Latest / This Week in Westchester: The Podcast / TWIW 38: September 14, 2026

Transcript

TWIW 38: September 14, 2026 · This Week in Westchester: The Podcast

• 0:06
  Intro: Welcome to This Week in Westchester, the podcast, your weekly audio briefing from Westchester County Government.
• 0:13
  Intro: Each week, County Executive Ken Jenkins breaks down the decisions, investments, and initiatives shaping life across Westchester.
• 0:21
  Intro: Clear information, real progress.
• 0:23
  Intro: One place to stay informed.
• 0:26
  Intro: Now, here's this week in Westchester.
• 0:29
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Good afternoon.
• 0:30
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I'm Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins.
• 0:32
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Today is September 14th, 2026.
• 0:35
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: This is this week in Westchester the briefing.
• 0:39
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Starting tomorrow, um the 15th, it marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.
• 0:52
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Here in Westchester, our Hispanic and Latino communities are an essential part of the fabric of our county, strengthening our neighborhoods, enriching our culture, building businesses, serving our communities, and helping shape Westchester's future.
• 1:06
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: From September 15th to October 15th, we will take time to celebrate the heritage, recognize the generations of Hispanic and Latino Americans who have helped build our nation, and highlight the people and stories that continue to make Westchester such a vibrant and diverse place to call home.
• 1:24
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Throughout the month, we look forward to sharing those stories and celebrating together.
• 1:29
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: When we think about that as well, when we love to see Westchester County in the movies or in TV, um friend shows like Your Friends and Neighbors, Severance, and The Gilded Age, it's not just for fun or a bragging point, it's really big money.
• 1:46
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Filming and television production in Westchester generated$1.5 billion in economic development impact in 2025, according to a new annual economic impact report released today.
• 1:59
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: That data shows significant growth in production, employment, and overall economic and fiscal impact, demonstrating the strength of the county's film-ready ecosystem and its ability to support every type of production, from recurring television series to commercial content and feature films.
• 2:17
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Total jobs by the industry rose by 86% in 2025.
• 2:23
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Total employee earnings reached$535.6 million, including$262.2 million in direct earnings.
• 2:33
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Film production also generated meaningful local revenues, including$4.3 million in sales tax and$4.4 million in lodging-related sales and occupancy taxes.
• 2:45
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: The counties and its municipalities reported nearly$1.7 million in permit, location, and rental fees.
• 2:53
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: In total, the fiscal benefit of the film industry to Westchester County and its municipalities reached$12.3 million in 2025, a 62% increase over 2024.
• 3:06
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: These results show what happens when the county makes real commitment to welcoming the film and television industry.
• 3:12
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We're focused on making Westchester easy to work in, streamlining, permitting, coordinating across municipalities, and making sure productions can find everything they need right here in Westchester.
• 3:25
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Our communities are film-friendly, the doors are open, and the industry is responding.
• 3:30
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And we want to make sure to shout out Natasha Capito and our entire team that continues to make sure our tourism and film industry continues to move forward.
• 3:40
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And combining that she is of Hispanic Heritage.
• 3:43
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So we have both Hispanic Heritage Month as well as that film and television production all tied together.
• 3:49
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Congratulations to the entire film and production team that Natasha leads.
• 3:54
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And again, we're looking forward to continuing to raise those dollars here in Westchester County.
• 3:58
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So when we see those shows and those Emmys given out, we're really, really happy about that.
• 4:04
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Up next, we're going to be joined by the Chief of County Police, um James Luciano and Lieutenant Michael DeMeo to discuss the county's school resource program and our renewed agreement with the Lakeland Central School Districts.
• 4:19
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: One of our priorities in Westchester County is strengthening the connection between law enforcement and the communities they serve, and that relationship starts with our young people.
• 4:28
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: School resource officers are about much more than having a police officer in a school building.
• 4:35
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: These officers become part of the school community.
• 4:38
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: They get to know the students, the teachers, administrators, the families, and they build relationships and establish trust long before there's an ever an emergency or a need for police intervention.
• 4:51
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Through our renewed agreement with the Lakeland Central School District, Westchester County Police School Resource Officers will continue to serve in the district, and we paid them a visit to see how the start of school is going.
• 5:04
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Let's take a look at that first day of school in a video.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_03: Our officers know our buildings and where the nooks and crannies are.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_04: Officer's on the school is officer Camper Verde.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_04: He's been a police officer over 20 years.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_04: He does sometimes hold door checks, he goes in the perimeter, make sure all the doors are locked, he's in all the classrooms.
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_04: When he walks around, you'll see everybody knows him, all the teachers know him, all the students know him.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_09: We have eight schools, so we have almost 5,000 students, and our community has been very verbal.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_09: When we've done a survey in our community, it came out as one of our top three, meaning safety and security.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_09: So having that partnership, building that partnership, and continuing that partnership with SROs is something that our community wants.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_03: Officers actually become part of the community throughout.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_03: You know, they're gonna actually go into classrooms, especially in the elementaries, and they'll be reading to the kids.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_04: I wish with a different district as a youth officer.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_04: So I know a first-hand experience, what it's like to build those relationships with the district and the students all the way from kindergarten through high school.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_03: In the high schools, they're they're in the hallways, they're in the cafeterias, they're talking to kids, they're getting to know the kids and getting to know our staff as well.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_03: I have four kids of my own in the schools.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_03: As a parent, we're sending our most precious commodity to school and entrusting them.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_03: If the situation were ever to exist, they're there to be, use their training to kind of calm the situation down, calm the students, and they just sense when there's a a different change in attitude, you know, especially when they're around the children all the time.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_09: Our staff is very appreciative and in support of having SROs here because it gives them, as well as students, just that extra layer.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_03: It's also great for them to actually get to know the police in a in a different aspect to realize that they're not just the guy sitting there with, you know, the handgun and the badge and the handcuffs.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_03: They're there for if there's an issue, if kids have questions about things, if kids have questions about the law, or they're just another ear for a student to be comfortable to talk to.
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_04: We're a guest, we're there a resource for them.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_04: This is their school, and we're just here to help provide safety, security, and also a sense of community with the police department.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_09: It's just a partnership that we've grown to know and love, and we expect that from our officers.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_01: That is protecting our children and helping to ensure that our schools remain safe, welcoming places to learn and grow.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_01: The Westchester County Police Department is proud of our school resource officer program, and equally important, proud of the partnerships that make this program successful.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_01: Today, our program encompasses 20 school buildings across five school districts, with 12 Westchester County Police School Resource Officers assigned to serve these school communities.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_01: Those districts include Hendrick Hudson, Somers, North Salem, Cotona Lewisboro, and the Lakeland School District.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_01: That represents a significant commitment by Westchester County, not only to school safety and security, but also to building lasting relationships with thousands of students, educators, administrators, staff, and families throughout these communities.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_01: With the start of this school year, County Executive Ken Jenkins finalized a new five-year agreement with the Lakeland School District, continuing a partnership that began in 2018 and providing three county police officers to serve as school resource officers in that district.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_01: But when we talk about school resource officers, we are talking about much more than simply placing a police officer inside a school.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_01: Our SROs become part of that school community.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_01: They grow to know the students, they work alongside teachers and administrators, they attend school events, interact with families, and become familiar and trusted faces in the hallways.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_01: And those relationships are extremely important.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_01: A student who feels comfortable approaching an officer with a concern or simply stopping to have a conversation is experiencing law enforcement in a very different and very positive way.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_01: Those everyday interactions help build trust, strengthen communication, and can often provide an opportunity to identify a concern before it becomes a much larger problem.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_01: At the same time, our SROs bring their training and experience to the schools they serve.
• 10:39
  SPEAKER_01: They assist with emergency planning and preparedness, crisis intervention, substance abuse prevention, and identifying and addressing potential safety concerns.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_01: Most importantly, they are there every day, building relationships and helping to prevent problems before they become emergencies, just like County Executive Jenkins said.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_01: That is what makes this program so valuable.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_01: I want to recognize County Executive Ken Jenkins and Police Commissioner Raynor for their continued commitment to our school safety, as well as the superintendents, administrators, teachers, and staff in each of our five partner school districts.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_01: And I especially want to recognize our 12 school resource officers.
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_01: This is a unique assignment.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_01: It requires professionalism and sound judgment, but it also requires patience, compassion, communication, and the ability to connect with young people.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_01: The trust our officers develop with students and school staff is not something that comes automatically with the uniform.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_01: It is something they earn and build upon each and every day.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_01: We are proud of the work they do across these 20 school buildings and proud of the partnerships we have built with Hendrick Hudson, Somers, North Salem, Catone Lewis Borough, and of course Lakeland School Districts.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_01: The School Resource Officer program represents what community policing should be.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_01: That is, building relationships before they are needed and working together to prevent problems and being prepared to respond when our school communities need us most.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_01: On behalf of the Westchester County Police, thank you to everyone who supports this program and shares in our commitment to keeping Westchester County students safe.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_07: Thank you, Chief.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_07: Today we are joined by SUNY, Westchester Community College President, Dr.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_07: Belinda Miles, to talk about the college's critical role in strengthening Westchester County's workforce and economy.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_07: SUNY Westchester Community College provides students with pathways to two and four-year degrees, career and technical education, workforce training and opportunities to gain the skills and credentials that lead directly to employment.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_07: At its core, this is about opportunity and connection.
• 13:09
  SPEAKER_07: It is our great pleasure to have Dr.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_07: Belinda Miles come up and give us some thoughts about her programs.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_07: Thank you, Dr.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_07: Miles.
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_06: Thank you so much, Deputy County Executive McDonald.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_06: It's a pleasure to be here with all of you this afternoon to talk about the work that we're doing in this space.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_06: SUNY WCC is proud to work alongside Westchester County and County Executive Ken Jenkins, and of course Ms.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_06: McDonald to strengthen the local workforce and economy.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_06: Westchester reads as an affluent county when you from the outside looking in.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_06: But we know that there are other factors, other data points that tell another story.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_06: For example, 36% of households, about 144,000 people, can't cover the basics housing, childcare, food, transportation.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_06: Interestingly, perhaps shockingly, many of these individuals are not unemployed.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_06: They are employed.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_06: They are the working poor.
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_06: And so there's so much more that we need to do.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_06: We just can't make assumptions.
• 14:13
  SPEAKER_06: And so the work that we're doing at the college is not simply about filling jobs, it's about creating pathways that allow residents to build skills for initial entry into employment and also to continue to develop those skills as they look at career ladders and future opportunities.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_06: So what we have had to structure are multiple pathways, multiple pathways to help people get into the job market and to advance in the job market, be that short-term certificate programs or associate degree programs, career and technical education, or transfer to baccalaureate degrees, which might be required for some fields of study.
• 14:50
  SPEAKER_06: So we um we we have spent some time being a student-ready college, and then we've had now we've had to ready ourselves to uh ensure that these pathways are viable and that we have the relationship and engagement with employers to help them to take that step into those opportunities.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_06: So more than a decade ago, JP Morgan Chase supported uh SUNY WCC in bringing regional stakeholders together to study the workforce needs in the lower Hudson Valley.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_06: And that produced Connecting to Promising Careers, our 2015 report on middle skills jobs.
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_06: Those are jobs that need more than high school diploma, but not quite a baccalaureate.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_06: So now, with renewed support from our employer partners, we are launching a new regional workforce initiative with CUNY labor market information services that will help us to better understand where job growth is occurring and what critical skill gaps exist and what competencies employers need right now.
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_06: So those findings go right into program design around tables where our faculty sit with individuals from uh industry in order to put a curriculum together that will help to ensure that we have the relevant training.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_06: We're organized into four schools at the college, kind of like the Harry Potter sorting hat, but a little more sophisticated.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_06: We have science, math, and engineering, health sciences and wellness, liberal arts and humanities and social sciences.
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_06: And this helps us to see that it's not just one large group of students, but we know which pathway they're on, and they have the support that they need, and employers know who to come to when they want to speak to classes or to groups or have career fairs.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_06: And so these um uh which we turn that labor market intelligence into action through a program review process, which is really the third D if you've been following this data design, and there's also this is I'm sorry, this is the second D.
• 16:46
  SPEAKER_06: So we design we design a system that will again keep our our students on a pathway toward uh a good career.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_06: And one of our students, Stacy Nunone, she was interested in advanced manufacturing, and with that training can run from about$30,000 a year, which can be out of, you know, just out of reach for individuals.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_06: She came to us through a program we have with Metallica Scholars.
• 17:10
  SPEAKER_06: Yes, that Metallica, the band.
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_06: They um have partnered with the American Association of Community Colleges to select specific community colleges uh to invest in uh students interested in careers in the trades and non-traditional careers, and especially helping women to get into some of these fields and to reduce uh stigma associated with trades.
• 17:32
  SPEAKER_06: And so we're very excited about the work that we do there.
• 17:35
  SPEAKER_06: So she earned her certifications and completed a registered inter apprenticeship through this initiative and went on to get a degree.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_06: And so uh that's that's exciting.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_06: So that data and design work lead to the last D, probably the most important, which is delivery.
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_06: We deliver.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_06: I think there's a commercial that does it.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_06: I won't take their um their marketing here, copyright infringement, their mark.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_06: But uh the measure of work isn't only program completion, but it's whether people can get in and move up career ladders.
• 18:05
  SPEAKER_06: And so SUNY WCC ranks 21st nationally among two-year colleges in in economic mobility.
• 18:13
  SPEAKER_06: The share of students who start at the bottom fifth of income levels and reach the top fifth by the end of their careers.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_06: That's very, very impressive.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_06: That's a big, big deal.
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_06: And that's where we get to see that other Westchester.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_06: We create possibilities and pathways to make those dreams come true.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_06: And so um, what we look for in closing is the opportunity to partner with employers in the field so that we can have the curriculum that's needed and the pathways and the open doors to those promising careers.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_06: And we look forward to partnering with um all of you.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_06: So give us a call.
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_07: Thank you, Dr.
• 18:51
  SPEAKER_07: Miles.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_07: We love the three Ds and we appreciate your leadership in building partnerships and pathways.
• 18:58
  SPEAKER_07: Next up, on a serious note, this month is gynecologic cancer awareness month.
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_07: We are joined today by Dr.
• 19:07
  SPEAKER_07: Michelle Castiello, member of the Montefiore medical staff for more than 20 years and a physician with White Plains Hospital Physician Associates for more than 15 years.
• 19:19
  SPEAKER_07: We are also joined with by the acting director of the Westchester Office for Women, Catherine Borgia, to recognize Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month and talk about the launch of Westchester Goes Purple.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_07: Today, Dr.
• 19:33
  SPEAKER_07: Castiello and Catherine will discuss the importance of education, prevention, knowing the systems and risk factors, early detection, and appropriate screenings.
• 19:45
  SPEAKER_07: They will also tell you more about the ask to wear purple on this Thursday, September 17th for Westchester Goes Purple Day, when the Mario M.
• 19:54
  SPEAKER_07: Cuomo Bridge will be illuminated purple in recognition of Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month.
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_07: Residents and organizations are encouraged to wear purple, take photos, and share them using Westchester Goes Purple.
• 20:09
  SPEAKER_07: Please come on up and give us your thoughts.
• 20:38
  SPEAKER_02: This month is about awareness, it's about education, it's about breaking the silence, and ultimately it's about saving women's lives.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_02: For me, this is also deeply personal.
• 20:48
  SPEAKER_02: In 2020, I heard the words that nobody ever wants to hear.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_02: You have cancer.
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_02: From that moment, I was in the fight of a lifetime.
• 20:56
  SPEAKER_02: I'm grateful to say that six years later, I am cancer free.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_02: As a doctor, I've spent my career caring for patients.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_02: But when you become the patient yourself, you see things from an entirely different perspective.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_02: What I soon learned is that there's very little attention given to the GYN cancers.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_02: We need to change that because every five minutes, a woman is diagnosed with one of the five GYN cancers: cervical, vulvar, vaginal, ovarian, and uterine endometrial cancer.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_02: In 2026, the American Cancer Society estimates that over 117,000 women in the U.S.
• 21:31
  SPEAKER_02: will be diagnosed with one of these cancers, and tragically, over 34,000 will die.
• 21:36
  SPEAKER_02: GYN cancers are often called the silent diseases because often the early symptoms can be easily dismissed and feel familiar.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_02: And with the exception of cervical cancer, there is no routine screening exam for the other four cancers.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_02: That makes awareness so incredibly important.
• 21:53
  SPEAKER_02: Know your family's history, know the signs and symptoms, have open and honest conversations with your healthcare providers.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_02: Providers and make your annual GYN exam a priority.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_02: But there's something else that we need to do.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_02: We need to stop whispering about these cancers.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna say that again and I'm gonna say it louder.
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_02: We need to stop whispering about these cancers.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_02: Too many people feel uncomfortable discussing the below the belt cancers.
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_02: But the more we talk, the more we raise awareness.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_02: The more we raise awareness, the more we have the opportunities to detect cancer early and save lives.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_02: That is why I'm asking all of Westchester County to go purple this September, especially September 17th, but all for the rest of the month.
• 22:35
  SPEAKER_02: Wear purple to show your support, display purple ribbons or purple lights in your homes and your businesses, start a conversation and share a message.
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_02: Share the message.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_02: On September 17th, the Mario M.
• 22:47
  SPEAKER_02: Cuomo Bridge will be illuminated in purple in honor of GY and Cancer Awareness Month.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_02: I encourage everyone to take a photo with the bridge in the background and share it with the hashtag WestchesterGoesPurple.
• 22:58
  SPEAKER_02: Let's make purple impossible to miss across Westchester County, because this is bigger than any of us.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_02: It's about our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our friends, and our neighbors.
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_02: So this September, let's speak up, let's break the silence, let's go purple, and let's save lives.
• 23:15
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
• 23:20
  SPEAKER_08: Hard act to follow.
• 23:22
  SPEAKER_08: Um thank you so much.
• 23:23
  SPEAKER_08: I think I think one of the things that happens to women, we are so good at balancing priorities, at taking care of other people, of excelling at work, excelling at home, taking care of our children, taking care of our parents, that sometimes we do neglect what's going on inside of our own bodies.
• 23:41
  SPEAKER_08: So I just want to encourage everyone to really take a look at, make sure that you speak about things that are going on inside of you symptoms that you're not necessarily would consider to be devastating because you're not aware of what they what they mean for the potential for cancer.
• 24:04
  SPEAKER_08: Early detection is what saves lives.
• 24:06
  SPEAKER_08: And I do want to mention to everyone who works in a public service capacity in New York State, there is a law that says you get four hours of cancer screening time, which means that you can go and get to speak to your for your doctor's appointments for these routine cancer screenings and make sure that you are at the top of your list as well.
• 24:27
  SPEAKER_08: Uh the county executive and the deputy county executive have asked the Office for Women to really focus on the health, wealth, and and uh and safety of all of Westchester women.
• 24:37
  SPEAKER_08: So we're very proud to be dressing in purple and participating in hashtag WestchesterGoesPurple for all of the month of October.
• 24:44
  SPEAKER_08: Thank you.
• 24:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: All right.
• 24:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: First, thank you, Catherine.
• 24:49
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um and certainly thank you again, Dr.
• 24:51
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Castilas.
• 24:52
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um that the the challenge again in making sure to raise awareness to that my mom was lost for mutarian cancer, so there is not a question for me to make sure that we're raising our voice.
• 25:02
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um so on the 17th to make sure that we're purple, um, but to continue to make sure that the um information gets out and people get tested.
• 25:09
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And again, there's not all the clear tests as the doctor was just pointing out to us, but again, it is understanding your family history, and that was important for me and my my children as well to be able to do that.
• 25:20
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So again, thank you for making sure to bring that um to all of our attention.
• 25:27
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We have coming up next um for um the September 25th, um, another recognition that is something that's also very important to us, which is our Goldstar Mothers and Families tribute, which is ceremony is going to take place at Kensako Dam Plaza on Friday, um September 25th at 3 p.m.
• 25:47
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: This particular solemn ceremony will honor the mothers and families of our nation's fallen service members, Gold Star families, um, carry with them the memory, the legacy and loss of loved ones who gave their lives while serving our country.
• 26:02
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Together we will gather to remember those men, those brave men and women, to honor families who continue to keep their memories alive and to ensure that their service and sacrifice are never forgotten.
• 26:13
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And again, that's gonna be September 25th at 3 p.m.
• 26:17
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: at Kensco Dam Plaza, um, right at our Veterans Memorial Walk.
• 26:22
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And we're looking forward to doing that.
• 26:23
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Let's turn back over to the Deputy County Executive, John McDowell.
• 26:29
  SPEAKER_07: Thank you, County Executive.
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_07: On this Thursday, September 17th, from 10 a.m.
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_07: to 3 p.m., there will be an open house at the Terrytown Lighthouse in Sleepy Hollow.
• 26:40
  SPEAKER_07: Join Westchester Park staff for a look inside the lighthouse to learn about what life was like for the keepers.
• 26:47
  SPEAKER_07: This is a drop-in, self-led program.
• 26:50
  SPEAKER_07: Groups of eight or more must pre-register.
• 26:54
  SPEAKER_07: Park at Kingsland Point Park.
• 26:56
  SPEAKER_07: The lighthouse is accessed by a 10-minute walk south along the Riverwalk Path.
• 27:01
  SPEAKER_07: Restrooms are at Kingsland Point Park.
• 27:03
  SPEAKER_07: It is free.
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_07: But the five-story structure does include four narrow stairways, so everybody be aware of that.
• 27:12
  SPEAKER_07: This Sunday, September 20th, from 9 30 a.m.
• 27:15
  SPEAKER_07: until 2 30 p.m., the farmers market will be at Alfred Del Bello Muscoot Farm in Katona.
• 27:22
  SPEAKER_07: Muscout's weekly farmer market supports farmers and sustainable efforts in our area, featuring over 25 local vendors every Sunday until November 15th.
• 27:33
  SPEAKER_07: Also on Sunday, September 20th, from 10 a.m.
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_07: to 2, Bicycle Sunday, travel a 13.1 mile loop from Westchester County South to Scarsdale Road in Yonkers.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_07: It's closed to cars, but open to walkers, joggers, non-motorized bicycles, scooters, inline skaters.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_07: Many points of entry and exit are along the way.
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_07: It's free admission and it will also be open September 27th and October 4th.
• 28:02
  SPEAKER_07: And lastly, on September 20th from 1 p.m.
• 28:05
  SPEAKER_07: until 3 p.m., Natural Dyes, D Y E S for beginners at Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center in Yorktown.
• 28:14
  SPEAKER_07: Learn the basics of creating natural dyes and help process wool to make a variety of beautiful colors.
• 28:21
  SPEAKER_07: That does have an admission price of$8 a person.
• 28:24
  SPEAKER_07: And that's what's going on, a few of the things in our county parts this coming week.
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_07: And I'll turn it back to the county executive.
• 28:33
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Thanks, Joan.
• 28:34
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And in general, always make sure to remind us all to make sure to download the Parks app off of your iOS in the App Store or in your Google Play Store to get the official Parks app because every once in a while it actually has discounts in it, which is always a good thing.
• 28:50
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And that's this week in Westchester.
• 28:52
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We covered a lot today.
• 28:54
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We talked about the incredible growth of our film and template vision production in Westchester, generating$1.85 billion in economic impact in 2025, supporting jobs, businesses, and communities across this county.
• 29:09
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We heard from Chief Luciano, um, Lieutenant Michael DeMeo, and certainly Sergeant Macaron about our school resource officers program and how building safer communities starts with those relationships, including relationships our offices build every day with the students, educators, and the families.
• 29:50
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Finally, we heard from Dr.
• 29:52
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Michelle Castelio.
• 29:53
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Castillo?
• 29:54
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Castillo, right?
• 29:55
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And and our acting director, Office for Women, Catherine Borger.
• 29:58
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Um, she said, just call her Dr.
• 30:00
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Michelle, that's fine, right?
• 30:01
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And helped us to recognize gynecological cancer awareness month and get ready for Westchester Goes Purple on September 17th.
• 30:09
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: So wear your purple, take the pictures by the Marion Cuomo Bridge, and help spread the word about education, prevention, and early detection.
• 30:17
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: And that's this week in Westchester.
• 30:19
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: I'm Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins.
• 30:21
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Thank you so much for watching.
• 30:23
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: We'll be back to you with any information we need to bring to you as quickly as possible.
• 30:27
  Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins: Have a great week.