Piper Tenney, a senior at Rye High School, was honored for excellence in poetry by creative writing teacher Roni Sarig.
Tenney, who serves as an editor of the “Zephyr” art and literature magazine, and also contributes to The Rye Record, was described by her teacher as “among the best poets RHS has seen in years.”
She cited her work for the first semester of the 2023-24 school year.“
She composed a series of poems in our creative writing class that never fail to amaze with both their sense of sound, imaginative diction, and clever insight,” Sarig said.
In addition to her literary accomplishments, Tenney is a member of the Girls’ Basketball and Track teams.
City recognized as a Climate Smart Community
Rye is one of 15 communities that have been awarded a Bronze Certification in the Climate Smart Communities Program, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced. The recognition is for implementing 18 of the recommended actions that promote sustainability, save energy, reduce waste, and lower greenhouse gas emissions since joining the program in 2015.
Members of the Climate Smart Task Force include Assistant City Manager Brian Shea, CSC Coordinator Hilary Garland, Rye Sustainability Vice Chair Donna Providenti, and Rye Sustainability Chair James Ward.

Jay Heritage Center Receives Grant
The Jay Heritage Center received a $40,000 grant as the 2024 recipient of The Garden Club of America’s (GCA) Founders Fund Award.
The grant will be used to implement a custom design by garden club Honorary Member Larry Weaner for planting of a 2.7-acre area that will restore edible indigenous and historic north eastern plants species like paw-paw trees and blueberry bushes. More than 199 garden clubs across the country reviewed the finalists in the competition.
Exhibit to Promote Healthy Habits
Westchester Children’s Museum opened “Fit City,” an interactive exhibit designed for children and their grown-ups to learn about healthy choic-es for their bodies, bellies, and brains. The exhibit is sponsored by and co-developed by White Plains Hospital.
To commemorate the launch of the exhibit, Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker presented White Plains Hospital and Westchester Children’s Museum with a proclamation naming May 1, 2024, Westchester Children’s Fitness Day.
Local Eye Surgeon Featured in Film About LASIK Surgery
“Broken Eyes,” a documentary that explores the risks of LASIK eye surgery, debuted at the Minneapolis International Film Festival and featured an interview with Cynthia McKay, a local eye surgeon who retired after 40 years in practice.
McKay, who is married to Rye Record contributor Arthur Stampleman, was also the film’s executive producer.
Broken Eyes will be shown at film festivals in Hot Springs, Ark., and Toronto later this year.