For Mount Kisco's Harry McCartney, nature and man-made activities are interlinked in history. The result is his presentation, titled "The Long Journey," which traces the village's history back to pre-historic times

McCartney, who has been giving versions of the talk in recent years, updated Mount Kisco's Village Board of Trustees its Monday meeting, giving an overview of what his presentation entails are his plans coming up for this year to tweak it.

"This program tries to make this place a value come alive," McCartney said.

McCartney takes a holistic look at village history, from how hills in the area were ancient mountains altered by geological change, to how streams along the present-day Byram Lake Road were influential in driving early European settlement.

McCartney breaks down the presentation in historical phases, which include geological changes, settlement by Native Americans and Europeans and the arrival of the railroad in 1848 that transformed Mount Kisco into a thriving community.

Even today, McCartney explained, little reminders of history can still be found, such as an old cistern near Route 133 that was used for holding water meant for old steam-engine trains.

In his overview of what he did to present last year, McCartney said he did six presentations at the Mount Kisco Public Library, as well as walking tours with seniors. He has had a great deal of buy-in from groups in the village, from the library, to the Mount Kisco Historical Society, to civic groups.

For 2012, McCartney has plans to update his presentation. They include partnering with the Bedford Farm Club to appear at one of its meetings, adding more historical material and doing research on the village's former cultural centers and businesses.

This year is significant is several ways for Mount Kisco history. In the spring, there will be 100th anniversary events for both Mount Kisco Elementary School's building and a former schoolhouse now located near Moore Avenue, according to village Trustee Jean Farber, who works with the historical society. Also, the trustees approved a resolution allowing for the historical society to hold meetings at its space at 55 Maple Ave., which is currently used for storage, a transition from using village hall.