From the Mayor’s Desk…March 1, 2013
Happy March. I am excited to think that spring is right around the corner, but before we get there we have a great winter event tomorrow.
2013 Penguin Plunge
The second Penguin Plunge to benefit the Irvington Recreation Department will be held tomorrow, Saturday March 2nd, starting at 11:30 am at Matthiessen Park. The Plunge is of course the creation of and run by the F.A.C.E. (Fundraising and Community Events) Committee. Their mission is to raise funds needed to restore programs and events that were cut from the Irvington Parks and Recreation’s budget during these austere times. The cuts, which the Board of Trustees and I felt were necessary for a prudent overall village budget, unfortunately affected the programming and events across all residents: from seniors to toddlers. The success of last year’s Plunge restored many of the items that were cut, including transportation for the Senior programming, Open Gym for teens, summer camp scholarships, $15,000 towards the July 4th Community Fireworks celebration and $30,000 to meet revenue projections for Park & Recreation Department's budget.
It is not too late to be a part of this exciting day. You can still register to plunge or make a contribution to your favorite plunger at www.irvingtonplunge.com. All contributions are 100% tax deductible and go directly into the Recreation Department. Even if you cannot plunge or donate this year, please come cheer on your neighbors at one of the great days in Irvington.
2013 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
For the last 16 years, the villages of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow have cohosted a Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. This year, the organizers have opened up the parade, making it a Rivertowns celebration. The Village of Irvington will be proudly participating and I want you to be a part of it! If you or your group is interested in marching behind our Village of Irvington banner with us, please contact me. You do not have to be Irish, know how to step dance or even be a fan of U2. You just have to want to have some fun and be proud of Irvington. So far we have a small group of enthusiastic participants representing our historic village but there is certainly room for more of you! The parade is scheduled for next Sunday, March 10th with a 1:30pm kickoff on Main Street in Tarrytown.
Library Update
I am happy to report that the Irvington Public Library is once again fully open, having finally recovered from the water damage from an apartment fire above the library. While the library remained open during the repairs, as of this morning, the entire library is back to normal. I would like to thank Library Director Pam Strachan as well as the Library Board of Trustees under the leadership of its President Laura Lilienfield for keeping the project moving and keeping us all informed on the progress. I would also like to thank Building Inspector Ed Marron for coordinating with the library staff, engineers and the repair crews, ensuring we reopened as soon as possible.
Film Series
Please do not forget about all the great films the Town Hall Theater Commission’s film committee continues to bring to the Irvington Town Hall Theater. There is a movie tonight at 8pm: the rock and roll fueled “Sound City” about Dave Grohl’s (of Foo Fighters and Nirvana fame) attempt to make music in the famed music studio that was made obsolete by the digital age. The movie features an all-star cast of musicians that “rocks the silver screen, not only unearthing music history but making it as well.” You can get more information about this move or the three others scheduled in March at: www.irvingtontheater.com
I hope to see you all at the Plunge tomorrow.
Brian C. Smith
Mayor
bsmith@irvingtonny.gov