NEIGHBORHOODS
What’s going on in your part of Greenwich
Riverside
After cancellations for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Riverside School was not about to let a little rain get in the way of its Riverside Run.
On May 7, nearly 600 runners took part in the beloved community event to support the school — dodging raindrops the whole way. But the rain did not dampen any spirits at the 37th annual event.
In addition to the main run, there were a series of fun runs for kids in kindergarten through the fifth grade that took place right outside the school.
The event was put together by the Riverside School PTA. The proceeds will go toward programs that enhance the classrooms’ curriculum and support the school’s teachers and staff.
Old Greenwich
As Memorial Day weekend nears, the town is preparing to hold several events to honor those in the armed services who lost their lives while serving the country.
One of the biggest events will be the Memorial Day Parade, which will step off on Sound Beach Avenue in Old Greenwich at 10 a.m. May 30.
All participants will gather at the Sound Beach Volunteer Fire Company station before the parade. Greenwich police officers will be on hand to direct traffic away from the route.
Parades will also take place in Byram and Glenville, and there are several memorial commemorations set across town.
On Sunday, May 29, the Byram Veterans Association will hold its annual parade and ceremony starting at 2 p.m.
That day at 5 p.m., there will be a Memorial Day parade in Glenville, followed by a service.
But the first event of the long holiday weekend will be in Cos Cob on Saturday, May 28. The Cos Cob VFW Post 10112 will hold an annual Memorial Day tribute ceremony at its war memorial on Strickland Road across from the Greenwich Historical Society and next to the Mianus River
Boat and Yacht Club. The ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m.
At 8 a.m. May 30, before the Old Greenwich parade, the annual American Legion Post 29 memorial service will be held at Indian Harbor Yacht Club at 710 Steamboat Road in downtown Greenwich. As part of the service, a memorial wreath will be placed in Long Island Sound.
The Chickahominy Reunion Association will hold its ceremony at 1 p.m. after the Old Greenwich parade. That ceremony will take place at the veteran’s memorial at Hamilton Avenue School.
Monday’s events will close out with a 5 p.m. memorial ceremony at the Belle Haven Club.
Backcountry
The Round Hill Association is urging residents to make their voices heard when it comes to an updated master plan for Westchester County Airport.
A public hearing on the plan will be held at 6 p.m. May 24 at Pace Law School at 78 N. Broadway in White Plains, N.Y.
The association sent an email from the Coalition to Prevent Airport Expansion, which it called “a group of individuals, homeowners, nonprofits and businesses that serves as a ‘watchdog’ umbrella group focused on noise, health and quality of life issues” related to the nearby airport.
In its notice, the coalition said it “urges all citizens to participate fully in the county’s airport master plan public input process and to recruit as many friends and neighbors as possible to help.”
“The residents of back (country) and mid-country are concerned that an expansion of flight activity at Westchester Airport could impact the quality of life in this part of town.” Round Hill Association Vice President Nancy Dufy said. “Meeting attendance will ensure that the opinions of our members are represented, and they are kept up-to-date regarding future plans at the airport.”
Association member Brendon DeSimone cited air traffic and noise pollution as reasons to speak up.
“Providing a seat at the table for our friends and neighbors ensures that our voices are heard. Our chief concern is quiet enjoyment of our backcountry lifestyle,” he said.
Westchester County is updating its master plan for the airport and is collecting public input. The master plan was last updated in 1989
Future public hearings on airport expansion are set for June 2 at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y., and June 9 at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Greenwich
Seven local restaurants were chosen to take part in the Greenwich Food Matters Challenge, a program from Waste Free Greenwich that is working to cut food waste.
Taking part in the initial event are the Greenwich Cheese Company, Little Pub, Nit Noi, Ruby & Bella’s, Something Natural, Sweet Pea’s Baking Company and Upper Crust Bagel Company.
All of the restaurants will now implement specific foodsaving practices to prevent food waste, send surplus to food insecure neighbors and recycle any remaining food scraps — as well as raise awareness of the practices.
“We are impressed just how sustainably minded these seven businesses are,” said Julie DesChamps, founder of Waste Free Greenwich. “They have already implemented so many strategies to cut food waste but want to do even more for our community and the planet.”
According to WasteFree Greenwich, research shows that reducing waste in restaurants can result in significant cost savings, including an average of $7 per pound of food waste prevented. It said this program can reduce the tonnage of heavy organic waste sent for incineration.
Up to 40 percent of the food produced in the United States goes uneaten, and more than 22 percent of Connecticut’s waste stream is composed of food scraps, the group said.
“By participating in this challenge, it gives us the opportunity to review our current operating procedures and look for ways to improve our operation while decreasing waste,” said Robert Guerrieri of Upper Crust Bagel Company. “We believe the supportive community of Greenwich will appreciate our efforts to assist in making Greenwich a better place to live.”
The event was organized by Waste Free Greenwich and the Center for EcoTechnology in partnership with First Selectman Fred Camillo, the Greenwich Conservation Commission and the Greenwich Sustainability Committee.
For more information, visit www.wastefreegreenwich.org/ greenwich-food-matterschallenge.