News You Can Use-- - -- February 2024

Events this Month

2023

Year In Review

A 60-second video look back at a busy year in the City of White Plains.

Click here or on the video to view.

Mayor Roach Honored for Support of the Arts

Mayor Tom Roach was recently honored with a 2024 Public Leadership in the Arts award by Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors in Washington, DC. He received the National Award for Local Arts Leadership for cities with a population of fewer than 100,000 residents. Winners in other population categories were the mayor of St. Louis and the governor of Colorado.

Mayor Roach was nominated for the award by ArtsWestchester due to his long-term leadership in the City’s arts scene as well as his partnership on signature cultural events like the Serious Fun Arts Fest in 2022 and JazzFest White Plains, a five-day festival now in its 12th year.

"I proudly accept the Local Arts Leadership award," said Mayor Roach, "on behalf of our strong arts and business partners and our residents who collaborate with city officials to invigorate an art community that is enjoyed and valued by everyone who lives, works and visits the City of White Plains."

At City Hall -- All Welcome

One White Plains Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing on February 5

The One White Plains Comprehensive Plan is a document informed by input from White Plains residents, businesses, and visitors.

The resulting plan provides policy guidance for future growth and development, housing, infrastructure, and public services. The Plan identifies strategies to make the City a better place for years to come.

The next stop in the three-year One White Plains Comprehensive Plan development process is a public meeting on Monday, February 5 at 7:30 pm in the Common Council Chamber on the second floor at City Hall, 255 Main Street.

There will be a presentation of the plan and an opportunity for public comment. Everyone is welcome to attend and voice their opinion. It will be televised live and available on WPCATV.

For details on the plan development process, visit the One White Plains website.

The Draft Plan is available for review here.

Enjoy Ebersole Ice Rink

Whether you are a seasoned skater or a beginner, Ebersole Ice Rink at 104 Lake Street is the perfect place to have fun and get exercise this winter. Our roof protects you from the elements, so you can skate rain or shine.

The rink is the home to the Plainsmen youth hockey program, skating lessons for children and adults, and the Annual Battle of the Badges.

Public sessions are:

• Fridays from 2:30-4 pm (free for residents), 6:45-7:45 pm and 8-10 pm.
• Saturdays from 1-3 pm and Sundays from 8:30-10:15 am (adults only) and 1-3 pm.

White Plains Summer Day Camps

The Camp Lottery Opens February 13

The City of White Plains offers day camp programs for children in grades

K - 8. White Plains children enjoy time at city pools, playing games, making new friends, and enjoying technology-free time outdoors.

Enrollment in the 2024 Recreation & Parks Summer Day Camp program will be by lottery. Your child's name MUST be submitted into the lottery if you are interested in attending White Plains Rec & Parks Summer Day Camp. The Lottery is open from February 13 to March 1 and is limited to White Plains residents.

You Can Help White Plains Children Enjoy

Year-Round Quality Recreational Programming

White Plains Youth Court Featured on NBC's Today Show

It's Time to Apply for an "It's Her Time" Scholarship

The Friends of the White Plains Youth Bureau is offering $1,800 "It's Her Time" scholarships to help three White Plains High School women seniors achieve their higher education goals. The ideal candidates are young women who have demonstrated leadership in their school and community and are dedicated to giving back to the causes they are passionate about.

The deadline to apply for this scholarship is Monday, February 26. If you have any questions, please reach out to itshertimewp@gmail.com.

Click here for complete information and to apply.

IN YOUR HOME THIS WINTER

For help heating your home, the NYS Home Energy Assistance Program provides assistance to eligible New

Yorkers.

The City of White Plains Housing Rehab Program can assist eligible homeowners with low-interest and deferred loans for heating, plumbing, roofing and insulation projects.

The City provides a Safe Housing web page with tips about home safety. Use this form to report concerns about safety issues or neighborhood conditions.

Guideline #1 - Do not park cars on the street when it snows, or when snow is in the forecast.

But that's not all. Check out all the helpful guidelines here at the Seasonal Snow Removal Guidelines page.

The Cities of White Plains and Chernihiv, Ukraine Become Sister Cities

On January 23, 2024, Mayor Roach and Acting Mayor Oleksandr Lomako of Chernihiv, Ukraine (pictured below) signed a sister city agreement via Zoom.

Chernihiv is a more than 1000 year-old city of 285,000 located on the Desna River in northeast Ukraine close to the Belarus border.

In a gesture of friendship and goodwill, the mayors of White Plains and Chernihiv agreed to collaborate for the mutual benefit of their communities by exploring educational, economic, and cultural opportunities.

This relationship will furnish insight into how another city in the world operates and provides much-needed resources to their community.  

Two WP Students Receive MLK Legacy Youth Awards

Two White Plains High School students were awarded MLK Legacy Youth Awards by the African American Men of Westchester in a ceremony held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Joseph Flores received the Vision Award and Emily Portillo the Social Action Award.

The African American Men of Westchester is committed to developing and encouraging collaborative action to strengthen the economic, social, and educational foundation of our communities. The MLK Legacy Youth Awards honor students who have taken an active role in the community.

City Recognizes 21 Unsung Heroes at December Event

The Youth Bureau Unsung Heroes program recognizes those who work quietly, tirelessly and without fanfare behind the scenes and whose work contributes positively to keeping our city and community running. . . . school bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, school crossing guards, secretaries, administrative assistants, youth ministry leaders, etc.

The 2023 Honorees are:

• Benji Carter
• Doreen Christie
• Bill Dubois (Mr. Bill)
• Jill Iannetta
• Martin Kleinman
• Kaela Mainsah
• Judy Mezey

• FF Nicholas Perri
• Yevette Pujols
• Paul Schiffman
• Azline Suber
• Lisa Wansley

To nominate a hero,

call 914.422.1378 or click here to email .

From the White Plains

Police Department

• Jasmine Albert
• BrieAnna Brown
• Det. Christina Brown
• Jewel Lynch
• Ashley Martinez
• Jessica Myrthil
• Jndejah Spencer
• Sierra Vitolo
• Elizabeth Vuksanaj

City Honors 25, 30 & 35 Year Employees

Congratulations to City of White Plains employees who have achieved 25, 30 and 35 years of service. Mayor Roach was proud and honored to present these dedicated employees with Service Awards.

25 Years of Service

Philip Calabro

Jose Clauser

Joseph D'Alesandro

Louis Dominguez

Philip Ferreira

Marco Garced

Eric Hansen

Thomas McCreight

Jacqueline Oggeri

Kenneth Pasqualini

Claudio Petriccione

Bruno Siani

Byron Smalls

Aspasia Tofano

Christopher Tsapatsaris Raquel Vieira-Cavalcanti

30 Years of Service

David Baylock Jr.

Anthony Brien

Ciro Buffone

Joseph Carrier

Karen Costable

Joseph Dapice

Kevin DiSanto

Christopher Fitzpatrick

William Gorbutt

Edward Gordon

Agnes Kadavil

Douglas McMath

William Nicholson

Edward Robinson

Cosimo Villani

Vincent Wadden

Larry Whittle Jr.

35 Years of Service

Donna Bannister

Michael Boggi III

Michael DiSanto

Sheila Foley

Kenneth Imperato

Kendrick McKnight

Adrian Scapperotti

City Apps Make Living in White Plains Better, Easier & Safer

All City of White Plains Apps are available, for free, on Google Play or the App Store.

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