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- On The Record: The Instagram principal
On The Record: The Instagram principal
Andrew Hara finds a creative path to students
Good morning subscribers. ☕This is your Wednesday, Feb. 5, 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 a high of 34 degrees. 🌥 Check out the forecast for the rest of the week here.
The social connection. When Andrew Hara attended his first football game against Monsignor Farrell on Sep. 6, he didn’t just blend into the Nugent Stadium crowd — he became part of it.
Wearing a black Rye Athletics sweatshirt, the high school's new principal posed for a snapshot with students. Days later, when one sent him the photo, Hara used it to make his Instagram debut, captioning his first post with school spirit.
“Nice to meet you, Rye High School! Excited, honored, and proud to be a Garnet!” He wrote on Sept. 15.
“I'm sitting there in my Rye sweatshirt and I just thought this would be a good inaugural post,” Hara told The Record on a recent Thursday afternoon. “So that was my first post, and from there it kind of took off.”
Ever since, his Instagram page has become a hub for students — proving that a little social media savvy can go a long way in building community.
With more than 1,100 followers, Hara tends to post in bursts every two to three weeks. While Twitter was his preferred platform at his previous stop, he chose Instagram in Rye.
He found that when kids are home or during their downtime, they’re all scrolling through the app or tapping on stories.
“We do morning announcements over the loudspeaker ... but students don't always listen, that's just the reality,” he said.
To read more about Hara click here
Andrew Hara has developed a knack for connecting with, and engaging, students through his social media posts.
-Today’s newsletter is curated by Christian Falcone
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IN OTHER NEWS
In the line of duty. While serving his country, U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Smith, 27, was tragically killed by a fellow soldier, while on active duty, at Fort Irwin military base in California. Smith was a 2015 graduate of Rye Neck High School. -Rosie Newmark
Coffee talk. The long-awaited opening of Winfield Street Coffee at the Rye Metro-North station is now scheduled for May 1, after an accelerated construction process sped up the previously planned summer opening. -Mayra Kalaora
Cold shoulder. According to Westchester's feathered weatherwoman — we're in for six more weeks of winter. On Feb. 2 (better known as Groundhog Day), chicken Cluxatawney Henrietta of Katonah’s Muscoot Farm did not lay an egg, thus forecasting six more weeks of winter weather. -Ashley Catherine Fontones
AROUND TOWN
-Taking over the Saltaire space in Port Chester, Felice — a Manhattan-born restaurant chain known for its rustic yet elegant charm — is set to open its doors this month. The small chain has restaurants in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island, and Florida. -Alyssa Politi
-Kelly Jancski and Laura Pellegrini collected more than $12,000 for victims of the LA wildfires, after connecting with an American Legion Post in Hollywood that became the beneficiary of the duo’s generous energy. -Erin McAward
Off the record: The Rye City Democratic voted unanimously Tuesday night to endorse Anant Nambiar for Westchester County legislator. The Larchmont resident beat out Manny Rawlings and Andrew Regenstreich for the local party’s backing. Incumbent Catherine Parker will vacate the seat at year-end.
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NEWS
The private operator brought on to manage the historic amusement park notified Westchester officials of its intent to terminate its 30-year contract to operate the facility.
Westchester County plans to operate Playland this summer now that Standard Amusements is backing out of its management contract and seeking more than $50 million in damages, county officials said.
Before Standard took over management of the amusement park three years, ago, the county had run Playland for 94 years, “so we do know how it goes,” Democratic County Legislator Catherine Parker told The Record.
Standard, a private operator, was selected in 2015 to run the county-owned park.
-by Camille Botello
Senior Connor Brady scored three of Rye’s seven goals Sunday in a physical non-league win over Fordham Prep.
SPORTS
Yes, Rye senior Connor Brady had three more goals, which was terrific. Yes, Rye beat Fordham Prep 7-5 Sunday night at Playland. But this game will be remembered more for its multiple stoppages of play due to penalties than for its great hockey.
Three players from each team were ejected from this non-league game.
-by Steven Kearney
POLICE & FIRE
According to the police, the suspect fled the scene when the victim refused to hand over his keys.
A Bronx man was arrested in Rye after allegedly attempting to steal a resident’s car keys and later resisting police during a traffic stop, authorities said.
Carlos Varela-Pichardo, 33, was booked on Feb. 1, after allegedly following a Rye resident home and demanding his car keys.
Varela-Pichardo fled the scene when the man refused to hand over his keys, according to police.
-by Rosie Newmark
To date, Rye police have received six reports of sightings in the city since Dec. 15, according to Police Lt. Michael Anfuso. It is unclear whether the drone activity is recreational.
CITY
Although the explosion of drone activity in December has largely fallen off the national radar, unexplained sightings are still popping up in Rye – concerning area residents and baffling city officials.
“Almost every evening I see a drone flying from the Hix Park area and tonight it is stationary over the marina! What is this??” wrote one Facebook user on Jan. 30 in the Rye Moms Facebook group. “There are six huge drones flying over Milton Harbor and Hix Park at [the] moment.”
Someone else posted in the group on Jan. 22: “This is the second night in a row. They are large and get very close to homes.”
-by Mayra Kalaora