News from Yonkers City Council President Mike Khader.

Message From Mike Dear Neighbor, Every April, people from around the world celebrate Earth Week and come together to raise awareness about protecting our environment. Environmental-protection initiatives actually go on throughout the whole month, and here in Yonkers we’ve been hard at work doing our part to "go green”. From the various tree planting ceremonies throughout the city, to seeing what it takes to run Untermyer Gardens Conservancy – I’ve had many educational experiences this week. Improving the quality of life for residents in our City has always been a priority for me, like tackling illegal dumping or getting zombie homes cleaned up, but we can’t forget about the bigger picture – in the end, we’re all just guests on this beautiful planet that we call Earth. I think that, in spite of the recent debate surrounding environmental policy – if we only have one planet to share, then shouldn’t we do our part to take care of it? When we have an illness we go to the doctor, but they will always tell you that preventative care is the best way to avoid ending up in the emergency room. Too often, people think that life’s problems are too big and they can’t make any difference. Just imagine what our streets would look like if everyone reported illegal dumping or picked up a piece of trash when they saw it. Start small – turn off the lights when you leave the room, don’t let the faucet run while brushing your teeth, and cut back on single-use plastics like bottled water or plastic grocery bags – the ways that you can make a difference are endless. I ask you to join me in making every month Earth Month. As always, feel free to reach out to my office with any suggestions or concerns about how we can help to improve the quality of life of those who call Yonkers home. My office can be reached at 914-377-6060 or by sending us an email at councilpresident@yonkersny.gov. Best, Mike Para leer este mensaje en español, por favor haga clic aqui More than just Earth Month April is also Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. Testicular Cancer has seen a significant rise in younger men over the last few decades. It’s one of the most common forms of cancer for men between the ages of 20 – 30, but isn’t really talked about because of the stigma surrounding their *ahem* private parts. On a more serious note, this disease hits home for me with the untimely passing of my cousin Tareq Zuraikat earlier this week at the age of 31. Early detection is always the first step, so I encourage all young men to please speak with your doctor about this. Mike's Week in Pictures PAL Easter Festival Last weekend the Police Athletic League hosted its Annual Easter Festival. Despite the rain, the crowds turned out in droves to for a day of fun-filled activities like the petting zoo featuring Nugget the piglet (pictured left) and an air castle! Reading Faces: Ridikkuluz Self-taught local artist Samer Akroush aka. Ridikkuluz debuted his paintings and sculptures at a successful first solo exhibition "Reading Faces" last weekend at Prato Capital in White Plains. Samer's works were expertly curated by Sarah Mackay. Congratulations Samer! Blessing of the River This week we gathered at the Habirshaw Park pier on the Hudson River for the 11th annual annual Blessing of the Hudson River. This annual tradition with Native American origins includes song and prayers by local clergy, activists, and students. Sadore Lane Walkthrough This week Mayor Spano and I met with a local resident's association for Sadore Lane to hear about some quality-of-life issues and hear ideas about solving traffic issues. While there, we stumbled on a major instance of illegal dumping and vowed to get to the bottom of it. See video from Sadore Lane here Earth Day at Museum School 25 This Earth week we continued our tradition of planting a tree at a deserving school in honor of Earth Week. Dr. Quezada and I spoke to the kids and were treated to a song by the students and teachers. Thank you to Dr. Quezada, Principal DiMaria, and all of the staff and kids Watch our Earth Day celebrations here Untermyer Gardens Conservancy This week I toured Untermyer Gardens Conservancy with President Steve Byrnes where we talked about the recent improvements and slate of upcoming projects. I really enjoyed the Indo-Persian style walled garden and meeting its two resident garden cats, the majestic views from the Temple of Love and its cascading waterfalls, and hearing about the history behind the gatehouse and its "ruin garden".  See video from our tour here April 23 Council Meeting At this week's City Council Meeting, we welcomed the city's new Deputy Commissioner of Human Resources, Theresa Forget, honored some great local organizations as part of our Earth Week celebrations, and met two young boys scouts working towards earning their badges. Congratulations to all! Watch this week's Council Meeting here Memorial Tree Planting This week I joined city officials, Yonkers Police, and friends and family of the late Thomas Goff at the 4th Precinct to plant a tree in honor of his memory. I hope that as this tree grows, it will keep the memory of Officer Goff alive in our hearts and remind everyone of his commitment to serving our city with honor and distinction. Take Your Kids to Work Day This week we celebrated Take Your Kids Work Day! My kids Maroun, Melania, and JohnPaul gave me the day off and joined other future leaders of Yonkers in running (around) City Hall. At the end of the day we were treated to lunch by Mayor Spano! Community Notices Click here for more information about applying to City of Yonkers Police Auxiliary Community Events