News from the City of White Plains aaaaaaaaaaa FEBRUARY 2020
February 2020 EVENTS
All Month
Ice Skating at Ebersole Rink. Rink schedule here
All Month
All Month
White Plains Youth Bureau Celebrates YB Alumn i with 50 Faces 50 Stories program.
All Month
Black History Month. Special programs at White Plains Public Library all month long. Schedule,
Mon. 3rd
Free Tax Help from AARP. White Plains Public Library, Every Monday and Tuesday, 10 am - 3:00 pm until April 14th.
Wed.- 12th
President Abraham Lincoln's Birthday -- City offices closed. No change to sanitation schedule.
Thurs. - 13th
I nter-generational Valentines Dinner Dance at Community Center, 5 - 8 pm. Registration required by Feb. 6th. Call 914.422.1423.
Mon - 17th
President's Day. City Offices Closed. Sanitation Schedule .
Sun - 23rd
President George Washington's Birthday Celebration , Jacob Purdy House, Park Ave, 1- 4 pm, Free. Sponsored by the White Plains Historical Society.
Sat - 29th
White Plains Plains Recreation & Parks, CAMP FAIR , White Plains High School Cafeteria, 10 am - 1 pm.
White Plains Community Center and White Plains Public Library Celebrate Black History Month
White Plains Community Center, located at 65 Mitchell Place is celebrating Black History Month. Registration is requested for all events. Call (914) 422-1331 to register for the events listed below:

Tues - Feb 4 - Motown Party Luncheon Celebration, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Tues - Feb 25 - White Plains Chorale - "Songs to Celebrate Black History,"
1:00 pm
Wed - Feb 26 - Free Movie and popcorn.  Ray Charles Live at Montreux Jazz Festival, 12:30 - 2:15 pm


History Comes Alive at the White Plains Public Library.

T ake part in programs celebrating Black History Month throughout February .
Schedule of events.

"On the Streets Where We Lived:
A Pictorial Study of African Americans Living in White Plains, NY from the Beginning of the 20th" Century "
by Harold A. Esannason
The  People & Stories Oral History Project   managed by the White Plains Public Library has captured the memories, anecdotes, recollections and observations of many African American residents prominent in White Plains History, To learn more click here .  
Let the Sun Shine In!!
White Plains to Install Solar Panels at Eight City Properties

The City of White Plains is launching a Community Solar Program. The program calls for the installation of solar panels on eight city properties. In total, these installations are expected to generate up to 6 megawatts of power per year, effectively tripling the total current commercial and residential solar production in White Plains and enough to power 4,800 homes per year.

With this project, the City of White Plains becomes one of the first municipalities in Westchester County to launch a Community Solar Program and the largest community solar energy producer in Westchester to date. As each facility comes online, the city and residents will derive benefit from the energy produced. The expected final completion date for all sites is March 2021.
 
The total annual revenue the city will receive for hosting the solar energy systems at the eight sites will be approximately $960,000 per year for the life of the 25 year agreement. The City will focus on utilizing these funds to advance additional sustainability initiatives, facilities and infrastructure in the city.
Census 2020 - Welcome to Census Central
As you no doubt know, the next federal census will begin this spring, counting people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens as well as non-citizens.

It's vitally important that White Plains has a complete count of all of its residents, as the census helps determine where to build new schools, hospitals and businesses; how federal funding is distributed and how congressional seats are apportioned.
What's different about Census 2020 is that the public will be encouraged to complete the census online. Residents will receive a postcard with the information they will need to go online and complete the census.

Don't have a computer, or feel like you might need some assistance?
The White Plains Public Library has the staff and computers to help you complete the census successfully. Free, of course.
Some key dates: In March 2020 the Census Bureau will mail postcards to homes and the public can begin responding to the census online April 1, 2020 -- Census Day!

For more about the census visit White Plains Counts: Census 2020 .
Hold the Bag! NYS Bag Waste Reduction Act in Effect on March 1

In an effort to reduce the number of single-use, non-biodegradable plastic bags in the waste stream and encourage the use of reusable bags, NY State enacted the Bag Waste Reduction Act as part of last year's state budget.

This new law prohibits stores from providing plastic carry-out bags to their customers. It is  set to take effect across New York State on March 1st . Certain types of plastic bags are exempt from the law, including fruit & vegetable bags commonly found in the supermarket, newspaper delivery bags, trash bags, food storage bags, garment bags, plastic bags used by restaurants for carry-out or delivery, and pharmacy bags.
Plastic bags have become ubiquitous. Not only are they aesthetically unpleasing when they get stuck in trees and litter our neighborhoods, they are detrimental to our environment and to wildlife. These single-use plastic bags do not biodegrade, and as such, carry significant recycling and disposal issues. The petroleum used to produce these bags creates greenhouse gas emissions. 

Public Art Enlivens Downtown White Plains
ArtsWestchester, in partnership with LMC, a Lennar Company, is in the midst of transforming a construction barricade into a curated exhibit of six street murals. This one is on Hale Avenue.
Isaiah Ship's Quantum Leap mural, sponsored by the White Plains BID in partnership with the Community Design class at Purchase College, is on Mamaroneck Ave. just north of E. Post Road. READ MORE
Summer Will Be Here Before You Know It! --
Don't Miss the 2020 WP Rec & Parks Camp Fair on February 29th
Free and Open to All. Crafts & entertainment for the kids while you learn all about the city's summer camp offerings for grades Kindergarten thru 8th grade. Find out more .
Must Read --
6 Tips for Avoiding Frozen Pipes This Winter
The temperatures are dropping and with that comes a rising fear of frozen pipes!

Some things you can do to prevent your pipes from freezing are:

  • If you have a swimming pool, an irrigation system or an outside spigot, make sure all the water is drained from the lines. 
  • Add insulation to attics, basements, crawl spaces and exterior walls with pipes. Insulation will help keep these areas warmer. 
  • Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.  
  • Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By keeping the temperatures constant,you may pay a little more in your heating bill, but may reduce the chance of your pipes freezing and bursting.
  • If you will be going away, make sure to leave the heat on and set it to a temperature no lower than 55° F. 
  • Keep your garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in or near the garage.  

Enter the "Do You Know White Plains?" Contest
The answer to last month's question --  What year did the White Plains New Year's Eve Ball Drop Celebration start? -- was 2001.

Congratulations to last month's winners: the Garcia family, Warne Goodman, Lisa Kelly, Marisa Lallonardo and Peter Pugliese. Each won a Family Pass to Ebersole Ice Rink. Additionally, runners up: Mary Black, Elizabeth and Christopher George the Washington family and Jonna Robins each received a White Plains BID Discount Shopping Card.

This month our question relates to Black History Month -- Who were the first two African Americans elected to the White Plains Common Council? Hint - the first was elected in 1975. The first five correct responses will win a copy of Images in America: White Plains in the 20th Century , a new book written by Ben Himmelfarb and Elaine Massena..

Email your answer to the February question to  feedback@whiteplainsny.gov . Look for the answer, and a list of winners, in next month's newsletter.
Comments or story ideas for this newsletter?  Please send them to us.