Business relocation has been widespread over the last few weeks in Westchester; with the comings and goings of grocery stores particularly noteworthy.
The residents of Lewisboro had been agitated recently when the D’Agostino grocery store abruptly announced it was closing with some seven years left on its lease. But, according to an Aug. 14 article in the Journal News, that concern was short-lived as the family-owned grocery chain DeCicco Family Market announced it would take over the D’Agostino lease at the Cross River Plaza and be open in time for the start of school.
Residents of Pelham, Ardsley New Rochelle and Scarsdale—among other places—are already familiar with DeCicco, which opened its first store in 1973 in the Bronx and is known for its quality, artisinal food offerings and burgeoning craft beer selection.
Meanwhile, residents of Chappaqua are also fretting the loss of a D’Agostino store, this one on King Street. According to an Aug. 13 article in the Journal News and LoHud.com, residents there have began circulating a petition asking that if D’Agostino pulls out of that location, another grocery replace it rather than a chain pharmacy, which is rumored to be the case. The petition movement began after rumors started swirling that D’Agostino was leaving that location.
D’Agostino officials did not return phone calls for comment on either the Chappaqua or Lewsiboro closings, according to the published reports.
Speaking of comings and goings, the PGA tour returned to Westchester for the first time since 2007. The Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship was held Aug.18-21 at the Westchester Country Club in Harrison. As reported in an Aug. 12 article in the Westchester County Business Journal, the tournament is expected to generate between $15 million and $20 million in revenue for the regional economy, according to Steve Schoenfeld, the tournament’s executive director.
Westchester County hasn’t played host to a PGA event since the Barclays was played at the Westchester County Club four years ago.
With government bond ratings seemingly in the news every day now, many residents may be wondering where Westchester county stands on that front. Well, there’s no reason to fret: Unlike the United States government, Westchester continues to boast a AAA bond rating.
As detailed in a statement issued by the county, Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch in the last month issued AAA ratings on the county’s bonds.
However, as County Executive Rob Astorino noted, Moody’s qualified its rating by putting the county government on a “negative” outlook, based on what it said was too much use of reserve funds to balance its budget. The two other rating agencies maintained the county government on a “stable” outlook.
In Valhalla, employees of The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester this month took their talents to a local shelter, Volunteers of America, under the umbrella of The Westchester Coalition for the Hungry & Homeless. Representatives from the culinary, marketing, food and beverage and administrative teams spent an afternoon serving lunch, interacting with residents, cooking dinner, organizing files, and helping to clean up the shelter’s property. The hotel employees visited the shelter as part of the hotel’s Community Footprints program, an ongoing partnership between the hotel and local non-profit organizations.
Meanwhile, at The Club, a retirement community in Briarcliff Manor, civic and business leaders gathered last Wednesday for a dedication ceremony of the new 8-acre ballfield located at The Club that will be available for the enjoyment of village residents. .
Briarcliff Manor Mayor William Vescio, Village Manager Philip Zegarelli, and Matthew Phillips, founder and CEOof Integrated Development Group, the developer of The Club, were among those who attended the ceremony and enjoyed a barbecue and day of recreation.
United Hebrew of New Rochelle announced it has raised $175,000 at its 26th Annual Golf Tournament and Dinner at Quaker Ridge Golf Club, Scarsdale last month. Proceeds generated from the tournament will help United Hebrew in its mission to support the care of chronically ill and frail seniors.
United Hebrew operates skilled nursing and community-based residences and programs that encourage a life of dignity and promote the highest possible quality of life. Funds will be used to continue providing a variety of therapeutic activities, including music therapy, wellness programs, and resident-centered projects.
