[VIDEO] White Plains Kicks Off Earth Week 2012

White Plains kicked off a week of events for its second Earth Week celebration on the steps of city hall Monday.

Local officials—such as Council President Beth Smayda, Councilman David Buchwald, Councilman John Martin, and NYS Assemblyman Robert Castelli—students from Eastview Middle School and residents attended the event, which was made possible by the work of the Earth Week and White Plains SEEC committees, along with city employees.

The White Plains Business Improvement District, Reckson SL Green, Zipcar and OnForce Solar sponsor Earth Week 2012.

White Plains Mayor Tom Roach said he hopes to soon announce officially that Zipcar—a car sharing services, which takes 14 vehicles off the road per shared car—will offer its services in White Plains.  

OnForce Solar—which installs and maintains commercial and residential solar energy systems, and has three offices in the tri-state —is also a new Earth Week sponsor. 

OnForce Solar will be holding a renewable energy expo—on Tuesday, April 17 from noon to 2 p.m. at —that exhibits a variety of renewable energy sources that can save money for home and business owners. 

The kickoff event honored those who work to help make White Plains a little greener:

• White Plains Corporate Award – . Black is responsible for overseeing the company’s sustainable practices. The firm recently made green improvements to its building on Grand St. Its building at 360 Hamilton Ave. is one of 10 buildings in the state to have Gold LEED certification.

• White Plains Residential Green Award – Al Gassman, a licensed land surveyor and White Plains resident of 18 years who advocated for the .

• White Plains Community Green Award – Benjamin Van Doren, a White Plains High School senior. Van Doren placed fifth among 44 students in the nation at the prestigious 2012 Intel Science Talent Search. Van Doren won $30,000 for his research on morning flight habits of migrating birds.

• White Plains Lifetime Green Award – Dennis Power, former councilman and Earth Week founder. Power, who is Earth Week’s honorary chair and is working with Westchester County on its’ Earth Week event, was a part of organizing the SEEC committee where he served as chair.

Following the award ceremony, the crowd was serenaded by 17-year-old Sebastianne Kent, a junior at White Plains High School who performed a song she wrote specifically for Earth Week 2012. 

The kickoff ceremony concluded with the unveiling of a sugar maple tree planted by the City on Main Street. The sugar maple, which should bloom in the next few weeks with yellow flowers, is the official tree of the state of New York. The City has adopted a policy to only plant native trees in White Plains.

Check out our video of the kickoff event, and click  for the full itinerary for Earth Week 2012.