Westchester Teens Return from Senegal Inspired by Service, History, and Heritage
By Traci Alexander
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — This summer, a group of Westchester County teens traveled to Senegal, West Africa, from July 7–15 with recently retired and beloved chemistry teacher, Mr. Amary Seck, whose unwavering dedication, mentorship, and passion for education haveprofoundly shaped generations of students at Mamaroneck High School.
The journey was made possible through the vision of Kristian Acosta, founder of Reclaim the Journey, whose mission empowers
young people to reconnect with their ancestral homeland through education, service and cultural immersion. The trip represented far more than international travel—it was an opportunity for students to reclaim a powerful narrative.
Through Reclaim the Journey, participants symbolically retraced the transatlantic route once forced upon their ancestors, crossing the Atlantic on their own terms with dignity, purpose, and pride. The ex-
Westchester teens reconnect with their ancestral homeland.
Sustainable Westchester Secures $750,000 New York State Investment to Expand Affordable Clean Energy Access
Mount Kisco, N.Y. — Sustainable Westchester today announced the receipt of $750,000 in New York State funding, made possible through the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, to expand clean energy programs serving residents and businesses across Westchester County. The investment arrives at a critical moment: energy costs are climbing, air quality alerts are rising, clean energy is the lowest cost long term solution, and Westchester’s communities are deeply engaged in charting a more sustainable future.
The funding will support four interconnected areas of work:
• Deepening municipal engagement to help local governments meet state climate and clean energy benchmarks.
• Establishing a new opt-in clean energy supply program to reconnect residents and businesses with renewable electricity.
• Advancing an ambitious solar expansion strategy aimed at tripling rooftop solar and achieving a ten-fold increase in parking lot solar canopies across the county.
• Preserving Sustainable Westchester’s existing suite of programs that serve the region’s more than one million residents.
“As utility bills rise and the urgency of the climate crisis grows, Westchester residents deserve access to clean, affordable energy, not fos-
CLEAN ENERGY, Cont’d. on page 11
Westchester County School Bus Safety Program Reduces Illegal School Bus Passing by Nearly 24%
Annual Report Shows School Bus Safety Program Improving Driver Behavior and Protecting Students
WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Kenneth W. Jenkins
WHITE PLAINS, NY -- The results of the County’s 2025-2026 School Bus Safety Program Annual Report, showing a 23.8% reduc-
tion in illegal school bus passing violations during the program’s first full year. Since launching in partnership with BusPatrol during National School Bus Safety Week in October 2024, the initiative has improved driver compliance, strengthened enforcement and helped make trips to and from school safer for thousands of students across Westchester County.
The report found that citations requiring enforcement declined from 17,867 during the 2024-2025 school year to 13,621 through June of the 2025-2026 school year, while average monthly violations dropped from 1,786 to 1,513. The findings suggest motorists are changing their behavior around stopped school buses, reducing dangerous passing incidents that put children at risk.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Nothing is more important than the safety of our children. This report shows that our School Bus Safety Program is changing driver behavior and making our roads safer for students traveling to and from school. While we are encouraged by this progress, every illegal
passing violation is one too many, and we will continue working with our school districts and law enforcement partners to protect our children.”
Westchester County launched the School Bus Safety Program in October 2024 in partnership with BusPatrol to address the growing number of motorists illegally passing stopped school buses. Using AI-powered stop-arm cameras installed on every bus in participating school districts’ fleets, the program captures violations, which are reviewed by law enforcement before citations are issued.
The annual report also found that only 4.92% of citations involved repeat offenders, indicating that enforcement is successfully encouraging safer driving habits. Data collected through the program is also helping identify high-risk roadways, with approximately 31% of enforcement activity concentrated among the County’s top 20 locations, allowing officials to better target future education and safety efforts.
The School Bus Safety Program currently serves students in 22 participating school districts: Lakeland,
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY, Cont’d. on page 15
NYS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS
NAACP Announces $20 Million Voter Registration Drive at National Convention in Chicago
With just over three months before the midterm elections, the NAACP at its 117th annual convention in Chicago announced an unprecedented $20 million voter registration campaign ahead of the midterm elections.
The announcement kicked off the NAACP’s national convention at McCormick Place where thousands of visitors and delegates participated in workshops and seminars that stressed the organization’s theme of “We the People” and purpose of educating Blacks about their constitutional rights.
Throughout the week-long convention, vendors sold merchandise, media organizations held onsite interviews in “The HUB,” and visitors signed a massive “We the Peo-
DiNAPOLI: Homelessness Falls Statewide Driven by NYC, But Rises Sharply in Many New York Regions
ALBANY, NY -- New York State’s overall homeless population declined in the past year, even as many communities outside New York City saw troubling increases, according to a new analysis issued today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Department’s (HUD) most recent data show that the homeless population in New York dropped from January 2024 by nearly 8% to 145,560 in January 2025. The decline of 12,459 people was the largest of any state and was driven primarily by declines in New York City. This drop follows a doubling in the homeless from January 2022 to January 2024. DiNapoli’s analysis also highlights the rise in homelessness
in many parts of the state, including the Capital Region.
“While the number of homeless declined, there’s a lot of work left to do,” DiNapoli said. “The problem is widespread and it is not confined to major cities. In particular, the public, private and nonprofit sectors need to work together to address the crisis of so many children experiencing homelessness in New York.”
HUD divides the state into 25 regions called Continuums of Care (CoCs). The number of homeless people increased in 17 of these regions, with more than 10% growth in 11. HUD’s data shows the largest increases were in Columbia and Greene counties (58.9%), Troy City and Rensselaer County (55.2%), and Schenectady City
and County (41.7%).
Children continue to make up a disproportionate share of New York’s homeless population at 31.7%, which is double the share in the rest of the country.
The report notes that the state is moving ahead with its multi-year housing plan and recently enacted statutory changes, which will direct more school aid to districts with homeless students. DiNapoli has previously called for additional efforts to reduce evictions and provide housing assistance, especially to families with children.
Even as New York puts more resources toward housing, HUD is shifting funding away from “housing first” solutions and making it harder to qualify for federal assistance. DiNapoli’s report emphasiz-
THOMAS P. DiNAPOLI NYS Comptroller
es the need to prioritize housing, in particular for families with children, at the federal, state and local levels.
Conference attendees autographed a massive NAACP “We the People” mural.
Open Door’s Annual Community Resource Fair
Will be Held on Saturday, August 8th, in Ossining
OSSINING, NY -- The Open Door Care Network will mark National Health Center Week (NHCW) by hosting its annual Community Resource Fair at its newest location at 2 Church Street in Ossining on Saturday, August 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event is open to the public with the intent of connecting community members with important health-related resources, while offering fun, family-friendly activities for children and adults.
“This resource fair serves as an opportunity to answer the healthrelated questions of attendees and help identify potential health issues as early as possible,” said Marilyn Pacheco, Director of Marketing & Community Relations at Open Door. “Education and prevention, after all, are critical in keeping members of our community healthy. In celebration of NHCW (August 2 – 8), we support this year’s theme of “Building Innovative Care Where It Mat-
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ters Most,” which speaks to how the creativity and commitment of Community Health Centers helps advance the innovative solutions that meet patients where they are and improve primary care delivery, access, and outcomes. This includes partnering with key stakeholders and elected officials to strengthen relationships that support high-quality, patient-centered care in the communities they serve.”
Every August, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) sponsors NHCW to celebrate and increase awareness of America’s more than 1,500 Community Health Centers (CHCs). The week-long celebration is an opportunity to highlight the commitment and passion of Community Health Center patients, staff, board members, and supporters who make it possible to provide quality, comprehensive healthcare services to 52 million patients across more than 17,000 communities.
The event is held in partnership with the following organizations: Kindle Community Inc, JumpStart for Dads: A Program Supported by Grandpas United, Alzheimer’s Association, Westchester County Department of Health, Neighbors Link, IFCA Housing Network, Village of Ossining Recreation, MVP Health Care, Ossining Youth Bureau, Ossining Food Pantry, Hispanic Federation, Family Services of Westchester, Cancer Support Team, ArtsWestchester/ArtsMobile, Ossining Children’s Center, The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center, Ossining Padres Hispanos Inc., Sustainable Westchester, and VDO Cardiology.
The Open Door Care Network provides excellent, accessible, personalized care regardless of ability to pay; care that builds healthier families and communities.
Open Door provides whole person care: medical and dental; behavioral and mental health; prevention and wellness; family, youth, and senior support; early childhood programs; and community and advocacy services. Open Door provides these services in Westchester, Dutchess, Putnam, and Ulster counties.
“The Trusted Messenger” And The Black Vote
By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher
San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper Chairman of the Board
It is a well-established fact that the Black Press is and always has been the “Trusted Messenger” of the Black community. With this being said, it is also very interesting that when many political organizations and donors decided to support Voter Registration and Get Out The Vote, those donors give their dollars to predominantly Black organizations like the Urban League or NAACP, League of Voters or other nonprofit groups. Those groups will prepare and send out press releases about such voter participation efforts since Black people were responsible primarily for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
What is most interesting is that those press releases rarely find their way onto CNN or the major news networks. Those press releases and calls to Black voter participation are carried in the Black Press. However, the dollars that support those press releases getting written, nor ads to carry the message of those releases do not reach the Black Press.
of Directors, NNPA
Historically, the dollars behind those messages do not find their way to the very Black Press that carries those messages.
Now as we approach one of the most important Midterm elections in the history of this nation, it appears that once again the Black Press will be expected to carry the message of voter turnout, while the political and campaign dollars go to the White mainstream media. Those who are spending the billions of dollars that will go to Campaign Finance appear to have forgotten that elections are won and lost on a single vote. Now is the time to remind the candidates, the political Initiatives and Propositions that will appear on the ballots across this nation, that the Black Vote must not be taken for granted. It does not belong to any particular political party or interest group. It can not be judged by whether it exists in a Blue or Red State. The Democrats, Republicans and Independents and the supporters of Initiatives should not assume that our vote is not important. Elections are won on a single vote. The United States Supreme Court in Reynolds vs. Sims, 1964. That case established the One Person, One Vote rule. The rule in that case made it mandatory to base legislative seats on population in districts rather than geography and guaranteed the Equal Protection coverage of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. That principle has not been abolished, and neither should act as if our one vote does not count. Let us not forget our own values and we look toward the Midterm elections. The “Trusted Messenger” can make the difference.
DR. JOHN E. WARREN
Westchester County Invites Residents to Help Shape the Future of Recycling
County Partners with Environmental Leaders of Color on Community Recycling Survey
DR. DIANA WILLIAMS
WHITE PLAINS, NY -- Westchester County is partnering with Environmental Leaders of Color (ELOC) to encourage residents to participate in a new countywide recycling survey aimed at improving awareness and use of the Westchester County Household Material Recovery Facility (H-MRF) and identifying opportunities to strengthen
recycling services across the County.
Developed as part of a student-led sustainability initiative, the brief online survey gathers feedback on residents’ recycling habits, familiarity with the H-MRF and ideas for improving access to recycling resources. The survey takes less than two minutes to complete and will help inform future outreach, education and sustainability efforts throughout Westchester County.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Every resident has a role to play in protecting our environment, and every voice matters as we continue to improve our sustainability efforts. This partnership with Environmental Leaders of Color highlights the power of youth leadership and community engagement. Together, we can make recycling easier and increase awareness of available resources that lead to a healthier future for Westchester.”
Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities Commissioner Vincent Kopicki said: “Recycling and proper disposal of household hazardous wastes provide simple and effective opportunities for residents to help protect our environment, but we can only improve our programs if we understand the needs of the people we serve. This survey will provide valuable insights into how residents use our resources and where we can improve. We encourage everyone to participate and help us continue building a cleaner, more sustainable Westchester County.”
Westchester County Director of Energy Conserva-
tion and Sustainability Peter L. McCartt said: “Community feedback is one of our more valuable planning tools. The information gathered through this survey will help us better understand residents’ needs, improve awareness of the Household Material Recovery Facility and continue expanding programs that reduce waste and promote environmental responsibility.”
Environmental Leaders of Color Executive Director Dr. Diana K. Williams said: “ELOC’s mission is to develop the next generation of environmental leaders, and this project shows what that looks like in practice: students identifying a real community need, building a tool to address it, and partnering with the County to put it into action. We thank Westchester County for embracing youth leadership, and we encourage every resident to take two minutes and make their voice count.”
The survey is anonymous and open to all Westchester County residents. Questions focus on awareness of the Household Material Recovery Facility, past use of its services and suggestions for improving recycling throughout the County. Responses will help guide future education initiatives and identify ways to make recycling programs more accessible and effective. Residents are encouraged to complete the survey online and share it with friends, family and neighbors.
To take the survey, visit: https://www.westchestercountyny.gov/waste-management
NAACP Announces $20 Million Voter Registration Drive at National Convention in Chicago
ple” mural.
Governor J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson were among the dignitaries who reinforced the NAACP’s message during the convention’s opening plenary.
Black voting rights have been under attack in the last several months when Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida gutted historic Black congressional districts after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled such districts were unconstitutional and were no longer needed in modern times despite protections under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The NAACP, the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, is concerned those decisions will roll back political and economic gains Blacks have made in the last six decades.
NAACP Board Chairman Leon Russell told the opening session that the NAACP would undertake a $20
million voter registration and mobilization drive “to motivate six million to 10 million voters” who did not cast ballots in the last two elections to do so.
As part of the campaign, the NAACP plans to recruit “tens of thousands of volunteers to join the crusade to turn out millions of us this November.”
The plan will target voters in 14 states and 33 congressional districts, with the full list expected to be disclosed later.
“We must move 60 percent or more of all eligible voters to the polls,” Russell said.
The NAACP has a history of leading voter registration drives in Black neighborhoods across America.
In his speech, Pritzker said, “In Washington and across the country, extremists holding high office are
working to erase Black history rather than learn from it, to take away voting rights instead of strengthening them, to divide us rather than unite us,” he said.
He added, “These are not simply disagreements over policy. These are challenges to the very idea that democracy belongs to all of us. Challenges to the very idea that we are all created equal.”
Pritzker said the phrase “We the People” reflects America’s ongoing effort to expand equality, noting that the nation’s founding ideals initially excluded enslaved people, women and other groups.
Mayor Brandon Johnson said, “For 117 years this incredible organization has helped bend the arc of history towards justice. And not because progress was inevitable, but because ordinary people made the extraordinary decision to organize,
advocate and refuse to accept injustice as the reigning form of governance. That work has never been easy, and today it remains as urgent as it has ever been.
“Across this country we are witnessing wicked efforts to undermine fundamental rights, weaken Democratic institutions, and to turn neighbors against one another.
“We see attempts to silence the truth and erase our history and convince people that somehow division is stronger than solidarity. But history has taught us something very different. Every time people have been told to accept injustice, they have risen together to reject it. “
During Trump’s second term in office, the NAACP has filed more than 70 lawsuits to stop his grasping and often unconstitutional moves to grab total power.
Pritzker said “Illinois has been at
Westchester Soccer Club Recognizes County Youth Bureau Youth Service Award Recipients
(Mount Vernon, NY) – At a special halftime ceremony during the match between the Westchester Soccer Club and the New York Cosmos, the Westchester Soccer Club recognized nine youth leaders who had previously received the Westchester County Youth Bureau (WCYB) and Youth Board Annual Youth Service Award. The students gathered on Mount Vernon’s Memorial Field, along with Westchester Deputy County Executive Joan McDonald, representatives from the soccer club and the new team mascot, Hutch, for their moment in the spotlight.
The Youth Service Award recognizes 11th and 12th grade students living in Westchester County who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to others through volunteerism and leadership, and is given by the WCYB and Youth Board to outstanding students each year.
Westchester Deputy County Executive Joan McDonald said: “Westchester County, through funding administered by the WCYB, is deeply invested in youth sports. We support programs to the tune of $1.17 million that provide a variety of sports/physical fitness opportunities for a broad range of youth up to 18 years of age, in under-resourced communities. We have 49 programs in communities like Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Peekskill, White Plains, Port Chester and others. We thank the Westchester Soccer Club for being a terrific community partner and bringing it all together –the excitement generated by the
World Cup, the chance to recognize exemplary youth leaders and the opportunity to cheer on Westchester’s home soccer team to victory.”
Westchester County Youth Bureau Executive Director Ernest McFadden said: “The Westchester Soccer Club exemplifies the power of sports to unite communities, inspire young people and build character, which was on full display during the recent 2026 FIFA tournament. We are deeply grateful to the Club for recognizing the Westchester County Youth Bureau and Youth Board class of 2024 and 2025 Youth Service honorees, who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to others through volunteerism and leadership. Today, we celebrate not only their remarkable achievements, but also our shared commitment to creating opportunities that empower every young person to thrive— both on and off the field.”
Westchester Soccer Club Senior Account Executive Bill Levy said: “The Westchester Soccer Club is a proud member of the USL Championship League 1 Division. In only its second year, the team had already proved to be a winner both on the field, and in the community. With local ownership, the team values the importance of being a great community partner.”
Youth Service Award recipient Aiden Mendez said: “Recognizing everyday students for extending a helping hand to their community is always great! Reminding youth of where they come from is always the most important part of development.”
Westchester ACT-SO Youth Win Medals at NAACP 117th National Convention in Chicago
By Yvonne B. Bert
High school students who participated in the Westchester Regional ACT-SO competition returned home from the NAACP National ACT-SO Competition, which was held in Chicago prior to the NAACP National Convention, with six medals and monetary awards, plus ipads, earbuds. The awards were presented at the ACT-SO Awards Ceremony on Sunday, July 19, 2026. The youth competed with over 500 students from throughout the nation for recognition of their hard work, creativity and dedication to excellence, in 32 areas of competition, including STEM, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Humanities, Entrepreneurship/Business, and Hospitality and Culinary Arts.
Bringing home Silver medals and $1500 each were Breana Sinkfield-Tyler in the Medicine and Health discipline, who will be attending Yale University in the fall; Frances Fokoue
Nkoutche in the Engineering discipline, who will be attending Stanford University in the Fall; Kelechi Njoku in Physics, a rising Senior at New Rochelle High School; and Michael Middleton, in Dance-Ballet, who will also be attending college in the Fall. In addition, Olivia Wallace, was awarded a Bronze medal in the Biology/Microbiology discipline, and $1000, who will be attending the University of Connecticut in the Fall; and Michael Middleton, who received a Bronze medal in the Dance-Modern discipline.
The students had an opportunity to meet with other students whose goal is excellence in their chosen fields. Many students were chosen to showcase their talent during performance at the Awards Ceremony. including several dance performances by silver and bronze medalist Michael Middleton of Mt. Vernon, a graduate of the Denzel Washington
School of the Arts.
The NAACP National ACT-SO Program, which was created by Chicago columnist Vernon Jarrett, will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary next year.
The NAACP National Convention kickedoff on Sunday July 19, 2026, after the excitement of the ACT-SO Awards Ceremony, with delegates and activists pouring into the Chicago for a week of lively discussions, workshops and strategizing on major issues of concern for the African American community, with voting as a primary topic. NAACP President/CEO Derrick Johnson and Chairman of the Board Leon Russell set the tone for four days of hard work for all who were in attendance, including hundreds of youth from the Youth Councils and College Division of the NAACP.
Westchester Region NAACP ACT-SO students.
Westchester Teens Return from Senegal Inspired by Service, History, and Heritage
By Traci Alexander
perience celebrated Black excellence while fostering a deeper understanding of history, identity, and global citizenship.“Seeing the joy on the children’s faces made everything worthwhile. I’m proud that we were able to raise funds necessary to bring this vision to life and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the village and its community, exceeding anything that I originally imagined,” shares Kristian Acosta, a rising senior The Ethical Culture Fieldston School.
Before departing, the students raised more than $8,800 to support meaningful community initiatives in Senegal.
Their fundraising efforts made it possible
to:
● Paint both the interior and exterior of the Lambaye Learning Center in the village of Lambaye.
● Provide a nourishing meal for children at SOS Village d’Enfants in Dakar.
● Donate school supplies to preschool students in Lambaye.
Throughout their stay, the students lived among members of the local community, building authentic relationships while gaining firsthand knowledge of Senegalese culture and traditions.
Their immersive experience also includ-
ed visits to historic Gorée Island, where they stood at one of history’s most significant sites of the transatlantic slave trade.
Looking toward America as free young people, they reflected on the resilience, sacrifice, and triumph of those who came before them.
Additional experiences included participating in amtraditional African naming ceremony, learning to prepare authentic Senegalese cuisine, and engaging in cultural exchanges that deepened their appreciation for their shared global heritage.
The journey was supported by Dr. Dana Smith, founder of Westchester Physical and
Westchester Teens Return from Senegal Inspired by Service, History, and Heritage
By Traci Alexander
Occupational Therapy, PLLC – Sensory Jim™ Pediatric Therapy, whose career has been devoted to helping children reach their fullest potential. With more than 30 years of experience working with complex pediatric cases, Dr. Smith has earned a reputation for identifying the underlying developmental challenges that other providers often overlook, helping children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Just as importantly, Dr. Smith helped bring her son Kristian Acosta’s vision for Reclaim the Journey to life, supporting a program that continues to inspire young people through education, service, leadership, and
cultural connection. “Helping children succeed is the foundation of everything I do in my practice and beyond. My mission doesn’t stop at my office. I was delighted to support mym son in bringing his vision to fruition.
Connecting motor skills to academic success at home or in Senegal sharesthe same goal: helping every child reached their full potential, wherever they are,” explains Dr. Smith. The students will reunite at the home of Dr. Dana Smith and Kristian Acosta, in New Rochelle, Friday, August7, 2026, to reflect on the invaluable lessons learned during their transformative journey to Senegal. During the gathering, they will discuss how those experiences
can be incorporated into their classrooms this fall while beginning early planning efforts for the 2027 Reclaim the Journey educational trek to Senegal.
About Reclaim the Journey: Reclaim the Journey is an educational and cultural initiative founded by Kristian Acosta, a rising Senior at The Ethical Culture Fieldston School. The program provides young people with opportunities to reconnect with their ancestral heritage through immersive travel experiences, community service, leadership development, and meaningful cultural exchange in West Africa.
NAACP, Cont’d. from page 5
the forefront of the struggle for freedom and equality” ever since Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a non-white, was the first permanent resident of what is now Chicago, Pritzker noted.
Pritzker also said Illinois also gave the nation the crusading African American journalist Ida B. Wells, and it elected more African American members of Congress than any other state. He said Illinois gave the nation the late civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and “a young community organizer” who eventually went from Chicago to the White House, Barack Obama.
“But such progress is not inevitable,” the governor warned. “It requires people willing to sacrifice. None of this is by accident. It is because Black America shows up, reminding us of the painful part of our history while giving us hope for the future.”
Based on reporting by Gary Crusader.
Originally published by Black Press USA Wire — https://chicagocrusader.com/naacp-announces-20m-voter-registration-drive-at-nationalconvention-in-chicago/
CLEAN ENERGY, Cont’d. from page 2
sil fuels by default,” said Tom Watson, Executive Director of Sustainable Westchester. “This critical investment will expand programs that empower our communities to take control of their energy future.”
“This $750,000 investment will help make our communities healthier while connecting residents to affordable, clean energy options, enabling real progress on the air quality concerns our communities have been raising for years. I want to thank Governor Hochul and Speaker Heastie for their partnership in securing this funding for Sustainable Westchester,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “This organization has spent more than a decade proving what regional collaboration can accomplish, and this investment will help them triple rooftop solar, expand parking lot solar canopies tenfold, and protect programs like GridRewards that are already saving residents money. Investments like this one reflect our shared commitment to building a cleaner, more resilient New York for generations to come.”
The solar initiative, which the Clinton Global Initiative supports as a Commitment to Action, represents a particularly bold ambition. Fewer than 7% of Westchester homes currently have rooftop solar, and only 2% of suitable surface parking lots have solar canopies. Sustainable Westchester’s multi-year strategy — combining proactive site identification, streamlined municipal permitting, and bundled procurement — aims to change that dramatically. At full scale, projected new installations could generate enough clean electricity to power a city larger than White Plains, while creating nearly 300 local jobs in solar sales, design, installation, and maintenance.
On the municipal front, Sustainable Westchester will expand its support for participation in New York State’s Climate Smart Communities and Clean Energy Communities programs, initiatives through which the organization has already helped Westchester municipalities earn more than $500,000 in funding. Enhanced services will include individualized needs assessments, outreach in low-to-moderate income communities, and volunteer mobilization. Alongside these new efforts, the funding will help preserve Sustainable Westchester’s core programs, including GridRewards — New York’s first residential demand-response program — as well as Community Solar, EnergySmart Homes, MOVE electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and workforce development initiatives that ensure that all communities benefit economically from the expansion of clean energy capacity.
Sustainable Westchester is a 501(c)(3) non-profit created by and for the municipalities of Westchester County to advance climate mitigation and clean energy. For over a decade, the organization has developed and implemented programs benefiting more than 150,000 households and small businesses, serving as a proven model of regional collaboration in support of New York State’s energy and environmental objectives.
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COMMUNITY
Community Calendar
CALENDAR SUBMISSION: Please use a brief paragraph to describe your event. The paragraph should include event name, date(s), time, location and contact information. Send calendar information via email to westchestercountypress@yahoo.com. Please type “CALENDAR EVENT” in the subject bar.
Thursday, July 30
Join Westchester Disabled On The Move (WDOM) for its Annual Meeting! In addition to all the festivities, music, food, and giveaways, there will be a special guest: The Westchester Parks Foundation (WPF). This is an opportunity to learn about the WPF’s Trails Without Limits program, which makes parks facilities in Westchester more accessible to wheelchair users and others with mobility issues. WPF will demonstrate their All-Terrain Trackchairs, and interested attendees will have a chance to test them out. WDOM will also share important information for clients and partners as it works to meet the demands of HR1, the “Big Beautiful Bill,” and other safety net programs. It all takes place on Thursday, July 30, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ridge Road Park in Hartsdale, 287 Ridge Rd., Hartsdale. Please RSVP to events@wdom. org.
Thursday, July 30
Donors Urgently Needed – Blood Drive in Scarsdale: Thursday, July 30. In June, the nation’s blood supply dropped 25%, to critically low levels. If you are able, consider scheduling a donation with the American Red Cross on Thursday, July 30, from 1 - 5 p.m. at American Legion Post 979, 40 Bell Rd., Scarsdale. To schedule, visit RedCrossBlood.org and use this sponsor code: ScarsdaleNY (not case sensitive).
Now thru August 2nd
Exhibits on View at ArtsWestchester: May 16- Aug 2, 2026: Forever, Amen is an ongoing photographic study of the oldest Black churches in White Plains. Despite widespread displacement and cultural erasure caused by urban renewal, some of these
churches have existed for nearly two centuries. The series examines how these places of worship have anchored Black residents of the city and its surrounding communities.
Wednesday, Aug 4
International Music and Dance Festival at the New Rochelle Public Library: Experience the energy and beauty of West African culture with Bokandeye African American Dance Theater. Through dynamic dance, drumming, song, and storytelling rooted in the traditions of the Old Mali Empire, this engaging performance brings centuries of cultural heritage to life in a vibrant celebration for audiences of all ages.
Thursday, August 13
Let the rhythms take control in this R&B line dancing workshop designed for all skill levels. Stepby-step instructions will guide participants through basic movements before teachers gradually introduce more complex steps as guests groove to a mix of classic and contemporary music. This session promises a fun night for both seasoned dancers and beginners. Artist: DJ Danny Washington TICKET PRICE: $20 (nonmembers), $10 (ArtsW members)
DOORS OPEN AT: 6:40 PM.
R&B Line Dancing August 13, 2026 | 7-9 PM ArtsWestchester Gallery, 31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY.
Sunday, August 16
Dia De La Cultura Ecuatoriana Sunday, August 16, 2026 | 3-8PM Barnhart Park, 25 Andrews Lane, Sleepy Hollow, NY. Join us for an afternoon of Ecuadorian music, dance, food and craft, along with family-friendly presentations that feature traditional Ecuadorian costumes and the indigenous Kichwa language. Guests
are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs or picnic blankets to enjoy the performances. Co-organized by ArtsWestchester and the Village of Sleepy Hollow.
Sunday, September 13
From 3–5 p.m, at the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, Peekskill, N, The Robeson in Peekskill Project presents its third annual commemoration of the Peekskill Riots and celebration of Paul Robeson’s legacy. Hosted and narrated by Shana L. Redmond, award-winning author of Everything Man: The Form and Function of Paul Robeson, with visuals by documentary filmmaker and historian Jon Scott Bennett, the program brings together music, storytelling, history, youth voices, and community performers in an afternoon rooted in history and alive with the energy of the present. Featured performers include Resistance Revival Chorus, Cole Quest and the City Pickers, AMAUTA, Bria The Artist, and the Peekskill City Singers. Together, they will create an afternoon that is rooted in history, alive with the energy of the present, and designed to invite audiences of all ages to reflect, connect, and sing. Tickets are available at tinyurl. com/SWSTIX. Admission is $35 regular; $25 seniors 65+; $15 students; $5 kids 12 and under accompanied by an adult.
September 16-20
The wait is over—registration is now open for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF)’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC)! September 16–20, 2026, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C. Join us for five days of impactful conversations, thoughtprovoking policy discussions, networking opportunities, and
celebrations that bring together leaders, advocates, professionals, students, and changemakers from across the nation. This year’s ALC is especially significant as we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of CBCF—a milestone that honors five decades of cultivating leaders, advancing equity, and creating pathways for future generations. Together, we’ll reflect on our legacy, celebrate our progress, and look ahead to the future of Black leadership and civic engagement. For more information about the Annual Legislative Conference, please email our team. Registration: eventsupport@cbcfinc.org ALC Sponsorship Opportunities: rd@cbcfinc. org
Saturday, Sept. 19
September 19th, 2026, Times Square at Noon LOVE OUR MOTHER Concert Calming/Celebration/Party. Join us, as we honor and strengthen the message for the upcoming September 21st, the UN International Day of Peace at Noon WORLDWIDE, 193 Counties in the UN Agreed to participate and 1.6 billion people are aware (McKinsey Co.) of Peace Day...we want 8 billion to join in at noon (Put down the guns, anger and make love not violence) around the world for a MOMENT/MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR PEACE, Ringo Starr will lead the Minute/ Moment:) Peace & Love and may it continue FOREVER Here is a message from the Executive Producer about why we should all get involved and why for 24 years, our nonprofit, Good News Corporation, has: :https://pausetheworldforpeace. org/reverend-paul-sladkus-allfaiths-and-spiritual-producer-ofearth-and-peace-day-concerts-for24-years-shares-why/ Thank you all for caring for our world and those living in it…Our Good News Community hasn’t deviated since our first Good News Broadcast on July 4, 1998, through to the establishment
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Mamaroneck, Ossining, Eastchester, Tarrytown, Blind Brook-Rye, Rye Neck, Katonah-Lewisboro, Greenburgh, Hendrick Hudson, Croton-Harmon, Tuckahoe, Irvington, Bedford Central, Bronxville, Pelham, Ardsley, Yorktown Central, Briarcliff Manor, Port Chester-Rye, Mount Pleasant Central and Harrison. The technology is installed, operated and maintained at no cost to school districts or taxpayers.
Westchester County will continue working with its school district partners and BusPatrol to monitor trends, identify high-risk corridors and educate motorists about New York State’s school bus stopping law. County officials hope the program’s continued success will further reduce illegal passing violations and ensure every child can travel to and from school safely.
National blood crisis NOW: Immediate need for blood donations
Red Cross issues rare crisis call for donors as summer blood shortage intensifies Patient care threatened as critical blood type levels continue to fall
For only the second time in history, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis — and patients may already be feeling the impact. Donors are asked to act immediately to help save lives.
Blood donations have fallen to a four-year summer low, worsening this season’s emergency blood shortage. All blood types are needed, but the situation is especially dire for type O blood as the Red Cross is now limiting distributions of these blood products to hospitals. The supply of type O positive blood has now dropped below a one-day supply.
Help end this crisis and stabilize the blood supply. Book an appointment to give blood now by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood. org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a thank-you, all who come to give by July 31 will receive a Fandango Movie Ticket by email (up to $15 ticket price and fees). See RedCrossBlood.org/July.
Tthose who come to give Aug. 1-31, 2026, will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card by email. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/August.
CALENDAR,
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of our International Day of Peace Concerts in 2002. WE CONGRATULATE YOU ALL FOR YOUR DESIRE TO SEE MEDIA AND EVENTS PROMOTE THE GOOD Wednesday, Sept. 23 thru Sunday, Sept. 27
JazzFest White Plains Sept. 23-27, 2026 | White Plains, NY JazzFest White Plains returns this fall with a bold, artist-driven lineup that reflects the vitality of jazz today. Across five days, 19 performances will bring legendary artists, contemporary innovators and emerging voices to downtown White Plains. Featuring five GRAMMY Award winners and nominees, the festival offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience the living evolution of jazz—from its foundational masters to the artists defining its future.
Saturday, Nov. 7
Join us for our biggest celebration of the year, the 2026 Benefit for ArtsWestchester, on Saturday, November 7, 2026 featuring a concert by Grammy®-nominated, classical-meets-hip-hop duo Black Violin. It’ll be a full evening with fabulous dinner stations, an open bar, live and silent auctions, a world-class music performance and a dessert after-party -- all in the company of people who love the arts as much as you do. Don’t miss this special evening to ensure the vibrancy and accessibility of the arts in the greater Westchester region. A Benefit for ArtsWestchester Featuring a Concert by Black Violin Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 VIP Dinner & Reception 5:00PM | Concert 7:30PM.
FERIA DE SALUD
COMUNITARIA
música • ¡y
