Mount Vernon Matters

 

MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK (October 3, 2008) – The public is invited to attend a free concert, presented by the Friends of the Mount Vernon Public Library, featuring the distinguished, and award-winning concert pianist, Roy Eaton.  Mr. Eaton, a former Mount Vernon resident, will perform classical works by George Gershwin, and Frederic Chopin, as well as ragtime favorites by Scott Joplin.  The concert will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2008 at 3 PM in the Community Room of the Mount Vernon Public Library.

Mr. Eaton was the first recipient of the Kosciuszko Foundation's Chopin Award in 1950.  Since his American debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1951, he has appeared as a soloist with major orchestras internationally.  His latest recording is Roy Eaton: Keyboard Classics for Children. He is currently on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music. 

The Mount Vernon Public Library is located at 28 South First Avenue in Mount Vernon (please use the library's Second Avenue entrance).  For more information, please contact Ruth Shire at 914.668.0583.

The Friends of the Mount Vernon Library, is a non-profit organization of volunteers, whose purpose is to promote the Library, as a resource for educational, cultural, and recreational activities in our community.  Through monetary and service donations, members of the Friends draw public attention to and support the Library's programs, services, activities, facilities and needs.    

 

 

Includes the promotion of two new lieutenants

On Monday, September 29, 2008, Mayor Clinton I. Young, Jr. officially introduced Fire Commissioner Noah Lighty at a Hiring & Promotional ceremony held at City Hall in Mount Vernon.

“The Fire Department of Mount Vernon will now have strong leadership that will make great strides in the months and years to come,” said Mayor Young. “I have the utmost faith in their ability to lead by example and do what is right, and in the best interest of our great city.”

Commissioner Lighty has been a member of the Mount Vernon Fire Department for over 21 years.

 “It is an honor to be entrusted with leading the department that I have been a part of for so many year,” said Commissioner Lighty. “I am ready to make the changes necessary for this department to be as effective and efficient as it can be.

The ceremony also included the promotion of two fire fighters to the rank of Lieutenant. Fire Fighters Marc Trippodo and Rodney Samson, who have each served the City of Mount Vernon for over 10 years.

Mayor Young and the Fire Department also announced that 22-year veteran, Tarrance Crawford, is coming out of retirement, and the names of  eight new hires.  They will enter the Westchester County Fire Academy on October 6, and be in training for 16 weeks.  The new recruits are:

·       Francis Stone

·       Anthony Mitchell

·       David Basil

·       Ian Brown, Jr.

·       Michael Holt

·       Johnny Delgado

·       Anthony Ansalone

·       Charles Clayton

From left to right author Dave Reisman, Mount Vernon Educational Foundation member Gail Wright-Sirmans, foundation president Ronnie Cox and Superintendent of School W.L. “Tony” SawyerMount Vernon Educational Foundation works with local author for book donation

Mount Vernon youngsters will receive their very own copy of the newly published children’s book Cows Can’t Jump, thanks to the generous donation of local author Dave Reisman and the Mount Vernon Educational Foundation Inc.

Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students will each receive a copy of the book to own. Foundation officials worked with Reisman to make the donation of 1,500 books possible.

Ronnie Cox, president of the foundation, said the donation is one of the many projects the group has in place to enrich education for Mount Vernon students.

“Reading is fundamental. This is a very important step in a child’s education and the foundation hopes that though this well illustrated book our children can develop a love for reading at an early age,” Cox said. “We want children to have a lifetime of reading and learning.”

Reisman, a father of three young children, penned the humorous tale of the physical limitations of several animals who learn to focus on what they can do instead. The book was illustrated by Jason Maas, an art teacher for the Briarcliff Manor School District.

“Cows Can’t Jump will help young readers learn diverse and dynamic words while absorbing a subtle yet powerful message that builds self- esteem and teaches respect and humility ,” said Reisman, a Briarcliff resident. “I remember the excitement as a child receiving a book that was my own that I could actually take home.”

On Thursday night, Lowes Moore of the Mount Vernon Boys and Girls Club, will be inducted into the Westchester Sports Hall of Fame. [JN]

Jeanne Geraci has entered the Locally Grown Recipe Contest.  Check out her recipe for Cucumber/Tomato Duet here. [JN]  Ms. Geraci also received a mention on New York Magazine's Grub Street blog, and the JN has a video of her with fellow contestants.  [JN]

 

I found out that autumn is truly here, as evidenced by the scene captured above.  

Partnership with Mercy College will give students a college experience

The Mount Vernon City School District is partnering with Mercy College for the first time to offer undergraduate courses through concurrent enrollment to 90 Mount Vernon High School seniors.

On Sept. 25 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Mount Vernon High School Mercy College representatives will hold an informational and sign up meeting for parents and students.

The courses for this pilot program are in the area of literature, journalism, and economics.

Concurrent courses are courses taken in high school that are equivalent to those taken at a college. The students will be required to complete the same coursework as their college-aged, on-campus counterparts. Grades earned in these courses are recorded on the students' high school transcripts and on their college transcripts from the sponsoring college.

Mercy College will work with the teachers and administration to ensure that the course work meets and surpasses state standards for high school credit while simultaneously meeting standards set by the college for undergraduate credit.

The instructors will be working closely with the Mercy College School Deans in Business and Arts and Sciences and with Mercy College faculty to ensure a quality program. The Dean of the Business School, Wayne Cioffari, is a 1964 graduate of Mount Vernon High School.

-Desiree Grand, Director of Communications, Mount Vernon City School District

I've spent most of my weekends this summer away from the city, so it was nice to stay in place on September 14. The Fleetwood Neighborhood Association, hosted its fabulous annual street fair, and hundreds gathered to shop, eat, and play. With temperatures in the 90's, I lingered with my mom a great while inside of the comfy air-conditioned confines of Spring Asia Restaurant (shrimp pad thai never disappoints). However, once back on the street, I had a chance to see friends and neighbors.

Dr. Robert Russell shows the always cheerful Nicole, a receptionist at the Fleetwood Family Chiropractic Center his spinal model named Oscar. Dr. Russell, and his wife Dr. Robin Lucia are the owners of Fleetwood Chiropractic, and are instrumental in giving back to the community through annual food, and clothing drives, as well as health lectures to groups around the region. The practice has been in Mount Vernon since 1981, and I have been fortunate to know them since 2005. The Fleetwood Family Chiropractic Center office is located at 25 East Broad Street in Mount Vernon. Their telephone number is 914.699. 6770. Here is their website.

Robin Myers took Harmony Designs Furniture and Interiors outdoors for the day, to showcase some of her great finds to get ready for Fall. She was joined by her husband, Floyd Myers, who is the Acting Recreation Commissioner for the City of Mount Vernon. Here is my most recent post about the glorious Harmony Designs Furniture and Interiors located at 115 South Fourth Avenue in Mount Vernon.

William and Sandra Fuller said hello to me too! Mrs. Fuller had several of her always gorgeous flower arrangements for sale. Opal Brown Lindsay, the Director of the Mount Vernon Public Library, invited Mrs. Fuller to display her work in an exhibition at the library, after reading the story that I wrote about the Fullers in the winter! It was truly a wonderful connection, and now all library patrons can see Silk Flowers of Care- Creations by Mrs. Fuller, which are also available for purchase.

-Deena Parham

Here is the slideshow to see all of this year's photographs.

Click here to see a slideshow from the street fair in 2007.

 Denzel Washington speaks to Mount Vernon High School students, May 2008 [Deena Parham] 

Denzel Washington has written a commentary for CNN. He discusses the importance of paying attention to the children in crisis, and how crime, obesity, and education are all youth related issues:

(CNN)-- With the political season in full swing, much is at stake for America. The economy is in a downward spiral. We have an energy crisis. Our jobless rate is on the rise.

These are the subjects that generate headlines and much debate among the candidates.

But there is an underlying problem that we as a nation have not addressed, a situation that should concern any American with an eye on the future, regardless of party affiliation. It is the crisis affecting our children:

Please click here to continue the article after the jump.

Broadway Comes to Westchester to Benefit the Mount Vernon Public Library

Cast of Disney’s Lion King to perform during Library Gala

The Mount Vernon Public Library Foundation will host an evening of dinner, dancing and a special performance during its inaugural ball to raise funds for a state of the art Pre-School program at the library.   The Mount Vernon Public Library is the central library of Westchester County.

Members of the cast of the Disney’s Lion King will perform during the gala, which will also raise funds for books, computers and cultural enrichment programs.

The gala will be held at the VIP Country Club in New Rochelle, 600 Davenport Avenue, on October 16 from 5 to 9 p.m. Cast members Mpume Sikakane and Juxtapower are scheduled to perform at 5:30 p.m.

Board President, Camille Banks-Lee, said “we are excited to offer a taste of Broadway here in Westchester County where support of the Library, helps enhance children services and provides an opportunity to sample a Broadway production here in our community.”    

New books, audio/visual reading aids, music CD’s, movie DVD’s, and enrichment programs, will encourage youngsters to read.   Proceeds will help create a well-stocked, appealing environment for families to share an appreciation for books and learning.

The Mount Vernon Public Library Foundation is committed to celebrating literacy and forging the path to the revitalization and expansion of the Mount Vernon Public Library, which shares its collections with other libraries throughout the county.

“The Mount Vernon Public Library is an essential institution in our community and throughout this region,” said Superintendent of Schools W.L. “Tony” Sawyer. “The efforts by the foundation to renovate and rejuvenate the library will go a long way in helping children embrace a love of books and literature.”

Mount Vernon is the largest library in county and the sixth largest in New York State. Starting with about 5,000 books in 1896, the library's collection houses over more than 500,000 volumes and subscribes to approximately 800 current magazines, journals and newspapers.

For information visit, mvplibraryfoundationgala2008@gmail.com or call 914.699.0296.

Here are several Charity Navigator four star rated charities (which is considered exceptional) that are currently seeking donations.  Clicking on any of the following logos will link you into their respective sites.  For more information about the financial health of any of these organizations, please visit Charity Navigator here.  

Philanthropic, and Government Charitable and Volunteer resources and portals to multiple organizations:

Earlier this summer, Jeff Cooney, an award winning Bronxville filmmaker, was one of the first major donors to contribute to the Save Our Sports fundraising effort to benefit the Mount Vernon City School District. Mr. Cooney's $25,000 gift was a continuation of his ongoing generosity. For the past five years, he has funded Mount Vernon High School's participation in “Play It Smart” a mentoring program sponsored by The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.  His annual contribution of $25,000 has benefited many academically at-risk student athletes participating in the school's football program.

Mr. Cooney recently directed the above public service announcement, to promote continued awareness of the outstanding monetary deficits that remain, to fund the interscholastic winter and spring seasons.  He and other Bronxville residents have donated this PSA, free of charge.  For more information on how to contribute to Save Our Sports, please visit the Mount Vernon Educational Foundation's website.

As the world commemorates the seventh anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, it is important to acknowledge the five victims with Mount Vernon connections.  They included:

• Michael Andrew Boccardi
• Jonathan Eric Briley
• Sandra Patricia Campbell
• Katie Marie McCloskey
• Rochelle Monique Snell
  

More than $1,400 worth of school supplies donated to Grimes Elementary School.

Verizon employees from the Valhalla and White Plains locations donated more than $1,400 worth of back to school supplies to the Grimes Elementary School as part of the company’s Tools for Schools campaign. The local offices were two of 372 Verizon locations throughout the country that took part in the two-week campaign to collect new pens and pencils, rulers, crayons, backpacks, and other items children need to start the school year.

Donations to Grimes included folders, spiral notebooks, paper, loose leaf notebooks, glue and glue sticks, calculators, packs of erasers, scissors, pencils, pens, markers, crayons and colored pencils, pencil sharpeners and many other items.

“This donation makes a big difference,” said Principal Frances Lightsy. “We are so grateful. Verizon has become part of our family.”

Verizon employee and Mount Vernon resident Eva B. Tyler spearheaded the Grimes/Verizon connection.

The Verizon employees participated in a Junior Achievement program at the school earlier this year and also sponsored a clothing drive in April. The school supplies are part of a larger initiative for the company.

“Supporting education and literacy has long been a primary social cause for Verizon,” said John Butler, Director of External Affairs. “Whether it’s by providing interactive educational tools on Verizon’s Thinkfinity.org Web site, or pencils and crayons for the classroom, Verizon will continue to support efforts to give parents, students and teachers the tools needed to help all children succeed.”

Thinkfinity.org is the Verizon Foundation’s comprehensive program and online portal to 55,000 standards-based, grade-specific, K-12 lesson plans and other educational resources provided in partnership with many of the nation’s leading educational and literacy organizations.

Houston PersonThe Presbyterian Jazz Society (PJS) will present the opening concert for its 2008-2009 concert season featuring the popular tenor saxophonist Houston Person and the Houston Person Quartet. The date of the kickoff concert is Sunday, September 14, 2008. Doors open at 5:00 PM.

This concert is part of the historic Second Sunday Jazz Series at First Presbyterian Church,199 North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553. Celebrating over 25 years of presenting living icons and young lions of jazz, the 2008-09 series begins this September and will conclude in April with a special “Tribute to a Legend” finale concert.

Concerts are set in a cabaret-style setting and the atmosphere is relaxed and congenial. Refreshments are available, but wine is free. Other alcoholic beverages are not permitted. Entertaining and fun for all ages, the PJS concerts represent a local, affordable opportunity to connect to the international world of jazz. So, bring friends and loved ones to have a wonderful time!

The Presbyterian Jazz Society is sensitive to the reality of the high cost of this expressive, relevant entertainment. We are committed to honoring jazz as one of America’s creative cultural institutions, and we make every attempt to provide affordable, first-rate presentations for our audiences. The Presbyterian Jazz Society, a 501(c)3, takes pride in the long list of outstanding jazz performers who have graced our stage. Among them are such notables as Dr. Billy Taylor, Freddy Cole, Lou Donaldson, Winard Harper, Wycliff Gordon, Danny Mixon, Jimmy Heath and many, many more.

Stay tuned for the announcement of our full lineup for the 2008-2009 season!

For further information visit our website at http://pjs-ny.org

On Saturday, well in advance of tropical storm Hanna, I happened to be in Larchmont. Between the farmers market at the train station, and a sidewalk sale of epic proportions over on Palmer Avenue, it was quite the happening place. While I maneuvered past the throngs of shoppers fanned three deep, next to narrow racks, scouting out back-to-school discounts, it was nice to see so many out on an unusually steamy day.

I also discovered that the Ann Taylor on Palmer has way more inventory than the one on Route 22 in Scarsdale. However, beyond the retail therapy, I stopped by an eco-organic cafe called Mango Mix [130 Chatsworth Avenue]. Eames inspired seating, vibrant lime green walls, and white birch tree trunks, make this one of the most interesting interiors that I've seen in a minute.

The menu is 100 percent organic, offering signature salads, panini, wraps, coffee, and a variety of juices. I had a delicious and refreshingly cool Berry Blast Smoothie, which came in a biodegradable cup made out of corn. Here are some more photographs that I snapped. It's a great place to check out, and is located directly across from the Larchmont train station.

Today, the Journal News profiles Pink on Palmer, a bath and beauty emporium. It’s paradise for anyone who is a triple milled, shea butter soap enthusiast. I’m still recovering from my small foray into the happy sensory overload zone.

There are three Metro-North stations in Mount Vernon.  In the hustle and bustle of daily commuting, one may not notice that there are public art installations at the Mount Vernon East, Mount Vernon West, and Fleetwood train stations. The Metropolitan Transit Authority's Arts for Transit program, administers the commissions work of artists throughout its vast network of subway and commuter rail stations.  

Study of Monterey Bay, 1918, E. Charlton FortuneLast weekend, I went to the delightful Katonah Museum of Art to see the wonderful exhibition, All Things Bright and Beautiful California Impressionist Paintings from the Irvine Museum. I arrived in time to take an informative docent led tour through the exhibition of over 60 works created by 40 artists during the early decades of the 20th century.

The paintings depict, "lush summer gardens, tranquil picnic scenes, sweeping views of the Sierra Mountains, and sparkling seascapes glow with the vivid colors and intense light that characterizes the “Land of Sunshine." Enjoy California's rich Impressionist heritage, without having to leave Westchester, until October 5.

In the Project Gallery, Under the Radar: Leslie Lerner is currently on display. Lerner’s narrative paintings are part science fiction, part psychedelic apparition, and can be found in many museum collections throughout the country. Also on the walls until October 5.

In the Marilyn M. Simpson Sculpture Garden, and on the South Lawn are two life-size fiberglass models by sculptor Philip Grausman. Eileen and Susanna, "serve as essays on the distillation of the human figure and the potency, albeit abstracted, of nature studies." Both were sited outdoors in homage to Grausman's "sensitivity toward the organic- the flowing, pooling, undulating, burgeoning of surrounding nature- which breathes en plein air." Here are a few photographs that I was able to take, with explanation provided by the Katonah Museum of Art:

"In the great white monolith Eileen, he preserves the dignity of her facial features: arched brows, diminutive nose, strong cheek bones, and emphatic jaw line. There may have been other lesser attributes, but Grausman seizes upon those which he can translate as the structure of his own creation. Against the crispness of the aforementioned details, there is an equal compassionate emphasis placed on the passages of flesh between them. In this softness there is a tenderness, even at such a scale, which suggests an inner life. "

For more information about the Katonah Museum of Art, please visit their website here.

If you happened upon City Hall Plaza on Saturday August 23, a few minutes too late for the start of the Mike Phillips concert, it was standing room only. With every inch of grass median space taken up by lawn chairs, and not an empty seat to be found on the plaza, the ever-diligent Recreation Department staff, brought out additional chairs to accommodate the overflow crowd.

The multigenerational audience came out in full force, to support one of Mount Vernon’s most charismatic native sons. Mike Phillips, a renowned saxophone player, has performed most prominently with Prince, as part of the New Power Generation, and has collaborated with the legendary Stevie Wonder. With two solo albums to his credit, Mike has appeared on numerous other projects with his Hidden Beach Recordings label mates. The multi-talented entertainer has been the host his own lifestyle show, "Mike's World" on BET J.

Acting Recreation Commissioner Floyd Myers thanked Donna Jackson, the Summer Breeze Concert Series’ Creative Director, for her commitment to the arts in Mount Vernon. This was Donna’s first year coordinating the fantastic 17 concert series, which included jazz, R&B, Brazilian, reggae, and classical music artists from around the globe. Whenever I had the opportunity to attend, it was always a great time, made better by seeing so many friends and neighbors!

Mike Phillips started his multi-song set by declaring his love for his hometown. The son of Jamaican immigrants, he recalled growing up on the South Side, where he had so many caring neighbors. He spoke affectionately, about his days at Mount Vernon High School, back when there were 250 students in the high school band (I remember, because we graduated in the same MVHS class). Mike also talked about how his teachers always told him to strive for the best, because they saw his tremendous potential, even before he could.

Sadly, MVHS currently has no band, no orchestra, and no concert choir. Mike decried the cuts in arts education in the public schools, and urged parents to seek out private lessons to nurture their children’s creativity. He emphasized that his exposure to the arts in school, (where he first learned about Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Miles Davis), playing in the churches of Mount Vernon, and a supportive family, led him to pursue a career in music.

Mike’s passion and conviction that evening, was not limited to his relevant social commentary. His dynamic performance was interspersed with funk tunes, an ode to the straight ahead jazz of John Coltrane, and an interlude of Prince’s “Pop Life.” He told the audience, “This is how I play jazz.” Backed by a formidable band of talented young musicians, Mike made his way through the audience on several occasions, to interact with the audience. He also played several solos, which brought many to their feet.

One of Mike’s proudest artistic achievements to date, has been his participation in the Hidden Beach Recording’s Unwrapped Series. “I like Hip-Hop, but I don’t always like the words in Hip-Hop. Here we take the words off, and add organic music. People enjoy the beat, and yet feel the music.” He even pulled out a vocoder synthesizer, which altered his voice, as he rapped alternative lyrics to the 50 Cent hit, "21 Questions."

The future continues to be bright for Mike Phillips. He is the first non-athlete to have a Nike Brand Jordan endorsement contract. Recently, he completed a tour sponsored by BMW. Currently, he continues to perform internationally, and is working on his third album, MP3.

Mike Phillips closed the set with the Frankie Beverly and Maze classic, "We Are One." At the end of the night, that could not have been a truer statement, as audience members lined up to say hello, and to thank him for coming back home again. There was no better way to end the 2008 Summer Breeze Concert Series, as the city could see a stellar return on its tremendous investment, live in concert. Mike Phillips not only entertained us, he made us realize that we are truly all in this life, together.

 From a day spent at the New York Botanical Garden.