WHITE PLAINS YOUTH TAKES THE LEAD IN LOCAL PRODUCTION OF THE WIZARD OF OZ
The stage at the Mamaroneck Avenue School will become the Emerald City at 7:30 p.m. August 6, 2010 as youth from White Plains and other Westchester municipalities put on a production of the Wizard of Oz. White Plains residents April Nuovo will play Dorothy in this urbanized update of the 1939 classic and Matthew Silver will play the Cowardly Lion. Other White Plains residents including Josie Alexander, Victor Chung, and Marie Cruz, will play Munchkins, and Witches’ Guards. They are just five of the 18 youth who are participating in this production which is free and open to the public.
The Free Theatre Workshop is founded by director/ playwright, and Scarsdale resident, Betsy Hooper. The City of White Plains Youth Bureau is a sponsor of the workshop, which is providing area youth with a free, six – week theatre production experience.
Hooper says Westchester is just overflowing with artistically talented youth in need of more creative outlets. The Youth Bureau agrees and has helped Hooper find a theatre and area youth to participate in the Workshop. Hooper and the other professionals working with her include musical director and Windward teacher, Catey Roe and White Plains High School alum and Lehman College graduate, Brittney Coleman. They are volunteering their time to help youth from Scarsdale, Peekskill, Greenburgh, Valhalla, Nyack and Yonkers sharpen their theatre skills on and off-stage. The participants act, sing and dance in the production and produce the sets.
You can get a preview of the production at the upcoming National Night Out event sponsored by the City of White Plains Department of Public Safety, Tuesday, August 3 rd from 6-9 p.m. at Public Safety Headquarters, 77 Lexington Avenue.
Join us for a fun family night featuring a creative youthful interpretation of the timeless classic, The Wizard of Oz. For more information, including how to get free tickets, contact Betsy Hooper at freetheatrewestchester@gmail.com
WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS ANNOUNCES VOTER EDUCATION DRIVE New optical scan electronic voting machines have arrived in Westchester County and you’ll have an opportunity to use them beginning with the Primary Elections on September 14 th. Board of Elections Commissioners Reginald LaFayette and Carolee Sunderland have announced the kick-off of a broad Voter Outreach and Education drive designed to increase awareness of the new machines and allow voters to see them – up close and personal.
“County residents will find new voting machines at their polling places with the upcoming elections and we want them to feel as comfortable as possible with the process”, said Commissioner Sunderland.
“We join other counties in the metropolitan area and beyond who are using the new optical scan machines. People don’t always like change, so we want to let them see and test out the new machines to make the transition a smooth one,” said LaFayette.
Federal legislation called the “Help America Vote Act” or HAVA is what dictated this change that has caused Boards of Elections across the state to have to replace the traditional mechanical lever machines with these new electronic versions as well as re-engineer voting procedures steeped in history. Part of this process called for the centralization of voting in Westchester County, which had traditionally been administered by town and city clerks with oversight by the county Elections Board. This marks the first time county voters will use the new optical scan machines.
Regional forums have been scheduled to allow county voters a chance to receive instructions on the use of the machines and conduct their own demonstration. Town and city Clerks also have machines located in their offices for this purpose. Please contact your local town or city clerk’s office for more information.
Regional forums will be held:
Tuesday, July 13 th – 7:00–9:00PM – Mount Vernon City Hall
Tuesday, July 20 th – 6:00–8:00PM – Grinton Will Library, Yonkers
Thursday, July 22 nd & September 9 th–7:00–9:00PM - Westchester County Center, White Plains
Sunday, October 3 rd – 1:00 – 3:00PM - Westchester County Center, White Plains
Thursday, July 29 th – 7:00 – 9:00PM – Fox Lane High School, Bedford
For more information, call the Board of Elections at 995-5700 or access their website at westchestergov.com/BOE
STREET CLOSURES DUE TO FEDERAL TRIAL
Starting Monday June 14th residents and visitors should be aware that there will be sporadic street closures, unannounced police checkpoints, and heavy law enforcement activity in and around the Federal Courthouse on Quarropas Street. This is due to a high profile federal trial.
Residents and visitors should expect to see police helicopter flyovers and law enforcement agencies including White Plains Police, Westchester County Department of Public Safety and New York State Police.
We are doing all that we can to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors. We ask for everyone’s cooperation during the time of this trial which is expected to take several weeks. We remind everyone to be vigilant and if you see something suspicious notify the Police.
The White Plains Police Department can be contacted at 914-422-6000.
Buffalo Wild Wings Grill to Open at City Center in White Plains
Family-oriented, sports-themed restaurant to take over historic Home Savings Bank building at the corner of Mamaroneck and Main
White Plains, NY - (May 2010) - Buffalo Wild Wings Grill, one of the top ten fastest-growing restaurant chains in the U.S., will open at City Center in White Plains in September. The fun, family-oriented, sports-theme restaurant will be located at 1 Mamaroneck Ave.
In addition to offering its namesake chicken wings with 14 signature sauces, Buffalo Wild Wings has a full menu featuring everything from salads to appetizers to burgers, and a variety of specialty items and more than 30 beers on tap. Food is served in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere where customers can hang out with friends, and watch their favorite games on one of many big-screen TVs. The 8,000-square-foot, restaurant will seat more than 250.
The Buffalo Wild Wings in White Plains will be operated by Four M Capital LLC of Valhalla. The White Plains restaurant will become the ninth Buffalo Wild Wings operated by the company in New York and Connecticut. Their other restaurants are located in Port Chester, New Roc City in New Rochelle, Palisades Center in West Nyack, Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn as well as in Stamford, Milford and New Haven, Connecticut. A Danbury restaurant is expected to open soon.
The White Plains location has been Zanaro’s Italian since in 2005. Zanaro’s will close at the end of this month after which the space will be redesigned for Buffalo Wild Wings.
“The Mamaroneck Avenue location at City Center provides a great opportunity to take advantage of a prime location in the heart of downtown White Plains and the heart of Westchester County,’’ said James Bitzonis, President of Four M Capital LLC. “Buffalo Wild Wings is a family-oriented restaurant where we encourage people from the community to come, have fun and watch their favorite sports teams. I think it will be a great addition to the City Center.”
Bitzonis said the company is committed to becoming part of the community and is excited to be occupying the former Home Savings Bank, an historic landmark that is part of the City Center complex. He said that the company plans an entirely new décor and design to reflect the restaurant’s theme, but would respect the building’s landmark architecture in its original form. He envisioned that the former bank vault, which now serves as a dining area, as Hall of Fame gallery featuring sports memorabilia that could be used for parties.
Louis R. Cappelli, developer of City Center, said: “Buffalo Wild Wings will add a new dimension to the mix of restaurants and entertainment establishments that have brought new life to the city’s downtown. Over the last eight years downtown White Plains has re-established itself as a center for dining, entertainment and shopping. This will be an excellent and enjoyable new venue that will draw more families into the heart of the city which is great for everyone.”
About Buffalo Wild Wings
Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. is an established owner, operator and franchisor of restaurants. Buffalo Wild Wings locations are two-thirds franchised and one-third company owned. A top player in the fast-casual dining arena, Buffalo Wild Wings has received dozens of “Best Wings” and “Best Sports Bar” awards from across the country.