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On The Record: Call for Help
Consultant aims to bolster Rye's weak cell signal.
Good morning. ☕ This is your Thursday, July 16, Rye Record newsletter, curating some of the latest headlines across the city of Rye.
Today’s Weather Channel local forecast is cloudy with a high of 89 degrees. ⛅ Check out the forecast for the rest of the week here.
Rye's City Council is dialing up a plan to improve the city’s cell service.
At last night’s meeting, City Manager Brian Shea received authorization to execute an agreement with CityScape Consultants to start creating a new wireless telecommunications plan for the city.
A transfer of $36,000 from the city's General Fund Contingency Account will cover the costs of Phase 1 of CityScape’s project, which includes preliminary research, infrastructure assessments, and the mapping of Rye’s current areas of need.
The first phase is expected to take three to four months. Subsequent tasks, if the city decides to proceed beyond Phase 1, include conceptual planning and the mapping of Rye’s future wireless network, public outreach and a community survey, followed by an engineering analysis and the creation of a technical report.
The entire project, if it’s seen through to completion, is estimated to take six to eight months, for a total cost of $74,525.
CityScape is a Florida-based firm that specializes in assisting local municipalities with the planning, regulation, and assessment of wireless communication infrastructure. The firm has helped several New York communities, including Somers, New Castle, and East Hampton, develop plans to optimize cell coverage while minimizing visual and aesthetic impacts on the community.
Click here to read the full report.
Projected timeline for CityScape’s project, which includes an optional seventh step.
-Today’s newsletter is curated by Chris Marshall
➡️ Follow The Record, @ryerecordnews, on our social media channels and at ryerecord.com for the latest news. 💻📱
IN OTHER NEWS
UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS. Air quality across the county is expected to reach levels deemed “unhealthy for everyone” on Thursday, as a result of Canadian wildfires. The county health department is encouraging residents to reduce the amount of time they spend outdoors, keep windows closed, and run their air conditioners.
PLAYING POLICE. Westchester County Police nabbed a 47-year-old Somers man on July 4 at Playland for felony criminal impersonation of an FBI officer – accusing him of wearing false FBI regalia and lying about being shot on the job. — Camille Botello
BLOWBACK. Police activity was up across most categories this May compared with May 2025, with leaf blower summonses doubling, and city code complaints and traffic stops also increasing year-over-year. — Rosie Newmark
THE RYE FINDER. Test your RyeQ with this Rye-centric word search puzzle. With the July 4 storm fresh in our minds, this week’s challenge is to find the names of seven words associated with flooding. Answers run vertically, horizontally, and diagonally. Complete the puzzle by midnight July 24 for a chance at prizes.
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FROM OUR PARTNERS
COMMUNITY
RHS student Sadie Fu serves up some drinks at Laughing Horse Cafe. Photo/Emma LaMonte
Laughing Horse Coffee & Tea Co. in Harrison is not just another café — it’s where many Rye High School students gather to work and connect.
Nine Rye High students and several graduates work at the shop. The cafe’s workspace is great for students who spend their afternoons and weekends balancing schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and managing stress.
It has also been a social media darling as of late because of a visit from New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who lives in Westchester. And others report spotting famed St. John’s basketball coach Rick Pitino there, too.
But for Rye High sophomores Sadie Fu and Nola Zicari, it’s just the place they have worked as baristas since October.
— Emma LaMonte
SCHOOLS
The “not approved” app students tried accessing most was Quizlet, a tool created for studying that has a national reputation for serving as a shortcut for tests and homework.
Amid community concerns, Rye City School District officials are spending part of the summer reviewing the district’s policies surrounding technology in the classroom.
Participants of recent Parent-Teacher Organization meetings voiced worries about screen time in the classroom, kids still having access to restricted platforms, and the potential for dips in academic achievement. The feedback prompted the district to conduct an internet use audit in an effort to better understand how technology is being used in the classroom.
Although students are no longer allowed to have cellphones in the classroom, Rye Schools Director of Technology Kaitlyn Sassone said some kids were still “persistently trying” to access blocked sites – including Snapchat, ESPN, and SoundCloud.
District officials recognized the parents’ concerns, but added they haven’t noted decreases in academic achievement. From 2015 to 2025, passing test scores in English language arts and math rose by more than 20 percent.
— Camille Botello
COMMUNITY
Photo courtesy of Westchester County
Westchester County hosted its annual Day at Playland for People with Disabilities on Wednesday, an event that welcomes individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers for a day of unlimited rides and activities at Playland Park.
The county celebrated Disability Pride Month, and the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), at Playland Park in Rye, with an award ceremony honoring the Hearing Loss Association of America, nationally certified sign language interpreter and healthcare accessibility advocate Jody Prysock, and Summit Health WestMed Medical Group.
“Our annual Day at Playland for People with Disabilities is just one example of the many ways we celebrate inclusion, while ensuring all families can enjoy everything that our County has to offer,” said County Executive Ken Jenkins.