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- On The Record: Say Hello to Hollywood
On The Record: Say Hello to Hollywood
City holds prime space for TV and film producers
Good morning subscribers. ☕This is your Wednesday, March 12, Rye Record newsletter, curating some of the latest headlines across the city of Rye.
Today’s Weather Channel local forecast calls for a high of 50 degrees with mostly cloudy skies. 🌥 Check out the forecast for the rest of the week here.
Star power. Since 2020, Rye has collected more than $265,000 from filming permits. In 2024, permit revenue surged to its highest point ($104,000) in recent years, rebounding from a meager $1,500 in 2023 — a figure far lower than even the pandemic year of 2020.
The sharp drop in 2023 is likely resulted from the SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America strikes, which lasted around six months and resulted in the greatest interruption to the U.S. film and television industry since the onset of COVID-19.
Dating back decades, however, some of the silver screen’s iconic images were filmed within the city — from the 1988 boardwalk scene at Playland where Tom Hanks asks Zoltar to grant his wish in the comedy “Big” to Glenn Close’s anxiety-inducing roller coaster scene in the 1987 thriller “Fatal Attraction.”
The list goes on. Netflix series “The Watcher” used the Coveleigh Club for filming. The 2023 movie “Maestro,” starring Bradley Cooper was shot at a private home on Parsonage Point. And Jason Bateman, a Rye native, filmed scenes on Purchase Street for the 2014 comedy/drama “This is Where I Leave You,” where he starred alongside Tina Fey, Adam Driver, and Jane Fonda.
“Rye’s proximity to New York City is a huge advantage,” City Manager Greg Usry told westchesterny.com.
More recently, Purchase Street was also the site of an Apple TV drama, “Your Friends and Neighbors,” starring Jon Hamm and Amanda Peet. During filming last April, Hamm was seen circling the Central Business District in a black Maserati.
And that one day of shooting netted Rye a payment of $30,000.
To read the full article, click here
Jon Hamm pictured last April in downtown Rye while filming for his Apple TV series, “Your Friends and Neighbors.”
-Today’s newsletter is curated by Christian Falcone
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IN OTHER NEWS
Help. Most major police activity was down in February compared to the same period in 2024, although overall calls to police saw a noticeable uptick, monthly police department data shows. -Rosie Newmark
Getting whacked. Frustration over soaring Con Edison bills has reached a boiling point among Rye residents. “My Con Ed bill was $2,800!!!!” Rye resident Gina Imperato posted online. “They’re like the mafia. It really is criminal.” -Alyssa Politi
Headed home. On Saturday night at the County Center in White Plains, Tappan Zee completely stifled the Garnets with their man-to-man pressure defense, closing them out 44-32 en route to a Section 1 championship. -Steven Kearney
AROUND TOWN
-On Sunday, Rye Neck High School students conducted a “sensory-friendly” performance of the musical “Grease.” Spearheaded by Ella Grann and fellow seniors Anais Brown and Carys McGrory, and junior Jian Kawai, the performance incorporated less intense lighting and quieter sound for neurodivergent audiences. -Eileen O’Connor
-The Rye Roadhouse is gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day with its holiday menu. The special Irish offerings begin on Saturday and run through Monday.
Off the Record: Sources tell On The Record that Westchester County — tasked with managing Playland this season following Standard Amusements terminated its contact with the county in February — may not be able to adequately staff the facility leading to several rides remaining closed when the amusement park opens in May.
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NEWS
Several swans have been seen sick or dead around Rye, although none have yet to be the result of confirmed cases of bird flu.
Five wild birds from Westchester County have tested “presumed positive” for avian flu. None were from Rye — even though several swans have been discovered dead recently.
The infected birds came from areas across the county: A red-shouldered hawk from Katonah, a Canada goose from Mamaroneck, two more Canada geese from Thornwood, and a bald eagle from Purdys, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
While DEC did not disclose the number of dead birds reported to them, they did confirm that they tested three mute swans from Rye for avian flu. None of those swans tested positive, a DEC spokesperson told The Record.
-by Mayra Kalaora
The Rye hockey team lost its opening-round matchup in the New York State tournament to Ogdensburg 3-2.
SPORTS
On Saturday afternoon, just across the St. Lawrence River from Ottawa, the Rye boys’ hockey team fell to Ogdensburg Free Academy 3-2 in the opening round of the state tourney.
The teams were meeting for just the second time ever in the first round of the New York State Division 2 tournament.
The Garnets also faced the prospect of skating against Ogdensburg (20-2) on their home ice, The OFA Golden Dome, which was packed with hundreds of adoring, chanting fans.
-by Steven Kearney
CITY
A rash of parking tickets have been issued to residents for leaving their cars on the streets overnight. The issue has led frustrated locals to start a petition hoping to change the law.
Rye’s residents have long been accustomed to parking overnight on their quiet residential streets, despite a local ordinance that technically forbids it.
But in recent months, they have found themselves receiving unexpected parking tickets issued by the Rye Police Department.
Now residents, fed up with getting tickets for parking in front of their own homes, have launched a change.org petition, which has already garnered 81 signatures. They hope to change the City Code, which prohibits parking on public streets between 3 and 6 a.m. from November through March.
-by Jessica Maricevic
After a lengthy renovation process, the Rye City School District has finally opened its new library for high school and middle school students.
SCHOOLS
After almost a year of renovations, the new Rye High School and Middle School library is up and running, with new and improved spaces for students to study and hang out.
The renovation “was a long time coming,” said Superintendent of Schools Eric Byrne. The work began in early 2024, leaving students with a smaller temporary space for the second half of the 2023-2024 school year.
Students were not fans of studying for Advanced Placement exams and finals in that cramped space, and looked forward to having a permanent library.
-by Zoe Loizeaux