Mid-Week Neighborhood Dish: New Council Member, Cherry Blossom Festival and Bicycle Sundays

In these times, you just can't afford to be left in the dark when it comes to local happenings. But don't worry, we'll make it super easy for you to get all the information you need in one place—so you can be an informed citizen to make the best decisions for your family, the community and the future.

Arm yourself with knowledge and check out the Mid-Week Neighborhood Dish:

1.) New Council Member, New Council President
The White Plains Common Council will select a new member to fulfill the seat left vacant by Tom Roach at their meeting at city hall on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Roach was elected on March 31 in a special election for the mayoral seat. Former Mayor Adam Bradley shorted the six-member council by one when in February.

The individual selected as the new council member will serve until Novemeber’s election. The person elected will serve out the remainder of the term until 2013. Since Roach was council president—the council will also select one amongst themselves to be council president at the meeting. 

2.) Cherry Blossom Festival
The festivities won’t end this weekend after the city ends with its main event on Saturday. The Cherry Blossom Festival will be held—jointly by the White Plains Recreation & Parks Department and The Japan Education Center—on Sun., May 1 from noon until 4 p.m. in on Lake St.

Enjoy the equisite beauty of the city’s bloomed Kwanzan Japanese cherry trees, in addition to Japanese music, dance, storytelling,  games, crafts, food and drinks. Donations to the Japanese Disaster Relief Fund will also be collected. Call 914-422-1339 for more information.

3.) Bicycle Sundays Until the Fall
Bicycle Sunday are here again! On May 1, 8, 15; June 5, 12, 19, 26 and Sept. 11, 18, and 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. a chunk of the Bronx River Parkway will be shut down—between the Westchester County Center in White Plains, south to Scarsdale Road in Yonkers, 13.1 miles—for bikers, walkers, runners, strollers and more (you could probably unicycle if you wanted to). Parking at the Westchester County Center is $5.

4.) Register to Vote for the Budget and School Board Candidates
You can register to vote for the White Plains Board of Education election and 2011-12 budget on  Sat., April 30 from noon until 5 p.m. at , on Nosband Avenue.  

Registrants  must be a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or more, and a city resident for at least 30 days prior to the election.  If a resident has voted in a General Election in the past four years, he/she is automatically registered and need not re-register.

Voters who have moved within the City of White Plains since they last voted may also re- register at this time. The election will take place on Tues. May 17, from noon to 9 p.m. For your polling place and further information, please call 422-2000.

5.) Soundview Manor Makes History

Soundview Manor—a neo-classical estate built in 1920 in White Plains, is now listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places, and has been given the final recommendation by the State’s Historic Preservation Officer for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli (R, C – Goldens Bridge) announced.

The home, at 283 Soundview Ave, was originally built as the principal residence for Robert L. and Elsie Dula, most likely as a wedding gift from Mr. Dula’s father, Robert B. Dula, a retired tobacco executive, according to a press release.

The 4-acre estate was a private residence for a number of families throughout the century, and was purchased by the Sassower family in 1980, who now operate part of the house as a bed-and-breakfast.

Click here to take a virtual tour of the bed and breakfast and to make reservations

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