection of fun fall-themed crafts.
The cost is $20 per family and includes pumpkin, carving tools, and crafts. Reservations are suggested, as space is limited and can be made by calling 967-7588.
BBQ-ingo Night
A winning combination! Rye Recreation Center is putting together a fun-filled night of barbecuing and bingo for children, grades 1 and up, and their families on October 24, from 6:30-8:30. Everyone will have the chance to win prizes, while playing fun variations of bingo and enjoying great food. No walk-ins; pre-registration required. Fee: $14/person.
Test the College Waters
Take a practice ACT on October 18 at the Rye library, 10:30-1:45, before walking into the real thing. The mock test comes with a free detailed score report that highlights your personal strengths and weaknesses, which will be available at www.applerouth.com the Friday after the exam.
Bring water, a snack, pencils and a calculator. Register at www.applerouth.com/signup. Any questions, call 371-8000.
College Interview 101
Co-Chairs of the Tufts Admissions Alumni Program, Peggy Marx and Kyrie Stillman are giving college-bound students and their parents an overview of the interview process at the Rye Free Reading Room on October 23 at 6:30. The talk will include mock interviews for the audience to critique and a look at actual interviewer comments.
During their tenure, the college interview counselors have interviewed hundreds of students and overseen thousands of interview write-ups by their committee, so their valuable tips are sure to make an impact.
Osborn School will host the Osborn Scare Fair and Silent Auction Saturday, October 25 from 10-3:30. Enjoy the Zip Line, Bouncy House, Trackless Train, and a new feature, the Euro Bungee. Storyteller Jonathan Kruk has a few stories up his sleeve. Save room for delicious international dishes and the cakewalk.
Striking Just the Right Chord
Popular children’s entertainer Graham Clarke will have youngsters movin’ and groovin’ to the beat on October 14 at the Rye Free Reading Room at 1. This fall’s Musical Tuesdays will offer 45-minute programs twice a month. To find out more about Graham and his guitar friends Delores, Cinnamon and Bluebell, visit his website, www.grahamclarke.com.
Friday Science Fun Clubs
Attention future scientists and engineers, see how much fun science, technology, engineering, and math can be at the Rye Free Reading Room’s once-a-month programs. The Gizmo Science Fun Club for grades K-2 will be held the first Friday of the month from 3:30 to 4:30. The Gadgets Science Fun Club for grades 3-5 takes place on the third Friday from 3:30 to 4:30 and begins October 17.
Each one-hour session will focus on a different S.T.E.M. activity and give kids the chance to engage in hands-on inquiry based experiments. There will also be handouts for follow-up activities to do at home.
Space is limited in these programs. Registration is by email only and is required separately for each session. To sign up, email childrensservices@ ryelibrary.org beginning one week before the program date. Please include the program title and date, your telephone number, and your child’s name and grade in the message.
Masquerade Party
Join Wainwright House for a Black and White Masquerade Party November 1 at 6:30. Sponsored by Corner Stone, Dance Time Entertainment, and G. Griffin Wine & Spirits, the gala includes a silent auction, a full bar, hors d’oeuvres with sushi, dinner, and dancing for $125 per person. Black and white attire preferred; masks optional.
RSVP online by October 27 at www.wainwright.org or call 967-6080.
Let’s Play Tag
On November 14, Rye Recreation is holding two sessions of Archery Tag for grades 6-8 from 5:30-7 and 7-8:30 at the Rye Middle School Gym. If kids liked the Rec’s Laser Tag events, wait until they try Archery Tag! Picture the intensity and excitement of dodgeball and paint ball using the skill-set of archery with patented foam-tipped arrows. Fun and safe, the event takes tag to a whole other level!
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