Military veterans and their families are invited to the Westchester County Center in White Plains tomorrow for the county’s Veterans Town Hall Meeting.

The meeting will feature a discussion about the effects and treatment of post traumatic stress disorder by Larry Winters, a psychotherapist and coordinator of veterans treatment at Four Winds Hospital in Katonah.

Also on tap is an update from County Executive Andrew Spano on efforts to create a Veterans Village on the grounds of the VA hospital in Montrose.

As always, at the twice-yearly meetings, former service members can meet with experts with info on veterans housing, health care and education benefits.

Representatives from the county clerk’s office will also be on hand to help veterans file their DD-214 discharge papers if they haven’t already done so.

For your convenience, there are two sessions scheduled. The first starts and 3 p.m. and runs until  5 p.m. The second is from 6 to 8 p.m. Parking for both meetings is free.

Did a family member serve in World War I? Talk to us.
As the 90th anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting in World
War I approaches, we’re looking to talk with those whose relatives served in
that war. Do you have stories to share that were passed down from generation
to generation? Photos? If so, contact staff writer Michael Risinit at
mrisinit@lohud.com or 845-228-2274.

Westchester County Executive Andy Spano is in Washington, D.C. today to discuss the fate of the Montrose campus with officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

As many of you know, the county, most local officials and virtually all of the local veterans organizations have been pushing a plan to create a “Veteran’s Village’’ on the 184-acre Hudson River property. The idea is to renovate the facilities already there and to build affordable housing, a continuing care retirement community, temporary housing for the families of vets receiving medical care and other amenities.

Instead of embracing a plan that would benefit local veterans, the VA announced last month that it has decided to lease 100 acres to private developers who will almost certainly build luxury housing. They’re planning to hold an “industry forum” next week where developers will have a chance to pitch their bids for the project.

I’m hoping to talk to Spano after the meeting to find out if he made any progress in changing their minds. Look for my story Monday on Lohud.com and in The Journal News.

 The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) is reaching out to veterans with mobility impairments caused by spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries.

Joe Kaliany, a consultant with the foundation, tells me that its military outreach program “can be incredibly helpful to veterans,’’ and offers a number of resources.

“Becoming paralyzed raises an unthinkable number of questions and this campaign hopes to help veterans answer as many of those as possible,” Kiliany said.

The PRC military campaign is a one-of-a-kind effort that puts veterans with mobility impairments into one-on-one contact with specialists trained to assist them work through any confusion resulting from paralysis. Click here to check out their website and find out more. Those interested in speaking to an expert can do make arrangements on the website to have someone call them, or call  the PRC’s military and veterans hotline at 866-962-8387.