The Westchester County Board of Legislators today announced the signing of their bill that will enhance the County's ability to identify the lowest responsive and responsible bidder on public work contracts. Signed by County Executive Ken Jenkins today, the local law implements a legally required questionnaire in the contracting process that will enable county officials to better assess bidders' responsibility based on financial standing, legal capacity, integrity, past performance on government contracts and compliance with labor and other applicable laws.

Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Vedat Gashi (D-Yorktown, Somers, New Castle, Ossining) presented a $30,000 check today to Support Connection, Inc. The funds will enable peer counseling, support groups, and wellness and educational programs for people affected by breast, ovarian and other gynecological cancers. The Yorktown Heights nonprofit reaches people countywide and nationally through its toll-free cancer information line and programs offered via teleconference and video-conference.

Westchester County Legislator Colin D. Smith (D-Cortlandt, Peekskill, Yorktown) presented a $125,000 check to Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP), an organization dedicated to helping those in need in northern Westchester. Smith sponsored the funding that continues Board of Legislators' commitment to supporting vulnerable community members and working families.

The Westchester County Board of Legislators celebrated the 100th birthday of Herman S. Geist, the first-ever Board Chairman and an extraordinary lifelong public servant. After serving as a lieutenant in WWII where he helped liberate Domažlice in the Czech Republic, Geist graduated from NYU Law School and went on to make history as the inaugural Chairman of the Board from 1970-1973, later co-founding the Westchester Parks Foundation which donated over $15 million to county parks under his guidance. Throughout his remarkable century of life, he further distinguished himself through service on the Westchester Medical Center Board of Trustees and as Chair of the County Bi-Centennial Commission, earning the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Parks Foundation in 2013.