You may also go to YouTube to watch the full discussion.
Westchester County gears up to safely celebrate Fall and Halloween in the Hudson Valley.
“Westchester With Care” unites businesses countywide in a pledge to safeguard residents and visitors returning to work and play.
White Plains, N.Y. – With COVID-19 restrictions beginning to ease, restaurants, shops, hotels and attractions throughout New York’s Westchester County are uniting to make residents and guests feel safe and secure as they once again venture into the community. Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Tourism & Film Director Natasha Caputo will sit down – virtually – with Historic Hudson Valley (HHV) President Waddell W. Stillman as HHV’s famous Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze opens to the public once again.
Westchester With Care, an initiative of Westchester County Tourism & Film, is enlisting area businesses and nonprofits to help fight COVID-19 and safeguard the health and wellbeing of all who live, work and play in our beautiful destination just north of New York City. All participating organizations are required to take an online pledge.
- Follow CDC and N.Y. State Department of Health guidelines for cleaning;
- Provide employees with training in health, safety and sanitizing best practices;
- Monitor employees for COVID-19 symptoms or exposure, and mandate they stay home if there is cause for concern;
- Use protective equipment, including face coverings;
- Encourage or require customers and visitors to comply with guidelines;
- Reduce capacity and maintain social distancing in accordance with government mandates;
- Complete the statewide N.Y. Forward reopening plan.
County Executive George Latimer said: “What will make this campaign so impactful is that it’s true – Westchester truly does care. Not only are we home to some of the most accomplished and savvy business owners and restauranteurs, we are also home to some of the most caring and compassionate. Together – we will build back stronger and this is just one example of how.”
Director of Westchester County Tourism & Film Natasha Caputo said: “As we all adjust to a ‘new normal,’ Westchester’s economic recovery will depend on our ability to draw people back to the businesses that make our County so vibrant and appealing. Westchester With Care demonstrates our community’s commitment to create a safe environment for all residents and guests and provides vital marketing support to all entities that take the pledge.”
President of Metro-North Railroad Cathy Rinaldi said: "Metro-North is proud to partner with Westchester County to promote safe travel whether it's for business or pleasure. At various locations throughout the service area, riders can get masks from station ambassadors, vending machines and even Metro-Man, himself. Hand sanitizer is always available, along with signs reminding customers of best practices for protecting themselves and others from COVID."
Westchester County Director of Economic Development Bridget Gibbons said: “Westchester’s economy thrives when all of our markets are firing at full blast. This program will put us back on that path as our local merchants look to keep all of their customers safe and show all that Westchester has to offer.”
Co-Chair of the Westchester County Business Reopening Task Force, and local business owner, Louie Lanza said: “When Westchester cares, Westchester will succeed. I’m honored to be a part of this tremendous group of professionals and encourage all to support local businesses who take this pledge.”
Co-Chair of the Westchester County Business Reopening Task Force Legislator Catherine Parker said: “This campaign is all about re-assuring everyone who lives, works and visits Westchester that our local businesses really DO care about their health and safety. That assurance is essential to building a stronger and healthier future for all of us. It's not just a promotional campaign, it's a public health and safety vow. We really mean it, we do care.”
For businesses, taking the Westchester With Care Pledge means access to free tools and resources to help them communicate the latest information about the County’s safety measures with their employees and guests. Participants will be promoted in Westchester County Tourism & Film’s tourism promotions and provided a toolkit including badges for website and social media promotion, window clings, buttons, face masks and other high-impact materials to demonstrate their care for the greater community.
More than fifty Westchester County organizations have already enlisted in Westchester With Care. These include world-class performing arts venues like Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts and White Plains Performing Arts Center; attractions from Wings Air Helicopters to Wolf Conservation Center; and Historic Hudson Valley, a non-profit educational organization that operates a number of historic sites and events. Participating restaurants and catering venues range from Kanopi to Xaviars on the Hudson to Walter’s Hot Dogs. Lodging partners include the newly opened Abbey Inn & Spa, historic Crabtree’s Kittle House Restaurant & Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Suites Peekskill, Hyatt House, Sheraton Tarrytown, SpringHill Suites Tarrytown Westchester and Spring Hills Suites Tuckahoe.
About Westchester County Tourism & Film
Westchester County Tourism & Film is Westchester County’s official destination marketing organization. Its mission is to generate economic benefits by enhancing the image and promoting Westchester County as a premier business and leisure destination in the Hudson Valley region. Flanked by Long Island Sound and the Hudson River, Westchester is made up of big cities, small towns, villages, farms, and miles of natural beauty. The county is easily accessible by major interstate highways and parkways, its own regional airport, Amtrak and three commuter rail lines and is home to more than 35 hotels and conference centers. For information about visiting Westchester, visit www.visitwestchesterny.com, connect on Facebook (@westchestercountytourism), Instagram (@westchestercountytourismny) and Twitter (@westchestertour), or call (800) 833-9282.