Christopher Pagli's Blog

Enjoy the weather and have fun!

Purchase: Memorial Day Ceremony. Mayor of Harrison, several town board members, local Boy Scout Troop, active duty military members and several local residents who are Veterans of Foreign Wars will be in attendance. 6 p.m. Purchase Firehouse, 614 Anderson Hill Road. 914-253-9044.

May 24

Larchmont: Larchmont-Mamaroneck Memorial Day Parade. The parade will travel south on Chatsworth Avenue, turn right onto Larchmont Avenue and proceed to Cherry Avenue. 7 p.m. Larchmont Train Station, 1 Railroad Way.

May 25

Valhalla: Pre-Memorial Day Services. Speaker: Capt. Robert Yarrish, a U.S. Naval Reserve physician who served in Afghanistan. 2:30 p.m. Kensico Cemetery, 273 Lakeview Ave. 888-536-7426.

May 26

Shrub Oak: Civil War Veterans’ Memorial Ceremony. The Yorktown American Legion, Civil War re-enactors, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Somers Middle School Living History students will conduct a memorial ceremony at the graves of two recently discovered Civil War veterans graves in the Shrub Oak Methodist cemetery. This ceremony will be followed by the decoration of all veterans’ graves in the cemetery with American flags. 11 a.m. United Methodist Church of Shrub Oak, 1176 E. Main St. 914-953-6807.

Rye: Memorial Day Ceremony. To remember and honor those buried at the cemetery. 10 a.m. African American Cemetery, 215 North St.

May 27

Rye: Memorial Day Observance. Rye Post No. 128 of the American Legion will conduct the city’s annual Memorial Day observance. Free. 10 a.m. Village Green, Boston Post Road. 914-967-1500.

Rye: Memorial Day Tribute. Featuring a helicopter and Osprey flight demonstration, barbecue and more. All Westchester veterans are urged to register in advance. Call: 914-995-2145. Free. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Playland Amusement Park, Playland Parkway (Exit 19 off I-95). 914-813-7000.

May 28

Peekskill: Peekskill Memorial Day Observance. The event will include the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem, bagpipers, comments by Mayor Mary Foster, and a performance by the Peekskill High School Band. 10 a.m. Monument Park, Highland Avenue and North Division Street.

Tarrytown: Unveiling of Gold Star Mothers Memorial. The Veterans of Foreign Wars-Post 1939, Sleepy Hollow, will unveil the Gold Star Mothers Memorial at 11 a.m. at Patriots Park, Route 9. For more information, contact Chick Galella 914-631-2293.

Thornwood: Memorial Day Observance. 11 a.m. at Thornwood Monuments, Commerce Street off Franklin Ave. Refreshments will be served after the ceremony by the Gilbert Rauh Post at the American Legion Hall, 52 Garrigan Ave., Thornwood. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Post at 11 a.m. For more information, call Past Commander Stephen Loia at 914-761-2298.

New Rochelle: Memorial Day Parade. Ceremony followed by a parade proceeding from Huguenot Street to North Avenue into Hudson Park where there will be festivities, music, food and displays. 10:30 a.m. New Rochelle Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade, Memorial Plaza-Hudson Park.

Harrison: Memorial Day Ceremony. Parade starts at Halstead Avenue. Free. 10 a.m. American Legion Carle-Anderson Post 559, Memorial Building, Halstead Avenue.

Mount Vernon: Memorial Day Commemoration: Soldiers’ Stories and Songs. Site opens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walking tours recalling the lives and stories of soldiers interred in the historic cemetery. A special 2 p.m. talk by historian B. Schecter about the history of the draft in America. Free. noon-4 p.m. St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 S. Columbus Ave. 914-667-4116.

Shrub Oak: Memorial Day Service. The Mohegan Lake Fire Department will conduct the annual service. 10 a.m. Shrub Oak Honor Roll, East Main Street. 914-245-4427.

1) Beczak Environmental Education Center - 35 Alexander Ave Yonkers, NY - 914.377-1900 x12 or Beczak.org - The center is open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm through October...closed on Sundays, FREE

2) Cranberry Lake Preserve - 1609 Orchard St. West Harrison NY - 914.428.1005 or parks.westchestergov.com, open Wednsday-Sunday 10am-5pm July-August...open 9am-5pm Daily - FREE

3) Greenburgh Narure Center - 99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale NY - 914.723.3470 or greenburghnaturecenter - open daily dawn to dusk...Indoor exhibits are open weekdays (except Friday) 9:30-4:30pm, weekends 10am-4:30pm, Price is $7, $6 for seniors & students, and $5 for children 2-12, free for children under 2.

4) Ladson Park, Aboretum and Veteran Memorial - Rte 35 Somers NY, 914.864.7263 or parks.westchestergov.com, open daily 8am-4pm, Veteran's Memorial open weekends, Veteran's Museum open Summer, Garden Shop open March Thru Christmas Wednsdays - Sunday 11am-3:30pm, FREE

5) Lenoir Preserve - 19 Dudley St, Yonkers NY 914.968.5851 or parks.westchestergov.com, the Nature Center is open September thru June Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4pm, July and August Monday-Friday 9am-4pm, TRails open daily dawn to dusk, FREE

6) Marshland Conservancy - Rte 1, Rye NY - 914.835.4466 or parks.westchestergov.com, open Tuesday-Sunday and most holidays 9am-4pm, Trails open daily dawn to dusk.

7) Muscoot Farm - 51 Rte 100, Katonah NY - 914.864.7282 or muscootfarm.org, open daily 10am-4pm, FREE

8) Read Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center - Playland Parkway, Rye NY 914.967.8720 or parks.westchestergov.com - Nature Center open Tuesday - Saturday 9am-4pm, Trails open daily dawn to dusk, FREE

9) Rye Nature Center - 873 Boston Post Road, Rye NY - 914.967-5150 or ryenaturecenter.org, grounds and trails open daily dawn to dusk, Butterfly House open May-October dawn to dusk, FREE but donations appreciated.

10) Sheldrake Environmental Center - 685 Weaver St, Larchmont NY - 914.834.1443 or sheldrakecenter.org, open Monday-Friday 9:30am-5pm, closed weekends and holidays, FREE for hiking, program fees vary.

11) Teatown Lake Reservation - 1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining NY - 914.762.2912 or teatown.org, open daily 9am-5pm, trails open daily dawn to dusk, FREE but program fees vary.

12) Trailside Nature Museum at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation - Rte 35 and 121, Cross River- 914.864.7322 or friendsoftrailside.org, Trails open daily dawn to dusk, Museum open Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4pm, FREE but there is a $2 suggested donation.

13) Weinberg Nature Center and Trailside Museum - 455 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale NY - 914.722.1289 or weinbergnaturecenter.org, fall, winter, spring hours Weds 10am-2pm, Thursday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am-4pm...Summer hours 10am-5pm, trails open daily dusk to dawn.

14) Westmoreland Sanctuary - 260 Chestnut Ridge Road, Bedford Corners NY - 914.666.8448 or westmorelandsanctuary.org, open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10:30am-5pm, trails are open daily dawn to dusk, FREE.

15) The Wolf Conservation - South Salem 914.763.2373 or nywolf.org