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 SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. July 21, 2006: Triton Construction Corporation presented new numbers based on their review of the projected costs of the School District proposed $66.7 Million Infrastructure and Capital Improvement program Thursday evening to the Capital Projects Committee at the White Plains High School Library because Education House was without power for the second straight day.

Chris Pearson of Triton Construction Corporation, the city’s construction manager on the as-yet-to-be-approved project, presented costs of the projects as approaching $69,366,748, up 3% from the previous $66.7 Million figure.

Pearson attributed the rising costs to a 3% increase in the cost of construction of the new Post Road School from $36 million to $39,359,008. He also warned that costs would escalate due to construction inflation at 2% a quarter. At that rat, considering construction could not start before July 2007, WPCNR estimates the bond amount may eventually have to be floated for $75 Million in either October or December. It is unlikely the Board of Education would put the bond referendum up for vote in November when there would be a high turnout of electorate. Russ Davidson of Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson, who said he had not seen Mr. Pearson’s figures before the evening, said he was pleased Triton’s figures on the project were only 3% higher than what KG & D had estimated.

The Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors stated that the school was expected a gift towards the Loucks Field construction from the Super Developer, Louis Cappelli, but that the amount and form of Mr. Cappelli’s generosity has yet to be announced by the city or Mr. Cappelli. Last week, WPCNR was told by Mr. Cappelli’s spokesperson, Geoffrey Thompson the terms and nature of the gift were being negotiated. (The cost of the renovation of Loucks Field at White Plains High School was estimated by Mr. Pearson last night as being $5,777,742.)

Mike Graessle, Chair of the committee set August 2, Wednesday, for the committee to reconvene and discuss its recommendations to the Board of Education.

The Committee dismissed accountant Richard Hecht’s recommendations to bond the infrastructure improvements separately, based on Assistant Superintendent of Business Terence Schruers bond projections showing no significant savings in tax payments if the district did that. Schruers noted that the cost of the bond in a tax increase would be  an additonal $66 to  $70 a year in taxes for the average assessed home in White Plains ($15,000) . For a home worth $700,000 in White Plains assessed at $18,000, that cost would be an additional $85 a year in additional to any  increases in the school budget any given year.

Peter Bassano speaking to WPCNR after the meeting said that Kaeyer Garment & Davidson’s contract with the district for supervising the project was still being negotiated and the percentage the architectural firm would receive based on the costs of the infrastructure was being vigorously negotiated. KG  & D according to the initial contract considered was to receive 8% of infrastructure costs under $5 Million, and 7% of new construction costs over $5 Million. Their contract was cost based.

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WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. Special to The CitizeNetReporter. July 20, 2006: At a Special Meeting of the Common Council this evening, the Council approved a site plan amendment allowing Louis Cappelli to add 56,000 square feet to his Ritz-Carlton 221 Main project, including 15 feet to the hotel podium portion, and in the process approved adding a restaurant, pool and health club to the mechanical level of the first tower now rising on Main Street, according to Suburbanstreet.com’s Jim Benerofe who attended the meeting and briefed WPCNR on what transpired.

 He said the Council also nominated Dennis Power to serve in the Common Council seat that has been left vacant by the death of Councilman Robert Greer June 27. 

Mr. Power, never returned WPCNR’s call Tuesday to answer the question of whether he would recuse himself from council votes involving issues before the Common Council that Westchester County has a stake in, and how he would not have a conflict of interest between county development ideas for White Plains and the city’s best interest.

(Mr. Power works for the Office of Economic Development, reporting to Sal Carrera, and serves at the pleasure of Andy Spano, the County Executive. )

Power’s appointment became certain Tuesday when Alexis Greer, Mr. Greer’s daughter, withdrew her name from consideration for the interim seat.

Power is now a member of the Common Council through December 31, and should attend his first monthly meeting August 7.

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WPCNR BUMPER TO BUMPER. July 20, 2006: Note to Motorists: Harrison Police continue to ignore the non-functioning traffic signals at the Bryant Avenue crossing over I-287. Motorists are forced in crossing over I-287 North and South bound to “see and avoid” motorists coming eastbound on the eastbound Westchester Avenue service road, and additionally to “see and avoid” Westbound traffic (often traveling at 40 miles per hour) as they turn to take I-684 northbound or proceed on Westchester Avenue west bound. WPCNR reported this dangerous situation three hours ago to Harrison Police, who have chosen not to station an officer there. The White Plains Department of Public Safety, to their credit, manned most intersections in White Plains where traffic lights were not working on Wednesday.

Harrison Police manned the Westchester Avenue site Wednesday morning when the eastbound Westchester Avenue route was closed due to a fallen tree. Since that was cleared yesterday, Harrison Police have ignored the non-working traffic light hazard. Motorists exiting White Plains via Bryant Avenue, crossing I-287 should use extreme caution in turning onto Westchester Avenue westbound when diverting to I-684 from Westchester Avenue eastbound, and from Bryant Avenue.

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WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. By John F. Bailey. July 20, 2006: The Mystery Storm that hit White Plains Tuesday evening, as well as Scarsdale, Harrison, Eastchester, New Rochelle, and other central Westchester communities was not an isolated event in Westchester County as previously reported, having begun virtually simultaneously in Montclair New Jersey and White Plains, and a short time later hitting eastern Long Island with the same intense winds and tree-trashing effects. 

WPCNR has also learned that the  “Mystery Storm” was not confined to the central Westchester corridor as previously reported by Westchester County officials, citing the National Weather Service in a county news release yesterday.

The City of Montclair, New Jersey experienced an almost identical weather event virtually simultaneously Tuesday evening, meaning that the “Mystery Storm,” with the devastating destructive powers hit across about a 60 mile wide area…and appears not to be confined to the narrow 3 mile diameter of White Plains as previously reported by Westchester County’s Department of Communications. WCBS Radio 880  in a report just prior to noon broadcast that the City of Montclair, New Jersey has suffered virtually the same weather disaster as White Plains, Scarsdale and Harrison — with scores of trees down and thousands without power.

WPCNR has learned the storm effects in Montclair eerily match the devastation in White Plains.

An eyewitness to the weather horror in Montclair, Marilyn Shapiro of Glen Ridge Parkway, New Jersey speaking to WPCNR noted that the tops of trees were sheared off just as trees in White Plains. She reports over sixty trees downed in a Montclair park and devastating road closures and tree downings. She also reports receiving no advance warning of the storm on media. She reports the storm in Montclair began its lightning show at 10 P.M. Tuesday evening….about the time she was arriving home from being out to dinner,  when WPCNR noted tymphany rolls of thunder in the distance advancing on White Plains.

The New York Times reported today that Long Island also experienced similar effects.

The mystery deepens as to what this Mystery Storm really was.

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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.