OCTOBER 31—METROCARD VAN NOVEMBER SCHUDULE IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Posted on October 31, 2025 by John Bailey

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Westchester Department of Transportation

The MetroCard mobile sales van makes its rounds in Westchester to assist riders with all of their MetroCard business. The van is staffed by MTA New York City Transit Authority customer service representatives who are happy to answer questions and help with any issues you may have.

The MetroCard van schedule for November 2025 in Westchester County

OCTOBER 30—COUNTY EXECUTIVE JENKINS: $50,000 TO FEEDING WESTCHESTER AS SNAP ENDS

Posted on October 30, 2025 by John Bailey

(White Plains, NY) – With federal SNAP benefits set to end on November 1 and no relief in sight, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins announced an emergency allocation of $50,000 from the Department of Social Services (DSS) budget to Feeding Westchester.

Jenkins said: “The SNAP funding cuts are a choice made by President Trump and the Republican majorities in the Senate and the House. There was a plan to continue funding SNAP that was recently removed from the USDA website. Families across Westchester are facing an unimaginable hardship. We cannot — and will not — allow our neighbors to go hungry. This emergency funding will help Feeding Westchester and our local food pantries step up in this moment of crisis to make sure no one in our community is left behind.”

Feeding Westchester Chief Operating Officer Tami Wilson said: “I can’t imagine the stress and anxiety our neighbors are feeling right now with the loss of federal paychecks and the uncertainty of SNAP benefits not being funded in just a few days. To worry about where your next meal will come from, especially as we approach a holiday centered on food, gratitude, love, and family is something no one should ever have to face. We are so fortunate to have unyielding support and partnership from our community in the fight against hunger, with the County Executive and Westchester County Government right at the center.”

Westchester County Social Services Commissioner Leonard Townes said: “This is a time of great uncertainty for tens of thousands of vulnerable families in Westchester facing the real threat of hunger. We hope the federal government will do the right thing and use contingency funds for their designed purpose – to help people in need keep food on the table. But we can’t count on that. I’m proud that our County Executive is stepping up to do what we can to help our partners at Feeding Westchester and local food pantries try to fill this needless gap.”

The emergency funds will enable Feeding Westchester to expand food distribution immediately, prioritizing high-need areas where SNAP benefits have had the greatest impact. The emergency funds will help ensure local food pantries can continue to distribute food at no cost to them, meeting the growing needs of families suddenly left without federal support.

Residents in need of food assistance can visit feedingwestchester.org to locate a nearby pantry or meal program.

NOVEMBER 1 — VETERANS DAY COMING UP NOVEMBER 11

Posted on October 30, 2025 by John Bailey

VETERANS DAY –150 CROWD CITY HALL REMEMBRANCE AT THE MEMORIAL GARDEN

Posted on November 12, 2024 by John

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey, A Look back November 12, 2024:

White Plains citizens, veterans and a new generation to respect and honor White Plains veterans, those who fought and died and returned from wars America has fought.

A throng of 150 by my rough estimate of the throng in the Memorial Garden in the city hall courtyard to reflect on veterans’ contributions and sacrifices and reflect on the future. Here is how it opened:

Mayor Roach spoke saying how happy he was to see such a large turnout to honor the veterans and reminisced about his family’s experience when he was growing up. He introduced the veteran honoree of the day Colonel Staci N. Coleman.

Colonel Staci N. Coleman, a 1988 graduate of White Plains High
School, joined the Air Force as an enlisted Weather Forecaster
in November 1992. She was later selected for Officer Training
School and graduated as the valedictorian of her class in 2003
at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

Colonel Coleman became the Director of the Commander’s
Action Group for the Commander of United States Air Forces in
Europe and United States Air Forces in Africa.

Throughout her career, she has taken on various roles supporting the Air Force,
Army, and joint, coalition and interagency operations. She has
commanded both deployed and base-level units and has
completed eleven deployments in support of multiple
operations.

Colonel Coleman currently serves as the Chief of Foundation
Geospatial Intelligence and Meteorological and Oceanographic
Operations at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency in
Springfield, Virginia.

In her role, Colonel Coleman advises the
agency on policy, strategy, and operational issues, ensuring the
delivery of top-tier geospatial intelligence that gives
policymakers, military personnel, intelligence professionals, and
first responders a significant advantage.

An inspiring addition to the ceremony were students from White Plains Schools reading tributes to each branch of the armed services.

Commissioner of Recreation and Parks Wayne Bass closed the Remembrance and introduced the White Plains High School Marching Band which played the anthems of the 5 armed forces in their traditional medley.

The band played the most inspiring anthems in the world splendidly in unique new arrangements that were made powerfu by the players’ paced beat, crisp roll-offs by the drum corps that segued into each anthem building letting you know something was coming started slowly, majectic, and swelled in majesty. The audience was rapt!