Good morning subscribers. ☕This is your Wednesday, Oct. 8, Rye Record newsletter, curating some of the latest headlines across the city of Rye.

Today’s Weather Channel local forecast calls for rain in the morning and a high of 69 degrees 🌧 Check out the forecast for the rest of the week here.

Money talks. The Rye GOP ticket continues to maintain a sizable fundraising lead, bringing in over $50,000 — more than three times as much as their Democratic rivals — ahead of November’s City Council election, state filings show.  

Republicans collected a total of $51,274 in campaign contributions from a total of 95 donors, according to the latest financial disclosures filed with the state Board of Elections on Oct. 3. The total reflects an increase of $25,049 and 43 additional donors since the last filing in July, nearly doubling the GOP’s campaign haul — with the average contribution rising to $540 from $504.  

The Democratic slate, meanwhile, continues to run a distant second, raising approximately $16,500 from 48 donors — 14 contributions came from outside the city — at an average of about $344 per donation, state filings show.   

Although the latest filing marks an increase of $12,649 over the Democrats’ fundraising totals of just $3,851 in July, the full ticket including mayoral candidate Josh Nathan and council candidates Amy Kesavan, James Ward, and Marion Anderson, barely outperformed independent mayoral candidate Rick McCabe, who raised $13,335 on his own, the filings show.  

McCabe secured 44 donors, up from just the 12 donors he reported in July, with an average contribution of $304. He collected $9,505 in campaign donations since his first filing ($3,830).

The fundraising totals represent the second round of required financial disclosures for this year’s November election. The final filing ahead of Election Day is scheduled for Oct. 24.  

To read Rosie Newmark’s full report, click here.

-Today’s newsletter is curated by Christian Falcone

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RYE RECORD STUDIOS 🎙  

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-Check out the improvements at Rye Town Park!

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IN OTHER NEWS

Thinking ahead. Rye City School District Superintendent Patricia Murray has introduced a five-year strategic plan of district priorities — marking her first major initiative since taking over in July. -Rosie Newmark

On fire. Since the Rye boys soccer team’s only loss of the season on Sept. 10, not only have they amassed a seven-game unbeaten streak, they’ve outscored their opponents by a margin of 30-6. -Steven Kearney

A new world. David Pogue, an Emmy award-winning technology and science journalist, knows that conversations about artificial intelligence often evoke mixed feelings. At a recent fundraiser at DRIPBaR on Purchase Street, Pogue tried to answer a common question about the rise of AI. -Alaire Kanes

AROUND TOWN

-For the first time since Rye’s Joseph A. Bank outlet closed about four years ago, a men’s clothing store will be gracing Purchase Street. Everything at Tweeds Custom Suits, scheduled to arrive in Rye this fall, will be bespoke. -David Hessekiel

-Edith Read invites visitors to celebrate fall on Oct. 11, from 12-5 p.m. The festival lineup includes a birds of prey demonstration and hands-on animal programs along with live music, food trucks, pumpkin patch, edible bug bar, face painting, scavenger hunt, and unique DIY crafts. Admission is free. -Alison Cupp Relyea

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FROM OUR PARTNERS

BUSINESS & ORGS

Rye Golf Club Thrives, but Millions in Capital Repairs Loom

The 2025 summer season saw memberships and revenue at the Rye Golf Club golf and swimming complex increase to an all-time high, even as the city-owned facility faces significant capital repair expenses.

“We had a great season,” said Golf Club general manager Christopher Correale.

The Club’s 1,371 memberships include 1,017 residents and 354 non-residents. Annual full membership costs $5,698 for residents,and $14,383 for new non-residents, while resident family pool membership costs $1,835 or $4,644 for non-residents.

Correale estimated that, including dependents, the club serves some 3,500 members.

-by Howard Husock

COMMUNITY

Of All Things — Suddenly Mahjong is a Thing in Rye

Mahjong is having a moment.

Once thought of as solely the province of Chinese and Jewish ladies of a certain age, the rummy-like game played with tiles instead of cards is now becoming a prominent social enticement appealing to younger and wider audiences.

That zeitgeist is very apparent in Rye, where you can play at The Rye Free Reading Room, The Wainwright House, or The Damiano Center at Rye Rec. The library started offering groups because, according to Catherine Riedel, assistant director, the library got many requests from outside groups asking to use space.

-by Beth Levine

COMMUNITY

Pumpkin Blaze Lights Up the Hudson Valley

Autumn in the Hudson Valley means pumpkin spice on the shelves, hay bales on front porches, and more than 7,000 jack-o’-lanterns glowing across the historic grounds of Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson.

For more than two decades, Historic Hudson Valley’s Great Jack-O’-Lantern Blaze has been the region’s ultimate fall tradition.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors wander its illuminated wonderland. Now celebrating its 21st season, Blaze runs for 52 nights between Sept. 12 and Nov.16.

-by Laura Schiller

SPORTS

Rye Scores 4 Straight TDs to Turn 1-Point Lead Into 42-13 Rout of Yorktown

There’s only one word that does justice to Rye’s potent offense this season: explosive.

In the Garnets’ 5-0 start, they’ve scored 200 points, more than any other team in Section 1. They’ve scored 40-plus points three times, something they haven’t done in a season’s first five games since 2016.

Rye’s latest blowout victory came Saturday against Yorktown. The Garnets started and finished strong, scoring the game’s first two touchdowns, then four unanswered touchdowns in the second half, for a convincing win.

-by Ian Colalucci