- Rye Record
- Posts
- On The Record: Jay Heritage Sues County Over Marshlands Plan
On The Record: Jay Heritage Sues County Over Marshlands Plan
The nonprofit says the county should be more transparent
Good morning subscribers. ☕ 🎄 This is your Wednesday, Dec. 24, Rye Record newsletter, curating some of the latest headlines across the city of Rye.
Today’s Weather Channel local forecast calls for showers in the afternoon and a high of 43 degrees 🌤 Check out the forecast for the rest of the week here.
The Jay Heritage Center is accusing the Westchester County government of withholding key information and plans for a possible $11 million “expansion” at the Marshlands Conservancy in Rye, according to a recently filed lawsuit.
The local nonprofit alleges that county officials have repeatedly rebuffed the Jay Center’s requests for information about a proposal that would expand the Marshlands Conservancy Nature Center.
Suzanne Clary, president of the Jay Center, said that her organization is worried about potential adverse ecological and archaeological effects of any development in the Marshlands, which is adjacent to the Jay Center.
The county’s Planning Department issued a decision in April 2024 that the Marshlands site work would not need to go through an environmental review, according to court documents.
Clary first submitted a FOIL request for information about the county’s Marshlands development plans on Jan. 7, 2025, and she has not yet received all of the project filings, the court documents state.
“It isn’t publicly accessible and that’s our point,” Clary said.
The county’s five-year capital plan for the Marshlands Conservancy includes expanding the nature center exhibit area, storage area, and public meeting room, while adding additional office space. Other infrastructure changes include work on parking, pathways, the boardwalk, drainage, and landscaping.
The county estimates the project would cost nearly $11 million once completed.
To read Camille Botello’s full article, click here.
The Marshlands Conservancy.
-Today’s newsletter is curated by Camille Botello
➡️ Follow The Record, @ryerecordnews, on our social media channels and at ryerecord.com for the latest news. 💻📱
RYE RECORD STUDIOS 🎙
INSTAGRAM POST OF THE WEEK 📸
-Pros with their eyes closed!
SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS
If you too value community journalism, we ask that you join The Rye Record Foundation for Community News as a member.
IN OTHER NEWS
LIGHTS, CAMERA, RYE. Camera crews for Netflix’s new adaptation of “Unaccustomed Earth” filmed in Rye this month. The new TV series is inspired by author Jhumpa Lahiri’s dramatic collection of short stories about an elite Indian American immigrant community in Cambridge, Mass., that gets rocked by a scandalous affair. -Camille Botello
TAKE A HIKE. The Rye City Council approved next year’s budget, which includes an 8.78 percent tax rate increase. Additions to the budget translate to an average increase of $461 — or roughly $38 each month — in property taxes per household in Rye. -Miranda Ferrante
ON THE RISE. Newly formed “leaf blower patrols” have led the city to dole out a record number of summons for gas-powered leaf blower violations this year — from 111 in 2024 to 267 so far in 2025, according to department statistics. -Howard Husock
➡️ Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up for our newsletter here. Interested in advertising or sponsoring this post? Click here.
FROM OUR PARTNERS
SCHOOLS
RCDS photo courtesy Stephanie Huie
Rye Country Day School officials have launched an investigation after finding a swastika drawn on its campus last week.
The incident took place on Dec. 16 when the antisemitic hate symbol was found on a walkway drawn in water on the Boston Post Road grounds, according to school officials. Head of schools Randall Dunn condemned the drawing and vowed to take “appropriate disciplinary action,” in a correspondence with the Rye Country Day community.
“Though this disappointing incident reflects negatively on our community, we will respond with intention through offering resources, education, and support,” Dunn told the school community. “Please know that we are taking this offense very seriously.”
Rye Country Day spokesperson Dania Abu-Shaheen said she couldn’t confirm whether the school had found a suspected perpetrator.
-by Camille Botello
POLICE & FIRE
A onetime employee of Milton Point Provisions, who was fired earlier this year, recently made thousands of dollars in unauthorized purchases through the business’ Amazon Prime account.
Susan Marie Siciliano, 37, was arrested after Rye police concluded she had been making fraudulent purchases in excess of $4,300 through her former employer’s online Amazon account.
The owners first notified police on Oct. 29 after noticing unusual activity on their account during a month-long period. The purchases took place between Sept. 26 and Oct. 28, according to police.
A police probe was able to tie the purchases to Siciliano, of Mamaroneck, who allegedly used the account to buy gift cards, candy, clothes, and home and hygiene supplies.
DEVELOPMENT
Screenshot courtesy village of Port Chester
The village of Port Chester is set to break ground on a multimillion dollar pedestrian access project hoping to make its waterfront and downtown corridor more walkable and inviting to consumers.
The LOOP, as it’ll be known, is a 1,600-foot sidewalk that will encircle the downtown core between Broad Street and the waterfront, bordered by Westchester and Willet avenues.
The first phase of construction involves clearing existing structures, landscaping the Byram River waterfront, and installing outdoor lighting. The project also marks the last phase of the village’s waterfront revitalization that began in 2021, according to Port Chester Village Manager Stuart Rabin.
“It’s an incredible move forward toward improving the quality of life and the atmosphere of our downtown business district,” Rabin said.
-by Kate Circelli