Young do-gooders received mayoral recognition yesterday during the first Gunpowder's Kids Recognition Party at Warner Public Library.

Halloween and the Headless Horseman were the afternoon's theme amid apple cider, pound cake and duly-decorated cookies and cupcakes.

"You helped weed tree wells, and you helped pick up trash," Patricia Pinckney, the group's founder, said to the energetic kids gathered in the brightly-lit reading room.

Tarrytown Mayor Drew Fixell issued a written proclamation to "thank and commend the children recognized by Gunpowder's Kids" and declared Oct. 25, 2010, "Gunpowder's Kids Day in the Village of Tarrytown."

Gunpowder's Kids encourages and recognizes young children - preschool to elementary school or age 12 - who contribute to the community via a group project or individual ideas like baking cookies for a neighbor or visiting someone who is a shut-in. The idea is to foster a sense of community service at a young age.

"Hopefully they will get satisfaction from volunteering and will develop patterns of contributing," Pinckney said.

The children are supported by IchabodAlive, an organization founded last year that highlights activities and opportunities for children in the community. Many children act in their own groups, or individually, on good samaritan projects. 

For example, the BUDS group planted 4,000 daffodil bulbs since 2006; yet another group named Town Wide Kid Helpers (TWKH) planted flowers at the Neighborhood House, raised money for the Birthday Box Program at A Nu Toy Store, and picked up trash.

Other projects were writing to soldiers and making holidays decorations for senior citizens and participating in a Read-a-Thon to raise money for the Warner Public Library Children's Room.

After each project was complete, the group is asked to send an email explaining what it did and who participated. Different projects were posted monthly on the library's website at www.warnerlibrary.org.

"You are pioneers doing good things for the village," Pinckney told the youth and parents. "Do you know what a pioneer is?"

Hands flew into the air.

"You're the first group, and you will be an example to others," Pinckney said.

After receiving their certificates from the mayor – some offering a handshake, one executing a mutual fist bump – the 24 kids who attended were treated to a reading of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by elementary PTA member David Neilsen.

Those children in attendence who were honored included: Cameron Allen, Campbell Allen, Ciarra Brogan, Luca Brown, Frankie Campbell, Kaija Campbell, Max Clover, Casey Donaugh, Madeleine Galloway, Katie Jones, Liam Kharem, Maya Kharem, Eva Kuhn, Zoe Kuhn, Griffin Neilsen, Phoebe Neilsen, Eamon Pearson, Theo Pearson, Anya Puri, Jack Rafter, Logan Rafter, Emily Rypka, Ivy Rypka and Cooper van der Meer.

Those who were unable to attend will also be presented with certificates.

Pinckney also took some time to explain what the program is all about, and why it is named Gunpowder's Kids.

"Gunpowder is the faithful horse who carried Ichabod Crane across the covered bridge in Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," Pinckney said.

Gunpowder's Kids is supported by IchabodAlive, a small group of villagers that celebrates local life and promotes events in the Tarrytown area.

"Ichabod (Crane) was not a friendly guy," Pinckney said. "This (IchabodAlive) is a way for him to have a 'second chance' to participate in the community."

"In 2009 we mounted an exhibit (posters) for adult and family events at the Y (Family YMCA of Tarrytown), The Historical Society, Tarrytown Environmental Advisory Committee and Warner Public Library," Pinckney said.

The next IchabodAlive display will promote village events during May and June and will be on display on two walls of Coffee Labs Roasters on Main Street for one month, then move on to the library for a second month.

For information, and to have your project posted on the library's website, write to GunpowdersKids@gmail.com.