Harrison's 'Top 10' List

David Letterman has his weekly 'Top 10' list. So here are my current top 10 reasons I'm happy to live in Harrison.

1.    The country town feel: Incredible to think that only a 40 minute drive from one of the world's most vibrant cities you can feel as if you are in a country setting. I'm thankful for our winding country-type streets that residents run along and push strollers along on sunny days, our large property lots that make for lush greenery everywhere you look, and for the lack of high density building that keeps the rural rather than urban aesthetic we all value.

2.    Trees, trees and more trees: Everyone knows Westchester is famous for its greenery but that still doesn't give the right amount of recognition for the full glory of our hundreds-of-years-old trees that are on nearly every property and street. They were here before we were and will be here long after and remain an integral part of the character of our town.

3.    Resident involvement: Harrison is outstanding for the number of resident groups and associations and its interest and attendance at town hall meetings. There is the Purchase Environmental Protection Agency, the Harrison Residents Committee, the West Harrison Association, the Winfield Area Preservation Association, and many more. It is a testament to the value we all place on our town, and is the backbone to its preservation and future well-being.

4.    Our town's characters: Everyone knows Lucille Held, who well into her senior citizenship years, when many would be sitting at home on the sofa, remains an ardent campaigner at town hall. Councilman Pat Vetere remembers her dressed in a red dress, lying on the floor of town hall in protest—and to this day calls her the 'lady in red'.  My own personal favorite town character is Roy Aletti who, in addition to owning and running Harrison's hardware store, does such spectacular over-the-top Christmas decorations around his house and yard that it literally brings tourist buses in. He has a letters to Santa program where he responds to each letter, and even better, looks just like Santa year-round, with a rosy grin, bushy beard and suspenders. I'm still not convinced that he really isn't Santa and just moved here to get away from the North Pole's harsh winters.

5.    The town's boards' members: For all that I may not sometimes agree with all their decisions, I remain in awe of the time and energy these individuals donate on our town's behalf. Many are completely unpaid positions, such as our Architectural review board, and even the Town Council members, with the exception of the Mayor who is salaried, are only paid a small stipend which nowhere near covers the amount of their personal lives they volunteer and the energy and passion they put into town business. I appreciate all the work and personal hours they put into keeping our town running and operating in good times and bad.

6.    Location, location, location: Close to the Hutch and a 30 to 40 minute drive to New York city just can't be beat. It's an easy evening out to attend the world's best shows, musical performances, clubs and restaurants. The availability of the airport right here in town also allows straight hops to Florida and other vacation destinations with none of the hassle of JFK or La Guardia to deal with, and only a 10 to 15  minute drive upon arrival back home. 

7.    Low taxes: All right, maybe not low taxes;  just lower  taxes. Compared to Scarsdale, Greenburgh, Hartsdale and even Mamaroneck we are doing much better at keeping taxes down, thanks to our corporate residents such as Morgan Stanley, Mastercard and Pepsico. Even with the recent increase in our tax rate, we still maintain a considerably lower tax rate than most surrounding townships.

8.    The changing seasons: I confess I love our visits to Florida and the Caribbean in the middle of our harsh winter months, but I am also happy to come home again and see the seasons as they come and go throughout the year. There is nothing like watching the garden come alive in spring, the magnificent fall colors, our summer pool days and the first winter snowfall. It is a magnificent kaleidoscope of nature in its all its changing glory, and I wouldn't miss that show for all the summer days Florida has to offer.

9.    Our visual history: Driving down many of the streets in Harrison is a history lesson in itself. Many of our houses date back to the 18th or very early 19th centuries. Enter many Harrison homes and you will see the original beams or original old cooking fireplaces. Civil war battles were fought on our town land and there are plaques and sites detailing their historical significance. In summer, Manhattanville College offers a historical walking tour of its campus that details the historic areas of importance within the campus grounds. Reading Harrison's rich and interesting history—a Cliff Notes-like version is available on the Harrison Patch site—is an interesting project that every Harrison resident should take the time to do.

10.  The varied meld of people, cultures and backgrounds: Our census figures indicate an unusually high mix of ethnic backgrounds, income levels, employment arenas, education and religions. We have Catholic churches, synogogues, and even a Quaker meeting house. Go to the supermarket, walk along our main street or eat at one of our local restaurants and you will mingle with people who are second and third generation Harrison residents, immigrants from a multitude of nations and New Yorkers who have just moved up from the city in search for 'greener pastures'. It is a mix that is evident everywhere you look and adds to our rich town character and life.

So let Letterman have his lists.

 I also have a constantly evolving 'top ten' list and with each of new list I write, comes to the recognition that it is indeed 'Great to Live in Harrison.'