WPCNR LEGACIES OF WHITE PLAINS. From Allan Teck. October 11, 2005: On Sunday, October 23, from noon until 3:30 at Sam's restaurant there will be a luncheon to honor the work of Barbara and Ted Benjamin with CCOS. Here is some background information (on Barbara).
Barbara lived in White Plains for 53 years, from September 1952 until August of this year.
She quickly found her way to the local Democratic Headquarters and began her career as a volunteer to support the candidacy of Adlai Stevenson. Four years later, she was hired to run the county Democratic Headquarters. Her first public appearance was leading a donkey down Main Street.
Concerned Citizens for Open Space was started in 1984 as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization advocating the preservation, enhancement and expansion of open space and parkland in White Plains and Westchester County.
Ted Benjamin, Barbara's husband, joined CCOS in the early '80s and became President soon thereafter.
When Ted died in 1997, Barbara, who had joined CCOS with Ted, became President, has been Chairperson for the past five years and is now Chairperson Emeritus.
As President and Chairperson, Barbara has been a forceful advocate of the CCOS mission. All CCOS activities and achievements have benefited from her insight, leadership and ability as a speaker and writer.
White Plains is better and greener because of her ideas, forcefulness, integrity and boundless energy.
CCOS has worked diligently with neighborhood associations throughout White Plains and under Barbara's leadership has contributed to efforts that have resulted in the designation of two parks and preservation of several neighborhood open spaces throughout our city.
Equally as important, under her leadership CCOS has worked successfully with the Common Council to stop several attempts at massive development on what still remains a large, unblemished, Olmsted-designed park near the center of White Plains.
Regards,
Alan Teck,
