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County Marks 20th Anniversary of 9/11 with Tribute & Unveiling of Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial

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Watch full ceremony on Facebook or YouTube.

(Valhalla, NY) – Overlooking both The Rising memorial and the newly unveiled Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial, Westchester County Executive George Latimer joined the County in mourning those lost due to the terrorist attack that day twenty years ago.

Latimer said: “Each year, this day is day of reflection for those who lived through it and a day to provide comfort to those who lost so much. Now, twenty years later, this day must also serve as a lesson to those too young to remember. I hope this ceremony can both provide comfort and a reminder to all what occurred on that seemingly normal September morning on which the world was changed forever.”

The County’s ceremony, emceed by ABC7 Journalist Marcus Solis, marking the 20th anniversary of 9/11, once again hosted at the breathtaking Kensico Dam Plaza was a service filled with powerful remarks, moving prayers by Reverend Erwin Lee Trollinger, Imam Shaffieq Chace, & Rabbi Howard Goldsmith, comforting music provided by SUNY Purchase, sadness, but also, hope.

Solis said: “As a reporter who covered the attacks on 9/11, the 20th anniversary has special meaning. I am truly honored to be taking part in the ceremony in Westchester where I live, and where so many families were impacted.”

The ceremony opened with a procession Westchester County Department of Public Safety Ceremonial Unit Color Guard, the Pipes and Drums of the Police Emerald Society of Westchester County and representatives from the NYPD and FDNY. This moving tribute was followed by a rendition the Star Spangled Banner performed by New York Presbyterian Lawrence ICU nurse and Mount Vernon resident Carlo Jose “CJ” Zenarosa.

The solemn occasion was then marked by the laying of a wreath by Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, Department of Emergency Services Commissioner Richard Wishnie, Lisabeta Vukaj – sister Of Simon Marash Dedvukaj who was killed in the north tower – and a member of the Westchester County Department of Safety Police Honor Guard.

The day prior to the ceremony, September 10, Latimer was joined by family members of those fallen for a private unveiling of the newly furnished Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial. This new monument, placed next The Rising at Kensico Dam Plaza, was designed by a committee made up of loved ones of those lost.

Committee Co- Chair and New York City Police Officer Matthew J. McCauley said: “Twenty years after our first responders rushed to the disaster areas that were created in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, these selfless, courageous, brave and humble men and women continue to make the ultimate sacrifice from 9/11 related illnesses.  First responders from eleven different agencies, including six from the City of Yonkers Fire & Police Departments and four from the City of White Plains Fire Department are among the initial 41 names engraved on the memorial being unveiled today adjacent to “The Rising.”  We applaud Westchester County Executive George Latimer for recognizing that a memorial in the honor of those 9/11 first responders that resided and/or worked or volunteered for Westchester County Agencies and who lost their lives to 9/11 related illnesses was long overdue.  The collaboration between County Executive Latimer, his team and this Memorial Committee has had one goal from the beginning, to “Never Forget.”  Unfortunately, we expect the number of names here to at least double in size by next year once we capture all that have been lost who are associated with Westchester County.  Again, we thank County Executive Latimer for understanding the sobering truth and reality that this memorial will continue to grow in size for decades to come.  By supporting this Memorial Committee’s vision, he, along with the rest of the County, has ensured that 9/11 First Responders from Westchester County will never be forgotten.”  

The committee, and Westchester County, tragically lost co-chair Peter Woods to a 9/11 related illness earlier this year.

Following the public unveiling of the new memorial, an Eternal Light was lit. A light that will shine 24/7 over the memorial as a testament to the light shone over this County by the heroes this monument is dedicated to.

The ceremony continued on with the reading of the names of those Westchester residents killed on 9/11 and those Westchester residents who have died from 9/11 related illnesses by Westchester County Legislators, District Attorney Miriam Rocah, County Clerk Tim Idoni and family members of those lost.

Names of those lost on 9/11:

  • William Abrahamson
  • Peter Craig Alderman
  • Kazuhiro Anai
  • Sharon Balkcom
  • Yelena Belilovsky
  • Michael J. Berkeley
  • George Bishop
  • Michael A. Boccardi
  • Michelle Renee Bratton
  • Thomas M. Brennan
  • Jonathan Eric Briley
  • Mark Brisman
  • Lloyd Brown
  • Ronald Bucca
  • Tom Burke
  • Mary T. Caulfield
  • Alex Ciccone
  • Kevin Francis Cleary
  • Robert J. Coll
  • Helen Crossin-Kittle
  • Joan Cullinan
  • Patrick W. Danahy
  • Dwight Darcy
  • Marisa DiNardo
  • Simon A. Dhanani
  • John J. Doherty
  • Christopher Michael Duffy
  • Paul Fiori
  • Thomas Fitzpatrick
  • Simon Dedvukaj
  • Kevin Joseph Frawley
  • Alan W. Friedlander
  • John Patrick Gallagher
  • Charles Garbarini
  • Peter Gelinas
  • Kieran Joseph Gorman
  • Yugi Goya
  • Gary Haag
  • Richard B. Hall
  • Vincent Halloran
  • W. Ward Haynes
  • Nobuhiro Hayatsu
  • Katsuyuki Hirai
  • Thomas Warren Hohlweck, Jr.
  • Montgomery McCullogh Hord
  • Louis Steven Inghilterra
  • Ariel Louis Jacobs
  • Arthur Joseph Jones
  • Douglas G. Karpiloff
  • Satoshi Kikuchihara
  • Takashi Kinoshita
  • Glenn Kirwin
  • Richard J. Klares
  • Gary Koecheler
  • Vanessa Langer
  • Denis Lavelle
  • Joseph Leavey
  • Michael A. Lepore
  • Richard Lynch, Jr.
  • Michael J. Lyons
  • Katie Marie McCloskey
  • John T. McErlean, Jr.
  • Francis McGuinn
  • Michael McHugh, Jr.
  • Barry J. McKeon
  • Robert C. McLaughlin, Jr.
  • Christopher D. Mello
  • Yamel Merino
  • William Minardi
  • Krishna V. Moorthy
  • George Morell
  • Dennis Moroney
  • Takuya Nakamura
  • Soichi Numata
  • James A. Oakley
  • Diana J. O’Connor
  • Amy O’Doherty
  • Marni Pont O’Doherty
  • Samuel Oitice
  • Sean Gordon Corbett O’Neill
  • Chris Orgielewicz
  • Timothy F. O’Sullivan
  • Michael B. Packer
  • Thomas Palazzo
  • James Nicholas Pappageorge
  • William H. Pohlmann
  • Hemanth Kumar Puttur
  • Vincent A. Princiotta
  • Valsa Raju
  • Robert A. Rasmussen
  • John Reo
  • Joseph R. Riverso
  • Gregory E. Rodriguez
  • Edward Ryan
  • Tatiana Ryjova
  • Sam Salvo
  • Eric Sand
  • Robert Scandole
  • Marian Serva
  • Daniel Shea
  • Joseph Shea
  • Linda Sheehan
  • Thomas J. Shubert
  • Allan Shwartzstein
  • David Silver
  • Michael John Simon
  • Thomas E. Sinton III
  • Rochelle M. Snell
  • Robert Speisman
  • Joseph P. Spor, Jr.
  • Timothy C. Stout
  • John Swaine
  • Sean Patrick Tallon
  • Michael A. Tamuccio
  • Kenichiro Tanaka
  • Joanna Vidal
  • Jeffrey Walz
  • James Arthur Waring
  • Timothy Matthew Welty
  • William Wik
  • Marc Zeplin
  • Ivelin Ziminski
  • Joseph J. Zuccala

 

Names read of those lost to 9/11 Related Illnesses:

  • Firefighter – Gary S. Allo – White Plains Fire Department
  • Police Officer – Christopher M. Barry – NYPD
  • Sergeant – Patrick J. Boyle – NYPD
  • Sergeant – Patrick T. Coyne – NYPD
  • Battalion – Chief Kevin R. Byrnes – FDNY
  • John M. Cozza – Construction Industry
  • Emergency Medical Technician – Luis De Pena, Jr – FDNY
  • Police Officer Kenneth X. Domenech – NYPD
  • Police Officer Nicholas G. Finelli – NYPD
  • Lieutenant – Clark W. Douglass – White Plains Fire Department
  • Firefighter – Daniel R. Foley – FDNY
  • Detective – Mark S. Gado – New Rochelle Police Department
  • Richard A. Grace – Construction Industry
  • Commissioner Peter S. Guyett – Yonkers Fire Department
  • Firefighter – Herbert D. Harriott – Rye Fire Department
  • Police Officer – Joseph F. Heid – NYPD
  • Detective – Michael A. Houlahan – NYPD
  • John A. Lo Bianco – Construction Industry
  • Police Officer – Anthony Maggiore – Yonkers Police Department
  • Executive Director – Stephan Hittmann – FDNY
  • Fire Fighter – Gary S. Martin – White Plains Fire Department
  • Lieutenant – Roy D. McLaughlin – Yonkers Police Department
  • Firefighter – Robert A. Mentrasti – Fairview Fire Department
  • Detective – James W. Monahan – NYPD
  • Police Officer – Walter L. Mallinson – Harrison Police Department
  • Lieutenant – John W. Moran – FDNY
  • Firefighter – Kevin J. Nolan – FDNY
  • Police Officer – Kathleen O’Connor Funigello – New Rochelle Police Department
  • Firefighter – John V. Peteani Jr – Yonkers Fire Department
  • Firefighter – Michael R. O’Hanlon – FDNY
  • Firefighter – Eduardo A. Rivera – Yonkers Fire Department
  • Detective – Joseph E. Seabrook – NYPD
  • Captain – Robert J. Spatta – Croton on the Hudson Fire Department
  • Deputy Chief – Frank G. Strollo – New Rochelle Fire Department
  • Captain – Ronald G. Peifer SR – NYPD
  • Captain – Dennis P. Tortorella – Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department
  • Firefighter – Neill S. Tyndal JR – Yonkers Fire Department
  • Detective – Charles J. Wassil JR – Peekskill Police Department
  • Lieutenant – Marden C. Wolf – White Plains Fire Department
  • James P. Sullivan – New York City Transit Authority
  • Sergeant – Peter C. Woods – NYPD, Hartsdale Fire Commissioner & Co-Chair of this Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial

 

The tribute concluded with a moment of silence, flyover by County Police and a performance of Taps by Mount Pleasant Police Officer Peter Blume.

 

News courtesy of the office of the Westchester County Executive.

Westchester County Expert Resources Unite in Campaign to Increase Mental Health Awareness

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County Initiatives Launched for September which is Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month

(White Plains, NY) – Upholding Westchester County’s Commitment to suicide prevention, awareness and the importance of overall mental health, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, the Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) and several community partners recognized the month of September as Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month. The month-long messaging campaign was created to help educate Westchester County residents on the appropriate ways to discuss mental health crisis in identified communities, and remind them of the resources available to them.

Volunteers from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and DCMH placed pinwheels on display at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle. The display of 78 pinwheels represent the number of completed suicides (78) in Westchester County in 2020. The display includes statistic signs and walk signs, and the pinwheels will remain on display throughout the month of September as part of Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month.  Full roll of pinwheel display: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpB9kFK0jI8

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “Throughout the month of September, the County will be encouraging residents to participate in a variety of workshops, training courses and task force initiatives to help our communities engage in suicide prevention efforts, and help them to practice good mental health. It is not always easy to speak up if you think a family member or friend is struggling or dealing with a mental health crisis, and we want to give you the tools to start that discussion. Helping those around us is everyone’s business, and we want everyone to know about the support and services that are available to them in Westchester.”

Commissioner of DCMH Michael Orth said: “It’s everyone’s responsibility to support each other’s mental health.  We can all help prevent tragedies in our own communities by learning to recognize and take seriously the signs of depression and emotional pain.  It is important that we reach out to family members, friends, neighbors and colleagues and open the door for conversation.”

Hudson Valley/Westchester Area Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Maria Idoni said: “September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This is a time for each of us to reach out to those around us and take steps to prevent suicide.  It’s important that we know how to talk about suicide, and connect ourselves and our loved ones to help if we ever need it. Together, we can help #StopSuicide.” 

Westchester County’s Suicide Prevention and Awareness Plan includes:

Westchester County Suicide Awareness Pinwheels Display and Reflection

For the first time in Westchester County, in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the County will display one pinwheel to represent every suicide in Westchester from the year prior. The pinwheels will be displayed at Glen Island Park New Rochelle throughout the month of September, for visitors to pause and remember those we lost to suicide.

DCMH Social Media Awareness Campaign:

Daily social media awareness information and activities related to Suicide Prevention and Awareness.

Soul Shop Faith Based Training:

On September 29, DCMH in partnership with AFSP and Calvary Church, will be offering “Soul Shop: Ministering to Faith Communities Affected by Suicide.” It’s estimated that one out of every two people in a given congregation has personally been affected by suicide. Soul Shop trains faith community leaders to offer support, hope and connection to those in their congregations. Soul Shop equips participants with the resources and guidance they need to foster hope and healing in their community. 

Mental Health First Aid Training:

DCMH will provide Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to Westchester County’s communities.  Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.  Adult Mental Health First Aid Training offers training to address the needs of adults.  Westchester will also be launching Teen Mental Health First Aid Training targeting adolescents and young adults in the near future. 

Full video of remarks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvzjSrJq5bU

News courtesy of the Westchester County Executive Office

Governor Hochul Announces Start of 2021 Fall Foliage Season in New York State

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Weekly Foliage Reports Available Every Wednesday Beginning September 8 on iloveny.com

Reports to Include a New Enhanced Interactive Foliage Progression Map This Season

Fall Foliage inside Chappaqua’s Gedney Park

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the start of the 2021 fall foliage season in New York State. Fall is one of the most popular travel times in New York, attracting visitors from around the world to explore the state’s unique communities and support local businesses. To help travelers and foliage enthusiasts plan a fall getaway, I LOVE NY will begin issuing its weekly fall foliage reports on Wednesday, September 8, and will now include a new enhanced interactive progression map.  

“Every autumn, New York State’s spectacular foliage and natural beauty beckons travelers to our world-class state parks, majestic overlooks, historic sites and unparalleled attractions,” Governor Hochul said. “New Yorkers have long known about the stunning displays of color showcased all across the state, from Niagara Falls to Montauk Point. Now is the perfect time for residents and visitors alike to plan a fall escape and experience this incredibly colorful season in our great state.”  

Empire State Development Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, “The fall foliage season in New York State is always a magical time of year, and the I LOVE NY weekly foliage report is a great tool for visitors looking to plan a seasonal getaway. Our new interactive fall foliage map highlights a variety of attractions and events, from harvest festivals to Halloween celebrations, craft beverage trails, museums and family fun, helping residents and visitors alike to find what they love while exploring the amazing palette of autumn colors on display across the state.”  

The foliage report is compiled each week using the on-location field observations from I LOVE NY’s team of volunteer leaf peepers. More than 85 spotters extending across the state’s 11 vacation regions are tasked with keeping track of the color change in their area as leaves progress each week. Reports detail the predominant leaf colors, approximate percentage of change, and how much color change has progressed relative to peak conditions.  

New this year, I LOVE NY is introducing an enhanced, interactive map that tracks weekly foliage change and progression across the state throughout the season. The map, located on the I LOVE NY foliage website, showcases great foliage viewing locations in each of the various regions throughout the state. Visitors can also use the map to see what the foliage is like during peak viewing in a given area, and learn about nearby, must-see attractions. 

Thanks in part to its size and location, New York State has one of the longest and most colorful foliage seasons in the country. On any weekend from late September through mid-November, part of the state is likely experiencing peak foliage.  

Travelers are also invited to share their photos of New York State’s amazing foliage on social media by using the #NYLovesFall hashtag. Photos submitted to this hashtag have a chance of being featured on the I LOVE NY fall foliage website and official I LOVE NY social media accounts reaching nearly two million followers. Reports and the new interactive map are updated Wednesdays throughout the season at www.iloveny.com/foliage.Reports are also available toll-free by dialing 800/CALL-NYS (800/225-5697) from anywhere in the U.S., its territories and Canada. For more information on how to volunteer for as an I LOVE NY leaf peeper, e-mail your name, address and phone number to foliage@esd.ny.gov.

 Above story via a news release from the office of Governor Hochul

Westchester County Announces Additional Funding for Local Businesses, Nonprofits

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$4 million in Business FIRST grants will support organizations impacted by COVID-19

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY (Dec. 15, 2020) – The Westchester County Office of Economic Development has announced a second round of funding for county-based small businesses and nonprofits facing challenges as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The county has secured $4 million in additional funding to support 175 eligible organizations seeking relief. In addition, 20 of the county’s Chambers of Commerce applied for and were each awarded a grant to be used for providing business services.

The funds are part of Westchester County Business FIRST: Financial Investments for Recovery and a Sustainable Tomorrow, a grant program designed to offer immediate financial relief to organizations in Westchester County that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. The county last month awarded a total of $10 million to 262 county-based small businesses and nonprofits. Based on the substantial number of applicants, the county expanded the program to enable additional awards to eligible organizations that had applied to the initial program. Businesses did not need to submit a second application

“Due to the tremendous response we received for financial assistance, we knew we needed to expand our Business FIRST grant program,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer. “We are so pleased we were able to secure additional funding to assist even more small businesses and nonprofits, and our Chambers of Commerce as we work together toward a sustainable future.”

The grant program, launched in September, was open to businesses and nonprofits with 99 or fewer employees. Eligible entities could apply for up to $49,000 to cover expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, employee salaries or benefits, working capital, equipment and other COVID-19-related expenses. The 262-recipient organizations comprise industries such as restaurants/food service; arts, entertainment and recreation; social services and education. A full list of awardees will be made available once each awardee has signed their grant agreement.

The Westchester County Business FIRST grant program is being administered by the County Office of Economic Development through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The county is currently working to secure additional funding for the program.


Bridget Gibbons, Westchester County’s Director of Economic Development, announces that the county has secured $4 million in additional funding to support nearly 200 small businesses, nonprofits and Chambers of Commerce through the Westchester County Business FIRST grant program.

“It is so important to provide a financial boost now, to enable these organizations to work through the difficult times so they can plan for a better tomorrow,” said Bridget Gibbons, Westchester County’s Director of Economic Development. “As ‘The Catalyst’ for economic growth and vitality, the Office of Economic Development is committed to supporting our business and nonprofit sectors and getting our economy back on track.”

For more information on available county programs and assistance, visit https://westchestercatalyst.com/business-first-programs/.

 

About Westchester County Business FIRST

Westchester County Business FIRST: Financial Investments for Recovery and a Sustainable Tomorrow is a grant program designed to offer immediate financial relief to small businesses and nonprofits in Westchester County that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second grant opportunity being provided by Westchester County as part of an ongoing effort to support businesses and nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Westchester County Office of Economic Development works to improve the County’s economic well-being and quality of life.  This includes a broad range of activities to attract, create and retain jobs, and to foster a resilient, pro-growth and inclusive economy. For information, visit https://westchestercatalyst.com/.

 

The above information was made available to the Inside Press via a news release on behalf of The Westchester County Business FIRST grant program

County Reports Westchester Residents Making Huge Strides in Recycling Efforts

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“Recycling revenue was up a whopping 107% in September compared to September 2019 and is up almost 10% for the year.”

The County Continues to be a Regional Leader in Environmental Management with Record Curbside Recycling and New Food Scrap Recycling Programs

Sunday, November 15 is National Recycling Day, providing the perfect opportunity to applaud Westchester’s residents for their commitment to recycling their household waste.

Due to the dedication of our residents, Westchester consistently posts some of the highest recycling rates in the region. This year, with so many residents at home and students attending virtual classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Westchester residents have recycled at an unprecedented rate.

County Executive George Latimer said: “When I was elected to lead Westchester, I made a commitment to improving the environment for all Westchester residents. Our team at the Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) has taken this commitment seriously. Together, we’ve developed a way to host public events with COVID-19 precautions, established the Transportation and Disposal program to allow communities previously unable to afford food scrap recycling a path to do so, and envisioned CompostEd to provide composting education for all County residents.”

According to data compiled by DEF, the agency responsible for managing the County’s refuse disposal and recycling programs, residential curbside recycling was up almost 31% in September compared to September 2019. For the year, curbside recycling is up over 10.5% compared to last year. Revenue from the sale of recyclables has also increased significantly, with the recyclables market beginning to rebound after being mired in a deep recession the past couple of years. Recycling revenue was up a whopping 107% in September compared to September 2019 and is up almost 10% for the year.

DEF Deputy Commissioner Louis Vetrone said: “We’re fortunate in Westchester that our residents are diligent in cleaning recyclables and separating them properly. This dedication combined with the state-of-the-art equipment we’ve installed at the County’s Material Recovery Facility allowed the County to continue to sell its recyclables over the past couple of years, while programs around the country faltered. With the added material collected these past few months, we’ve been in a position to take advantage of the markets.” As a result of the increased revenue, the County’s Refuse District is able to offer new programs related to food scrap recycling.

DEF’s two new food scrap initiatives include the Residential Food Scrap Transportation and Disposal (RFSTAD) Program and CompostED. Under RFSTAD, any District municipality can participate in food scrap recycling for the same– or less than– the transportation and disposal cost of garbage. Incorporating grant funding from NYSDEC for start up materials, allows local municipalities to start these programs for a few thousand dollars.

The County is also near to breaking ground on CompostED, DEF’s new Compost and Education Facility in Valhalla. CompostED will be a small scale compost demonstration facility, offering educational tours and classes on the benefits of composting and for municipalities on incorporating food scraps in municipal yard waste composting activities.

In addition to the uptick in curbside recycling, DEF has also seen record numbers of residents utilizing the services offered at the County’s Household-Material Recovery Facility (H-MRF) at 15 Woods Road on the Valhalla Campus. Between August 1 and October 31, the H-MRF had 4,703 households visit, including a record number of 1,670 in September, delivering over 262,000 lbs. of household waste.

The H-MRF accepts most items that are not collected curbside, including household cleaning supplies, pesticides, fertilizers, Freon-containing appliances, mercury-containing devices, tires, propane tanks, and electronic waste. In addition, the H-MRF offers document shredding services daily and medication drop-off on the first Tuesday of each month. The facility is open by appointment Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-3pm. For more information on the H-MRF or to make an appointment visit https://environment.westchestergov.com/facilities/h-mrf. 

Additionally, on October 24th DEF conducted a Household Recycling Day (HRD) Event at FDR State Park in Yorktown that attracted 840 households delivering household hazardous wastes and 550 utilizing the shredder. Residents can bring all of the same items to the HRD Events that are accepted at the H-MRF. The next HRD Event is scheduled for this Saturday, November 14th at Playland Park. For more information visit our DEF Facebook page at Facebook.com/WestchesterCountyDEF.

News courtesy of the Westchester County Executive