African-American Men of Westchester will hold their New York state Legislators Breakfast meeting Friday, March 20 at 8 a.m. at the Ritz-Carlton Westchester at 277 Main St. in White Plains.

Westchester County has signed a $150,000 contract with Westchester Residential Opportunities Inc., a nonprofit agency certified by the federal government, to reduce the number of evictions in the county caused by the nation’s ongoing mortgage crisis.

The money was derived from a special fund the county set up to deal with emergencies, said County Legislator Peter Harckham, D-Katonah.

The agreement provides for the housing-support agency to use the funding to increase staffing to accommodate the growing number of requests for mortgage default and foreclosure counseling on its toll-free hotline, 877-976-4968, and the hotline’s continued operation.

The contract also calls for WRO officials to meet with top lenders and community stakeholders to discuss early intervention for potential defaulters, the county said.

WRO has offices at 470 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains and by appointment at the Mount Vernon Armory, 144 N. 5th Ave.

Its Web site is www.wroinc.org.

Artists are being sought to design a mural project sponsored by the Yonkers Downtown Waterfront Business Improvement District, Rising Development-Yonkers, and the Blue Door Artist Association.
The district wants murals to be painted on the gates and wall of 36, 38 and 41 Main St. Artists’ submissions for mural designs will be evaluated, and three will be picked by the sponsors. No specific theme is required, but artists are invited to reflect on the future of the city’s downtown.
The artwork will be temporary. Artists will be reimbursed for materials. Artists are asked to include compensation requests upon submission. Submissions are due by the close of business Sept. 2. Submissions should be e-mailed to info@yonkersdowntown.com as JPEGs, no larger than 1 MB. Submissions may also be mailed to the Downtown Waterfront BID at 2 Hudson Street, Yonkers, NY 10701.
For further information, contact rachel@risingdevelopment.net or call 914-969-6660.

Stuart Hayman, executive director of the Westchester County Medical Society for the past 10 years, said yesterday he will leave his position on Aug. 22. Hayman will take over as executive director of the New York State Society of Anesthesiolgy in New York City on Sept. 1. Hayman said the county society is searching for his replacement.

A coalition of tobacco opponents today honored several businesses and local officials in the Lower Hudson Valley for their efforts in reducing tobacco use and exposure.
POW’R Against Tobacco, Reality Check Youth Action Partners, Tobacco Free Schools, and POW’R Cessation Center sponsored the event at the Thayer Hotel in West Point.
Recognized: Sal Zuccaro of the North Brewster Deli, who stopped selling tobacco products; Mamie Duncan-Gibbs of Youth Theater Interactions in Westchester County, who no longer accepts sponsorship or funding from tobacco companies; Marion Breland Oswald of Reachout Haverstraw, for helping POW’R Against Tobacco with a local initiative; Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef, who signed legislation banning smoking in private cars with children under the age of 18; and DeCicco Markets, which stopped selling tobacco at its six grocery stores in Westchester and Rockland.

The Epilepsy Society of Southern New York and Capabilities Partnership Inc. have moved to larger offices in the JCC Rockland complex at 450 West Nyack Road in West Nyack, the groups said today.

The organizations, which have a satellite office in Tarrytown, provide services to those with epilepsy and developmental disabilities.

The groups were previously housed in the Blue Hill office tower in Pearl River.