More Than Paw Prints
Pet owners got a chance to transform pictures of their cats and dogs into works of art at the Rye Art Center’s Printmaking Your Pet BYOB Night Out on Dec. 5.
Instructor Katarina Karlsson Finkenberg showed participants how to create handmade prints of their pets using the easy foam technique. In it, the artist uses styrofoam sheets or even plates, and scratches an image into it instead of using a wood block or metal plate.
Finkerberg said the artists, who were encouraged to bring pictures of their pets as well as their own wine, created some striking personal works of art.
“I was impressed by the experimentation and color combinations from my students,” Finkenberg said. “Great work — and some really cute pets!”
Don Bosco ‘Dreams Gala’ Sells Out
The Don Bosco Center held its sold-out Dreams Gala at Shenorock Shore Club on Dec. 7.
The Center’s mission is to “help break the cycle of poverty through education and food security, enabling all people, especially the young, to reach their fullest potential.” The theme for the evening was “Celebrating Community, Legacy, and Impact.”
Christopher Mathias and Michael Pedone received the Youth Service Award for their four-year commitment to STEAM education and mentorship through the Don Bosco Afterschool and Academic Enrichment Program.
The ARC of Westchester received the Legacy of Growth & Inclusion Award for 75 years of dedicated service to those with developmental disabilities and their almost decade-long partnership with the Don Bosco Community Center.
Sacred Heart Greenwich was awarded the Excellence in Leadership & Early Education Award for their 50-year legacy of empowering young women and their foundational support of the Center’s Early Childhood Bilingual Scholars Program.
Don Bosco Scholars Coaches were recognized with the Bridge to Dreams Award for helping under-resourced, first-generation high school students achieve their college dreams. The Don Bosco Scholars Program supports students throughout the entire college admissions process, with coaches serving between 5 and 8 years being honored for their dedication.
“We celebrate the community that is committed to our mission, the legacy of our now 96 years in the community, and the many lives that are better off because of our commitment to the mission,” said Executive Director Jerry Rodriguez.
Funds raised will support the center’s staple programs, such as the Don Bosco Afterschool and Academic Enrichment Program, Bosco Scholars Program, Early Childhood Program, and Don Bosco Feeds.
Colonial Innkeepers Holiday Celebration
Temperatures were steadily dropping the day of the holiday celebration, but the Square House was nice and warm for the Rye Historical Society’s Colonial Innkeepers Holiday Celebration.
Visitors were treated to a journey back in time as they learned about the festive holiday traditions of the Haviland family. Complimentary guided tours throughout the afternoon painted a vivid picture of life in Rye almost 250 years ago.
In the late 18th century, children like the Havilands embraced the winter season, using their natural surroundings to create games and activities. One of their favorite winter pastimes was sledding, and children hand-crafted their own sleds from wooden boards or bark. They also enjoyed ice sliding (sometimes using makeshift skates made of animal bones), snowshoeing, playing “Fox and Geese” in the snow, and good old-fashioned snowball fights.
In colonial times, Christmas traditions were simple but meaningful. Unlike today, there were no candy canes or stockings. Instead, children left their shoes by one of the house’s nine fireplaces. On Christmas morning, they might find them filled with rare treats like oranges or a handmade toy.
An informal question and answer session after each tour and a pop-up gift shop in the Council Room rounded out the festive winter afternoon.
New Twist on Senior Scenes
Some 50 students were members of the cast, directors, and crew in this year’s Senior Scenes presented by Rye High School’s Parsons Street Players.
In Senior Scenes, RHS seniors direct other high school students in scenes they have chosen. Because the production is considered a workshop, the scenes are presented with minimal sets.
Many of the scenes this year were based on long-standing television shows, including “Saturday Night Live,” “Frasier,” and “Gilmore Girls.”
Two scenes were written by their directors, and one was adapted from the satirical site, The Onion. The advisor for the show, Jeff Loddo, also directed a scene with a cast that consisted of the evening’s directors.
First Snowfall of the Season
Dec. 21 saw the first measurable snowfall of the season as residents woke up to the first day of winter to see a white coating on the ground.
The temperatures hovered in the 20s.
The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement until 10 p.m. with areas of 2 to 5 inches of snow reported across New York City, the Lower Hudson Valley, and parts of western Connecticut. Wind gusts were expected to peak around 30-35 mph.
Conditions were expected to lead to blowing snow already on the ground and reduced visibilities on roadways – leading to hazardous driving conditions.