Good morning subscribers. ☕This is your Wednesday, November 13, Rye Record newsletter, curating some of the latest headlines across the city of Rye.

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Salute. Rye marked this year’s Veterans Day by putting new names on its war memorials — World War II, Korea, and Vietnam — while also adding new memorial plaques remembering veterans of Afghanistan, Iraq, the war on terror, and the Cold War.

The city’s annual ceremony was conducted by Rye American Legion Post 128 in front of Rye City Hall on the Village Green Monday.

The updating of the City Hall plaques is the result of a two-year effort to collect names and finalize a design. In all, 126 names have been added to the memorial.

American Legion Post 128 Cmdr. Fred de Barros led the ceremony.

The keynote speaker was Capt. Leo Matthews, whose name is on the new Afghanistan-Iraq plaque. A 2011 graduate of Rye High School, Matthews served in the 75th Ranger Battalion from 2018-2022 and completed three deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. He currently serves as an instructor of American politics at the U. S. Military Academy at West Point.

-Today’s newsletter is curated by Christian Falcone

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INSTAGRAM POST OF THE WEEK 📸 

-Spread some holiday cheer this season.

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IN OTHER NEWS

Time flies. The second installment of The Rye Record’s dissection of Amelia Earhart’s time in Rye includes a 1932 celebration of her travels on the Village Green. -Paul Hicks

War report. “Following the Front” chronicles author Margot Clark-Junkins’ grandfather’s dispatches — as one of the few war correspondents during World War II — which were originally published in Time and Life magazines. -Rhonda Barnat

For all the marbles. The Rye Garnets took care of Yorktown in the Section 1 Class A semis on Friday, setting up a showdown against rival Somers this week — with the Section Championship on the line. -Ian Colalucci

AROUND TOWN

-Looking to burn off some of that Thanksgiving dinner? The 47th annual Turkey Run is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 30 at Rye Recreation Park.

-The Rye Youth Council held its 6th annual Rainbow Run at Rye Town Park, an event that raises awareness for mental health.

Off the record: The city’s proposed 2025 budget includes a 6.12% tax rate increase. Of that hike, 1.9% reflects returning Playland to tax-exempt status and taking it off the tax rolls.

WEATHER

Today’s Weather Channel local forecast calls for sun and a high of 51 degrees. ☀️ Check out the forecast for the rest of the week here.

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CITY

Rye Town Park Begins Much-Needed Pavilion, Bathroom Repairs

Workers have begun installing new roofs on picnic pavilions and are building new bathrooms in Rye Town Park using money approved by the state Legislature.

The projects include the “beach level bathrooms,” whose construction will cost an estimated $550,000, paid for in part with $250,000 from the state Senate Local Community Assistance Program, matched by grants from the town of Rye.

-by Howard Husock

ARTS

Meet a Rye Resident Bringing Unknown Art to Life

The undisputable stars at any museum exhibition are what’s hanging on the walls or displayed behind glass.

Who chose each piece for display is pretty much invisible to the average museumgoer’s eye.

Rye resident Perrin Stein happens to be one of those working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring art and artists to the public.

-by Jackie Frederick-Berner

SCHOOLS

Area Schools Try New Approaches to Controversial Smartphone Use

Several area private and parochial schools have overhauled their mobile phone use policies to make them more strict — and they are reporting positive results.

Rye Country Day School adjusted its policy this fall to strictly prohibit mobile phone use during school hours except for academic purposes. Students are required to sign in with a smartphone and may use phones for specified academic purposes.

At Sacred Heart in Greenwich, Conn., administrators concluded the seven having smartphones in high schoolers’ lockers during the day was working against the community’s goals.

-by Cassandra Spiss

COMMUNITY

Rye Brrrraves the Cold During Westchester Polar Plunge

Dozens of people made a splash at Playland Beach in Rye on Nov. 9 for the annual Westchester Polar Plunge. The event, put on by Special Olympics New York, raises money to provide opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities who compete in Olympic-style, coached sports.

The program offers multiple incentives, which provide top fundraisers – with anything from official merch to induction into the Special Olympics Champions Club.

-by Camille Botello