A Week For Earth in White Plains

The White Plains Business Improvement District (BID) will host a week of events for the first ever White Plains 2011 Earth Week. The week will be sponsored by the BID, the City's Sustainability and Environmental Enhancement Committee (SEEC); Reckson, a division of SL Green Realty Corp. and the New York Power Authority (NYPA).

“This week-long series of events, programs and projects represents the first time in White Plains history that so many people and organizations are joining together to celebrate, energize and advance the importance of green living and sustainability," said White Plains Common Councilman and SEEC Chair Dennis Power. "Leading by example is what makes the community and the vision of White Plains so special.”  

Here is a list of upcoming Earth Week events, according to the White Plains Business Improvement District's website:

Mon., April 25

Walk for the Environment
’s little ones will walk to school to reduce carbon emissions from cars and buses. If it rains, the students will walk to school on Tues. April 26.

EcoArt a la the Youth Bureau
Check out some EcoArt created by students of the . The EcoArt exhibit will be on display in the rotunda at .

Earth Party at City Hall
White Plains Mayor Tom Roach and the White Plains Earth Week Committee will host a shindig on the steps of at 4 p.m. After a few speeches on the city’s first ever Earth Week—attendees will enjoy live music, children’s groups and a presentation of the ceremonial Earth Week Tree, which is one of eight to be planted on Main St. in honor of Earth Week.

Grow a Seed Box
At 6:30 p.m. take the family down to the , at 2 Fischer Court, and make your own indoor seed box. For more information, please contact Laura Montoya, 914-422-1378 or lmontoya@whiteplainsny.gov.

Tues., April 26

Westchester Businesses Take the Green Challenge
From 8 a.m to 9:30 a.m.  at 360 Hamilton Ave., Westchester County, in conjunction with the Business Council of Westchester will hold The Westchester Challenge, a friendly competition open to all businesses. The event will help local businesses reduce green house gas emissions and save money. For more information contact WestchesterGBC@gmail.com or 914-977-3400.

Earthy Stories at the White Plains Library
The will celebrate Earth Week with  story-time, games and
activities from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and again at 1 p.m .to 1:30 p.m.  The event is free, but the library recommends you arrive 30 minutes prior to start time to ensure you can snag a ticket.

Seniors Celebrate Earth Day with Bingo
Join the City’s mayor for lunch at the from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. After the lunch, the cost is $2.50, a new bingo machine will be unveiled and participants will enjoy a free game of bingo to win prizes. Senior Center bus transportation is available. If you would like to participate you must registered in advance, contact 914-422-1423.

Cooking Naturally and Organically
Eating local foods cuts down on the energy used to transport non-local goods. ’s Club Excel will have Chef Jeff teach you how to create a healthy organic meal, from local ingredients. The event will take place at the school at 4:30 p.m. Contact Laura Montoya at 914-422-1378 or
lmontoya@whiteplainsny.gov for more information.

EcoPop: Pop Art for Earth
The council chambers at will be transformed into an art studio from 4 to 8 p.m. while renowned Pop Art Artist Michael Albert works with city youngsters to create a Pop Art map of the city. Contact Laura Montoya at 914-422-1378 or lmontoya@whiteplainsny.gov for more information.

Wed., April 27

Recyclable Fashion Show
Students from ’s After School Connection will conduct a fashion show with their masterpieces fashioned from recycled materials. Contact Laura Montoya at 914-422-1378 or lmontoya@whiteplainsny.gov for more information. The show will take place at the school at 5 p.m.

Walk for the Environment
Students from will show their devotion to the environment and walk to school Wednesday morning. The rain date will take place on Thurs., April 28.

Bike Rack at White Plains Train Station
The City will unveil a bike rack located at the Metro-North train station in White
Plains, 16 Ferris Ave., at 11 a.m. 

All About Recycling 

Learn all about recycling and how it works in White Plains in the rotunda atanytime from 2 to 9 p.m.

Take It or Leave It
Got something you have no use for, but someone else will? Drop it off at the Take It or Leave It (TILI) Shed at the Gedney Way Recycling Yard, at 87 Gedney Way. While you’re there, you can take something left by your neighbors. will be open from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and is open every Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning through October.

Ridgeway Trail Clean Up
’s After School Connection will work to restore the
Ridgeway Trail located behind the school at 3:30 p.m. Contact Laura Montoya at
914-422-1378 or lmontoya@whiteplainsny.gov for more information.

Church Street Excel Kids Celebrate the Earth 

Students of the Kids Excel program will enjoy singing songs, art and other
performances at 3:30 p.m. at. Contact Laura
Montoya at 914-422-1378 or lmontoya@whiteplainsny.gov for more information.

Waste Reduction and Efficiency 

Department of Public Works Commissioner Bud Nicoletti will conduct discussions on waste reduction, water quality and energy efficiency. Local activist group Econeighbors will conduct a presentation on the Take It or Leave It Shed. The event is from 6 to 9 p.m. at .

Local Businesses Learn to Save Money, Energy
Speakers from the Hess Corp., Solar Waterway and NYSERDA will give local business owners tips on how to reduce their energy costs,  get financing for projects and more. The event will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. at the . Click on the PDF for more information on the seminar series.

Map for Earth
Pinpoint a Google Map with local green living projects, videos, links to article and
more—then publish them online. The activity takes place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the  6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Pajama Party at the Library
Your 2 to 5-year-olds can celebrate Earth Day in their pajamas from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with stuffed animals, stories and other activities. Tickets are free and on a first-come, first-serve basis, arrive a half hour early.

Thurs., April 28

EcoArt a la the Youth Bureau
Check out some EcoArt created by students of the White Plains Youth Bureau. The EcoArt exhibit will be on display in the rotunda at White Plains City Hall, at 225 Main St. For more information, please contact Laura Montoya, 914-422-1378 or lmontoya@whiteplainsny.gov

Cooking Naturally and Organically
Eating local foods cuts down on the energy used to transport non-local goods. White Plains Highlands Middle School’s Club Excel will have Chef Jeff teach you how to create a healthy organic meal, from local ingredients. The event will take place at the school at 4:30 p.m. Contact Laura Montoya at 914-422-1378 or
lmontoya@whiteplainsny.gov for more information.

Art for the Environment
Post Road Elementary School’s After School Connection will have their EcoArt
masterpieces on display at 5 p.m. at the school. Contact Laura Montoya at
914-422-1378 or lmontoya@whiteplainsny.gov for more information.

Learn About Local Food 

Hazon Community Supported Agriculture and the White Plains Stoneledge Farm CSA will hold a discussion on local farmers, gardeners, food purveyors and animal keepers who are dedicated to sustainable and local food production. The event is free and takes place at 7 p.m. at the Temple Israel Center, at 280 Mamaroneck Rd. Click on the PDF or contact Ellen Weininger at ellen@grassrootsinfo.org or Magda Durante at farmdinner2010@gmail.com for more information.

Fri., April 29

Arbor Day Tree Planting
The White Plains Beautification Foundation well celebrate Arbor Day by planting a Bing Cherry and Black Tartarian Cherry tree—donated by Patrick Laidman of The Care of Trees— in front of Church Street Elementary School at 9:30 a.m. Debra Benge’s kindergarten class will assist in the planting ceremony and sings songs.

Grow Veggies in Your Apartment
Live in an apartment, no problem—grow vegetables in your own apartment by making a self-contained hanging vegetable planter with El Centro Hispano, 346 South Lexington Ave., at 6 p.m.

Away With Plastic Bags
Check out a screening of “Bag It” the story of an average American who is on a quest to stop using plastic bags. The film will be showed from 7 to 9 p.m. at Memorial United Methodist Church, and is sponsored by NYSERDA Energy $mart Communities, Advocates for the Earth of White Plains High School, and the White Plains SEEC.

Sat. April 30

 Community Cleanups
From 9 a.m. until noon there will be community clean-up and gardening events
throughout the city. If you would like to participate contact the White Plains Recreation and Parks Department at 914-422-1336.

will host cleanup of their
gardens from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and are looking for volunteers. 
There will also be a community garden project at , volunteers are
welcome. White Plains Girl Scouts, sixth grade and up, will clear the driveway to the community gardens and do some vine cutting. Girls in kindergarten through first grade will be working at their own elementary schools. The event is from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Contact Patti Indelicato at jrmt2001@yahoo.com for more information.
Each of the ’s school will have separate environmental projects for students and their families to partake in from 9 a.m to 11:30 a.m. Contact each school for more information.

Garden Mural Unveiling
Locals will enjoy a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Dekalb Community Garden, at 88 Dekalb Ave. at 11 a.m.

TILI Freecycle
Got someone you have no use for, but someone else will—drop it off at the Take It or Leave It (TILI) at the , at 87 Gedney Way. The shed is open every Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning through October.

Party for the Earth—Sustain White Plains Celebration
Mamaroneck Avenue will be turned into one big party for Mother Earth from noon until 5 p.m.  The event will take place on Mamaroneck Avenue under a tent between Main Street and Martine Avenue. The event will include music by Solar Punch, who uses instruments powered by the sun; Bash the Trash, who uses instruments from recycled pieces; African Drumming, and  choral performances by the White Plains Youth Bureau; Jazz Singer Sebastienne Kent; the Lord Judah Rappers from the Martin Luther King Jr. Institute; raffles; eco-friendly exhibits and activies; environmental workshops; historical presentations; recycling and more.
Those in the community who are committed to sustainability will be recognized with awards from 3 to 4 p.m. There will also be the first solar powered trash cans on display. The DEC Green SunClean 150 is a compactor, that can reduce collection operating costs by up to 80 percent and will be installed in places all over Westchester.

Sun., May 1

Church Community Cleanup
At 8 a.m. congregants of will meet for worship, instead of 10 a.m., then will head out into the community at 9 a.m. to conduct various service projects around White Plains.

Local Churches Unite for the Environment
, the , and will conduct a Greening White Plains celebration at the Church in the Highlands at 3 p.m. Call 914-997-2023 for more information.

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