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Rockettes Team Gather at Kensico Dam to Encourage Vaccinations

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(Valhalla, NY) – The iconic Radio City Rockettes participated in a public service announcement put together by Westchester County encouraging people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Recorded at Westchester’s Kensico Dam in Valhalla, the performers said they will be getting their vaccine when they become eligible.

 Rockette Katelyn Gaffney said: “With all the vaccines coming out, it’s almost just like more hope…so just stay hopeful and stay healthy.”

 Rockette Danelle Morgan said: “It’s been nice to know that we’ll be able to get into the studio by getting vaccinated and taking care of our bodies and doing all the social distancing that is necessary.”

 Rockette Miranda LeBar said: “We want the audience to be able to come back to theaters and see us, so we can bring that joy that everyone needs right now.”

 This latest PSA is part of an ongoing campaign launched in January encouraging the vaccine across the  County.

 You can view full PSA here.

 

 

Save the Dates for the 10th Annual “I Love My Park” Day(s): Activities Galore Planned for May 1 and May 2

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Volunteer Events Taking Place at 120 State Parks, Historic Sites and Public Lands Across New York

Online Registration Now Open and Can Be Completed Here

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that registration is now open for the tenth annual I Love My Park Day, which will be held over the weekend of May 1 and May 2, 2021 at state parks, historic sites and public lands across New York. The event, sponsored by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Parks & Trails New York and the Department of Environmental Conservation, is a statewide event to enhance parks, historic sites and public lands and raise awareness and visibility to the state outdoor recreation assets and their needs.

“More people than ever before are enjoying the beautiful and natural treasures New York State has to offer,” Governor Cuomo said. “I Love My Park Day is a great opportunity to give back to our incredible park system, and I encourage New Yorkers to sign up and volunteer at a participating park or historic site in their area to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy these amazing resources.”

Volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in cleanup events at 120 state parks, historic sites and public lands from Long Island to Western New York and covering all regions in between, including sites operated by the Department of Environmental Conservation and municipal parks. Registration for I Love My Park Day can be completed here.

Volunteers will celebrate New York’s public lands by cleaning up debris, planting trees and gardens, restoring trails and wildlife habitats, removing invasive species and working on various site improvement projects. Due to COVID-19, registration will be capped at 50 people per site per day to create a safe and enjoyable experience for all volunteers. All projects will adhere to the proper requirements for social distancing and face coverings.

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “State parks provided a necessary escape for people to safely recreate and explore the outdoors during the height of the pandemic. This year, we look forward to celebrating the stewardship of I Love My Park Day by welcoming volunteers whose efforts continue to make our state park system the very best in the nation and incredibly vital to our local communities. I’d like to thank our partners at Parks & Trails New York for continuing to organize this event for ten years and expanding opportunities for the public to give back.”

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “I Love My Park Day is the largest single-day volunteer event in New York State, providing opportunities for environmental stewards to help clean up, restore, and enhance the State’s parks, historic sites, and public lands. During the State’s ongoing response to the pandemic, more New Yorkers than ever before are venturing outdoors in search of recreation and I encourage them to consider giving back to our environment by registering to participate in preserving and improving these very special places and remembering to take care of public lands all year long.”

Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Robin Dropkin said, “Parks and green space are always important but never has that been more apparent than during this pandemic year. New Yorkers turned to parks in droves for recreation, respite and a safe place to spend time with family and friends. Now they have a chance to give back to the places that have sustained them over the last 12 months. We’re so happy to be able to celebrate the tenth anniversary of I Love My Park Day.”

Parks & Trails New York is New York’s leading statewide advocate for parks and trails, dedicated since 1985 to improving our health, economy, and quality of life through the use and enjoyment of green space for all. With thousands of members and supporters across the state, PTNY is a leading voice in the protection of New York’s magnificent state park system and the creation and promotion of more than 1,500 miles of greenways, bike paths, river walks, and trails. More information can be found here.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which are visited by 78 million people annually. A recent study found that New York State Parks generates $5 billion in park and visitor spending, which supports nearly 54,000 jobs. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit here, connect with us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram 

 

News from the New York State Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo

 

County’s New #SpeakUpWestchester Campaign Urges Residents to Report Incidents of Hate & Discrimination

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Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Westchester District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah are encouraging any victim or witness a hate crime, bias or hate incident to report it and not stay silent.

 (White Plains, NY) – With hate crimes on the rise in the region and bias incidents occurring in local communities, Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Westchester District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah are urging Westchester County residents to speak up.  To that end, they have launched #SpeakUpWestchester campaign, and encourage those who are the victim or witness a hate crime, bias or hate incident to report it.

To encourage more reporting the Westchester County Human Rights Commission has launched a new webpage to report incidents of bias hate or discrimination anonymously (or with your contact information) at www.westchestergov.com/biasreporting

Additionally, Rocah has launched a new hotline where a victim or witnesses of a hate crime or bias incident can report it to the Westchester County District Attorney at 914-995-TIPS (914-995-8477) or through their website at www.WestchesterDA.net.  Experienced Assistant District Attorneys will follow up all tips and complaints received.

Latimer said: “Westchester County takes all incidents of violence and hate seriously. We condemn any act that targets a person or group of people because of their actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability or other protected category. Recently, Asian Americans have been targeted around the country–and it must stop.” 

Rocah said: “Hate crimes and bias incidents impact all of us, because they create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation that keeps us from feeling safe and secure in our homes and communities. The District Attorney’s office is committed to working in close coordination with law enforcement, the County Human Rights Commission and community groups to fight hate and bias in Westchester. Reporting hate crimes and bias incidents helps us in that fight, and our new hotline is another way to let us know quickly and easily if you have been a victim of a crime or have witnessed a crime.”

While hate incidents do not always violate the law, they should always be reported by those targeted and bystanders.

  • If you need emergency assistance call 911
  • If you were the victim of a violent attack, call your local police department.
  • If you were the victim of an incident of bias, hate or discrimination, call the Westchester County Human Rights Commission (914) 995-7710 or email at HumanRights@westchestergov.com.  
  • If you are a victim or witnesses of a hate crime or bias incident call (914) 995-TIPS or visit www.WestchesterDA.net

Latimer said: “We applaud the leadership of the District Attorney of this important topic.  Westchester County is a striking tapestry of people from all different walks-of-life, who hold different values, who love different people and who have ancestors from different countries – we must never forget that these differences are what make us the Westchester we call home.”

Via news from the office of the Westchester County Executive

 

 

Halloween in Chappaqua, Then and Now… with Covid Safety Measures Planned

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Megan Klein in her: ‘Best.Costume.Ever’

October 30th update:  Erring on the side of caution, merchant trick or treat plans reported here earlier in the month have been cancelled in New Castle due to concerns with an uptick of cases being reported throughout the county.

Our author reminisces…

Oh, Halloween. What a concept. It’s the one day out of the year where it is acceptable to knock on a stranger’s door and willingly accept whatever they give us, with no questions asked. Hey, I was all for it when I was younger. Whether I was dressed as a puzzle piece, a hotdog, or sat home in my mustard costume on the couch all sad and mopey because I was sick, it was definitely never a bore.

Now that I’m older, I will say that I am over the whole scene. I can drive to go get candy whenever I want and I don’t need to be dressed up as barbequed meat to do it! Crazy what money can buy you.

I do, however, have great memories (and photos) from Halloween when I was a kid. My mom was a huge advocate of the Ragamuffin parade and some of my earliest trick-or-treating memories are from going around to each store after school. I was Minnie Mouse one year, and a cute one at that. Oh, and we can’t forget the time I was a clown. I had the clown shoes, the wig, the nose, the whole sha-bang. My mom still talks about it to this day. We will literally be watching TV, and she will be like, “Remember when you were a clown? Best. Costume. Ever.” 

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Unfortunately, what with the pandemic and all, Halloween is going to look a little different this year. It’s likely that a lot of people won’t be doing their normal Halloween traditions due to the pandemic and its safety concerns. While the parade is no longer on the schedule, there are other things in the works to make up for it!

For starters, thanks to Tara Mikolay of Desires by Mikolay, who spoke with board members of the town, PTA and others to make this a safe event, there WILL in fact be a merchant trick or treat this year. It will be over the span of three days, from 2-5 pm on Oct. 28, 29 and 30, with preschoolers first, followed by elementary school and middle school kids.

There will be tables outside of the stores with individually wrapped, grab-and-go candies along with a police presence aimed at preventing any traffic jam of little vampires and princesses, or whatever the kids dress up as these days. And of course, masks will be required.

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In terms of other Halloween activities, the PTA approved the annual window painting that happens around town every year, where students get to decorate a store-front window with season designs. And don’t worry, even though there won’t be a Ragamuffin parade this year, you will still have the chance to strut your stuff in town while being represented by your very own…scarecrow! Families will be able to make their own spooky, straw friend and place it around town to contribute to the Scarecrow Fest that is taking the parade’s place.

Although the spookiest season of the year will look a little different this fall, the town is doing their very best to put on a Halloween that will definitely be one for the books…

Editor’s Note: With the town plans underway, Westchester County in general is taking steps to help make residents and guests feel safe and secure as they venture into various communities to celebrate fall and Halloween via an initiative called ‘Westchester with Care’. An initiative of Westchester County Tourism & Film, “it is enlisting area businesses and nonprofits to help fight COVID-19 and safeguard the health and wellbeing of all who live, work and play in our beautiful destination just north of New York City. All participating organizations are required to take an online pledge. You can learn more and take the pledge at https://www.visitwestchesterny.com/westchesterwithcare

Opportunity to Support ‘Backpacks to School,’ an Annual Initiative of The Sharing Shelf

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The Sharing Shelf plans to fill at least 1,500 backpacks and seeks to raise $45,000 for this project.

Each summer, The Sharing Shelf organizes its “Backpacks to School” initiative to buy new backpacks and fill them with grade appropriate school supplies for low-income children in Westchester County. The program works with individuals and businesses County-wide to raise the funds needed to purchase everything needed for this initiative, from new backpacks to binders, notebooks, folders, crayons, pencils, pens and paper.

At this moment the last days of being in a school are a distant blur and back to school is filled with uncertainty, whether our children will return to school as we know it, shift into a hybrid system, or continue with home-based schooling.

The Sharing Shelf, in consultation with educators, has decided to proceed with its annual program. These educators have told us that regardless of what form school will be, children still need to learn. They will not only need the usual supplies but also resources to keep them mentally engaged and enriched. It is The Sharing Shelf’s plan to provide not just the basics, but enhanced materials such as age-appropriate educational magazines, puzzles, activity sets and books.

Even before the pandemic and economic downturn, Westchester County was a community with a mix of great wealth yet home to nearly 60,000 low-income children. In some of our communities, 8 in 10 public school students qualify for free or reduced lunch. We believe that number, given the current environment, is probably much higher. In April 2020, unemployment in Westchester county skyrocketed to over 14% from 4% in January 2020.  Meanwhile, the average family spends $122 on school supplies, a sum out of reach for families struggling financially.  

The Sharing Shelf plans to fill at least 1,500 backpacks and seeks to raise $45,000 for this project. Volunteers will help assemble the backpacks, using social distancing in a special area at The Sharing Shelf’s Port Chester warehouse during the month of August. The backpacks and supplies are critical to the academic success of low-income children and will allow them to return to school prepared, confident, and ready to learn.

To find out more about how to help or to donate, please contact The Sharing Shelf Program Director, Deborah Blatt at dblatt@sharingshelf.org or (914) 305-5950. You may also visit www.sharingshelf.org and click on Backpacks to School

About The Sharing Shelf

Founded in 2009, The Sharing Shelf is Westchester’s Clothing Bank for Children. The program collects new and gently used clothing for infants, children and teens. The clothing is distributed to local, low-income children through area social service agencies, schools, hospitals and other non-profits at no cost. The children receive a week’s worth of seasonally appropriate clothing matched to their sizing needs. Since 2011, The Sharing Shelf has been filling new backpacks with fresh supplies for back to school. For more information, visit www.sharingshelf.org

This story is courtesy of The Sharing Shelf.