WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. By John F. Bailey. July 20, 2006, 12 noon E.D.T/: David Maloney, spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office has just completed a tour of the hardest hit areas with power in White Plains and spoke to WPCNR about what he has found.

Mr. Maloney said he had toured the Gedney area in the vicinity of  North Street, Rosedale Hotel Drive, and Murchison Place in the heart of the stricken Gedneys. He said he observed “at least” 20 Con Edison trucks and Lower Hudson Gas and Electric trucks, “and a few others, a lot of contractors, landscaping and tree contractors”  working with White Plains Department of Public Works crews to clear trees: “These guys are working hard. I did see plenty of vehicles out there. There’s a conserted effort to get it up and running.”

What areas still have hat whole southend area from adjacent to the golf course, Ridgeway area, Maple Moor, pretty much throughout the Southend. That is the center where Con Ed is working. We’re doing everything we can to facilitate Con Ed to get the power going again. Public works is doing everything we can to get it ready. There are a lot of poles down.”

If Con Ed had supplied more “turn off crews,” if the recovery would be farther along, did DPW have the manpower and Con Ed did not, and if more White Plains customers would have been restored quicker. Maloney said, “That I don’t know because I do not know the damage to the electrical infrastructure, so I can’t answer that question. But White Plains isn’t the only town without power.”

WPCNR pointed out that White Plains is the county seat.

Maloney said, “Various areas throughout Westchester are hard hit. It’s going to take quite awhile.”

Maloney suggested residents not move debris into the middle of their streets because it hampers access of the crews, because the path for vehicles is not very wide.

“There’s some sections — the side streets and deadends need to be cleared at this point. There are some huge trees that came down. We’re very fortunate these came down and did not hit houses, but did take down power lines,” Maloney said.

Asked if he had a handle on what the Gedneys and Rosedale could expect: “I don’t think a lot of people have any idea of just how extensive the damage was. I do not know how Con Edision is working this (with the DPW), I do know there are a tremendous number of trees that are on power lines. All these trees would have to be removed before they could get power up and running again. I don’t have a time feel, because I would not want to speak for Con Ed.”

Asked of the weather, Maloney said, “I just got a report from the National Weather Service, Beryl will miss us staying offshore to our East. Our concern is for an approaching cold front tomorrow, the front will stall nearby over the weekend giving us a period of rain, some of which may be heavy from Friday through Sunday. Possible amounts 2 to 4 inches. It really isn’t good.”

Asked if Con Ed was working in tandem with the City of White Plains Public Works, Maloney reported, “Absolutely, what we’re seeing a lot of is you can actually see the DPW backhoes going into the sidestreets and clearing that out. You can see Con Ed on Bryant, on North Street trying to restore power to the sidestreets. The DPW is doing an outstanding job of getting it cleared.

Asked about Soundview, Hartsdale Avenue, Midchester, Maloney said he did not see a lot of that area, that he had toured the Southend, “where the major damage has been. For now I don’t know what the situation is (in the deep Highlands).” He said he would be talking with DPW to get an “overview of things.”

Asked if the DPW could have cleared the White Plains streets faster had Con Edison supplied more “turn-off” crews to shut down power to get the DPW into cleanup mode faster, Maloney said he could not comment on that and that was a matter for Con Edison to address.

Maloney said that in an emergency, should contact the White Plains Department of Public Safety immediately at 422-6111. He said he knew of no deaths from the storm, and no serious injuries.  He said at this time there were no plans for supplying tarpaulins and supplies for damaged houses, or opening up shelters, but he would  be making phone calls about that possibility shortly He said neighbors with power have been taking in neighbors without power, citing one such neighbor-helping-neighbors situation in the Rosedale area.

What areas still have power out? Maloney said, “That whole southend area from adjacent to the golf course, Ridgeway area, Maple Moor, pretty much throughout the Southend. That is the center where Con Ed is working. We’re doing everything we can to facilitate Con Ed to get the power going again. Public works is doing everything we can to get it ready. There are a lot of poles down.”

If Con Ed had supplied more “turn off crews,” if the recovery would be farther along, did DPW have the manpower and Con Ed did not, and if more White Plains customers would have been restored quicker. Maloney said, “That I don’t know because I do not know the damage to the electrical infrastructure, so I can’t answer that question. But White Plains isn’t the only town without power.”

WPCNR pointed out that White Plains is the county seat.

Maloney said, “Various areas throughout Westchester are hard hit. It’s going to take quite awhile.”

Asked if  power was going to be back on by Saturday to beat the rain, Maloney said he could not speculate, that was up to Con Edison.

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WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. By John F. Bailey. July 19, 2006:  As of midnight, the number of customers without power in White Plains had risen to slightly over 7,000 customers, since 5,000 were reported as of 6 P.M., according to Joy Faber, Con Edison spokesperson. Ms. Faber said the number has grown, because Con Ed crews are still assessing damage in the White Plains neighborhoods. She said, “we are working night and day” to repair the damage.

 

Raising the Roof: Archbishop Stepinac High School on Mamaroneck Avenue shown at 1 P.M. Wednesday had its roof peeled off on the South end of the school. School yard was strewn with debris, felled trees. Photo by Peter Katz for WPCNR News.

 

The Gedneys, the Highlands, the Saxon Woods, and Havilands Manor were in  agony tonight as lights come back slowly, and homeowners see their lifetime investments savaged.

Stepinac Roof Peeled Back by the Mystery Storm. Photo, Peter Katz, for WPCNR News.

Tree toppled Street Light, felling wires, after temporary fix on Mamaroneck Avenue. Photo by Peter Katz for WPCNR News.

 

 

Weary, sobered residents were seen on the streets of Murchison Place, Dupont Avenue,  Seymour Place, the Gedney Esplanade, Heatherbloom just some of the quiet, devastated streets of Gedney Farms tonight at twilight.

 

A Sobering Drive.

 

A WPCNR drive-by  on the branch-strewn streets of  the Gedneys  in the aftermath of downed wires, twisted jagged stricken trees was greeted with astounding sights of massive thick trunked oaks of years-standing at what seemed every other house uprooted and crashed into the stately homes that just 24 hours before had been million dollar homes in White Plains. Now, many await the arborist, and an army of carpenters and insurance adjusters  to saw up the huge trunks, cart the debris away and repair the damage.

 

Tree After Tree Felled in Seconds on Partridge & Ridgeway shown at Twilight Wednesday night.  Photo by WPCNR News.

 

 

The same devastation on a capricious, vicious random swath can be seen in the Highlands along Soundview Avenue, Hartsdale Avenue and Midchester Avenue, and deeper still into Saxon Woods and Prospect Park.

 

Ridgeway Tree Ripped From Roots and Hurled onto posh villa. Photo by Peter Katz for WPCNR News.

 

 

As WPCNR observed residents walking in the twilight tonight, I did not have the heart to take some of the pictures I saw. However, I must caution, having driven over a live wire on Dupont,  which produced a flash and a smell of ozone, the area still appears dangerous, and residents should be aware that live wires may lurk since many are wrapped around trees. It is not a place to be sight-seeing or walking.

 

Education House at Twilight Wednesday evening. Ed House was closed Wednesday, inaccessible from North Street. Photo by WPCNR News

 

In the south end of North Street, that North South artery was finally passable as of 8 P.M. this evening, and revealed piles of brush and trunks of trees perched on stone walls after they had been uprooted and flung there.

 

Saxon Woods Road blocked by tree in a tangle of wires Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Peter Katz for WPCNR News

 

What in the World Was That?

 

Residents still have to wonder what happened to White Plains last night between 10 P.M. and midnight. No tornado warnings were issued, though a severe thunderstorm watch was in effect. So what was it. According to a Westchester County press release, the weather bureau is examining the possibility of a microburst. A microburst is defined, according to Wikipedia, as  “a very localized column of sinking air, producing damaging divergent and straight-line winds at the surface that are similar to but distinguishable from tornadoes which generally have convergent damage.

The term was defined by severe weather expert Tetsuya Theodore Fujita as affecting an area 4 km (2.5 mi) in diameter or less, distinguishing them as a type of downbursts and apart from common wind shear which can encompass greater areas. Dr. Fujita also coined the term macroburst for downbursts larger than 4 km (2.5 mi).

Microbursts are recognized as capable of generating wind speeds higher than 75 m/s (168 mph; 270 km/h).

It should be noted that White Plains is about 3 miles in diameter. Was it a microburst? Or was it an “unpredicted,” “unwarned,” “surprise tornado?” Why no warning? The Weather Service has a lot to answer. I was watching YES at the time, and there were no “crawls” warning of anything nasty on the way. Perhaps some other channels did show warnings.

The Mayor’s Office of White Plains reported this afternoon the National Weather Service, NOAA is going to view aerials to determine what the weather phenomona was.

The Storm Track

Earlier in the evening Wednesday night, a thunderstorm of lesser winds and heavy rain and hail struck the city, then moved on. “The Mystery Storm” then moved in about 10 P.M.  preceded by ominous symphonies of thunder approximately 10 P.M. You knew something was coming, and then you saw it coming with rapidly modulating and flashing lightning and claps of cloud to ground lightening that lasted for WPCNR estimates about one hour and a half. A car enroute from the City Center back into the southend reported having North Street strewn with trees, debris, and entire trees across Havilands Lane and Ridgeway.

Many of White Plains Streets Looked like this Wednesday afternoon. a Havilands Manor street at twilight Wednesday evening. Photo by WPCNR News.

The northern part of White Plains appears untouched. There is no damage North of I-287 that WPCNR observed, and little damage past  the Hutchinson River Parkway to the south. The storm appeared to cut a Northwest to Southwest line through the Highlands across Mamaroneck Avenue, sweeping down trees from Saxon Woods North to Bryant Avenue and wreaking its havoc on Prospect Park, Soundview, Saxon Woods, the Highlands, Gedney Farms, Gedney Meadows and Rosedale and North Street and Havilands Manor.

There Are too Many Scenes like this in the White Plains Southend to Put an Accurate Count. Note sheared tree upper right, perhaps a lightning strike. Photo WPCNR News

Officials Congratulate Con Ed.

Public officials put very little specific information on this storm all day today. The Westchester County Executive Andy Spano’s Department of Communications put out a news release congratulating Con Edison on how well they have handled two harsh storms in one week. Well, Con Ed has not handled the information process well.

The number of White Plains customers without power was not announced to WPCNR (despite repeated requests), until 4:30 P.M. The City of White Plains had no idea how many people were out of power.

 Had the City of White Plains known over 5,000 customers (now 7,000 at midnight Thursday morning) were without power, they might have been able to set up shelters for ice, food, and possible places to sleep for the elderly and the very young, but they did not apparently have (at least for media consumption),  knowledge of the scope of the disaster. As late as 4 P.M., the City of White Plains said they did not know how many customers in White Plains were out. More to the point,  the County did not set up any shelter in White Plains either, (as they often do during snowstorms or other disasters).

“Cooling Centers” only Available During Day.

WPCNR was told by a Department of Communcations spokesperson that the City of White Plains had been setting up a shelter. This was news to the Mayor’s Office. Melissa Lopez of the Mayor’s Office said as of 4:30 P.M. they had no plans to open any centers at that time. When informed of this, the Department of Communications spokesperson told WPCNR,  persons could go to County “Cooling Centers,” which she said were listed on the county website. She sent WPCNR the listing.

However when WPCNR contacted the White Plains Senior Center on Mitchell Place, one of the White Plains “Cooling Centers,” there was no answer. I also contacted the Fairview Greenburgh Community Center on 32 Manhattan Avenue in White Plains, and the person answer the phone there said it was news to them that they were a designated “Cooling Center.” WPCNR pointed out the Department of Communications, the apparent lack of knowledge of “Cooling Centers” on their list that they were “Cooling Centers.” Victoria Hochman, a spokesperson for the Department of Health contacted WPCNR to explain those cooling centers were simply available “during the day.”

Traffic Reports not issued until after midday.

White Plains Police did a terrible job of communicating routes that were closed and open in the City of White Plains during Thursday morning and afternoon. It was only through the efforts of David Maloney of The Mayor’s Office extracting information from the police department and the Department of Public Works that road conditions were made know by early afternoon. As of 10 A.M. the DPW was reporting all roads were open in White Plains, but this simply was not true. There was no number a citizen could call to get solid up to the minute traffic information, a condition that has existed for years at the Department of Public Safety that they have refused to address. This is not good and it is not professional.

The Mayor’s Office should be congratulated for making a great effort to spell out road conditions despite police ineptitude to do so. The police were out taking care of business, but they would have less business to take care of if people knew what roads were open and which were not. It takes only one officer to coordinate that, and it is high time the Department of Public Safety realized that. July 18 and 19 proved that.

As a result of the lack of information some 8 hours after the event (at 8 A.M. Wednesday), motorists cruised through various blind streets through the southend of town like rats in a maze without apparently coherent direction by the police as to where to go to get out.

WPCNR has pointed out the police department inability to communicate with its citizens during a disaster in the past,  and Thursday’s traffic jams on North Street, Ridgeway and other major arteries show the communication at 422-6111 have not changed.

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WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. July 19, 2006: The Mayor’s Office has updated the City of White Plains situation. According to spokesperson David Maloney speaking to WPCNR at 3:30 P.M.,  “Maple Avenue has no power, traffic officers are on site to help with the flow into (and out of) the city this afternoon. Deputy Commissioner Rick Hope and Con Ed are still on North Street, many trees are down over there. Rosedale still has issues. Old Mamaroneck Road is now open and Soundview Avenue should be open later this evening.”

On sidestreets in the Highlands, such as Prescott, Midchester, Prospect: “They’re working on them. The problem is that most of these guys have been working since before midnight last night. I don’t know what their replacement crews look like from Con Ed’s perspective. Most of this might not get done until tomorrow.”

On Gedney Farms: “The same situation, they’re concentrating on the main arteries trying to get those open, and then clear the side streets. We’re dealing with a fatigue situation from the Con Ed perspective.”

WPCNR asked Maloney if a large section of the Highlands, Gedney Farms, and Saxon Woods had no power. Maloney said he does not have: “That’s something I have not been able to ascertain. I have no information on that.”

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WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. From White Plains CitizeNetReporters. July 19, 2006: Peter Katz out and about this morning reports, “a disaster has hit White Plains,” He reports last night’s severe thunderstorm has cut a swath of damage through the heart of the White Plains Southend of Town: “Gedney Farms (along Mamaroneck Avenue) looks as if a tornado had hit it. Lots of trees down, uprooted, across roads, crashed into the roofs of houses. Tops of trees shorn off as if a tornado had not quite touched all the way to the ground.”

Katz reports as of 6:45 A.M. White Plains DPW crews were attempting to get Mamaroneck Road open, but it was closed both directions at that time. Police report Ridgeway is closed, Old Mamaroneck Road is closed, and numerous side roads. “We’re getting a lot of calls.” 

A downtown observer reports the White Plains downtown has electricity and is functioning if one can get to it. The Highlands is very hard hit. Katz says Saxon Woods Road is closed. Travel in city is very restricted by police tape blocking off many streets. Katz observed neighbors out in streets discussing the damage with each other.

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. Special to WPCNR from Wal-Mart Stores. July 18, 2006 (EDITED): Wal-Mart will open its long-awaited store in downtown White Plains, N.Y., featuring unique design elements and a product mix for its urban customer tomorrow, Wednesday, July 19.  The architecture and product mix in the development of this highly anticipated store were conceived to serve the needs of the community and Main Street residents, according to Wal-Mart news release.  The store occupies two floors of a remodeled, nine-story building at 275 Main St. at The Shoppes on Main.  The store will welcome its first customers following a 7 a.m. grand opening ceremony.  A VIP opening takes place this evening at 6 P.M.

 

Wal*Mart on Main Street, City Hall is at the left. Photo, Courtesy, Wal-Mart.

 

 

 

The new White Plains Wal-Mart, consisting of 179,731-square-feet, will incorporate several new design elements while featuring many of the retailer’s new merchandise products that are rolling out this summer.   Some of the distinctive features of the store include a shopping cart escalator  (shown above) between the two store levels and an automated shopping cart elevator that will deliver carts from the parking lot back to the store.  Photo, Courtesy, Wal-Mart

 

Keeping both pedestrian and drive traffic in mind, customers can enter the store directly off Main Street or by elevators from the six-levels of parking above the store in the building’s roof-top garage which offers three-hour validated parking for 600 vehicles.   The building’s six “oversized” elevators accommodate shopping carts to provide customers the convenience of purchasing grocery and general merchandise in one trip. 

 

“This store represents an excellent example of how well the Wal-Mart concept can fit into an urban setting,” said Steve Mitchael, director of design for Wal-Mart’s North-Central Division, who spearheaded the project’s design.  “The store’s contemporary design captures White Plains’ downtown revitalization efforts and offers a product mix and layout to meet this local community’s needs, while providing for a truly unique Wal-Mart shopping experience.” 

 

“White Plains is excited about this opening, and we are eager to have Wal-Mart joining our corporate community,” said White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino.  “Wal-Mart has established itself in communities throughout the United States and the world, and now residents and visitors to our city will be able to enjoy the low prices and large selection for which Wal-Mart is known.”

 

Additional Wal-Mart White Plains Features

According to Store Manager Calvin Lechliter, the store will incorporate several unique design elements while featuring many of the retailer’s new merchandise products rolling out this summer.

 

Inside, customers will find wider aisles, eye-appealing wood floors that accent department areas, new George® and Metro 7® clothing lines and new signage.  Additionally, a new line of Wal-Mart’s exclusive SELECT series® of GE small appliances will be available among a wide selection of home décor and home organization merchandise.  The store’s electronics department will showcase the latest in computers, DVD players, iPods and high-definition televisions.   The store also offers limited produce, dry goods and refrigerated foods, providing residents easy access to fresh, nutritious foods within walking distance of their downtown homes. 

 

In all, the store will feature 36 general merchandise departments including apparel, health and beauty aids, household needs, toys, fabrics and crafts, lawn and garden supplies, jewelry, and shoes – all displayed on lower shopper-friendly shelves.  The store also offers a vision center, a one-hour photo lab, a pharmacy, and a Wal-Mart Connect Center for wireless phones.  Businesses on site that offer additional convenience include a Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant and a Regal Nail Salon. 

 

“We are thrilled to expand our presence with the 60^th Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant within a Wal-Mart.  Dunkin’ Donuts has been part of the White Plains community since 1993, and this new restaurant will enable the brand to continue fueling customers where they work, live, and now, shop,” said Bill Rogers, new business development manager for Dunkin’ Brands. 

 

 “Wal-Mart is a perfect fit for White Plains, offering new jobs, new investment and community leadership.  It is a major win for the city that Wal-Mart has chosen White Plains to open a unique downtown store,” said developer Anthony DiTommaso, Jr., CEO of Ivy Realty.  “We are excited to help bring one of the world’s best known brand names to White Plains and to be a part of this area’s retail renaissance,” he added.

 

The White Plains Wal-Mart will be open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., seven days a week and will include 19 full-service, four express, and three, self-check-out lanes.

 

$67,000 in Grants at the Start

Wal-Mart will provide $67,000 in various community grants before opening its doors in White Plains, beginning with the recently announced $40,000 donation to the White Plains Sculpture Garden, a pedestrian-friendly initiative that features works of art throughout the city’s downtown area.  

 

“Our goal in community giving is to support programs that better the lives of our neighbors, as well as help a community achieve its long-term goals,” said Lechliter.  “We look forward to building relationships with the groups that make the White Plains area a great place to live and work.”  

 

With the goal of giving back locally, the store will provide community grants throughout the year to local organizations.  Organizations can contact their local store for details.   

 

400 Jobs

The store will employ approximately 400 associates, and more than 4,200 people applied for jobs at the new  store, according to Lechliter.  “Our associates are eager to open the doors to a new shopping experience for Westchester County, and each has personally touched this project by working to set our product and prepare for this opening.” 

 

Lechliter added that most associates originally hired last summer and fall have been working at other area Wal-Mart stores for many months, gaining valuable experience as the new store neared completion. “Despite the fact we had to adjust our opening date a few months back, the majority of associates stayed on with the company working at other locations in anticipation of the store opening.  This event is especially important to these associates, and we are so thankful for the great team we now have in place that will make this store’s shopping experience top of the line.”

 

Grand Opening Activities

White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino is scheduled to assist Lechliter with the store’s ribbon cutting while store associate Renee O’Neal will perform the national anthem.  Members of the American Legion Post 135 Honor Guard will present the colors at a private VIP preview the evening before the grand opening. Other activities planned during the grand opening event include numerous product samplings, costume character appearances and give-aways.