Sunday's storm turned our streets into rivers and sent firefighters out in inflatable boats. A mail thief outran Rye police in a BMW near the Purdy Avenue post office, Greenwich zoners raised "severe reservations" about a new AI school's parking plan, and the Land Trust turned 50 and buried a message for 2076.

Let's get into it.

⭣

Rainfall approaching 3 inches an hour slammed Port Chester and surrounding towns on Sunday, flooding streets and forcing firefighters to wade in with an inflatable boat to reach a driver trapped in rising water. Rye and Greenwich flooded too, in the village's most disruptive storm of the summer.

After Sunday's flash flood, Port Chester officials spent the week defending the drainage investments they've made, even as questions surfaced about whether the village's redevelopment boom made things worse. "The Village has no basis to attribute today's flash flooding to recent development," officials said in a statement, noting that new construction in flood-prone areas actually faces stricter stormwater rules than the older buildings it replaces.

They compared Sunday's rainfall, which approached 3 inches an hour at points, to Hurricane Ida and Tropical Storm Ophelia. "No municipal drainage system can instantaneously absorb rainfall approaching three inches per hour without some degree of surface flooding," the village wrote. The debate over the village's rapid growth, meanwhile, isn't going anywhere. My barber said this weekend that another building is going up across from the Assembly of God World Vision church in Port Chester. 👇🏻

Around 6 a.m. on Sept. 10, a Rye police officer on patrol spotted someone pulling envelopes from the mailbox outside the U.S. Post Office on Purdy Avenue. The suspect bolted across the street and jumped into a waiting BMW X7. When the officer tried to stop the car, the driver sped off, and a pursuit followed.

Police called it off minutes later, citing the driver's reckless speed and the road conditions. No arrest has been made, and police haven't said what, if anything, was taken from the mailbox. Officers released surveillance video of the chase this week and are urging residents to bring mail inside rather than leave it in exterior boxes overnight.

Alpha School, a private AI-driven school with about 50 campuses nationwide, wants to open at 20 East Elm Street, the old Saks shoe store, with no dedicated parking of its own. Its plan leans on two municipal lots: staff parking across the street, and parents parking in the Bruce Lot to walk 40 to 60 kids in through a side door, with no bus service and no on-site outdoor space.

Planning and Zoning commissioners weren't sold. One called the site "terrible" for the concept; another warned that when parents can't find a spot, they'll just circle the block and drop kids at the curb instead. The Bruce Lot's access drive also serves the police department's own garage. Commissioners urged the applicant to talk to the police chief and parking services before coming back with a plan.

Nearly 1,000 people across Port Chester, Harrison, Rye, Rye Brook, and Greenwich get the Sound Shore Dispatch each week. They're local business owners, decision-makers, and engaged residents: the exact people you want walking through your door. And right now, they don't know about you yet.

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Ready to introduce yourself? Email [email protected] and I'll send everything you need to get started.

Harrison's Town/Village Board meets Thursday at Town Hall, with nominations still open for this year's Citizen of the Year award.

Schools across the Sound Shore close Monday for Yom Kippur, the second Jewish holiday break of the month after Rosh Hashanah.

The Capitol Theatre turns 100 this year. Port Chester marks it Saturday with Pink Talking Fish leading a jam-band all-star lineup billed as "The Centennial Band," including members of Umphrey's McGee and moe.

Rye Brook's police and fire departments are opening their doors Sept. 26 for a public tour, part of a push to get residents more familiar with village emergency services.

Nearly 100 volunteers are expected back on Great Captain Island Sept. 26 for Greenwich's annual clean-up of the town-owned island, reachable only by boat from Grass Island.

Before Fortina, the Rye Ridge Shopping Center storefront was Racanelli's Pizza & Brew. Chef Christian Petroni and partners John Nealon and Rob Krauss took over the space in 2015, a year after opening the original Fortina in Armonk (which is also excellent).

The design leans burned wood and polished concrete, with a faux "Wall of Stars" of 50 hand-painted portraits. Petroni kept the vintage mosaic tile floor from Racanelli's but built everything else from scratch, down to custom marine-plywood chairs he calls "Fortina Chairs 2.0." "We take food seriously, insanely seriously," Petroni said, though the menu stays simple, wood-fired pizza, pastas, and shareable plates like octopus with white beans and olives, no foams or deconstructed anything. I recommend the lemon bucatini, the fried mozz stix, and any pizza from the menu, you can't go wrong.

Worth knowing: Fortina is at 136 S. Ridge St. in Rye Brook, open daily with happy hour Monday through Thursday, 4 to 7 p.m.

A Day of Fun With the Animals. Port Chester teams up with a local rescue for a free afternoon of dog activities.
Abendroth Dog Park, Port Chester.
Saturday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Capitol Theatre Centennial Celebration.
149 Westchester Ave, Port Chester.
Saturday, Sept. 19, doors 6 p.m., show 7:30 p.m.
thecapitoltheatre.com

Jay Medal Soirée.
Jay Heritage Center, 210 Boston Post Road, Rye.
Saturday, Sept. 19, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
jayheritagecenter.org

Great Captain Island Clean-Up.
Grass Island Boat Launch Ramp, Greenwich.
Saturday, Sept. 26, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
greenwichfreepress.com

Harrison Mobile Shredder Event.
Railroad parking lot, downtown Harrison.
Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
harrison-ny.gov

Harrison Town/Village Board Meeting.
Town Hall, 1 Heineman Pl, Harrison.
Thursday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m.
harrison-ny.gov

Fifty years ago, a group of Greenwich residents decided the character of a town isn't just its houses and roads, it's the land around them. On a Wednesday evening this month, about 100 people gathered at the Land Trust's Mueller Preserve to mark the anniversary, and to bury something for the next fifty.

The capsule, sealed beside a newly planted white oak, won't open until Sept. 9, 2076. Inside: a letter from the group's leaders, its 2025 annual report, native seeds from four preserves, a wildlife list, and a town map stamped with the USA's 250th anniversary logo. Longtime volunteer Louisa Stone, board president from 1990 to 1992, walked the crowd through five decades of history; First Selectman Fred Camillo read a proclamation.

The Land Trust now protects 1,014 acres across 82 preserves, with an expanded trail system along the Byram River next on its list. "Our responsibility now is to make sure that when the time capsule is opened in 2076, the people of Greenwich can look around and see that we kept protecting the places that make this community special," said Executive Director Will Kies.

Built in 1952 on a private knoll-top lot, this Round Hill estate has east-west light, a pool, and a historic barn built for gatherings, not horses 🐴. Round Hill is Greenwich's quietest back-country enclave, minutes from town but worlds from Greenwich Avenue traffic.

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🤖 Yes, sign us up
🤔 Maybe, I'd want to see it in action first
📚 No, let humans teach humans

👉 Vote here

Last edition's poll results: How much has AI crept into your daily routine?
It's everywhere, I use it constantly — 50%
A few tools here and there — 25%
Not at all, and not interested — 17%
Barely, but I'm curious — 8%

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