Jun. 18, 2014:  When Thomas Pell deeded the land to Eastchester's original settlers on June 24, 1664, he could never have envisioned the celebration of this event that would follow 350 years later! 

From a community festival on June 21 to an official commemorative town board meeting on June 24 to trolley tours on June 29, Eastchester, Tuckahoe, and Bronxville residents will enjoy an array of activities to mark the historic occasion.

The community festival at Lake Isle Country Club on June 21 will kick off with a shotgun golf outing that requires advance registration. All details about this tourney--its format, entry fee, and terrific prizes--may be found at www.eastchester350.org, the official website of Eastchester's 350th.

There will be an open house at the Lake Isle's pools from noon to 6:00 pm. A family picnic will be held on the club's driving range from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm. All are encouraged to bring their own beach chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets. A barbecue lunch from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm will be catered by Mulino's at Lake Isle. It will feature hot dogs, hamburgers, water, and soda, with wristbands sold for $3.50 that day. 

Live entertainment will be offered nonstop on the driving range from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm, featuring Ali Isabella, a Bronxville hometown headliner!

From 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, it will be the Bookends Band; 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Jonathan Kruk, master storyteller, performing in historic dress with tales specific to Eastchester's history; from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm, Ms. Isabella; and from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, the Teri Lamar Band. Chris Vernia/Double Image Sound DJs will play a variety of music between performances.

Other fun activities on the driving range include face painters and balloon makers from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm; the 2nd New York Regiment Brigade of the American Revolution, reenacting camp demonstration, marching and drilling, and musket firings from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm; and the all-important pony rides from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

A tennis exhibition will round out the Lake Isle activities from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Sportime Tennis Facility.

Thanks to its sponsors, the community festival is offered free of charge to all residents of Eastchester, Tuckahoe, and Bronxville. Wells Fargo Bank's Eastchester Office at 375 White Plains Road serves as the lead sponsor of this community festival.

A special town board meeting on June 24, with no official business, will be held at town hall at 8:00 pm. The board moved its second meeting in the month of June to this date so that the official anniversary of the town's founding could be commemorated and the public would have an opportunity to offer thoughts on this occasion.

The town is also in the process of preserving its historic "Franklin Mile Marker," which was endangered by its close proximity to Post Road at the north end of town. It has been moved to a unique location alongside the northeast corner of White Plains Road and California Road, across the street and to the north of the Veterans Memorial Park. There will be an official rededication ceremony in the fall once it is properly landscaped.

The special June celebrations will end with trolley tours on June 29. Commencing from town hall on that Sunday at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, the "trolley" buses will take residents and friends throughout the three communities to enjoy the historic sites. There will be commentary from the town historian and members of the Eastchester Historical Society. This event is limited to ticket holders. Check www.eastchester350.org for details regarding purchase at $22 each; reservations are almost closed.

Pictured here:  Hometown girl Ali Isabella, who will perform at the community festival.

Photo courtesy Linda Doherty Laird