Rye’s Welcoming Committee
By Janice Llanes Fabry
Relocating to a new town where you don’t know a soul can be challenging, until you discover a built-in network that makes making friends effortless. The Rye Newcomers and Neighbors Club is a community social organization that provides new and not-so-new residents with exciting opportunities to establish lifelong connections. Kicking off this year’s events is the Family Fall Fete at Rye Recreation September 22 from 4-6.
Sharon Mantel, who relocated from New York City with her husband Brad and two sons three- and-a-half years ago, discovered the Club through her realtor. “The organization gave us an easy way to meet other families who were in the same situation and had kids the same ages as our own,” she recalled.
Before long, Mantel was offered the reins and is now in her second year as the Club’s co-president. “I was looking for a place to put my energy into and the Newcomers Club was so beneficial to us that I wanted to give back,” said Sharon, who has expanded its social media presence on Facebook and Instagram.
Serving alongside her is Dorothy Pohlman, who moved to Rye with her husband Jeff and two children in 2013. She, too, is “very excited to be part of a unique and vibrant organization that welcomes residents from all over the world.”
The Newcomers has a 70-year history of giving residents of Rye, Rye Brook, Rye Neck, Purchase, Port Chester, and Harrison a warm reception. The membership fee is $50 per family and covers from September through June. Its mission is to enrich the lives of its members by providing a varied roster of social activities.
The Newcomers organizes coffee breakfast playdates that bring young mothers and their children together. There are family outings, ladies’ spring and holiday luncheons, girls’ and couples’ nights out, wine tastings, community service opportunities, and a new walking group that explores local trails. There’s also a monthly book club, which is currently reading “The Most Fun We Ever Had” by Claire Lombardo. Coming up this fall is the Club’s annual Beach Day.
For information about membership and events, visit ryenewcomersclub.org. Tickets to the Fall Fete are $40 per family for members, $50 non-members. Purchase tickets online or at walk-in.
