I’m very happy to announce that SafeWise has released its 100 Safest Cities in America report and, for the fourth year in a row, Harrison ranked among the top 100 safest municipalities in the nation! The statistic is based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) and property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft) in each locale.
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a fundraiser by ninth-grader Katia Barker, who has partnered with the Thirst Project to build water wells in poor African villages, where young girls often give up their education to spend hours each day transporting water to their villages. Thus, the wells provide clean water while allowing young girls to continue their education. Chipotle in Rye Ridge donated 50 percent of sales by customers who mentioned her initiative, raising $329 and bringing her grand total to more than $18,000. Congratulations to Katia on approaching her goal of funding two wells. For more information about her charity, visit my.thirstproject.org/groundswell.
Once again, congratulations are in order for Keio Academy and this year’s magnificent Cherry Blossom Reception. It was an honor to attend this lovely event. The school’s talented students provided guests with wonderful entertainment. I would like to recognize Keio Academy and their longstanding presence in Harrison. In addition to being a school of excellence, the Keio community brings Japanese tradition and culture to Harrison and I appreciate all their contributions.
On Saturday, April 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (rain date: Sunday, April 23 at 1 p.m.), the Harrison Recreation Department will be hosting a fun-filled day that includes rides and a candy/toy hunt. I encourage all families to visit the West Harrison Pool Complex, with their bags or buckets, for what I’m sure will be a very exciting event. For more information, please call the Mintzer Center at 949-5265 or the Sollazzo Center at 670-3179.
Be sure to mark your calendar for the county shredder. The Westchester County Mobile Shredder (for residents only) will be in Harrison on Saturday, May 6. Residents may bring confidential personal papers for shredding to the MTA lot (corner of Harrison and Halstead avenues) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can bring up to four file-size (10 x 12 x 15 inches) boxes of confidential papers per household. Please remove all large binder clips and covers. Papers from businesses, institutions or commercial enterprises are not acceptable and will be rejected, as will any junk mail or newspapers. In extreme weather, events may be cancelled or terminated early. Please call the county’s Recycling Helpline at 813-5425 to check on a cancellation or early closure.
In closing, I would like to bring your attention to an issue that comes up each year. Spring is upon us and dog owners may be walking their pets more frequently in and around our neighborhoods. In an effort to be courteous, dog walkers should carry disposable waste bags and clean up after their pets. Used dog waste bags should not be left in neighbor’s trash cans or recycling bins and should not be thrown into the storm drains on our streets and roadways. Proper disposal of dog waste is a must and every dog owner should participate.
