News from the City of White Plains Z c c cc c ccccc JULY 2019

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - July 2019

All Month

Story Walk at Bryant-Mamaroneck Park. Children Make Terrible Pets  by Peter Brown. Free.

All Month

Kayaking. Liberty Park, Lake Street. Free days in July

All Month

City Swimming Pools -- Gardella and Kittrell -- Open for Summer. Check for hours. Free.

Tues. 2nd

Independence Day Celebration . WP High School. 6 - 10 pm. A fun filled evening of music, rides, food & fireworks! Free.

Wed. 3rd

TILI (Take It or Leave It) Shed - Gedney Yard, Gedney Way, Every Wed. 2 - 4 pm and Sat. 9 am - Noon.

Wed. 3rd

Farmers' Market . Every Wed. 8 am - 4 pm and Sat. 9 am - 2 pm. Court Street between Martine and Main.

Mon. 8th

Neighborhood Nights. Magic, live entertainment, movies & more. From Mon. July 11 thru Thurs. July 25. At 8 city parks. 7 pm start. Free.

Tues. 9th

Summer 2nd Tuesdays Concert Series @ WP Plaza, 1 North Broadway: 5 - 7 pm. Free.

Wed. 10th, 17th & 24th

Wayback Wednesdays at Renaissance Plaza, Mamaroneck & Main. 7 pm. Free.

Thurs. 11th, 18th & 25th

Noon Day Concerts  at Renaissance Plaza, Mamaroneck & Main, 12- 2 pm. Free.

Thurs. 11th, 18th, & 25th

Summer Concert Series at City Center in the Courtyard, 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Free.

Thurs. 11th

Shakespeare in the Park. Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival presents Julius Caesar. Turnure Park, Lake Street. 7 pm. Free. Picnic-ing welcome.

Tues. 23rd

Smash Mouth Live in Concert . With opener Nikki Hill. Mamaroneck Ave. between Main & Martine. Gates open 6 pm. Free.

Be Part of the Fun ! Independence Day Celebration July 2 at White Plains High School Festivities start at 6 pm Tuesday, July 2nd. Rides and games for the kids. Festival food available for purchase. Entertainment by The Doobie Others and of course, spectacular fireworks to mark the 243rd year of U.S. Independence.

DID YOU KNOW ...If you're going on vacation, you can ask Public Safety for a Vacant Property Check? Homeowners can call the Police non-emergency telephone number 914.422.6111 to ask that the exterior of their home be checked-on in their absence.

Bringing Back the Birds & the Bees

It takes collaboration and commitment from everyone to bring back our pollinators – bees, birds, bats, and butterflies - that are in decline mainly due to pesticides and loss of habitat. You can be a part of this rapidly growing regional, national and even international movement in your own backyard by planting native plants and eliminating pesticides. Pollinators of White Plains, our local interpretation of Pollinator-Pathway.org, is being brought to our city under the auspices of the White Plains Beautification Foundation with the support of the City of White Plains. Find out more about native plants and what you can do in your own backyard.

Skipper Butterfly on Echinacea

Bee in Baptisia

Bumblebee on Golden Rod

Rock White Plains with Smash Mouth LIVE on Mamaroneck Ave! Tuesday July 23

The Bard is Back! Watch Julius Caesar Live At Turnure Park Thursday July 11th

Info and advance wristband purchase to drink @wpbid.com/rock

This Hudson Valley Shakespeare production is free to all.

White Plains High School Students Add New Play Features to Bark Dog Park

The students in Chad Allen's Construction Systems Class at White Plains High School designed and built new equipment for dogs to exercise, play, or just sit on at the Bark Dog Park at 465 Main Street East (near Delfino Park). The students worked in close collaboration with the staff at the Recreation & Parks Department and installed the equipment right along with DPW and Parks staff. Mayor Tom Roach, left, and Superintendent of Schools, Joseph Ricca, at right, congratulate Mr. Allen (checkered shirt) and the students, with a new friend.

On a hot summer's day Wren avoided the new equipment designed for big dogs . . . .

but was happy to stoll over to the new small dog bridge . ..

and rest for a while in the shade of the new dog tunnel.

1st City of White Plains Volunteer Fair a Big Success Many thanks to all the community members and non-profits that participated in the 1st City of White Plains Volunteer Fair on June 15th at the Library. There are many organizations in our city that need volunteers. If you were unable to attend the event in person, click here for a full list of all participating organizations and their contact information.

There's a New Hot Spot in Town -- Library Plaza Receives Major Renovation

Library Plaza is getting a major facelift. You probably won’t recognize the formerly flat, non-descript concrete 68,500 sq. ft. space between the Westchester County Courthouse and the White Plains Library when a major renovation is complete at the end of July.

The new plaza will have elevated gardens, including an 8-foot high grass-covered knoll, benches, trees, and new lighting. Other new elements will include a Discovery Garden for younger children, with herb plantings, wind chimes, talking tubes, and other interactive features, and a small performance area for concerts and programs.  Additional drainage and waterproofing were also added to reduce water infiltration into the garage below the plaza.    The new plaza will become another attractive outdoor space that the Library and other city departments can program and use. Westchester County, which owns a small piece of the Plaza, contributed to the project cost. Be sure to stop by the Library’s Every Day Healthy Café and then walk out onto the new plaza later this summer to experience this new space for yourself!

Youth Soccer Registration Now Open Register for the White Plains Youth Soccer Fall Program, Grades 2 - 6 Everyone registered for Youth Soccer is automatically enrolled for New York City Football Club Clinic, September 7th, 2019 at Gillie Field Professional Soccer Club NYCFC Clinic - FREE

Enter the "Do You Know White Plains?" Contest

Fittingly, with Independence Day fast approaching, our July question deals with the history of White Plains. To the right is the Official Seal of the City of White Plains. The flag commemorates the Battle of White Plains fought on October 28, 1776. Our question -- what is the significance of each of the three dates on the Official Seal . . . 1683, 1776 and 1915? All winners will receive a very useful prize -- a FREE Business Improvement District Shop White Plains Discount Card -- to save at stores all over town. That's the prize the ten winners of our June contest received for naming six of the 20 parks in White Plains. Click here for a list and descriptions of all White Plains city parks. The 13 June winners are Jamie Austin, Cherlyn Branch, Robin Cohen, Linda Stern Covello, Judy Eisele, Sara Elkin, Kevin H., Terry Hanson, Yuki Haynes, Yu Liu, G. Lonigro, Jeanette Rivas and Karlene Wilson. Congratulations, all! Email your answer to the July question to feedback@whiteplainsny.gov . Look for the answers, and a list of winners, in next month's newsletter.