Braving A Chilly April Weekend

Dear friends and neighbors,

It has felt more like winter than spring the last few days and the next few days don’t appear as if they will be much better. Don’t let the weather get you down, though. There is plenty to see and do in the 88^th Assembly District to keep your mind off the weather this weekend.

Here’s a closer look at some of the events that are taking place in the 88^th. Have a good weekend and remember that if you have an event you’d like me to include in the coming weeks, send the information to Paulina@Assembly.State.NY.US.

Thursday

• The St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site (897 S. Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon) will host a 7 p.m. presentation examining the Lenape Indians, the original settlers of the area surrounding the church. Author and anthropologist Dr. David Oestreicher will lead the discussion. Visit nps.gov/sapa for more information.
• Temple Israel of New Rochelle (1000 Pinebrook Boulevard, New Rochelle) will host Primetime 4 Adults: Bingo, Beer and Bordeaux from 7-10 p.m. Visit tinr.org for more information.
• The Pelham Arts Center (155 Fifth Avenue, Pelham) will host an opening reception at 6:30 p.m. for its High School Art Salon. The exhibition will run for two weeks and will feature student art work from Bronxville, Dobbs Ferry, Fordham Preparatory, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Pelham Memorial, and Scarsdale High Schools. Visit pelhamartcenter.org for more information.
  

  Pelham Art Salon

• The Concordia College (171 White Plains Road, Bronxville) Books and Coffee Program continues with a 7-p.m. discussion led by author Colleen Oakes. Visit concordia-ny.edu/community/books-coffee.cfm for more information.
• The League of Women Voters and the Scarsdale Library (54 Olmstead Road, Scarsdale) will present a community book discussion about “Dark Money: The Hidden History of Billionaires Behind the Radical Right” by Jane Mayer. The program begins at 1 p.m. Visit scarsdalelibrary.org for more information.
• The Eastchester-Tuckahoe Chamber of Commerce Dinner Dance honoring the person/business of the year will take place at Mulino’s at Lake Isle Country Club (660 White Plains Road, Eastchester) at 7 p.m. County legislator Sheila Marcotte and Mickey Spillane’s Restaurant will be honored.

 Friday

• The Ajkun Ballet Theater will present its rendition of “Carmen” at New Rochelle High School’s Whitney Theater (265 Clove Road) at 7 p.m. There will also be a 2 p.m. performance on Saturday. Visit ajkunbt.org for more information.
• Speak with Pelham Weekly/Pelham Plus editor Maggie Klein during her Talk with Maggie Sessions in Pelham. Klein will be at Renaissance Bagel (309 Fifth Avenue) at 8:15 a.m.; at JM Café (129 Wolfs Lane) at 9:30; and Bakery at Four Corners (4668 Boston Post Road) at 10:45. Visit pelhamplus.com for more information.
• “Disney Live – Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway To Magic” will take place at the Westchester County Center in White Plains at 7 p.m. There will also be shows on Saturday at 1 and 5 p.m. and again on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visit countycenter.biz for more information.
  

  Mickey And Minnie’s Doorway To Magic

• The Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum (895 Shore Road, Pelham Bay Park) will present “ACT/REACT: Re-Imagining the Past” at 7 and 8 p.m. and then again Saturday at 5 and 6 p.m. The City Island Theater Group and the Supporting Characters will put on short performances that bring you back in time to certain periods in the history of the mansion. Visit bartowpellmansionmuseum.org for more information.
• The Bronxville School Foundation Spring Swing will take place at 6 p.m. at Bronxville High School (177 Pondfield Road, Bronxville). The Walter Blanding Quintet of Jazz will be performing. Visit bronxvilleschoolfoundation.org for more information.
• Alvin & Friends Restaurant (14 Memorial Highway, New Rochelle) will host “Tango Night in Roscoe’s Room with Mayte Vicens” at 7:30 p.m. Visit alvinandfriendsrestaurant.com for more information.
• The Westchester Italian Cultural Center (One Generoso Pope Place, Tuckahoe) will host an opening reception for “Il Giardino Incantato”, a previously unseen photo exhibit by Tony Vaccaro. Visit http://www.wiccny.org for more information.
• Sarah Lawrence College (1 Mead Way, Bronxville) will host “Coffee With The Professor: Jerrilynn Dodds” as she discusses the arts in Cuba. Visit sarahlawrence.edu for more information.
• The Hoff-Barthelson Music School in Scarsdale will present pianist Carmel Lowenthal as part of the HB Artist Series in an 8 p.m. performance at Greenville Community Church (270 Ardsley Road, Scarsdale). Visit hbms.org for more information.
• The ArtsWestchester Art Awards Luncheon will take place at the Double Tree Hotel (455 South Broadway, White Plains) at 11:30 a.m. Visit artswestchester.org for more information.

Saturday

• The 12^th annual Aronson Memorial Lecture will take place at the St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site from noon-4 p.m. University of Virginia professor Alan Taylor will explore the themes raised in his 2014 Pulitzer-prize winning book “The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832”. Visit nps.gov/sapa for more information.
• The Huguenot Memorial Church (901 Pelhamdale Ave, Pelham Manor) will host a free concert to celebrate the dedication of its newly restored organ at 8 p.m. Jan-Piet Knijff of Adema’s Kerkorgelbouw of the Netherlands will be performing. Visit www.huguenotchurch.org for more information.
• The Manor Club Theater (1023 Esplanade, Pelham Manor) will host “Pelican Pop 3”, a revue performed by Pelham Middle and High School students, at 7:30 p.m. Visit themanorclubofpelahm.org for more information.
• PAVE Dance will be hosting a dance benefit at The Linda E. Kelly Theatre (265 Clove Rd, New Rochelle) for Esther’s Aid & American Parkinson’s Disease Association. Visit colemandance.com for more information.
• The Bronxville Library will host the opening of “The Fine Arts Exhibition” from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with a reception scheduled for 1:30 p.m. The theme of the show is “Unexpected Twist”. Contact James Fair at gotart1206@gmail.com for more information.
• The Leslie Pintchik Trio will perform at Alvin & Friends Restaurant (14 Memorial Highway, New Rochelle) at 7:30 p.m. Visit alvinandfriendsrestuarant.com for more information.
• The Westchester Moms of Multiples Annual Baby and Kids Tag Sale will take place at the Tuckahoe Community Center (71 Columbus Avenue, Tuckahoe) from 1-4 p.m. and again on Sunday from 9 a.m.-noon. Contact westchestermultiples@gmail.com for more information.
• The Scarsdale Library (54 Olmstead Road, Scarsdale) will host “Field Goods, A Sampling Event for Local Produce Delivery” from 10 a.m.-noon. Field Goods is a produce delivery service with which customers receive five to eight different items each week that are grown by small local farms. Visit scarsdalelibrary.org for more information.
• The Alliance Francaise de Westchester (31 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains) will present “The frigate L’Hermione and the Marquis de Lafayette: from France to the American Revolution” at 4 p.m. Captain Yann Cariou will discuss what it is like commanding the current L’Hermione. Visit afwestchester.org for more information.
  

  Lafayette’s Frigate l’Hermione

• The Walkabout Clearwater Coffeehouse Music Series will continue at Memorial United Methodist Church (250 Bryant Avenue, White Plains) when Brother Sun performs at 7:30 p.m. Visit walkaboutclearwater.org for more information.
• The Stepping Up For Cardinal McCloskey Community Service Walkathon will take place at Iona Prep High School (255 Wilmot Road, New Rochelle) at 10:30 a.m. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Visit cardinalmccloskey.donorpages.com/Walkathon2016/ for more information.

 Sunday

• The Bronxville Women’s Club (135 Midland Avenue, Bronxville) will host The Beaux Arts Competition and Exhibition from 2-5 p.m. The competition is open to both professional and amateur photographers. There is no charge for the viewing or the reception. Visit bronxvillewomensclub.org for more information.
• The Play Group Theatre (1 N. Broadway, White Plains) will present “A Little Princess” in performances at 2 and 7 p.m. Separated from her father, and the open-hearted Africans who have helped him raise her, young Sara Crewe is sent to boarding school in London. This is her story. Visit playgroup.org for more information.
• Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont & Emanu-El (2 Ogden Road, Scarsdale) will host “Taste of Religious School” from 9-10:30 a.m. There will be music, crafts, food and more. Visit sstte.org for more information.
• The New Rochelle Arts Association will host a 5:15 p.m. reception to celebrate the opening of the Dermot Gale Award Show at the New Rochelle Public Library. Visit nraaonline.org for more information.
• The Scarsdale Library will host author Barbara Ballinger as she discusses her book “The Garden Bible – Designing Your Perfect Outdoor Space” from 2-4 p.m. Visit scarsdalelibrary.org for more information.
• Musicians from the New York Philharmonic will coach student chamber ensembles and perform at the Hoff-Barthelson Music School (25 School Lane, Scarsdale) as part of the Elaine Stamas New York Philharmonic Educational Residency. Showtime is 1:30 p.m. Visit hbms.org for more information.
  

  Chelsea and Larry Weng

• Author Allison Gilbert will discuss her book “Passed and Present: Keeping Memories of Loved Ones” at the New Rochelle Library at 3 p.m. Visit nrpl.org for more information.
• The Downtown Music at Grace Music Series will continue at the Grace Episcopal Church (33 Church Street at Main and Mamaroneck Avenues, White Plains) at 5 p.m. Pianists Chelsea Wang and Larry Weng, with the Downtown Sinfonietta, Vincent Liontii, Conductor, will perform. Visit dtmusic.org for more information.

The Scarsdale Library will be offering community members the opportunity to learn “54 Things at 54 Olmsted” in celebration of National Library Week from April 10-16. All week people will have the opportunity to learn new things at free drop-in workshops and classes.  For the complete schedule of events, visit: www.scarsdalelibrary.org.

For information about these and other events in our area, please visit http://www.burbio.com/lists/district-88-events.

 

 

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No Foolin’, April Is Here

Dear friends and neighbors,

April has arrived and there is plenty to do and see in the 88^th Assembly District to help ring in the new month. Music, dances, discussions and galas are on the calendar in our cities, towns and villages this weekend so please take advantage of everything our local organizations have to offer.

Here’s a closer look at some of the events that are taking place in the 88^th. Have a good weekend and remember that if you have an event you’d like me to include in the coming weeks, send the information to Paulina@Assembly.State.NY.US.

Thursday

• The New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence Awards Gala will be held at The Fountainhead (55 Quaker Ridge Road, New Rochelle) at 6:30 p.m. Visit nredfund.org/events for more information.
• The Sarah Lawrence College (1 Mead Way, Bronxville) spring theater season kicks off with a production of “Marisol” at 7 p.m. The show runs through Saturday evening with all performances scheduled for 7 p.m. Visit sarahlawrence.edu for more information.
• Pianists Delana Thomsen and Elena Belli Perform “Ceci et Cela” (This ‘n That) at Hoff-Barthelson Music School (25 School Lane, Scarsdale) at 7 p.m. Visit hbms.org for more information.
  

  Delana Thomsen

• Alvin and Friends Restaurant (14 Memorial Highway, New Rochelle) will present Alvin and Arlen’s Double Header Bring-on-Spring Paint and Sip IntoxiKate Event: A paint party with painting tips from artist Alvin Clayton and drinks created by Arlen Gargagliano. Visit alvinandfriendsrestaurant.com for more information.

Friday

• Speak with Pelham Weekly/Pelham Plus editor Maggie Klein during her Talk with Maggie Sessions in Pelham. Klein will be at Renaissance Bagel (309 Fifth Avenue) at 8:15 a.m.; at JM Café (129 Wolfs Lane) at 9:30; and Bakery at Four Corners (4668 Boston Post Road) at 10:45. Visit pelhamplus.com for more information.
• The Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum (895 Shore Road, Pelham Bay Park) will host First Friday! Music and Trolley from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The folk group Hawthorne will perform while the trolley will make an hour loop from the #6 Pelham Bay Park subway station to the museum to City Island. Visit bartowpellmansionmuseum.org for more information.
• Sarah Lawrence College will co-host, along with the American Physical Society, the Art and Physics Symposium from 1-5 p.m. Speakers from Sarah Lawrence, the Fashion Institute of Technology, Bard, Vassar, Harvard, and the National Institute of Standards, as well as Nebula-award winning science fiction author Catherine Asaro, will highlight the event. The symposium will continue Saturday from 8:30 a.m. through noon. Visit sarahlawrence.edu/events for more information.
  

  Catherine Asaro

• Pelham High School’s production of “Anything Goes” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and again on Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit pelhamschools.org for more information.
• The New Rochelle Library will host “The Friends Monthly BIG Book Sale” and again on Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Visit nrpl.org for more information.
• Canadian Brass, one of the world’s most popular international brass ensembles, will perform at Concordia College (171 White Plains Road, Bronxville) at 7:30 p.m. Visit concordiaconservatory.org for more information.
• The Westchester Italian Cultural Center (24 Depot Square, Tuckahoe) will present a reading of “Dante – Part I” at 7 p.m. Visit wiccny.org for more information.
• The Hoff-Barthelson Music School will present “The Mighty Winds of Hoff-Barthelson: An Introduction to the Woodwind Family of Instruments for Young Children” at 6:30 p.m. Visit hbms.org for more information.
• The New Rochelle Public Library will host a workshop for non-profit organizations entitled “Grants – How to Get Them and Then What?” from 1-4 p.m. Visit nrpl.org for more information.
• Jazz pianist Jon Weiss returns to Alvin and Friends Restaurant and will perform in the main dining room from 7-11 p.m. Visit alvinandfriendsrestaurant.com for more information.
• The Hats Off To the Eastchester Historical Society Event will take place at Mickey Spillane’s Restaurant (431 White Plains Road, Eastchester). There will be raffles and 10 percent of every dinner check will be donated to the Society. Visit mickeyspillanes.com for more information.

 Saturday

• The Westchester County Mobile Shredder will be in Tuckahoe from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Fisher Avenue parking lot. The shredder is available to residents only and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visit environment.westchestergov.com/mobile-shredder for more information.
• The Eastchester School Foundation will present Casino Royale at Leewood Golf Club (1 Leewood Drive, Eastchester) at 7 p.m. The ESF enriches the lives of children through technology, academics, athletics and the arts. Visit eastchesterschoolfoundation.org for more information.
• The Maine Red Claws and the Westchester Knicks of the NBA Developmental League will square off in a 5 p.m. matchup at the County Center in White Plains. Visit westchesterknicks.com for more information.
• Los Boricuas of Comedy will perform at the White Plains Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. and again on Sunday at 3 p.m. Visit wppac.com for more information.
• Sarah Lawrence College will host “Arts and the Inside: Incarceration and Expression Through Writing, Film and Dance” from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Explore the world of mass incarceration, which will include a discussion led by Ted Conover, a winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing. Visit sarahlawrence.edu for more information.
• Pelham Boy Scout Troop 1 will be celebrating its 100^th birthday with a dinner at Juliano’s Caterers (700 Main Street, New Rochelle). Contact Robin Ten Eyck at rteneyck1@verizon.net for more information.
• The thrift shop at White Plains Presbyterian Church (39 North Broadway, White Plains) will be open from 9:30-1 p.m. All proceeds will go to local philanthropies. Visit womansclubofwhiteplains.org for more information.
• The Westchester Italian Cultural Center (24 Depot Square, Tuckahoe) will host an Italian cooking class for children at 2 p.m. This week’s class will focus on making ravioli with Nutella. Visit wiccny.org for more information.
• ArtsWestchester (31 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains) will host eight artists as they present “HER Stories”, a program that highlights the strength, wisdom and perseverance of the female human spirit, at 6 p.m. Visit artswestchester.org for more information.
• Jazz pianist Dinah Vero returns to Alvin and Friends Restaurant and will perform in the main dining room from 7-11 p.m. Visit alvinandfriendsrestaurant.com for more information.
• The Music Conservatory of Westchester (216 Central Avenue, White Plains) will host a Summer Music & Arts Program/Open House from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Visit musicconservatory.org for more information.
• The annual Scarsdale Sports Swap will take place at the Heathcote School (26 Palmer Avenue, Scarsdale) from 10 a.m.-noon. The event is sponsored by the Scarsdale PT Council. Gently used sporting goods items, musical instruments, bikes and formal wear can be donated. All donations are tax deductible. Donations can be dropped off on Friday from 5-7 p.m. and Saturday from 8-9:30 a.m. Write to Nancy Aresu at nancyaresu@gmail.com for more information.

 Sunday

• The League of Women Voters is sponsoring a public forum at the White Plains Library on the healthcare crisis in the United States. I will be part of the program, speaking along with Dr. Elizabeth Rosenthal. “FIX IT: Healthcare at the Tipping Point”, a 38-minute film, will also be shown. The program is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Visit lwvw.org for more information.
• The chamber ensemble Musicora will perform at the Bronxville Public Library at 4 p.m. Visit bronxvillelibrary.org for more information.
• The Bronxville Women’s Club (135 Midland Avenue) will host a reception for its artist of the month at 2 p.m. Art works are for sale and the reception is free. Visit bronxvillewomensclub.org for more information.
• Eleftherios Eleftheriadis and Georgios Theodoridis will perform “From the Byzantine ‘Echos’ to the Ottoman ‘Makam’” at the New Rochelle Library’s Ossie Davis Theater at 4 p.m. It’s a production of Byzantine Chant and Ottoman and Turkish music. Visit nrpl.org for more information.
• The Hoff-Barthelson Music School Artist Series will continue at the Greenville Community Church (270 Ardsley Road, Scarsdale) at 5 p.m. Violinist Peggy Klinger and pianist Gerald Robbins are scheduled to perform. Visit hbms.org for more information.
  

  Gerald Robbins/Peggy Klinger

• The JCC of Mid-Westchester (999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale) will continue its Jews Around the World series with this month’s installment focusing on Latin America. The program begins at 2 p.m. Visit jccmw.org for more information.
• The Abe Simon Memorial Team Race will kick off at 9:15 a.m. in front of Scarsdale High School on Brewster Road. There are 15K and four-mile races. Day-of-race registration is available between 8-8:30 a.m. in the high school cafeteria.
• The Young Israel of Scarsdale (1313 Weaver Street, Scarsdale) 44^th Anniversary Dinner will take place at 5:30 p.m. Among those being honored will be Amy and Paul Heller and Michelle and Daniel Gewanter. Visit yisny.org for more information.

For information about these and other events in our area, please visit http://www.burbio.com/lists/district-88-events.

 

 

Closing Out February

Dear friends and neighbors,

We’ve hit the final weekend in February and that means spring is just around the corner. Celebrate the approaching end of winter by enjoying everything the 88^th Assembly District has to offer. There are plenty of shows, musical events and programs happening in our cities, towns and villages that are sure to make your weekend more enjoyable.

Here’s a closer look at some of the events that are taking place in the 88^th. Have a good weekend and remember that if you have an event you’d like me to include in the coming weeks, send the information to Paulina@Assembly.State.NY.US.

FRIDAY

• Speak with Pelham Weekly/Pelham Plus editor Maggie Klein during her Talk with Maggie Sessions in Pelham. Klein will be at Renaissance Bagel (309 Fifth Avenue) at 8:15 a.m.; at JM Café (129 Wolfs Lane) at 9:30; and Bakery at Four Corners (4668 Boston Post Road) at 10:45. Visit pelhamplus.com for more information.
• The St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site (897 S. Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon) will host “Love Songs for the Leap Year” at 2 p.m. It’s a special performance of popular and romantic songs by students from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville. Call David Osborn at 914-667-4116 for more information.
• The New Rochelle Public Library will host a “Friends Big Book Sale” from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The library will also host a League of Women Voters Coffee & Conversation with Councilman Louis Trangucci from 9:30-11 a.m. Visit nrpl.org for more information.
• The County Center in White Plains will host the Section I girls and boys basketball tournaments. Check out the best high school basketball our area has to offer. Times and teams to be determined. Visit countycenterbiz.com for more information.
• Alvin & Friends Restaurant (14 Memorial Highway, New Rochelle) will host The Onaje Allan Gumbs & Trio Plus in Roscoe’s Room from 8-11 p.m. Visit alvinandfriendsrestaurant.com for more information.
  

  Onaje Allan Gumbs

• The White Plains Performing Arts Center (11 City Place, White Plains) will present “I’m No Romeo, Love Can Be Funny” featuring comedian Elizardi Castro. Showtime is 8 p.m. Visit wppac.com for more information.
• The drama club Stepinac High School (950 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains) will perform “12 Angry Men” at 7:30 p.m. at the school’s Major Bowes Auditorium. Visit stepinac.org for more information.

 SATURDAY

• A Black History Community Celebration will take place at New Rochelle High School (265 Clove Road, New Rochelle) from 4-8 p.m. There will be a spoken word and art show, vendors, performances and much more. Visit newrochellearts.org for more information.
• The New Rochelle Library will host the 20^th annual performance of Bokandeye African Dance and Drums at 2 p.m. as part of its Black History Month celebration. Visit nrpl.org for more information.
• The Music Conservatory of Westchester (216 Central Avenue, White Plains) will host a Summer Music & Arts Open House from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Visit musicconservatory.org for more information.
• Rocky Middleton will perform at Alvin & Friends Restaurant in New Rochelle from 7:30-11 p.m. Visit alvinandfriendsrestaurant.com for more information.
• The Woman’s Club of White Plains (305 Ridgeway, White Plains) will host a White Plains Blood Drive as part of its 100 Acts of Kindness celebration. The celebration marks the club’s 100^th Visit www.womansclubofwhiteplains.org for more information.
• The White Plains Performing Arts Center will present “Big Pants & Hot Flashes”, starring Kevin Meaney and Julia Scotti. Showtime is 8 p.m. Visit wppac.com for more information.
• ArtsWestchester (31 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains) will host “An Evening of Argentine Tango” from 7-11 p.m. Visit artswestchester.org for more information.

 SUNDAY

• The Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum (895 Shore Road, Pelham Bay Park) will host poets and performers J. Mae Barizo and Kamilah Aisha Moon as they read from their respective works. The program begins at 4:30 p.m. and includes a musical interlude. Visit bartowpellmansionmuseum.org for more information.
• The Hoff-Barthelson Music School (25 School Lane, Scarsdale) will continue its Master Class Series with a 2 p.m. performance by pianist Meng-Chieh Liu. Visit hbms.org for more information.
  

  Meng-Chieh Liu

• The Hoff-Barthelson Music School will also present clarinetist Daniel Spitzer as part of its HB Artist Series at the Greenville Community Church (270 Ardsley Road, Scarsdale). The program begins at 5 p.m. Visit hbms.org for more information.
• Becky Shaw, a play by Gina Gionfriddo, will be performed by members of the M&M Performing Arts Company at the Eastchester Library (11 Oak Ridge Place, Eastchester). Visit mmpaci.com for more information.
• Seventeen artists will display their work in a show entitled “Collective Conscience: Love, Respect and Truth” in the New Rochelle Council on the Arts Rotunda Gallery (515 North Avenue, New Rochelle). Visit newrochellearts.org for more information.
• The Scarsdale Forum will host its Sunday Speaker Series at the Scarsdale Library (54 Olmstead Road, Scarsdale) at 3 p.m. Dr. Jacob M. Appel is this week’s guest and the topic is “Ethical Dilemmas in Modern Medicine: What Everyone Needs to Know”. Visit scarsdaleforum.com for more information.

For information about these and other events in our area, please visit http://www.burbio.com/lists/district-88-events.

 

End Human Trafficking Once And For All

I had intended to write this earlier in the weekend but I wanted to give it a bit more thought. What is “it”? It is the issue of Human Trafficking. I have written about this before and spoken about it at length on many occasions and at many venues, including the Assembly floor.

What sparked this particular blog entry was the luncheon I attended Friday that was sponsored by the Scarsdale League of Women Voters. The guest speaker was Emily Amick, a good friend who works for Sanctuary for Families. They are a remarkable group that, among other things, helps the victims of human trafficking.

Emily gave a detailed presentation about the horrors that the victims of human trafficking have to endure. These victims are not nameless, faceless people from some far off land. These are people in New York, in our district, and what they have to endure at the hands of the devious monsters controlling their lives is unimaginable.

These young women, and in some cases men, have their childhood stolen from them. They are used, raped, treated like cattle then discarded when their shelf life has expired. The pimps who own them treat them as if they aren’t even human or worth being treated like a human.

It hurts to hear the stories these girls are telling. It hurts because these people are still out there, being trafficked and taken advantage of. It remains an issue about which so many people aren’t aware. That’s why I am working to bring this disgusting practice to an end. That’s why we need more people like Emily, fighting the good fight, giving selflessly to help those who are less fortunate.

I have introduced legislation that we are working feverishly to get passed that will help curtail this practice and provide greater consequences for those who engage in the buying and selling of these young women.

Please make your voice heard in this fight. Spread the word and let everyone know that this is a cause on which we can all agree. These girls are trapped and they need us. Help me, help Emily, help all these girls before it’s too late.

The Junior Leagues of Westchester will be hosting an event on May 24 at the Greenburgh Town Hall. People Are Not For Sale will take place from 9-11 a.m. I will be there as part of a special guest panel. Please make every effort to attend and have your voice heard. Visit http://www.jlnw.org to register.

Running and Winning

Sharing some thoughts with New Rochelle’s Sumanthy Kumar.

I had the opportunity to spend much of the day today with a group of remarkable young women at the YWCA in White Plains. We were all gathered for the “Running and Winning” event, a program sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Westchester County, The Association of American University Women and YWCA of White Plains and Central Westchester.

Nearly three dozen students from 13 area high schools (including three in my district) attended. They got to know me and more than a dozen of my colleagues from state and local government. It proved to be a magnificent event for many reasons. I love helping empower young women and encouraging them to reach their potential. While the number of women in local, state and federal government has been on the increase we’re still not on equal footing with our male counterparts in terms of numbers.

Events like this one will hopefully plant the seeds of getting involved in a life of public service. I shared stories with these young ladies, as did my colleagues, about my life and my career. The young ladies had many excellent questions, ones that afforded me an opportunity to discuss my journey and how I have made it.

It’s always interesting to me to see how young women view what I do for a living and whether or not they think they are capable of holding office. Well, based on what I saw and heard today, these young ladies certainly have a bright future.

I had students from several area schools come to Albany to visit with me earlier this week and shadow me for a day to see what it was like on the Assembly floor. That, combined with today’s event, has left me with a good feeling about the future of our local and state government. These kids are our future – yes I know that sounds a little corny – and this week I got a glimpse into what should be a very bright future.

Welcoming Some Potential Young Politicians To Albany

White Plains High School sophomores Raina Kadavil and Ana Maria Suarez will be coming up to Albany from April 14-17 as part of the League of Women Voters Students Inside Albany Program. They will have an opportunity to tour the complex and shadow their Assembly person and Senator for an afternoon while attending a session on the chamber floor.

Kadavil has been an active participant of the White Plains Reads and the Greening Project. She is also the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Youth Legacy Award. Suarez is a community center volunteer who enjoys working with children. She hopes to major in pre-med when she goes to college.

Congratulations to both girls. It’s wonderful to see teenagers who like to get involved with their communities and on a much larger scale. Perhaps there will come a day where I’ll be seeing one of these young women alongside me as a Senator or Assemblywoman in New York.