Feature Story:
Companies Recognized for Promoting Commute Alternative Programs
Five Westchester County companies received awards at the first Regional Commuter Choice Awards program held May 23 at the County Center. In announcing the winners, County Executive Andy Spano said, “The companies we honor today make their employees happy, position themselves to recruit and retain the best workers, and make a powerful impact on reducing congestion and cleaning the air in our region.”

The winners were:

• Diversified Investment Advisors of Purchase, for its flexible work schedules, mass transit and rideshare programs;
• Ciba Specialty Chemicals of Tarrytown, for involving 31 percent of its employees in its telecommuting and rideshare programs;
• New York Medical College of Valhalla, for promoting the Smart Commute pre-tax benefits to employees who commute on public transportation and for rolling out NuRide carpools and vanpools;
• MBIA Insurance Corp. of Armonk, for supporting employees who commute on mass transit with its 24-passenger minibus and the 14-passenger van that takes as many as 50 employees and contractors to and from the bus and train;
• Kam Sen Food in White Plains, recipient of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Best Workplace for Commuters award, for providing its 22 employees with a significant incentive to use commute alternatives – a fully-subsidized vanpool program ensuring every employee has a guaranteed ride to and from work

Special Alert:
Spano Calls FAA Proposal to Re-route Aircraft Using County Airport Unacceptable – Urges Residents to Join in Fight Now
A proposal from the FAA to re-route planes taking off from the Westchester County Airport is unacceptable not only because hundreds of thousands of people would be affected by noise, but also because of the significant security risk of planes flying directly over Indian Point, according to County Executive Andy Spano.
      In a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration, Spano said he had “grave concerns” about the adequacy and content of a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) and urged the agency to return to the drawing board and prepare a supplemental DEIS that addresses and clarifies all relevant issues.
      The following communities would be affected adversely by new noise patterns if the FAA proposal is adopted: Rye Brook, Hawthorne, Pleasantville, Briarcliff, Croton, Ossining, Buchanan, Peekskill, Yonkers, Scarsdale and Hastings-on-Hudson. Residents should visit http://www.westchestergov.com/postcard/ to e-mail the FAA and share their views.
      The Spano Administration has prided itself on having a “good neighbor policy” for the airport, which means the county has taken many steps over the last eight years, often working with the FAA and with the airlines, to mitigate aircraft noise around the airport.

Summer Feature:
Take a Summer Break at the 2006 Heritage Festivals
Join Westchester in celebrating its rich cultural diversity at the exciting Cultural Heritage Series at Kensico Dam, Tibbetts Brook and Ridge Road Parks on summer weekends. Eight Sunday events are scheduled for July and August in this 13-series program. From Irish to Italian to Arabic to Polish to Hispanic to Indian to Ecuadorian to Yiddish, each event features unique music, dances, dress, food, crafts and more. Check www.westchestergov.com/parks/HeritageFestivals.htm for details. Corporations/businesses: there is still time to sign up as a sponsor or supporter of these immensely popular Cultural Heritage events by calling 914-864-7091.