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MARCH 3– Hartsdale’s Maria Regina High School Marching Band Will Again Be Only All-Girls Ensemble to Participate in 2025 New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Monday, March 17
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Talented Musicians Will Also Perform in Area Parades Honoring Patron Saint of Ireland in City of Yonkers, City of White Plains, Throggs Neck and Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown
HARTSDALE, NEW YORK (MARCH 3, 2025)
For the fourth consecutive year, Maria Regina High School’s first-ever marching band, established in 2021, will again stand out as the only all-girls ensemble to participate in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade at 11 AM, Monday, March 17.
The talented musicians from the renowned all-girl Catholic high school will repeat the distinct honor of performing in the oldest (dating to 1762) and largest parade in the world honoring the patron saint of Ireland. They will join thousands of marchers from throughout the New York metro area and pass His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, who will review the procession from the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue.
Maia Regina’s band and its music director, Steven Finkelstein, will be accompanied by a contingent of the school’s students, parents, alumnae and members of the administration and faculty. As many as two million spectators are expected to line both sides of the route from 44th Street to 79th Street.
As in prior years, Maria Regina’s popular marching band has been invited to participate in several community St. Patrick’s Day parades. They are:
● City of White Plains, 12 noon, Saturday, March 8. His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, is scheduled to preside as Grand Marshal.
● Throggs Neck, morning, Sunday March 16
● Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, 1:30 PM, Sunday, March 16
● City of Yonkers at 1 PM, Saturday, March 22.
Principal Maria Carozza-McCaffrey (Class of ’99), said: “Once again, Maria Regina High School is excited and honored that our amazing musicians will share in the joy of this year’s festive St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, delighting crowds with their distinctive musicianship, precision marching and smart, colorful attire,” adding: “It’s no surprise they get some of the loudest cheers when they perform.”
Members of the Maria Regina marching band are:
BELLS
Francesca Costa, Yonkers
Sabrina Boyko, Yonkers
Kailyn Quinones, Yonkers
Naomi Castellanos, Port Chester
DRUMS
Kelly Cambillo, White Plains
Annelise Ramos, Bronx
Isabella Rosa, Bronx
Skyla Fred, Bronx
Diamond Ogebolu, Elmsford
Nicolina Galaz, White Plains
Celeste Korcz, Peekskill
Juliette Ianni, Ridgefield, CT
BANNER CARRIERS:
Krista Taylor, Bronx and Carmella Alcantara, Mount Vernon will carry the banner for the White Plains and New York City parades.
Erin Leatham, Yonkers and Katherine Sandoval, Yonkers will carry the banner for the Throggs Neck and Eastchester parades
In addition to parades, Maria Regina’s marching band participates in pep rallies, school concerts, and open houses, performing patriotic favorites, marches, and the school song.
MARCH 3 TODAY– 2 PM COUNTY EXECUTIVE KEN JENKINS ANNOUNCES NEW MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC AT 112 EAST POST ROAD WHITE PLAINS TODAY 2 PM
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Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins to Give Westchester Weekly Update
Watch Live on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/westchestergov/
During the Weekly Westchester Briefing:
- Westchester County will break ground on new Mental Health Clinic.
- Westchester County Community Mental Health Commissioner Michael Orth will announce the groundbreaking of a new Mental Health Clinic at 112 East Post Road, White Plains.
- The state-of-the-art facility will expand care capacity, reduce wait times, and offer evaluations, treatment, and referrals under NYS Mental Hygiene Laws.
- Westchester County Office for Women to Launch Women’s History Month. Director Robi Schlaff will kick off Women’s History Month by highlighting the Office’s full range of resources, including legal support, health and wellness services, to support women’s well-being across the County.
MARCH 3– UNIONS RALLY AGAINST ADMINISTRATION FIRING OF CIVIL SERVICE
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| West Haven Union Members, Elected Officials, and Supporters to Rally to Save the Civil Service | |
| Members of America’s largest union representing federal workers to join with labor and community allies to protest attacks on civil servants | |
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| West Haven, CT– Members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents thousands of federal workers at a variety of federal agencies across Connecticut, will be rallying along with community and labor allies in support of the civil servants that keep our nation running.
Since the inauguration of President Trump, federal workers have seen their rights trampled on and disrespected by the president and Elon Musk in the mass firings of government workers. Across the nation, AFGE members, civil servants, lawmakers, and community supporters are raising awareness about the disastrous impacts of the actions taken by Elon Musk and the Trump Administration. Who: AFGE National President Dr. Everett Kelley What: Rally against attacks on civil servants and government services When: Monday, March 3rd, 2025 9:30 A.M..-12:30 P.M. EST. Where: Outside the VA Medical Center For further questions and details, please contact AFGE National Representative Samuel Neimeiser at samuel.neimeiser@afge.org or at 850-566-2035 and David Dal Zin, Communications Director for the Connecticut AFL-CIO at 860-550-3113 or at ddalzin@ctaflcio.org |
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MARCH 3 — LOCAL COMMUNITY ACCESS CHANNELS LOSE VIEWERSHIP TO STREAMING SERVICES. SEEK INCREASED FEES FROM FRANCHISES.
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SUPPORT YOUR WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY MEDIA BY TELLING YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY MEDIA REINVESTMENT ACT
WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER MARCH 3, 2025
There is a movement to get support for the Community Media Reinvestment Act.
What this will do is impose an excise tax on services providing viewing entertainment.
This includes various streaming services such as Netflix, Apple TV, Sling TV, and Direct TV.
As you may be aware, the franchise fee imposed on Verizon and OPTIMUM (in White Plains) is 5%.
There is a decline in this direct service as people are moving towards other streaming programs.
With this decline, it directly affects all local community access.
We are able to provide a space for important matters for our community. This legislation will ensure that there is no reduction in support for and investment in local video programming. This includes public, educational and governmental access.
Other local public access centers have taken the lead in this campaign, specifically BronxNet, NorthShore TV, and MNN.
Let your local representative know how important public access is to your community!
Click on the link below. Enter your street address and it will bring up the representatives in your area. You may personalize it. Here’s a sample of the letter:
I want to ask you to support the Community Media Reinvestment Act – Bill # A5900 in the New York State Assembly and Bill # 2581 in the New York State Senate.
For years, my community media access center has been an important part of the media landscape like our public access counterparts throughout the state. They have trained hundreds of community residents in television production, some of whom have gone on to secure professional careers in the industry. They also work with many not-for-profit agencies to help them reach a larger audience.
For years, my community media access center has been an important part of the media landscape like our public access counterparts throughout the state. They have trained hundreds of community residents in television production, some of whom have gone on to secure professional careers in the industry. They also work with many not-for-profit agencies to help them reach a larger audience.
The funding model for community television must change if it is to continue to fulfill its commitment to the community. Subscriber based franchise fees can no longer be the sole source of revenue for community television. Streaming services provide content, at the consumers’ expense, with no community reinvestment. Migration away from traditional cable television should not end in a loss of revenue for community television. New streams of revenue must be brought into the funding arena to sustain our public access centers. Streaming providers operating in New York State earn millions of dollars from subscribers and they need to support public access television as a form of community reinvestment.
We ask you to support the Community Media Reinvestment Act to ensure that people all over New York State have access to media resources and education in the future.
Thank you for your support !
Instructions for Using Portal:
1. Visit the advocacy portal:
2. Enter your street address and zip code.
3. Click “GO” to proceed.
4. Enter your personal message in the framed box in the letter.
5. Copy and paste your personal message from the first letter to the framed box in the second letter.
6 Review the information and confirm your support.
7. Input your contact details.
8. Click “SEND” to submit your support letter to elected officials
6 Review the information and confirm your support.
7. Input your contact details.
8. Click “SEND” to submit your support letter to elected officials
TONIGHT AT 7 — WHITE PLAINS WEEK THE FEB 28 REPORT ON FIOS CH 45 AND OPTIMUM CH 76 AND WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG
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THE CARDINAL IS COMING TO TOWN MARCH 8
SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER ON THE FUTURE
OF THE 29 COMMUNITIES POOLING THEIR PURCHASING POWER
AND GROWTH OF GREEN ENERGY GENERATED POWER
IN FACE OF RETURN TO FOSSIL FUELS…FUTURE OF FIXED RATES
WHITE PLAINS ON PACE STILL FOR ALL-TIME SALES TAX RECEIPTS
COUNTY BOOMS IN JANUARY
CONGESTION PRICING WORKS. CAN GOV HOCHUL
CONVINCE PRESIDENT TO HELP NEW YORK AND KEEP CONGESTION PRICING
WASHINGTON POST SHOCKER
IS IT HAPPENING AGAIN?
EERIE PARALLELS TODAY AND THE DEPRESSION
JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS
EVERY WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK
FOE 24 YEARS
MARCH 6 AND 8– ‘PEOPLE TO BE HEARD” 8 TONIGHT 7 SATURDAY ANYTIME ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG THE POWER STORY: SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER’S DAN WELSH ON FUTURE OF SOLAR, WIND, WATER POWER AND FUTURE FIXED RENEWABLE RATES
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EXCLUSIVE!
THE POWER STORY
THE PUSH FOR RETURN TO FOSSIL FUELS AND EFFECT ON RENEWABLE ENERGY GROWTH
SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER PROGRAM DIRECTOR DAN WELSH ON
FUTURE FIXED RATES FOR SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER COMMUNITIES INCLUDING WHITE PLAINS AND THE PUSH FOR RETURN TO FOSSIL FUELS AND NATURAL GAS EXPANSION
WILL RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLAR, WIND, WATER POWER CONTINUE TO GROW
FEB 25– MEXICAN NATIONAL ESTRADITED TO NY TO FACE RAPE AND ASSAULT CHARGES
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| MEXICAN NATIONAL EXTRADITED TO NY AND ARRAIGNED ON 2008 INDICTMENT CHARGING RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced today that a Mexican national, who has been a fugitive from justice since his 2008 indictment on rape and sexual assault charges, was apprehended by the Mexican authorities, extradited to Westchester County and arraigned in County Court Monday afternoon.
Galo Herrera, 52, was arraigned before County Court Judge Sheralyn Pulver and remanded to the custody of the Westchester County Department of Correction pending further proceedings. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. DA Cacace said: “Justice has no expiration date. The defendant’s horrendous conduct, as alleged in the indictment, is no less shocking nearly two decades later. I am grateful to our law enforcement partners in Mexico and the U.S. who brought Mr. Herrera to answer for these charges. This multi-jurisdictional effort exemplifies my commitment to working with any and all agency partners in furtherance of community safety.” In 2008, Herrera was indicted on one count of Predatory Sexual Assault Against a Child, a class A-II felony, two counts of Rape in the First Degree, a class B felony, and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor. Between December 2006 and January 2007, the defendant is alleged to have forcibly raped a young girl who was under the age of 13 years old. Herrera fled the jurisdiction before he could be apprehended on these charges. The case is being investigated by the Mount Vernon Police Department, the Westchester DA’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Westchester County Department of Labs and Research and the New York State Police Crime Lab were utilized in the course of the investigation. |
THE CARDINAL IS COMING TO TOWN
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CARDINAL TIMOTHY DOLAN CELEBRATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARCHBISHOP STEPINAC HIGH SCHOOL SEPTEMBER 19, 2022, IN WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA. HIS EMINANCE WILL LEAD THIS YEAR’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE. (WPCNR PHOTO)
On Saturday, March 8, the City of White Plains will be wearing green for the 26th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Parade Co-Chairs, John Martin, Beth O’Keeffe Cleary, Declan Farrell and Brian Mahon, have announced the selection of His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, as the Grand Marshal.
The parade will begin promptly at noon at the intersection of Mamaroneck Avenue and Livingston Avenue and proceed up Mamaroneck Avenue to Main Street, ending in front of City Hall.
This year, in addition to our traditional Aides, we have selected David Walsh, born in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland, and longtime White Plains resident as Special Aide to the Grand Marshal.
In addition, Colleen Wall and Westchester County Police Officer Vincent Finnegan, Jr., have been selected as the first ever, Rising Lad and Lassie. They represent the under 30-age group.
Aides this year are Paul Thomas, Jed Dorney, White Plains Firefighter Thomas Devine IV, Nancy Ryan Tirone, Elizabeth Doherty DiLullo and Caroline Molloy.
The White Plains Parade celebrates the contributions of the Irish people to humankind through their rich culture and music, their indomitable spirit, and their legendary warmth and humor.
This year’s event will feature 20 marching bands, over 12 floats and numerous community groups and organizations. For further information, please visit https://www.wpsaintpatricksdayparade.com/.
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FEB 24—-OUTBREAK NORTHEAST REGION FROM CAITLIN RIVERS
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Welcome to the Northeast edition of Outbreak Outlook! It is only available to paid subscribers. If you wish to become a paid subscriber and access region-specific information, please click the Subscribe now button below. Thanks for reading! -Caitlin
Respiratory Diseases
Influenza
Flu activity is finally starting to recede. What a year it has been!
New York City leads the Northeast region with an outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) rate of 10.6%.
Massachusetts is not far behind at 10.2%, though this is a big decrease from 11.8% in the previous week. Emergency department visits stand at 8.3%, a drop of 1.8 percentage points from the previous week.
As a reminder, outpatient ILI is the percentage of visits to the doctor that are for fever and cough or sore throat. The emergency department metric is the percentage of visits to the ED that are for influenza.
Northeast: Outpatient influenza-like illness
% of visits to the doctor that are for fever and either cough or sore throat
New Hampshire follows with an outpatient ILI rate of 10.0%, down from 10.9% last week. The state shows the highest emergency department visit percentage in the region at 9.5%, though this represents a 0.6 percentage point decrease from the previous week.
Maine is third highest in the region with an outpatient ILI rate of 8.8%, a notable increase from 6.8% the previous week. Emergency department visits are at 7.2%, one of the few states showing an increase (+0.5 percentage points) in ED visits week-over-week.
New Jersey and Rhode Island have moderate activity levels, with outpatient ILI rates of 7.9% (down from 10.2%) and 6.8% (stable from 6.9%) respectively. Emergency department visits in New Jersey decreased by 2.0 percentage points to 6.9%, while Rhode Island’s ED visits fell by 1.5 percentage points to 4.5%.
The largest states in the region have lower activity. Connecticut reports an outpatient ILI rate of 6.2% (down from 6.8%) with a hospitalization rate of 11.6 per 100,000, representing a significant decrease of 10.6 per 100,000 from the previous week. New York state shows an outpatient ILI rate of 6.0% (stable from 6.1%) with a hospitalization rate of 14.3 per 100,000, down 2.3 from the previous week. Pennsylvania reports the region’s lowest outpatient ILI rate at 4.9% (down slightly from 5.1%), with ED visits decreasing by 0.8 percentage points to 7.3%.
Northeast: ED visits for influenza (%)
% of visits to the emergency department that are for influenza
COVID-19
There is quite a bit of variation in Covid-19 activity across the Northeast. While wastewater activity has decreased to low levels in the region as a whole, it remains quite high in several states. Severe illness remains fairly low-to-moderate across much of the region.
Wastewater activity is high and decreasing in New Jersey, Connecticut, and holding steady in Pennsylvania. In Massachusetts, activity has rebounded to high levels.
However, wastewater activity has dropped to moderate levels in Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island, and continues to be very low and stable in New York. (Insufficient data for New Hampshire.)
Northeast: Covid-19 wastewater concentration
Wastewater concentration of SARS-CoV-2
ED visits are low (<1.5%) and decreased or stable across the region.
Northeast: ED visits for Covid-19 (%)
% of visits to the emergency department that are for Covid-19
Hospitalizations are low in Maine (1.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 people) and have decreased to fairly low levels in Rhode Island (3.2), New Jersey (3.2), and Connecticut (4.1). New York held steady at a moderate 4.0. Hospitalizations remain high in Pennsylvania (8.5), but are on the decline. (Hospitalization data was not available this week for Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.)
RSV
RSV activity is low and declining in the Northeast, with all states reporting that well under 1% of visits to the emergency department are for RSV. I expect activity to remain low until next fall.
Northeast: ED visits for RSV (%)
% of visits to the emergency department that are for RSV
Other Bugs
A few common causes of colds are at or nearing their high points for the season.
Human coronaviruses look to be nearing a peak, roughly consistent with peaks the past several years tending to fall in February-March. Human metapneumovirus also is at its highest point so far this season.
Stomach Bugs
This brutal norovirus season continues. Test positivity decreased slightly to 19.1% this week. Rates have been oscillating between ~15-22% since mid-December and I expect rates to remain quite elevated for the next several weeks, much to my – and I expect your – disappointment.
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Source: CDC
Food recalls
The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:
New:
- Nothing new this week
Previously reported:
- Menma Ajitsuke Prepared Bamboo Shoots sold under Choshiya brand name (more info)
- Canned Tuna sold under Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s brand names (more info)
- Alfalfa sprouts sold under the Jack and the Green Sprouts brand name (more info)
- Aleppo Tahini Sesame Paste (more info)
- DJ’s Boudain sausage links (more info)
- If you have food allergies, you may wish to review these FDA safety alerts and USDA alerts for foods with undeclared allergens.