Blessing Of, Donations For Animals; New Medical Building

From Mayor Ron Belmont

It was an honor to attend last week’s unveiling of Harrison’s 9/11 monument, dedicated to Harrison’s first responders who have perished from 9/11 related illnesses. Over 200 people, including friends and family of the victims, the Harrison Police Department, over 50 active, and many retired, area police and fire personnel, were in attendance during the solemn ceremony. The event was a fitting tribute to those heroic individuals who lost their lives. Names of additional victims will be added, as needed.

Last week I attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Montefiore Medical Center’s new pediatric care facility, to be located at 104 Corporate Park Drive. This exciting new development will be a welcome addition to our thriving medical community. With the repurposing of the I-287 corridor, I am glad that Simone Healthcare Development seized the opportunity to create a vibrant and much needed medical center. Montefiore has a strong history of leadership in the field of medical services and the Town/Village of Harrison looks forward to working with the team as the project moves ahead.

On a related note, the new development that’s occurring on I-287’s Platinum Mile is a result of sound strategy on the adaptive reuse of older buildings. Harrison leadership has done an exceptional job in not only pursuing economic development, but also maximizing the tax base benefit from these initiatives. Repurposing our outdated, underutilized office buildings will expand Harrison’s tax base and will add an important source of revenue for funding municipal expenses. This responsible municipal management coupled with the Triple A rating from Moody’s Investment Services means economic prosperity for all Harrison citizens.

Please take note of the following invitation from Reverend Burks of All Saints Episcopal Church in Harrison: We invite all animals (and their humans) to our service on Sunday October 6th at 10:30 am, including beloved stuffed animals or photos of animals who can't attend in person. In previous years we've had dogs, cats, reptiles, bunnies, chickens, hamsters....if you bring them, I will bless them! The service that day will be shortened, have a brief child-friendly sermon and a time at which all animals will receive an individual blessing and a treat. Afterwards, weather permitting, we'll have a festive coffee hour with treats for animals and humans alike in our garden.

If you can't make it to the service, you can still take part in our initiative to collect donations for Harrison Pet Rescue. They have specifically requested the following items: Canned cat and dog food, Dog treats (particularly Milkbones and Greenies), Cat treats, Scratching card boards for cats, Nylabones, bully sticks, Kongs (no rawhide please!), cleaning supplies such as bleach, Swiffers and disinfectants.

In closing, the Harrison Public Library offers an array of wonderful and exciting programs. The Libby Richman Jazz Trio will be performing live on Saturday, September 28 at 2 pm and Maker-In-Residence, Rinku Bhattacharya will be teaching patrons how to organize and plan ahead to make the weeknight dinner rotation interesting and manageable in an interactive Indian Cooking Workshop on Sunday, September 29 at 2 pm. Rinku will be presenting a light demo and signing some of her cook books.