News for the City of White Plains aaaaaaaaaaaDECEMBER 2021
DECEMBER 2021 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Mon, Nov, 28th - Sun, Dec 6th
Happy Chanukah to all who celebrate!
All Month
Ebersole Ice Rink. Public Sessions Fridays: 2:30 - 4:00 (Free admission to this session for WP residents), 5:30- 7:30, 8-10. Saturdays: 1:30-3:30. Sundays: 8:30-10:15 am (adults only), 1:30-3:30. Masks required on and off ice. COVID-19 safety protocols in effect. Click here for holiday schedule schedule.
Now through Monday - 14th
Santa's Mailbox at City Hall. Bring your letter to City Hall, 255 Main Street, until Dec. 14th. Be sure to include your return address. No stamp needed.
Sunday, 5th-19th
Sunday, 5th
Holiday Tree lighting at Renaissance Plaza & Official Opening of the Holiday Market, 5:15 PM, Main Street (between Mamaroneck Avenue & Court Street), music by WPHS Marching Band. 
Wednesday, 8th
White Plains Holiday Market Day of Giving. A percentage of sales from today will be donated to Friends of the White Plains Public Schools.
Saturday, 11th
Santa Claus is Coming to Town! 11 AM - 2 PM. Santa will be spreading Christmas cheer as he drives through White Pains neighborhoods. Check here for Santa's route
Thursday, 16th
Coffee with Grandpas, 9:30 AM - Topic: 1969 Miracle World Champion New York Mets, Featuring Art Shamsky of the 1969 New York Mets.
Friday, 17th
White Plains Youth Bureau Get Ready for the Holidays! 4 PM - 6 PM for Ages 12-18. Celebrate with fun, fitness, free food & prizes, Eastview Lower Gym, 11 Amherst Place. Space is limited call 914.422.1378 today to register.
Sunday, 19th
Skate with Frosty the Snowman. Ebersole Ice Rink 1:30-3:30 pm. Regular Admission.
Friday, 24th
City Offices Closed. Sanitation Holiday Schedule.
Saturday, 25th
Christmas Day. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
Sunday, 26th - Saturday, Jan. 1st
Kwanzaa. “Heri za Kwanzaa!”
Sunday, 26th - Thursday, 30th
Ebersole Ice Rink Holiday Public Skate Session daily between 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM.
Friday, 31st
New Year's Eve. No Downtown Festivities this year. City Offices Closed. No changes to sanitation schedule.

Mark Your Calendar!

The White Plains BID, the City of White Plains and 914PopUps have partnered to host the annual Holiday Market, a 15-day shopping experience in the heart of downtown White Plains!
 
Free to enter, the Market will feature 60+ artisanal vendors from around the Westchester County region. Pick up your Christmas tree or holiday wreath and find interesting and unique gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list! After a great day of shopping, refresh with a bite to eat or drink at one of our eclectic restaurants downtown. View our interactive dining guide here.
 
New York State recommends wearing a mask in indoor public places and in crowded outdoor areas to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Every Day Is A Good Day to Shop Small Businesses in White Plains

Build up White Plains by supporting local businesses!
Saturday, November 27 - Sunday, December 19
“Build up White Plains by supporting local businesses! Click here for a list of holiday events and special offers available until December 19th.”
You Can Brighten the Season for Others
T'is the Season! Make some merry. Volunteer! Every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give - so spread some cheer and volunteer your time and/ or your resources! 

Listed below are links to a sampling of local organizations that depend on volunteers and/or donations to fulfill their mission of helping our neighbors.
Holidays are Fun, then the Clean-Up Begins
As the cleanup ensues, it is important to recycle right and recognize what can go in your home recycling bin and what cannot.
Recyclable: 
  • Cardboard boxes 
  • Greeting cards (plain) 
  • Envelopes 
  • Paper and cardboard tubes 
  • Newspapers, magazines and catalogs 
  • Plastic bottles and containers 

Never put batteries in with your recycling
Trash: 
  • Plastic bags
  • Recyclable soiled with food
  • Wrapping paper 
  • Ribbons and bows
  • Plastic film 
  • Bubble wrap 
  • Styrofoam 
  • Electronics, Holiday lights 
  • Single -use batteries.
COVID-19 Is Still With Us!

For complete information about where to get a safe, free, quick vaccination or booster shot for children or adults please visit . . .


White Plains BID
New Year's Eve Specials & Promos!
 
Celebrate the arrival of 2022 in downtown White Plains. Follow the BID on social media for New Year’s Eve specials and events from downtown restaurants.
New Westchester Ave. Development Approved
A mixed use residential development project has been approved by the Common Council for 70 Westchester Ave, the site of the former White Plains Jeep dealership next to the White Plains Diner and across from the Westchester Mall.
The project consists of three buildings containing a total of 175 studio, 1 and 2 bedroom housing units (including 11 affordable units for those qualifying at 80% of the Westchester County Median Income (AMI)) and approximately 15,000 square feet of motor vehicle sales, retail, restaurant space, and related parking. 

The developer will pay a buy-out fee for 10 additional affordable units. This fee will be placed in a dedicated fund used by the city to create more affordable housing. It also includes a proposed public dog park on the Franklin Ave frontage. The site is adjacent to the project known as “The Collection,” which is currently being developed by Toll Brothers. 

For more information, visit the Projects & Proposals pages on the City website.
White Plains Greenway Final Section Now Open!
The City officially opened the final section of the Greenway walking trail with a ribbon cutting at the new Mamaroneck-Shapham Garage entrance. The Greenway provides 
a rustic path for individuals to enjoy a walk in a protected natural setting.
The latest and final Greenway section runs under Bryant Ave.
Many of the Dept. of Public Works team that created the Greenway were at the opening.
The 1.5 mile Greenway now extends from Bryant Avenue into Scarsdale.
The newer portion of the Greenway runs from the lower level of the Mamaroneck-Shapham Garage to Gedney Way in two segments -- the Mamaroneck-Shapham Garage to Bolton Ave. and Bolton Ave. to Gedney Way (.37 miles).

The original portion of the Greenway runs from Gedney Way to the Scarsdale border in two segments – Gedney Way to Ridgeway and Ridgeway to the Scarsdale border (1.14 miles).With the completion of the final section, residents now have just over a 3 mile round trip walking trail in 4 segments. The Greenway may be accessed at several locations and residents can choose to walk its entire length or shorter portions. Click here for more
White Plains Public Library Achieves
Green Business Certification
It isn't easy being green, but now the White Plains Public Library is!
The Library recently achieved Green Business Certification through the Green Business Partnership (GBP), a public-private partnership managed in part by Westchester County. GBP offers support to businesses and organizations who are interested in reducing their carbon footprint and making their operations more sustainable.

The Library’s Green Team - led by Librarian Kathlyn Carroll - evaluated the Library's current performance in a variety of areas, including water and energy usage, purchasing decisions, and waste management. Many changes were made to Library practices, including use of LED lighting, green purchasing, waste audit tracking, and a greenhouse gas inventory. Recent renovations to the circa 1974 building greatly improved the Library’s energy efficiency, thanks to planning by the Library and the Department of Public Works for the City of White Plains. Read more here
Take This Short SurveyTo Help the White Plains Education & Training Center Select Courses to Offer
The White Plains Education & Training Center (WPETC) located in the Prelude building at the corner of Quarropas and South Lexington Avenue supports the career success of its participants, whether they are seeking a new job, a better job, or an entirely new career. It does this by working with leading industry employers in the area to determine the greatest workforce needs and then partners with expert training providers to develop a trained, effective and prepared workforce.

WPETC is seeking community input to determine what courses will best prepare students for future success. Click here to access a brief less than 2 minute) WPETC survey.
Thank you for participating!!
4 Martine Avenue
Happy Birthday, Connie!!!
Happy birthday wishes to Naomi Cornelia Ray Evans (aka Connie) who celebrated her 105th birthday on November 16th. Best wishes for continued good health and happiness!
Westchester Municipal Planning Federation recognized the City of White Plains for the newly renovated Library Plaza at its 4th Annual Awards Program celebrating outstanding contributions to planning in Westchester County.
Metro North held the ribbon-cutting ceremony in November for the newly renovated White Plains train station. Everything's up-to-date and improved. Worth a look.
27 Upstanding residents were given the honor they are due at the Youth Bureau's Unsung Heroes Celebration on November 19th. Congratulations to all. We appreciate all you do for the youth of White Plains.
On November 4th the White Plains Youth Bureau hosted its largest-ever annual Bethel / Youth Bureau Harvest Festival.
White Plains resident Lorraine Buonocunto will be recognized by the Westchester County Senior Hall of Fame at the Award Ceremony on December 3rd.
Questions? Comments? Go to feedback@whiteplainsny.gov
Comments or story ideas for this newsletter? Please send them to us.