Back

County Executive Andy Spano today announced that Dennis Mehiel of Armonk has been named as the new co-chair of the county's Millennium Commission. Mehiel will head the commission's Leadership Committee.

Mehiel replaces Dr. Jay Sexter, former president of Mercy College, who resigned earlier this year to accept an educational consulting position in California.

In overseeing the Millennium Commission's Leadership Committee, Mehiel will be responsible for developing financial support and corporate sponsorship for Celebrate 2000, the commission's yearlong series of events to usher in the new century.

"I am honored and pleased that Denis Mehiel has agreed to accept this position as co-chair of the Millennium Commission," said Spano. "Denis is such an active and civic-minded individual, and for him to take on yet another position shows his commitment to making our millennium events world-class."

Mehiel is chairman of the Four M Corporation, North America's largest independent producer of corrugated packaging, which operates 22 plants in 14 states. Mehiel is also chairman and principal shareholder of S.F. Holdings, headquartered in New York City, the leading producer of disposable tabletop products for the away-from-home dining market.

Mehiel has been a member of the advisory board of the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center since 1988; he serves as a member of the League of Conservation Voters; from 1989 to 1994 he served as chairman of the Westchester County Democratic Committee. He is a member of Holy Trinity Church in Westchester and is a former member of the Archdiocesan Council, the lay leadership of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Americas where he continues to as a member of it Leadership 100 Group. He was the first person not of the Jewish faith ever elected to the Board of Directors of Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler School of Social Work and he is an honorary fellow and former member of the American Board of Overseers of Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.

Mehiel founded the "All the Way" program in conjunction with the State University of New York at Stony Brook in his native Washington Heights, N.Y. community to provide educational enrichment and supplemental health and social services for children and their families, culminating in a four-year, pre-paid college scholarship.

Last February Spano appointed the 25-member Millennium Commission comprised of distinguished community leaders to create and implement a variety of year-long events that reflect the history, diversity and future quality of life in Westchester County. Events including parades, concerts, fireworks displays, ethnic festivals and a flotilla of tall ships are planned each month from January 2000 to December 2001.

The members of the Commission themselves represent a diverse cross-section of the county with representatives from business; the visual, performing and literary arts communities; the African-American and Hispanic communities; and government and community-based organizations.

The commission and Spano recently kicked-off the yearlong celebration to usher in the new century at an event on September 22. In a gala reception recognizing Westchester's brightest and best, oldest and newest, the ceremony at the Westchester County Center in White Plains unveiled a Millennium Countdown Clock donated by Wittnauer International Inc. A special screening of the film "Celebrate 2000," introducing the "Millennium Minute,'' a series of historical spots that will air in movie theaters and on cable television featuring the cities, towns and villages of Westchester was also premiered.

The Millennium Commission also recently announced the winner of its musical competition for a theme to accompany the "Millennium Minute'' spots. The winner, Carlos DeFeo of Pelham Manor won a $2,000 cash prize, contributed by the First Union National Bank.

The Millennium Commission is interested in hearing from county residents about their recollections of county history, particularly from the county's senior citizens who recall the days prior to the construction of the Bronx River Parkway, the County Center, and other present day institutions. The commission may be reached at (914) 285-2938, or via the Internet at http://www.westchestergov.com/millennium/