White Plains and Valhalla region

Palmira Bravo of Greenburgh, center, talks with fellow attendees during the free English-Spanish conversation group at the Greenburgh Public Library in Greenburgh on Feb. 8, 2012. The classes, over one year old, are open to the public and attended by people at all levels of experience with English and Spanish. ( Xavier Mascareñas / The Journal News )

Go to the LoHud.com to see a gallery of some of the day’s news in a photo gallery.

Last night, I attended the launch party for Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Weekend, which is May 17-20 in White Plains. The Journal News is also sponsoring the event, so I’m sure I’ll be participating in lots of stuff up to and during the festival.

Photos by Verita Vision Photography.

There are five events, plus seminars and cooking demos, going on throughout the weekend. It starts with a Burgers, BBQ and Beer Bash in downtown White Plains on Thursday, May 17. The next night is ArtsBash, a food-meets-art event in the ARTSWestchester Gallery on Mamaroneck Avenue. Grand tastings, wine and spirits seminars, cooking demos, a winemaker’s dinner and a sparkling Sunday brunch will all be held at the Ritz-Carlton on Saturday and Sunday. Check out all the deets after the jump.

Last night’s party was a great kick-off — and it was especially fun to get out and about in the food scene again after being off for three months with the baby. Yummy food, too:

I chatted with chefs — including Peter Kelly of Xaviars, Anthony Goncalves of 42, Anna Maria Santorini of Anna Maria’s, March Walker of Birdsall House, Daniel Van Etten of Mima, and a bunch more.

It was nice to see the Westchester mag folks, too, like publisher Ralph Martinelli and food writer Julia Sexton. Our own publisher, Janet Hasson, was at the party, too — and up on the stage, no less! What a treat!

More details, after the jump.

Not so fast, Mr. Astorino.

Responding to County Executive Rob Astorino’s announcement that his administration is well ahead of schedule on the affordablehousing settlement, Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins says the self congratulations are premature.

The board, the Yonkers Democrat noted, hasn’t seen any report that shows that the county is in the clear on the decree reached with the federal government in 2009 that has had its share of challenges.

“The Westchester County Board of Legislators has yet to see any of the documentation to support the information in the Administration’s Quarterly Housing Report regarding the number of new fair and affordable housing units that are ‘in the pipeline,’ and so it’s difficult to respond accurately to such a simple declaration,” Jenkins said in an email. “The Administration’s self-congratulatory tone in its statement (Monday) needs to be balanced against the fact that the County has been asked by a federal court to answer a set of questions concerning the Administration’s position on source of income legislation passed by the Board, which, according to the terms of the stipulations of the housing settlement, may end up nullifying the settlement and exposing the County to a judgment  of upwards of $500 million.”

In its quarterly report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the federal monitor, the Astorino administration maintains that 540, or 72 percent, of the required units are at some point in the planning pipeline.

“The county has made extraordinary progress and it is the result of our approach to work closely and cooperatively with municipalities, developers and non-profits around common goals,” Astorino said in a statement released Monday. “This will continue to be the county’s approach until we have fully met our obligations under the settlement. The numbers tell the story.”

The federal housing settlement mandates that Westchester spend $52 million to help build 750 units in mostly wealthy and white communities over seven years. It also sets benchmarks along the way, notably that 200 units have financing and 125 have building permits by the end of 2012. The county expects to meet those goals by spring.

Despite a continued stalemate with the federal government, County Executive Rob Astorino says Westchester remains well ahead of schedule on its affordable housing settlement.

In its quarterly report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the federal monitor that was released today, the Astorino Administration maintains that 540, or 72 percent, of the required units are at some point in the planning pipeline. Read the report here.

“The county has made extraordinary progress and it is the result of our approach to work closely and cooperatively with municipalities, developers and non-profits around common goals,” Astorino said in a statement. “This will continue to be the county’s approach until we have fully met our obligations under the settlement. The numbers tell the story.”

The federal housing settlement was reached in 2009 and mandates that Westchester spend $52 million to help build 750 units in mostly wealthy and white communities over seven years. It also sets benchmarks along the way, notably that 200 units have financing and 125 have building permits by the end of 2012; the county expects to meet those goals by Spring.

So far, 15 communities including Ardsley, Briarcliff Manor, Cortlandt, Hastings, Larchmont, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Pelham, Pleasantville, Rye Brook, Rye, Somers, and Yorktown are at various stages of approval or in construction.

One three-family house in Pelham has residents living in the units.

More than 200 site reviews have taken place across all 31 communities, according to the report. The county has also set up a $2.5 million revolving loan fund to acquire and rehabilitate foreclosures in eligible municipalities. The county expects to an additional 14 units under this program.

But progress hasn’t been easy, in part, because of disagreements with HUD and the federal monitor, James Johnson, on a range of issues, including local zoning and an income discrimination law that Astorino doesn’t support. HUD has also held back millions in community development block grant monies because of differences.

Those disagreements are now being addressed in court.

“Even though that’s going on, we’re continuing to make progress,” said Ned McCormack, Astorino’s senior advisor and director of communications. “It’s important to keep moving … The process is working.”

HUD had no immediate comment today.

James McCormack of White Plains at the boys diving championship conference meet at Pace University in Pleasantville on Feb. 3, 2012. ( Xavier Mascareñas / The Journal News )

See more photos from the boys diving championship conference meet at Pace University in Pleasantville in a photo gallery, and go to LoHud.com for the story.

Christina Bushnell R.N. blows a kiss while giving out a chocolate kiss during Wear Red Day at White Plains Hospital. The Hospital’s nurses participated in a number of activities to raise awareness about heart disease during Heart Disease Awareness Month. Nurses in the cardiac care unit raised $465 in the kissing booth, selling chocolate kisses.

The Westchester Burger Company’s newest outlet in Rye Brook really has something for everyone — including vegetarians. After all, why should meat-eaters have all the fun when it comes to burgers!

( Tania Savayan / The Journal News )

This ”Greenhouse” burger, an 8-ounce veggie patty, comes with avocado, frisee, caramelized onions and remoulade. I didn’t get to try it — this photo comes from Mary Lynn’s great burger round-up this past Sunday — but I must admit, it looks very tempting indeed.

So that begs the question — Where else can you get a great veggie burger?

Let me know in the comments field (or on Facebook or Twitter). We might use your suggestions in an upcoming story!

Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer will explain why voters should make him president in 2012 on Journal News/LoHud.com columnist Phil Reisman’s “High Noon” radio program today at noon.

Roemer is a Republican presidential hopeful.

“High Noon” airs from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays on WVOX 1460 AM and online on www.wvox.com.

Or check back at LoHud.com during the show for a link.

Call in with your opinion during the show at 914-636-0110.

The Valhalla school district plans to appeal a court ruling requiring it to repay up to $1.9 million to the town of Greenburgh, insisting an agreement between them to fund education programs is valid.

In November, state Supreme Court Justice Nicholas Colabella ruled the 2004 agreement, which called for Greenburgh to pay the school district $6.5 million over 10 years, was an improper gift that did not benefit the majority of town residents. The parties are waiting for the judge to determine how much must be repaid.

Read the story here.

The works of twelve artists from the New Rochelle Art Association will be on exhibit through February 26 in the Marjorie and Norman Alexander Gallery at the JCC of Mid-Westchester, 999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale. The exhibit is part of the Association’s Centennial celebration.  A closing reception will be held in the JCC’s gallery on Sunday, February 26, from 3 to 5 p.m.  The exhibiting artists are Cristina Cerone-New Rochelle, Kenneth Dinkel-Armonk, Debra Friedkin-Sleepy Hollow, Faith Goldstein-Yorktown Heights, Rose Marie Greco- Bronx, Lorie Gurian-White Plains, Gina Kingsley-New Rochelle, Kathleen Nesi-Pelham Manor, Lisa Post-New Rochelle, Ruth Raskin-Scarsdale, Mary Jo Viola-Yonkers, and Mitchell Visoky-White Plains.