BBQ, Ice Cream and Outdoor Movies: What Summer Means in Harrison

From the crickets chirping outside to long sunny afternoons at a local park, summer brings different memories for everyone.

To celebrate the official start of summer, we asked a few familiar faces what summer means to them. Please share your favorite summer memories in the comments section below or send them to zacho@patch.com and we'll include your favorites in the story.

Here is what a few of us enjoy most about the summer months:

Councilwoman Marlane Amelio:

What Summer Means to Me: Summer is my favorite season and consequently all summers are memorable since they represent that small window of opportunity of enjoying the outdoors by hosting barbecues with my family, garden dinner parties and riding my horse without freezing!

As a life-long resident in Harrison, I have that unique advantage of recalling events during the summers that made Harrison a very exciting town for a young child. I remember the firemen's carnival which was held in the municipal parking lot opposite Pizza 2000 downtown every summer, culminating with the exciting firemen's parade held every year. It was especially exciting for me since both my grandfathers marched in the parade as volunteer firemen. I can remember feeling very proud. Also, toward the end of the summer, I believe it was August, St. Gregory's Church would hold a bazaar every year at Dargin Square that was crowded with everyone in town. And of course, I would be remiss for not mentioning the fireworks display that was held every 4th of July at Westchester Country Club. Town residents used to pull their cars onto the golf course and spread  blankets out watching the extravaganza the club put on every year.

When I was a child there was always an exciting event to look forward during the summer months in Harrison.

Favorite Summer Destination: Home! We tend to travel a lot during the cold weather and after a busy winter I enjoy staying at home and relaxing with our family. After waiting all winter for the nice weather in New York, I don't want to leave it!

Ada Angarano, President Harrison Chamber of Commerce

My Favorite Summer Memory: As a child, I can remember waiting with all the other children in our neighborhood for the sound of bells ringing in the distance.  The bells came from the Good Humor truck driven by “Uncle John” our friendly local Good Humor delivery man. 

Uncle John as we all knew him was a really nice and gentle person. He treated his customers (us kids) with the utmost respect as if a real uncle would. A step further, if it was your birthday, Uncle John would give the birthday child a choice of a delicious frozen treat for free as a birthday present! 

Unfortunately, my birthday was in February so I never received a freebie, but the memory of his generosity toward children remained with me all my life.    

As the years passed and we began growing up, the ringing of the bells became less frequent, Uncle John was getting older too and eventually retired; I can somehow remember him giving away free ice cream to all the children on his last visit to our neighborhood. 

Uncle John is missed by all whose hearts he touched, and his caring, gentle and generous personality will remain in my memory forever.

Katherine Frankel, writer and Patch columnist

To Me Summer Is: Freedom and fun! Physical freedom the minute you shrug off the heavy coats and scarves and trade boots and socks for sandals and flip-flops. Freedom of movement as we no longer have to avoid rainy days or snow-filled roads. Freedom to be indoors or outdoors, travel easily and fit even more into the long summer days and light-filled evenings. Fun in the air from the moment the first sunny days appear and everyone from your boss to your mailman to strangers on the street can't stop smiling after the long gray winter. Outdoor dinners, fun summer parties, beach visits, pool time, long weekends, bright colored clothing and fresh, light, summer fruits and food—what's not to love?

My Favorite Summer Tradition: Outdoor film night at our Harrison house where we set up a drive-in size screen and have 150-200 people bring in fold up chairs or rugs and lie out on the grass for a late-night movie with popcorn and desert and ice cream for intermission.

Favorite Summer Destination: Italy without a doubt! Bright colors, gorgeous scenery, summer street markets, fresh grown vegetables, delicious food, Italian style and the madcap, extroverted Italian temperament makes for the perfect summer vacation.

This Summer I Can't Wait to: Open up the East Hampton house and having it filled with guests every weekend again. Friday night dinner parties outdoors down the back of our Harrison house where we have 12 people over and sit outdoors until it's too dark to see even with the lantern light.

Zach Oliva, Harrison Local Editor

Favorite Summer Memory: Playing baseball, wiffle ball or any other sport at a field near my neighborhood. I can remember trying to keep the game going well into the darkness, my friends and I convincing ourselves that there was enough light left for at least another inning when it clearly wasn't the case.

I also remember Fourth of July festivities at a pond near my parents' house that always made for a great tradition.

This Summer I Can't Wait For: The summer concert series in Harrison. It's always a ton of fun visiting with people on warm summer evenings who are enjoying free music either downtown or in West Harrison. I had a great time last year and can't wait to see it again.

Denise Di Biasi, West Harrison Business Owner

My Favorite Part of Summer Is: It has never been my favorite season because heat and I are not the best of friends. Yet, I do love the slower pace we all seem to adapt during these months of warmer weather: and, I do love to visit the shore.

My Favorite Summer Destination: The Jersey Shore. My dad always took the family down to celebrate summer...boardwalks, fresh seafood and gorgeous beaches. We all loved it so much that he bought a place on the shore years ago.

My husband, Guido, and I kept the tradition of long weekends by the shore and relaxed, casual dinners in the seafood restaurants. But, I have to say, my favorite summers were the ones we spent with our son, Matthew. From the time he was a baby, we would go down to the condo and have the best times. As he grew up, we spent countless hours on the beach digging for sand crabs and just hanging in the water. My dad would "police" Matthew and stand there at the shoreline never taking his eyes off of him. These really were the best summers ever.

The photo I chose to post is from one of those photo machines everyone uses on the boardwalk. This was an impromptu visit for a quick weekend.

Looking Forward to: Here is to the summer of 2011, full of hope and promise, gentle breezes that will cool our evenings, Italian lemon ice, steamed lobsters and at least one trip to the Jersey Shore!