7,000 Without Power in WP at Midnight in Mystery Storm Aftermath

Posted on by

Hits: 0

 


 


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.

Posted in Uncategorized

Over 5,000 Powerless. Nicoletti: 27 roads to Be Cleared. North Street Opens

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. July 19, 2006, UPDATED 6:07 P.M.E.D.T.: David Maloney, spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office as White Plains copes with Wednesday evening’s weather event that swept havoc and destruction through the Highlands, Saxon Woods, and Gedney Farms reports that Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti has promised all roads will be open by tomorrow morning. Maloney said over 100 streets in White Plains had been made impassable by trees and fallen wires, and that Nicoletti reports just 27 locations remain to be cleared. Maloney also reports that North Street closed all day has opened as of 4 P.M.


As of 6 P.M., Con Edison spokesperson, Elizabeth Clark said the number of customers without electricity in White Plains stood at “a little over 5,000,” down from the 5,561 figure an hour ago. A Con Edision Press Spokesperson as of 4:30 P.M. told WPCNR that 5,561 customers in White Plains are without power at this time. (As of midnight last night, Con Ed had only reported 85 without power, but obviously that was before all reports came in. The 5,561 figure is the first figure for White Plains issued since that time.)


Victoria Hochman of the County Department of Communications told WPCNR there are no cooling centers or relief centers set up for victims without power in the county at this time. The City of White Plains as of this hour has not set up any such centers either, according to Melissa Lopez of the Mayor’s Office.


“The areas that are going to be worked on all night tonight will be Gedney Farms and the Highlands. The streets that are now open (as of 4 P.M.) are: Mamaroneck Avenue, Rosedale, Bryant, Ridgeway, North Street and Old Mamaroneck is open” Maloney said at 4 P.M. 


“The problem is of all the locations because they were the hardest hit, the Highlands and Gedney Farms, you have power lines tangling in with the fallen trees. Con Ed and DPW still have joint crews going out. Con Ed cuts the power and DPW is going to continue this with bucket trucks and ground crews and so they’ll be working on that all night, ” Maloney explained. Maloney said the city will also be clearing all the debris out of the streets “so they  can get in.”


Asked about what the number of outages in White Plains  was, Maloney said, “I still don’t have that from Con Ed. I did speak to Buddy (Nicoletti) and he mapped out the pattern on how they’ll clear this. He’s working with Con Ed now, he just had a meeting with them. But I don’t have numbers on the outages yet. I’ll still work on it. Just so we’re clear on this.”


Shortly after Mr. Maloney told us this, WPCNR recontacted Con Edison and received the report that 5,561 customers were without power.


Maloney said, “the weather service has been in contact with Buddy, and they are reviewing aerially White Plains, doing a survey from the air, and the NOAA, the federal weather service, they’re going to make a determination (what thestorm was) in a few days, apparently.”


County thanks Con Ed for their performance.


In a news release from the Westchester County Department of Communications, County Executive Andy Spano thanked Con Ed for their response (though Con Ed has not recontacted WPCNR with updated exact numbers of White Plains customers without power, despite repeated requests through the day — and has not informed White Plains how many are without power.


The county news release fed the media at approximately 3 P.M. stated:


 Spano (in a news conference) praised the utility (Con Ed) for its quick response to this the third weather incident in the county in a week: yesterday’s storm, the tornado last week and the heat this week. 


·        The utility reported that 25,000 residents and businesses are still without power. These are centered in Port Chester, White Plains, Scarsdale, Rye Brook, Yonkers  and Greenburgh. Priority is being given to dealing with downed lines to make sure they are not live. People are advised to stay away from any down lines. Also, all reports of downed lines or outages should be reported to Con Ed at 1-800-75-CONED (752-6633). Power outages could continue for several days.


·        Initial indications are that yesterday’s storm was a “micro-burst,” not a tornado. However, the National Weather Service said it would inspect the damage to make a determination.


·        Nonetheless, the damage yesterday seemed more severe than last week’s tornado.  


·        Con Ed will be distributing dry ice at Kohl’s shopping center in Port Chester, beginning this evening.


·        The county has been in touch with municipalities to set up “cooling centers” as needed, and to deal with other emergencies.

Posted in Uncategorized

The White Plains Situation as of 3:30 P.M.

Posted on by

Hits: 0

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.”

Posted in Uncategorized

Damage Massive: Sections Ridgeway, Bryant, Old Mamaroneck, Rosedale Closed

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. July 19, 2006 UPDATED 12 NOON E.D.T.: The Mayor’s Office updated its report on road closings, announcing moments ago that according to the White Plains Police Department, Ridgeway Avenue is closed  to Allen Street — where Ridgeway begins to be closed was not reported; Sections off North Street, Old Mamaroneck Road and Bryant Avenue are closed. No further details available. Proceed with caution.


Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains main North-South artery is now reported by a motorist to be open in both directions, but proceed with caution as not all traffic lights are operating.


Katz, speaking to WPCNR moments ago (11:45 A.M.) said the Archbishop Stepinac High roof has been peeled back as if opened like a can opener, and has sustained major roof damage. He also reports a tree having downed a telephone pole at the corner of Ridgeway and Mamaroneck Avenue, and says motorists should be careful driving because traffic lights are not working in certain areas of Mamaroneck Avenue. He says damage is widespread, “catastrophic,” consistent with damage inflicted by tornados. He reports Bryant Avenue is closed in both directions in the Highlands, there are numerous sideroads blocked off by yellow tape, but motorists are not advised WHERE to go. “It is a mess out there,” he said.


According to the Westchester County Department of Communications, Con Edison reports 25,000 customers are without power as a direct result of the storm. The Con Edision press office has not gotten back to WPCNR on the specific number of White Plains homes without power (reported as 85 as of midnight last night). Moments ago, all the Con Ed Press Office would say about White Plains Power Outages at this hour is “we have not broken it down yet, there are 25,000 scattered outages across the county.”



Big Blow Down: A common scene on Ridgeway Avenue this morning in White Plains. 40 foot uprooted trees fell into yards and houses by a violent nocturnal visitor. Photo by Juliana Bailey, WPCNR News.



UPROOTED Pine Tree on Havilands Lane. The scene was repeated by the score across the city’s Southend in a Northwesterly to Southeast “Swath of Destruction,” Photo by Juliana Bailey, WPCNR News.


 


 


A growing traffic tie-up exists as of the 10 A.M. hour on Westchester Avenue Westbound into White Plains due to  backup extending  back to the Westchester County Airport exit on Southbound I-684. North Street Southbound is backed up  past Bryant Avenue, because  White Plains Police have North Street closed in both directions at Ridgeway Avenue, and detouring vehicles onto Ridgeway Westbound. Traffic is reportedly backed up on Route 119 Eastbound into White Plains as is Central Avenue northbound into White Plains, according to David Maloney, the Mayor’s Office spokesperson who had just commuted in from that area.  


Jim Benerofe, reporting from his office, is a resident of the Gedney Farms area (where his home was without power). He reports damage in the Gedney area as “massive,” one neighbor’s house he observed was “trashed.” He reports trees, wires down throughout the Gedney Farms  area. Aaron Wordin, reported as of 8:45 A.M. that the Gedney area streets were a series of taped off blind alleys, requiring him to wend his way out, and he reported seeing no signs of “recovery” activity, no Con Edison trucks.


Benerofe also said the Department of Public Works  is of the opinion that the storm that moved through White Plains moving Northwest to Southeast last night between 10 P.M. and midnight, hatched a tornado, citing a Public Works report that concrete slabs had been ripped off the top of Archbishop Stepinac High School and “tossed like sticks.”   Peter Katz motoring through the city earlier this morning reported seeing trees sheared off at their tops “consistent with tornado damage.”  Katz also said apparently an observer has told him that the roof of Archbishop Stepinac High has been severely damaged by the storm.


 

Posted in Uncategorized

Weather Shocker Cuts

Posted on by

Hits: 0

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.

Posted in Uncategorized

WP Blasted by High Winds, Torrential Rain, Continuous Lightning. 85 Homes Out.

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. By John F. Bailey. July 19,2006, Midnight: At approximately 10 o’clock this evening a violent thunderstorm engulfed White Plains and most of the southeast section of Westchester County, with almost continuous cloud to ground lightning strikes accompanied by wind gusts WPCNR estimates up to 45 miles per hour which combined with lightning to topple tree limbs into roadways along North Street, (observed), onto cars in driveways, blocking side roads and causing power outages West of Mamaroneck Avenue. 


White Plains Police could not give WPCNR a list of roads blocked in the city as of midnight.


Observers noted trees downed in neighborhoods in the central Highlands, Saxon Woods and in Havilands Manor.


Elizabeth Clark of Con Edision told WPCNR as of midnight 85 homes in White Plains were without power, with Harrison, Eastchester, New Rochelle and Pelham sustaining more outage damage. Ms. Clark reported 765 homes without power in Eastchester, 270 in Harrison, and 700 in New Rochelle. Clark said Con Edison has crews out and will be working throughout the night to restore the areas.


WPCNR notes: citizens attempting to clear trees from roads this evening should be aware of the possibility of downed live wires which if touched could result in electrocution.


The monster thunderboomer was the second whallapalooza of a storm to hit the county in a week.

Posted in Uncategorized

Wal Mart on Main Street Opens at 7 A.M. Tomorrow.

Posted on by

Hits: 0

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 60th 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.


 

Posted in Uncategorized

Alexis Greer Withdraws Name From Council Consideration for Interim Seating.

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. July 18, 2006: Alexis Greer, in an exclusive interview with The CitizeNetReporter moments ago, announced that she has withdrawn her name from consideration as a candidate to fill the vacancy on the Common Council left by the death of her father, Robert Greer, June 27.  Greer said she sent an e-Mail to the Common Councilmembers and to the Mayor’s Office announcing her decision earlier today.


Asked moments ago by WPCNR if she was considering withdrawing after Council President Malmud told WPCNR earlier today the majority of the Common Council favored seating Power, Greer announced she was withdrawing.


WPCNR asked her if she had been pressured by members of the Democratic Party to withdraw in favor of Power. She said she had not, that it was her own decision. “I wasn’t quite prepared for the battle this turned out to be. I thought it (serving out the term) would be a nice way to honor my father’s memory, and be what he would have wanted me to be.”


Greer added that she had “talked to a lot of persons, but the decision was my own.”


Asked if she planned to remain in White Plains politics, Greer left the door open, but said she felt, “it was time to move on with my life.”


The Mayor’s Office has not responded yet to WPCNR inquiry as to whether the Mayor would seek an adjournment to consider other candidates instead of Ms. Greer, or would continue with tomorrow’s agenda as planned according to Council President Malmud this morning.


Ms. Greer was suggested by the Mayor, to fill Mr. Greer’s seat through December 31,  within days of Mr. Greer’s dealth from Lou Gehrig’s disease from which Mr. Greer had suffered for two years. The council apparently was considering Ms. Greer, since they failed to nominate Dennis Power for the interim seat the same night they nominated Power to run in the special election in November.


But, apparently, there has been a change of heart on the part of the majority of the Council, with one member of the council swinging over to the Power side. It had been determined that either Ms. Malmud or Mr. Bernstein voting together could block the Power interim nomination for the interim seat and giving it to Ms. Greer, since Mr. Boykin and Mr. Roach had said they were supporting Mr. Power. Glen Hockley speaking to WPCNR a week ago had expressed support for Ms. Greer’s competance.


 

Posted in Uncategorized

Power Demand Spikes. Malmud: Council supports Power for Interim Seating

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. July 18, 2006: Dennis Power, the Democratic City Committee Choice to run in a Special Election for the late Robert Greer’s council seat, is the expected choice of a majority of the Common Council to fill that seat until the end of year, according to Council President Rita Malmud.


Malmud, speaking to WPCNR this morning, said the majority of the Council, she expects will appoint Mr. Power at Thursday evening’s work session of the Common Council. Alexis Greer, Mr. Greer’s daughter, was the candidate preferred by Mayor Delfino, but according to Malmud, does not have the votes.


Meanwhile, WPCNR speaking to Mr. Power this morning via telephone at the County Office of Economic Development, asked Mr. Power how he would handle the “conflict of interest” issue raised by the Mayor’s Executive Officer, Paul Wood, last week. Power told WPCNR he would be glad to speak to that issue, but he had to attend a meeting. He said he would call WPCNR back to speak to that issue later today.


Power did say he did not work for County Industrial Development Agency, that he worked for the Office of Economic Development, reporting to Sal Carrera. WPCNR asked the IDA in fact reports to Mr. Carrera. Power said Carrera did oversee the agency, but that Terry Waiveda was the Director of the IDA.


WPCNR asked Mr. Power, (if he was on the Common Council), and the County Office of Economic Development say should support a hypothetical development, like say a deal with a China computer company to build a 70 story headquarters on a county owned or privately owned site in the White Plains downtown, how he could represent the city interests on the Common Council or if he would recuse himself.. Power said “Yes,”  (he could represent city interests), and would be glad to discuss that question, and would call WPCNR back to answer the question after his meeting today.


A spokesperson for the Mayor’s office,  informed of the Malmud “straw poll” said they still expected to take up the council vacancy Thursday evening.


 


 


 

Posted in Uncategorized

Adam In Albany: Report on the 2006 Legislature.

Posted on by

Hits: 0

 


WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. July 17, 2006: For the second year in a row, the Legislature passed an on-time budget that will benefit all New Yorkers. The bipartisan budget was negotiated in the open, with joint conference committees and provided a recoprd increase in school aid, including $40.2 million in total aid for the 89th Assembly District, that’s $2.7 million more than last year.


 



 


To ease Westchester’s crushing tax burden, we eliminated the state sales tax on clothing and shoes under $110, created a child tax credit, ended the marriage penalty tax, and capped the sales tax on gasoline. Most importantly, we created a property tax rebate plan, which will return to most Westchester homeowners an average of $532 and senior homeowners eleighible for Enhanced STAR an average of $822.


 


The Assembly and Senate also created the Office of Medicaid Inspector General to uncover and combat fraud and abuse in the state’s Medicaid system. Responsibilities of the office include Medicaid auditing and fraud and abuse prevention. This position will be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor. The legislature also came to agreement on creating five new crimes, including four felonies, to fight Medicaid fraund and help prosecutors do their jobs.


 


Before the legislative session closed, the Assembly and Senate passed several laws to protect the safety of New Yorkers. We enacted landmark laws to toughen drunk driving penalties and created strict penalties for fleeing the police. We also enacted a law to triple the size of the state’s criminal DNA database. The measure will expand the data base to encompass all persons convicted of felonies and 18 key misdemeanors, including petit larceny. We also expanded Megan’s Law to add Level 2 sex offenders to the state’s online sex offender registry and authorize local police authorities to provide information concerning Level 1 offenders to vulnerable populations.


 


The 2006 legislative session was a productive one, but there still is much more that needs to be done. In 6 months, New York will have a new governor, providing a new opportunity to tackle our many difficult challenges with innovation and vigor. I look forward to working with our next governor in a spirit of bipartisan cooperation to move New York forward.

Posted in Uncategorized