Guest conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos will lead the Philharmonic in a program that will include pops and patriotic favorites, including Stars and Stripes Forever and The Star-Spangled Banner.
Pre-concert entertainment begins at 6 p.m. with the Stages band, performing music from past decades. The Philharmonic takes the stage at 8 p.m.; fireworks will follow the concert at approximately 9:15 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
“Independence Day 1809,”
Costumed parade, patriotic speeches and children’s activities.
July 4, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. $6 to $12.
Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 South Riverside Avenue. (914) 631-8200; hudsonvalley.org, Croton on Hudson
“Pops, Patriots and Fireworks.”
July 4 at 8 p.m. $34 to $74.
Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah; caramoor.com; (914) 232-1252. “Independence Day at John Jay Homestead,” featuring a fife and drum band and a reading of the D
Declaration of Independence. July 4, 11 a.m. to noon.
Free. John Jay Homestead Historic Site, 400 Route 22. (914) 232-5651; johnjayhomestead.org.
“Independence Day Concert,”
featuring the Westchester Chamber Orchestra and Adam Kent, piano. Friday at 7 p.m.
Free. New Rochelle Public Library, 1 Library Plaza. westchesterchamberorchestra.org; (914) 654-4926.
“Old-Fashioned Fourth of July,” games and ice cream churning.
Bring a picnic lunch. All ages. July 4, 1 to 3 p.m. Free. Muscoot Farm, Route 100, Somers
westchestergov.com/parks; (914) 864-7282.
“Independence Day 1859,” 19th-century baseball,and ice-cream-making demonstrations.
July 4, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. $6 to $12. Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, 89 West Sunnyside Lane, off Route 9. hudsonvalley.org; (914) 631-8200.
If you are ordering your Christmas Presents on line and having them shipped be careful. Homeowners in White Plains, Hastings and other communities are reporting that thieves are picking up boxes left at front doors and stealing the boxes. In one case an I-Pod was taken out of a box, the box was sealed up and left on the front door stoop.
If the package can be seen from the street it becomes a target. In my area last year this happened and the UPS driver assigned to my area refused to leave packages. He insisted that the homeowner be home to sign so he could hand the package over. While the problem seemed to be during the holidays this particular driver will no longer leave packages. I now have to drive up to the UPS facility in Elmsford if I am not home when he attempts to deliver a package. I did finally arrange with UPS to give them a note that they will not be responsible if something is taken. But if you are having anything of value delivered, be cautious!
A variety of ways to help protect the environment have sprung up for this holiday season. Studies now show that 54% of holiday shoppers will choose to be eco-friendly if given a chance. So a few ideas.
All of the lights on the Times Square New Years Ball have been replaced this year in honor of the 100th year. Now the LED lights use 1 watt of power vs last year and prior years which used 40 watts.
There is also a new site called Catalog Choice. This site is free and you can opt out of receiving catalogs you are not interested in. Catalog Choice is a sponsored project of the Ecology Center. It is endorsed by the National Wildlife Federation and the Natural Resources Defense Council, and funded by the Overbrook Foundation, the Merck Family Fund, and the Kendeda Fund. You can eliminate duplicate and unsolicited catalog mailings - now that is an environmentally friendly thing to do.
