The Chili’s restaurant chain in Somers is hosting a fundraiser this Thursday for veterans.

Here’s how it works: Dine at Chili’s in Baldwin Place on May 31st,  present your coupon and Chili’s will donate 10 percent to the Somers VFW Post 8213 Relief Fund.

The coupon is valid from  11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Chili’s, 80 Route 6.

Coupons were available at Monday’s Memorial Day parade in Somers and are also available  here.

Graduates toss their caps in the air after graduation at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

See more photos of graduation at West Point

Albertus Magnus shortstop Sara Chivelly tags Pleasantville baserunner Nicole Gagliardi and throws Alicia Marino out at first for a double-play to end the fifth inning during the softball Class B first round playoff game at Pleasantville High School on May 25, 2012. Albertus Magnus beat Pleasantville 6-1. ( Xavier Mascareñas / The Journal News )

See more photos from the Albertus Magnus against Pleasantville softball Class B first round playoff game at Pleasantville High School in a photo gallery, and go to LoHud.com for the game story.

Pearl River’s Rich Masley avoids the tag of Byram Hills’ Jack Hathaway at second base during a Class A first-round baseball playoff game at Pearl River. Byram Hills won 4-1.

See more photos of Byram Hills at Pearl River baseball

For an upcoming story on food trucks, we want to know your favorite spots. We’d like to know about those hot dog trucks, sure, but what we’re really looking for are the trucks that are doing something out-of-the-ordinary.

Let me know and we might feature your favorites in the paper!

Read on for how to link in to the town hall with Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, which starts at 7 p.m. May 30.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE ASTORINO TO HOST “ASK ASTORINO” TELE-TOWN HALL

Residents invited to call in with questions or just listen

Want to ask County Executive Rob Astorino how he is working to lower your taxes or any other question? You will get your chance on a live telephone town hall meeting hosted by Astorino next Wednesday night, May 30 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

To ask a question, or just listen in, residents are invited to call toll-free 877-228-2184 and enter event ID 19135.

Live audio of the tele-town hall will be streamed on www.westchestergov.com. To avoid excess Web traffic at the beginning of the call, listeners are advised to log on between 6:45 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Residents are also invited to submit questions in advance via email (askastorino@westchestergov.com) or social media. Use hashtag #askastorino on Facebook (facebook.com/westchestergov) or Twitter (@westchestergov).

“The tele-town hall is a way for me to speak directly to Westchester residents and answer their questions,” Astorino said. “There is a lot to talk about. I will give an update on key issues and then answer questions.”

Last month, Astorino delivered his state of the county address, during which he detailed the substantial progress that has been made on all three of his priorities as county executive: protecting taxpayers, preserving essential services and promoting economic growth. The full video of the speech can be viewed at www.westchestergov.com.

This event will be the fourth “Ask Astorino” tele-town hall.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE ASTORINO TO HOST “ASK ASTORINO” TELE-TOWN HALL

Residents invited to call in with questions or just listen

            Want to ask County Executive Rob Astorino how he is working to lower your taxes or any other question? You will get your chance on a live telephone town hall meeting hosted by Astorino next Wednesday night, May 30 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

To ask a question, or just listen in, residents are invited to call toll-free 877-228-2184and enter event ID 19135.

Live audio of the tele-town hall will be streamed on www.westchestergov.com. To avoid excess Web traffic at the beginning of the call, listeners are advised to log on between 6:45 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Residents are also invited to submit questions in advance via email (askastorino@westchestergov.com) or social media. Use hashtag #askastorino on Facebook (facebook.com/westchestergov) or Twitter (@westchestergov).

 “The tele-town hall is a way for me to speak directly to Westchester residents and answer their questions,” Astorino said. “There is a lot to talk about. I will give an update on key issues and then answer questions.”

Last month, Astorino delivered his state of the county address, during which he detailed the substantial progress that has been made on all three of his priorities as county executive:  protecting taxpayers, preserving essential services and promoting economic growth.  The full video of the speech can be viewed at www.westchestergov.com.

This event will be the fourth “Ask Astorino” tele-town hall.

30

The owners of the Birdsall House are opening an artisanal pizza restaurant called Gleason’s in Peekskill in August.

The restaurant will serve pizzas and flatbreads made with a sourdough pizza dough created with yeast propagated from New York state beer, most likely from Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

The menu will also have pasta of the day (or week, maybe) as well as small plates. There will be eight draft lines for craft beers, and, says John Sharpe, one of the owners, “we are certainly going to step up the wine program on this one.” (He mentioned cocktails, too!)

The partners—Sharpe, Tim Reinke, Bryan Delaney and Damian Collemo—named the restaurant after Jackie Gleason, who had a house in Peekskill. The building was for many years a place called Miller’s, and Sharpe says Joe Namath was a regular.

“We have to assume that if Joe Namath was hanging out there that Jackie stopped by a couple of times,” laughs Sharpe.

There is a 1940s bar in the restaurant—“old bars seem to find Tim and I,” says John—but there is little more worth saving. So unlike Birdsall House, which was renovated to its former glory, Gleason’s will have a more contemporary and classic look. They are still working out design details, but they are considering a tin ceiling in the bar area and a more modern feel for the dining room.

Sharpe, Reinke and Delaney also own the Blind Tiger Ale House in Manhattan.

You can keep up with the progress on the Gleason’s blog here: http://www.gleasons-peekskill.com/blog/

Here’s the announcement:

PLANNING PROJECTS TO BE SHOWCASED AT JUNE 7 AWARDS DINNER

Westchester Municipal Planning Federation celebrates best of local efforts; two county government projects among the award winners

The winners of successful planning projects that enhance Westchester’s quality of life will be honored at the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation’s (WMPF) 39th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 7, at 6 p.m. at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough.

Winning projects were in New Castle, Ossining Village, Pelham Manor, White Plains, Yonkers, Mamaroneck Village and Rye Brook, plus two county government projects. Three individuals will also be given special recognition.

County Executive Robert P. Astorino praised the winners, saying, “Congratulations to all the winners. I am particularly pleased that the planning federation has recognized two county projects that involved work by the county’s departments of Planning and Parks and Recreation. The Brook at Tibbetts Brook Park project transformed an 81-year-old public pool in Yonkers into an impressive aquatic recreation facility. The Fox Commons Town Homes in Port Chester created affordable housing and enhanced the nearby Edgewood Park.”

List of award winners

The five Planning Achievement Award winning projects are:

• South Greely Parking Lot Consolidation, Town of New Castle

• Architectural Design Guidelines, Village of Ossining

• Business District Revitalization, Village of Pelham Manor

• East Post Road Comprehensive Planning and Plan Implementation, City of White Plains

• Downtown Form Based Zoning Code, City of Yonkers

The five projects winning Special Commendations are:

• Restoration and Adaptive Reuse of Mamaroneck Train Station, Village of Mamaroneck

• Village Comprehensive Plan, Village of Mamaroneck

• Fair and Affordable Housing Floating Zone, Village of Rye Brook

• The “Brook” at Tibbetts Brook Park, Westchester County

• Fox Commons Townhomes and Edgewood Park Improvements, Westchester County

The President’s Award will be given to Cheryl Winter Lewy, who has allocated her personal time and energy to making Westchester a better place to live, work and visit. She served on the county Planning Board beginning in 2003 and as its chair from 2004-2011. Lewy was the mayor of the Village of Larchmont from 1992-2001.

A Distinguished Citizen Planner Award will be given to John Garment, a member of the City of White Plains Planning Board from 1994-2006, and its chairman from 2006-2010. This award will also be presented to Alan Mason, a member of the Town of Mamaroneck Planning Board from 2003-2011, who played a critical role in addressing flooding in this community. He served on the Water Control Commission from 1976-1981. He chaired the Coastal Zone Management Commission from 1982-1984 and continued to serve as a member until 2002.

The Westchester Municipal Planning Federation is a countywide organization that sponsors educational programs and publishes instructional material on current planning issues of interest to government officials, professional planners and the general public. WMPF’s annual planning awards recognize the accomplishments of municipalities and volunteer board members who have made significant contributions to planning. Support to WMPF is provided by the Westchester County Department of Planning. Information about the 2012 WMPF Awards Program and Dinner is at www.wmpf.org.

The Chabad of Briarcliff-Ossining is hosting a Women’s Gala on May 31 to honor Jewish women.

The keynote speaker will be Devorah Halberstram whose talk will be about “A Journey of Faith: When Tears Formed a Rainbow” the story of her  grief when in 1994 her 16-year-old son was shot and killed by a terrorist. She waged a campaign against terrorism becoming a global activist and helped build the Jewish Children’s Museum in Brooklyn, which is aimed at teaching tolerance.

The event at The James House Mansion in Sleepy Hollow features cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dessert and raffles. Cost: $54. For more information, go the website or contact Rabbi Dovid Labkowski, Chabad of Briarcliff-Ossining, 11 Orchard Road, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. 10510; 914- 923-2522. Reservations requested by Thursday.

Thursday night Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers holds its annual President’s Dinner.  This year’s featured guest is Cardinal Timothy Dolan who will speak and receive the school’s Lux Christi award. The event is at Monteverde at Oldstone in Cortlandt Manor.

But with all the hoopla about meeting and hearing the new cardinal, school officials want to also  highlight others who will be recognized for achievements at the dinner:

Divine Compassion Award

Linda Troani of Somers

Teacher of the Year 

Gina DiSenso ’99 of Mahopac

The 2012 Students of Excellence

Richard Aprile (18, Carmel), Kimberly Bruenn (17, Goldens Bridge), Megan Callaghan (17, Holmes), William Crockatt (18, Purdys), Kevin Delfino (18, Carmel), Jena Lynne DiFrisco (18, Patterson), Anthony Djerdjaj (17, Mahopac), Keriann Eliseo (18, Katonah), Mackenzie Feehan (17, Brewster), Kristen Gold (18, Somers), Matthew Infantino (18, Patterson), Erin Joyce (18, Cortlandt Manor), Catherine Kastberg (18, Katonah), Katherine Lange (18, Bedford Hills), Andrew Ledley (16, Brewster), Gerard Ledley (18, Brewster), Jacqueline McAvoy (17, Brewster), Louis Sarro (17, Brewster), Daniella Torchia (18, Ossining) and Kathleen Tucker (17, Pawling).