Blind Brook volleyball clinched the league championship — a Port Chester local has put something extraordinary together, and back in Rye, a 26-year-old tailor just found out his shop is getting knocked down.

Let's get into it.

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Blind Brook High School’s volleyball team, in Rye Brook, clinched the league championship Monday, sweeping Bronxville 3-0 (23-12, 25-16, 25-10), the team announced on Facebook. Gabby Pauletti had 12 assists, Annabel Rosenfeld 19 kills and G. Gonzalez 5 kills.

Greenwich's Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved converting the mostly empty office tower at 1 East Weaver St. into 44 apartments — 22 one-bedroom, 20 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom units.

The project, called J Lofts on East Weaver, drops a proposed pickleball court over noise concerns and several rear patios over wetland impacts; developers must coordinate with Aquarion Water and the fire marshal and file an invasive-plant removal plan. No units are designated affordable.

A 41-year-old office building becomes housing, with no exterior changes beyond new balconies and a rooftop terrace.

The city is working with planning consultant Yard & Company on new design guidelines for the Central Business District, rules about building height, storefronts and street character that go beyond basic zoning.

Residents can weigh in at two free Community Design Labs at the Rye Free Reading Room: an open house Monday, Oct. 26, and a session Wednesday, Oct. 28, where the consultant presents early concepts on building scale and streetscapes. An online survey at downtownryedesign.com covers parking and storefronts too.

The push follows a 2025 review finding Rye's zoning works but downtown needs more design guidance. Yard & Company's recommendations go to City Council next.

Five years after opening in Old Greenwich, Athena Books is expanding. The new shop, at 68 Lewis St. near Black Forest Bakery, is owned by Jennifer Bird and her husband, Odysseas Kostas, who opened the original on Sound Beach Avenue in 2021.

"We are excited to announce that in the coming weeks, Athena Books will be opening a second location on Lewis Street in downtown Greenwich!" the owners wrote on Instagram. Commercial realtor Diane Roth said she expects it to become a gathering place for readers and neighbors.

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Rye's Jagger Fenton and Harrison's Jason Crupi each won the $7,500 Christopher Mello Award before Saturday's rivalry game. The award, presented to one senior from each team, honors competitiveness, leadership and academic achievement.

Rye High School's new homecoming dance drew hundreds of students from all four grades, student government organizers said. "It was like a movie," senior Jill DeSanto said of the dance, which sold 180 tickets in its first week.

Rye held its 73rd annual Halloween Window Painting Sunday, with help from Rye DPW, Rye PD and local merchants. The costume parade that now accompanies it was in its third year.

Rye girls soccer beat Byram Hills 5-1 Monday, clinching a second straight unbeaten league title. The Garnets improved to 14-0-2 on the season.

The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester announced two new shows this week: Central Park Dance's "The Nutcracker," Dec. 5-6, and jam band Umphrey's McGee, Feb. 12. Tickets are on sale now.

This Sunday, Port Chester gets a brand-new food event, and I’m hoping it’s the first of many. I wanted to know who was behind it and what’s in store, so I tracked down the organizer. Meet Nina, a born-and-raised Port Chester local who has single-handedly put together the Port Chester Market, an afternoon of local food, shopping and family fun at the Marina.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you, what's your connection to Port Chester?
Nina: I am a self-proclaimed townie. I was born in United Hospital! I grew up just blocks away from both sets of grandparents, and nearly all of my first cousins. My parents are part of the huge Latino, immigrant community the village has, and I have a lot of pride in my roots here. I even have a very cool tattoo of the boat in the village seal!

Are you doing this alone, or is there a team or organization behind the festival?
Nina: I am severely understaffed because it is literally just me. But it’s probably for the best because I’ve had this vision for a while and I didn’t want anyone to tell me how to do it. 

Where did the idea for a food market festival come from?
Nina: I would say the old “Empire Flea Market” Port Chester used to have, and Smorgasburg, BK, are my two biggest inspirations for something like this. But I used to work on The Apple Business Team in Greenwich and at Indeed.com, for medium-small business accounts, so supporting “Main Street businesses” has always been a part of my work. Also, I love eating, shopping and good branding, so Port Chester Market is where my hobbies really intersect. 

Was there a moment when you decided, "Okay, I'm actually doing this”?
Nina: Two moments come to my mind for this. One of them was seeing the empty, former Bed Bath and Beyond building and thinking about how fun it would be if it was used as a food court style place with a few little shops that all share the rent (reminiscing of the old flea market again). The second was after all the veggie recalls we had this summer, and I decided I only wanted to eat at places I knew and trusted, which were the local businesses in my home town. 

What has been the hardest part of organizing this so far?
Nina: The hardest part was getting the courage to try it and to put myself out there. It feels vulnerable caring about a cause very publicly and hoping that people are wanting to buy what you’re selling. Especially when I myself am not selling anything, I am not a vendor; I just love home-made, quality goods, and I that’s what Port Chester is made of. I am so blown away at how organically this all came together! As soon as I put some feelers out for interest in a local market, everyone hopped on board. I couldn’t believe I actually had to close the application form! 

Have local officials or other organizations supported you?
Nina: I am laughing reading this question because God bless Luis Marino for answering my neurotic Facebook message about all the vegetable recalls as if it was a big emergency to have to throw a local market. That guy has always helped me out when I have reached out to him. Another cool thing was our chamber of commerce reaching out. I had a coffee with the Executive Director, Camela, and she was so kind and curious about it all! We quickly bonded over our love of small businesses, and now I’m joining the chamber as a member, which is very cool! 

What can people expect when they show up? Any highlights you're especially excited about?
Nina: This market is so authentically Port Chester!! We have gift card raffles from a few local businesses. The market totes I had made will each include a free cup of coffee from Kneaded Bread and some chances to win gift cards from some of the village’s local businesses. I’m excited for all the kids’ activities. We will have face painting and the artist who designed my logo and trunk-or-treat bags will have a coloring table with the kids. I think it’s really important to provide spaces where kids can be included in the community. 

Tell our readers all the details on date, location, etc
Nina: The market will take place October 25th from 12pm-4pm at The Marina Parking Lot, 51 Abendroth Ave in Port Chester.

Follow @portchestermarket on Instagram

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.
Capitol Theatre, 149 Westchester Ave, Port Chester.
Sat, Oct. 24, 8 p.m.
thecapitoltheatre.com

Halloween StoryWalk.
Port Chester-Rye Brook Public Library lawn, facing Westchester Ave, Port Chester.
Through Oct. 31.
events.westchestergov.com

Nanderwhere Pond Public Planting Event.
Rye Nature Center, 873 Boston Post Rd, Rye.
Sat, Oct. 24, 9:30-11 a.m.
ryenaturecenter.org

Designer Lecture: Patrick Mele & Dara Caponigro.
Greenwich Historical Society, 47 Strickland Rd, Cos Cob/Greenwich.
Thu, Oct. 29.
greenwichhistory.org

Spooky Stroll.
Rye Nature Center, 873 Boston Post Rd, Rye.
Sat, Oct. 31, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
ryenaturecenter.org

Tepan runs Su Misura, a custom tailoring shop at 4 Purdy Ave. that his father, master tailor Julio Tepan, opened in 2000. Fernando took over in 2018. In January, the building's owner sold it and the one next door on Purchase Street to 84-86 Purchase Street LLC for $5 million. The developer plans to renovate 84-86 Purchase St. and demolish the Purdy Avenue building, Su Misura's home, for a mixed-use project with three ground-floor shops and five two-bedroom apartments.

Tepan has signed a five-year lease, with an option for five more, at 43 Theodore Fremd Ave. — spending about $35,000 on the move. Sarza owner Sarah Briginshaw, in her shop nine and a half years, says she's been left "a little in the dark" while negotiating her own lease.

The city passed a six-month moratorium on downtown construction in June while it rewrites design rules, the same rules Downtown Rye Design Week is shaping now.

✅ Yes! Where do I sign the petition?
🚫 No, there are plenty in nearby towns.

👉 Vote here

Last edition's poll results: Should we cover more local sports stories?
• No, thanks. — 53%
• Yes, please. — 47%
That was close. I'll do my best to keep this balanced in the next editions.

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