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Westchester Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. With Series Of Local Events

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday of January, around the time of the Civil Rights leader's Jan. 15 birthday. 

A group of volunteers celebrating after volunteering during last year’s Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service.

A group of volunteers celebrating after volunteering during last year’s Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service.

Photo Credit: Volunteer New York!
The Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville will host a special Martin Luther King Day screening of "King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis."

The Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville will host a special Martin Luther King Day screening of "King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis."

Photo Credit: Kino Lorber

To honor the occasion, many Westchester venues are gearing up to celebrate, offering everything from lectures to worship services and volunteer opportunities. A sampling is listed below. Feel free to add additional events to our events calendar. 

Friday, Jan. 15

White Plains: Two clergy groups, the White Plains Religious Leaders and the Ministers Fellowship Council of White Plains, and their friends and congregations will come together at 7 p.m. to honor the modern prophet of nonviolence, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The West Point Cadet Gospel Choir will sing and free childcare will be provided. Celebrate King: First Baptist Church of White Plains, 456 North St., (914) 949-5207, www.firstbaptistwhiteplains.org/.

New Rochelle: Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with dinner and a service beginning at 6 p.m.at Temple Israel of New Rochelle. Advanced reservations necessary. Celebrate King: 1000 Pinebrook Blvd, (914) 235-1800, www.tinr.org/.

Purchase: Go back in time with "After 1965," an ongoing exhibit at The Neuberger Museum of Art at Purchase College. The exhibit showcases the Watts Riots, the assassination of Malcolm X, the march from Selma to Montgomery, and the passage of the Voting Rights Act. The show, which draws on items from various private collections, runs through March 13. Celebrate King: 735 Anderson Hill Rd., (914) 251-6100, www.neuberger.org/.

Bedford Corners: All are welcome to the Interfaith service at Temple Shaaray Tefila at 7:30 p.m. The temple has partnered with Antioch Baptist Church of Bedford for a special service featuring the Reverend Merle D. McJunkin. Celebrate King: 89 Baldwin Rd., (914) 666-3133, www.shaaraytefila.org/.

Saturday, Jan. 16

A host of volunteer options start today all across Westchester thanks to the efforts of Volunteer New York! Go to www.volunteernewyork.org/MLK for more information.

Monday, Jan. 18

Mount Vernon: A Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemoration will be held at St. Paul's Church National Historic Site with a special talk at 1 p.m. by Professor Mark Christian of Lehman College exploring the civil rights struggles and triumphs of Dr. King. Celebrate King: 897 S Columbus Ave., (914) 667-4116, www.nps.gov/sapa/.

Pleasantville: A special 3 p.m. screening of “King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis, " introduced by longtime NBC News Correspondent Richard Valeriani, will be shown at the Jacob Burns Film Center. Celebrate King: 364 Manville Rd., (914) 773-7663, www.burnsfilmcenter.org/.

Hastings: The third annual Martin Luther King Community Breakfast will be held at the James Harmon Community Center from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m .along with a keynote speech by the inspirational author Sarah Bracey White. Celebrate King: Contact Jerry and Merle Sternberg at geraldjer@optonline.net (subject line: "MLK Breakfast) or at (914) 231-5286.

Scarsdale: Do for others on MLK day by packing and sorting books that will be sent to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The event is from noon to 3 p.m. at the Scarsdale Congregational Church and will include refreshments. Celebrate King: 1 Heathcote Rd., (914) 723-2440, www.scc-ucc.org/.

Sunday, Jan. 24

Rye: The celebration of Dr. King continues at Christ’s Church where Rabbi Jaymee Alpert of Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel will be the keynote speaker. The celebration also will include readings from Dr. King’s body of work, as well as performances by the Port Chester High School Select Chorus and the Port Chester Middle School Grade 8 Chorus. Celebrate King: 2 Rectory St., (914) 967-1749, www.ccrye.org/.

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