Opinion

More female recognition and sprucing up

Ron Belmont[dropcap]I[/dropcap] would like to take this time to congratulate Harrison resident Coco Lefkowitz, who was recently recognized at a Harrison girls’ varsity basketball game for her dedication to the game and her ongoing commitment to student-athletes. The proud mother of six Harrison Huskies, Coco has made a lasting impact on basketball in Harrison. Her tireless efforts led to the revamping of the Harrison Basketball Booster Club, where she created and ran community clinics linking the varsity teams to the Recreation programs and fundraised to support team gear and jerseys.

Coco also coached for the Harrison Recreation Department, winning four recent championships. Racing around the county, she has seen nearly 500 Harrison basketball games in the past seven years, and has coached more than 250 Harrison Lady Huskies games. Thank you for your wonderful contributions.

In recognition of the season preceding Lent, I recently joined the seniors as they celebrated Carnival. Brightly colored beads were worn and everyone enjoyed lively conversation and a delicious meal. This tradition is a harbinger of spring, and although we have had a fairly mild winter so far, I’m sure that all who attended are eager for the warmer weather that lies ahead.

In looking ahead, and thinking about the spring with great anticipation, I would like to bring your attention to this year’s annual Spring Spruce Up event. Please join the town/village of Harrison by coming out to show your support on Sunday, April 2. We will be tidying up our roadways, parks, wooded areas and streams. Target areas in downtown Harrison include Ma Riis Park, Veteran’s Park, the stream behind LMK Middle School, Beaver Swamp Brook Corridor, and West Street (in the vicinity of the Interstate 95 bridge). Target areas in West Harrison include the Boulevard, various locations around Silver Lake and Underhill Avenue, and the Village Green.

Feel free to contact the mayor’s office with additional areas that may need attention. Cleanup crew leaders will be at all locations and will provide lawn bags and instructions for sprucing up. Come full of energy and prepared to make a difference. For more information or to volunteer, please call my office at 670-3009 or visit the supervisor/mayor’s office at Town Hall. Take pride in Harrison’s appearance and pitch in!

As many of you may know, Amelia Earhart was a Harrison resident. In celebration of her many contributions to the fields of aviation, publishing and fashion, Harrison will be hosting events throughout the coming months that honor the 80th anniversary of Earhart’s final flight. In 1937, she attempted to pilot her own plane around the world and vanished over the Atlantic Ocean. On Monday, March 6 at 1:30 p.m., the Harrison Public Library will be offering a class on Depression-era cakes. The food shortage experienced during the Depression limited the availability of ingredients many used in baked goods. Patrons will learn how to make desserts from Earhart’s time. On Wednesday, March 8 at 7 p.m., the library will be hosting a book discussion on “Code Name Verity.” This work of historical fiction is set in World War II and centers on the friendship of two female pilots.

The next Lunch with the Mayor is on Friday, March 3. I will be at Emilio’s Ristorante, located at 1 Colonial Place in Harrison. I will be at this location from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., and look forward to meeting with residents and talking about issues facing our community.