The White Plains Press

White Plains YWCA CEO Maria Imperial will explore "Leadership in Community Service" at the September meeting of the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations, and White Plains Building Commissioner Damon Amadio will talk about "Building Permits for Home Remodeling."

The September meeting of the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) will be held at Education House at 5 Homeside Lane in White Plains, NY at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. The Keynote Speaker, Maria Imperial, is the CEO of the White Plains YWCA, whose mission is to eliminate racism and empower women. Her talk will explore those themes and their implementation through community services. The Featured Speaker, Damon Amadio, is Building Commissioner for White Plains. He’ll talk and answer questions about building permits and code relating to home remodeling, repairs and additions. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend and participate.

Maria L. Imperial, Esq. joined the YWCA of White Plains and Central Westchester in 2007, bringing an extensive background in victims’ rights and legal services for the disadvantaged. She had previously served as executive director of the City Bar Justice Center, the legal services arm of the New York City Bar Association, and before that as General Counsel and Associate Director of Safe Horizon, the agency formerly known as Victim Services. Active in community organizations such as My Sister’s Place, 100 Hispanic Women, and the Rotary, she is skilled in creating collaborations and partnerships among diverse groups.

Damon A. Amadio, PE is Commissioner of the White Plains Building Department, which is responsible for enforcement of the ordinances — City, County, and State — regulating the use and occupancy of private land and structures.  That includes ordinances for zoning, air pollution, and noise, and mechanical, plumbing, energy, electrical, fire and residential codes, among others. The broad engineering experience and professionalism that Mr. Amadio brings to his Office has enhanced White Plains’ reputation as a safe, healthy and forward-looking municipality.

Ms. Imperial’s presentation of the YWCA’s mission and services, and Commissioner Amadio’s discussion of home remodeling issues are sure to generate lots of comments and questions. Come early to get a good seat! The meeting will get underway promptly at 7:30 pm to allow time for audience participation.

The WPCNA, which is an apolitical non-governmental organization, provides a citywide forum on education, safety, health, government, the environment, and open space.  Its members are the autonomous neighborhood associations dedicated to preserving and improving the quality of life in White Plains.

For more information:
White Plains YWCA — http://www.ywcawhiteplains.com/
White Plains Building Dept — http://whiteplainsny.gov/
White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) — http://www.wpcna.org/.

White Plains Common Council President Thomas Roach will be the Guest Speaker at the August meeting of the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations. Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino will also address the meeting and hold a Q&A; session afterward.

The August meeting of the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) will be held at Education House at 5 Homeside Lane in White Plains, NY at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, August 10, 2010. Council President Tom Roach will explore "Leadership in a Fiscal Crisis " in his keynote address. County Executive Rob Astorino will round out the evening with a brief topical presentation followed by a question and answer period. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend and participate.

Councilman Roach was graduated magna cum laude from SUNY Albany with a B.A. in political science, and earned his law degree at SUNY Buffalo. Tom is currently with the Mamaroneck firm of Mead, Hecht, Conklin, and Gallagher, where he is engaged primarily in civil litigation. First elected to the White Plains Common Council in 2001, he is an advocate for open space and environmental issues as well as fiscal responsibility. He is a candidate for New York State Assembly, 89th District.

County Executive Astorino earned his B.A. in communications at Fordham University and went on to a career in the radio industry, serving most recently as program director of The Catholic Channel on Sirius Satellite Radio. He served on the Mount Pleasant Town Board for 12 years, including 6 as deputy supervisor. He was elected to the Westchester County Board of Legislators in 2003 and as County Executive in 2009. He is an advocate for efficient government, excellence in education and environmental protections.

The August WPCNA meeting continues to develop the timely theme of "Leadership in Governance." Our guests are prominent and popular speakers, so come early to get a good seat.  The meeting will get underway promptly at 7:30 pm to allow time for audience participation.

The WPCNA, which is an apolitical non-governmental organization, provides a citywide forum on education, safety, health, government, the environment, and open space.  Its members are the autonomous neighborhood associations dedicated to preserving and improving the quality of life in White Plains.

To learn more about the WPCNA, please visit: http://www.wpcna.org/.

CONTACT:

Louis J. Bruno
White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA)
914-574-2269 Phone
mailto:loubruno@wpcna.org

###

Nita Lowey, Congresswoman for New York’s 18th District, will be the Guest of Honor and deliver the Opening Address at the WPCNA Sustainability Expo on Saturday, June 5, 2010.  The Expo, which is sponsored by the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) in partnership with the White Plains School District, will be held at the new Post Road School at 175 West Post Road, White Plains, NY 10606 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

A founder of the Hudson River Congressional Caucus and former co-chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, Ms. Lowey gets high marks from the League of Conservation Voters for her efforts to protect the environment and stop climate change. Congresswoman Lowey is currently working to secure federal funding for sustainability projects in Westchester and Rockland Counties.

The focus of the Expo is applied sustainability — things we can do now to conserve, preserve and protect the environment. Geared towards individuals, as well as home, building, and business owners, the Expo will include a program of presentations in the Auditorium coupled with breaks and exhibits in the adjacent Cafeteria.

It will feature an Architect’s Tour of the new school, called the “greenest in New York State.” Participating presenters and exhibitors come from the White Plains student body, from government, business, and non-governmental agencies, and from community groups. Topics span the gamut from agriculture through energy efficiency to transportation and waste water management.

Among the special exhibits will be a free-cycling Take It or Leave It (TILI) booth where visitors can LEAVE an unwanted household item in good condition — one item per person — and TAKE an item found at the booth.  TILI items should be portable by one person. No computers or  monitors please. The booth is a preview of a TILI "store" coming soon to White Plains’ Gedney Recycling Yard.

The Expo is open to the public and admission is FREE.  Morning coffee and a light lunch will be served.

To register for the event, go to http://wpcnaexpo.eventbrite.com?ref=elink or email rsvp@wpcna.org with your name and number of guests.

For more information, including a program of talks, visit the WPCNA website at www.wpcna.org or contact Louis J. Bruno at
914-574-2269 or by email to loubruno@wpcna.org.

Robert Hoch, President of the White Plains Historical Society (WPHS), and Mack Carter, Executive Director of the White Plains Housing Authority (WPHA) will explore "Leadership in Governance" at the May meeting of the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations.

The May meeting of the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) will be held at Education House at 5 Homeside Lane in White Plains, NY at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, May 11, 2010. The guest speakers will be WPHS President Robert L. Hoch, Esq., a prominent White Plains attorney and history buff, who will talk about "Leaders in White Plains History" and Mack Carter, the WPHA Director and community leader, who will examine "Leadership in Housing."  Admission is free and the public is invited to attend and participate.

Robert Hoch studied political science at Johns Hopkins and earned his J.D. at Albany Law School.  A legislative counsel to State Senator Leonard P. Stavisky of Queens early in his career, he is currently Director of Government Affairs at Cablevision. A popular speaker, he has been active in WPHS initiatives, including preservation of the Purdy family cemetery.

Mack Carter is a Brooklyn native who lived in the Sumner Housing projects as a youth, attending Erasmus High then Long Island University.  Before becoming Executive Director of the WPHA, he served as Westchester County Commissioner of Hospitals.  An innovative and intuitive administrator he is credited with bringing "heart," "intelligence," and "ingenuity" to the WPHA.

The May WPCNA meeting continues to develop the timely theme of "Leadership in Governance." Before the main program, Bob Meyerson of Havilands Manor will talk about recent developments in rapid transit projects, and White Plains Common Councilwoman Beth Smayda will discuss "The City Budget: A Process in Crisis." Come early to get a good seat.  The meeting will get underway promptly at 7:30 pm to allow time for audience participation.

The WPCNA, which is an apolitical non-governmental organization, provides a citywide forum on education, safety, health, government, the environment, and open space.  Its members are the autonomous neighborhood associations dedicated to preserving and improving the quality of life in White Plains.

To learn more about the WPCNA, please visit: http://www.wpcna.org/.

###

The March meeting of the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations will feature two presentations.  Frank Williams, Jr. , Executive Director of the White Plains Youth Bureau will talk about its programs, including Haiti Relief. Members of the team planning the new Tappan Zee Bridge and the rail and bus rapid transit over the bridge and across the I-287 corridor will present project updates.

Frank Williams, Jr. who heads the award-winning White Plains Youth Bureau will be the featured speaker at the March Meeting of the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA).  Mr. Williams will discuss some of the programs he developed and the Bureau’s participation in White Plains Cares: Haiti Relief 2010.  Afterward, Jim Coyle and Frank Grande from Earth Tech — environmental consultants to the Tappan Zee/I-287 Corridor Project — and Russell Robbins of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will present an overview and update on the proposed bus rapid transit system through White Plains. The meeting will be held at Education House at 5 Homeside Lane in White Plains, NY at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend and participate.

A native of Canton, Mississippi, Mr. Williams did his undergraduate work at Tougaloo College in Mississippi and earned his masters in social work from Fordham University shortly after moving to White Plains in 1974. As Executive Director of the White Plains Youth Bureau, he has developed the juvenile education and homeless education programs, the Youth Council, and the Youth Bureau’s Speaker Bureau. Active in civic, religious, and charitable organizations, Mr. Williams has received numerous awards and commendations.  His motto is: "If it’s to be. It’s up to me."

The Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Project Team has proposed a complete replacement of the existing bridge and construction of a bus rapid transit system along the 30-mile highway corridor across Rockland and Westchester counties. Bus rapid transit will be operational when the new bridge opens. The proposal recommends a commuter rail transit system across Rockland County and the new Tappan Zee Bridge to provide New York City bound commuters with access to Grand Central Terminal. The team says construction could start as early as 2013 with the new span opening in 2017. It is currently exploring ways to finance the $16 billion project.

Mr. Williams and the Tappan Zee/I-287 team will each take questions after their presentations. Mr. Williams is a dynamic and popular speaker, and there is widespread interest in the transportation project, so a full-capacity crowd is anticipated.  Come early to get a good seat!

Established by the Common Council in 1970, the White Plains Youth Bureau provides structured development for the City’s youth, helping to build physical and emotional health as well as civic, social, and cultural competency — and character. Among its youth development programs are after school and summer services, including homework assistance and recreational, cultural and academic activities, crisis intervention and substance abuse counseling, teen lounges and learning centers, fitness and instructional programs, and youth employment services (Y.E.S.). The Youth Bureau is also playing a leading role in White Plains Cares, the Mayor’s ad hoc committee for Haiti Relief.

The Tappan Zee/I-287 project is being conducted by the NYSDOT, the New York State Thruway Authority and MTA Metro-North Railroad. It is under the supervision of the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, pursuant to National Environmental Policy Act guidelines.

The WPCNA, which is an apolitical non-governmental organization, provides a citywide forum on education, safety, health, government, the environment, and open space.  Its members are the autonomous neighborhood associations dedicated to preserving and improving the quality of life in White Plains.

Explore the  White Plains Youth Bureau online at http://www.cityofwhiteplains.com/youthbureau. For more information about the Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Project please visit the team’s website: http://www.tzbsite.com.  To learn more about the WPCNA, please visit: http://www.wpcna.org.

Contact
Louis J. Bruno
White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA)

Phone 914-574-2269
mailto:loubruno@wpcna.org