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- On The Record: No fun! Operator plans to pull out of Playland deal
On The Record: No fun! Operator plans to pull out of Playland deal
Standard Amusements intends to nix contract with Westchester
Rye Record
January 29, 2025
Good morning subscribers. ☕This is your Wednesday, Jan. 29, Rye Record newsletter, curating some of the latest headlines across the city of Rye.
Today’s Weather Channel local forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and wind, with a high of 48 degrees. 🌥 Check out the forecast for the rest of the week here.
No laughing matter. The rocky relationship between Standard Amusements and Westchester County over management of Playland seems headed for an ugly split.
The private operator brought on to manage the county-owned amusement park, notified Westchester officials in a Jan. 21 letter of its intent to terminate their 30-year contract to operate the facility. Standard is prepared to pull out of the deal by Feb. 20 — after just three years running the historic park.
Playland, which sits in the city of Rye, is scheduled to open for the season on May 17.
"As we have made the County Executive and his team aware over the last two months, if Playland is to open during the 2025 season it will be operated by the County," Nicholas Singer, Standard's co-founder, wrote in the letter. "[Standard Amusements] is committed to continuing to cooperate with the County to unwind the [contract] and the parties’ relationship in an orderly and responsible way."
Singer claims that the county has failed to complete 70 percent of capital work outlined in the contract by an April 2024 deadline.
As a result, Standard is citing breach of contract and seeking $57 million in damages.
To read more click here
Playland is scheduled to open for the season in May, and it seems someone other than Standard Amusements will be managing the historic park.
-Today’s newsletter is curated by Christian Falcone
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INSTAGRAM POST OF THE WEEK 📸
-A picturesque view above the Playland boardwalk.
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IN OTHER NEWS
Holy smokes. Fire personnel responded to a fire on Loder Street Friday to find the dining room of the house ablaze and emitting “heavy smoke.” -Camille Botello
Back on track. The Rye Neck boys basketball team ended a three-game skid Saturday with a 54-41 win over Irvington. The Panthers started the season 9-0 before their slide. -James Peacock
And the winner is. Chef Brian Lewis, of OKO on Purchase Street, has been nominated by the James Beard Foundation for his restaurant, The Cottage, in Westport. -Jeanne Muchnick
AROUND TOWN
-Police and city officials unveiled their new Marine Unit boat Friday. The vessel will allow the unit to provide patrol services year-round. For video of the press conference click here.
-Port Chester resident James Henderson III has been elected president of the local branch of the NAACP. Henderson will takeover for longtime president Tom Kissner.
Off the record: Rye Neck High School graduate Andrew Smith, 27, was killed by a fellow solider while on active duty with the U.S. Army in October. Smith was stationed at Fort Irwin in Southern California.
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NEWS
There are 16 blood donation locations within 50 miles of Rye, the closest being in Elmsford.
The New York Blood Center has issued an emergency plea for donations as blood supplies dwindle following a holiday season marked by alarmingly low turnout and a continued decline in the weeks since.
The NYBC has experienced a nearly 30 percent drop in donations this month, leading to a shortage of 6,500 donors and severely impacting the region’s blood supply. Recent snow, and subsequent travel woes, has only further complicated the situation.
All blood types are urgently needed — particularly O- and B-, which now have dangerously low supplies lasting just 1-3 days.
-by Rosie Newmark
Two teens broke into a home in the Rye Neck section of Mamaroneck. The homeowners’ son witnessed the burglary as the thieves raided his room for electronics.
POLICE
Two teens from the Bronx have been arrested after a daring burglary in the Rye Neck section of Mamaroneck, where a young boy pretended to sleep while witnessing the break-in.
The heist happened on Hinman Place near Boston Post Road around midnight on Jan. 14, when a 13-year-old resident woke up to two strangers in his bedroom searching for valuables. The suspects stole a laptop, two Sony PlayStations, two iPhones, an Apple Watch, and a vehicle key fob, according to village of Mamaroneck police.
They had entered the house through an unlocked door.
-by Rosie Newmark and Mayra Kalaora
POLITICS
Anant Nambiar, Emmanuel Rawlings and Andrew Regenstreich have all expressed interest in running for Catherine Parker’s county legislator seat.
Three area Democrats have launched bids hoping to replace Catherine Parker on the Westchester County Board of Legislators, each aiming to tackle environment and housing issues in the district.
Two of the candidates, Anant Nambiar and Emmanuel (Manny) Rawlings, come with political experience. Nambiar sits on the Mamaroneck Town Council and Rawlings finished his term on the village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees in December.
A third candidate — property manager Andrew Regenstreich of Larchmont — also has thrown his hat in the ring.
-by Camille Botello
Sophomore Frankie Chiaravalle and Rye won the season’s first matchup against Harrison on Monday.
SPORTS
Rye girls basketball picked up a big-time win over league-rival Harrison on Monday night, besting the Huskies 61-53. The contest was played at Rye High School and is the first of two that the teams will play against each other this season.
The game, played before a packed house full of fans representing either side, was a tight, physical battle from start to finish. The Garnets built their largest lead just before halftime and entered the break ahead 33-20.
This margin quickly evaporated in the third quarter, as Harrison went on a 16-6 run in the first 4:36 of the second half to make the score 39-36.
-by James Peacock