In the past year they have improved traffic signage, launched an annual community wine tasting event and sent a Katonah student to college with a $1,500 scholarship. 

They are the members of the Katonah Village Improvement Society, an all-volunteer organization with a civic tradition dating back to 1878.

"We're a grassroots organization, one of the strongest and longest-running in the country," said co-president Susan Warsaw. "We're a great vehicle for residents to get involved in issues affecting Katonah."

KVIS is a way for residents to present a united voice, added her co-president, Dorothy Coletta. When a recent potential zoning change may have resulted in increased traffic and brightly lit parking lot at the southern end of Katonah Avenue, KVIS appealed to the Town of Bedford.

"Instead of many individuals calling town supervisor Lee Roberts' office, we were able to send a representative to a board meeting to communicate our position," said Coletta. "Our efforts helped maintain the village character."

They'd also like to promote Katonah as a tourist destination and to that end, recently developed a walking tour and map of Katonah.  "We're a great day trip from the city," said Warsaw. "The MTA placed our guide in stations where over 30,000 morning commuters will see it."

On Monday, the organization held its annual meeting in conjunction with the Katonah Village Library. Since 1880 the organizations have been entwined, when the society donated 400 books to open the first Library and Reading Room. Over 50 members from both groups gathered for the business meeting and to hear guest speaker and local author Michael Balkind.

The society depends on contributions and fundraising events to keep its programs going — $72,000 was raised in the past seven years through donations and such programs as an annual plant sale.

In turn, the society sponsors public art projects, film series and local cultural institutions. At a meeting Monday, KVIS presented its annual donation of $2,000 to the Katonah Village Library.

Educational outreach includes an annual college scholarship and John Jay Homestead history camp scholarship for local students. One of their most popular sponsored events is the Katonah Village Forum, said Coletta, at which residents meet town officials in a casual setting.

 "We're such a diverse group—we have lawyers, retirees, musicians, landscapers, day traders—many different points of view are represented," said Coletta. "We welcome anyone from the community to attend our meetings and get involved."

To become a member of KVIS, residents become a "friend" of the library by donating $15.  Meetings are held the fourth Monday of every month.  For more information, email info@kvis.us.