WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR—65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Adam T. Bradley, Assemblyman, 89th District: April 22, 2004: There’s more than just money at stake when insurance and HMO executives refuse to cover medical treatments.  Their decisions sometimes mean the difference between life and death.  That’s why I sponsored legislation, which recently passed the Assembly, holding health maintenance organizations and insurance companies accountable for denying or withholding necessary patient care.

I am also continuing my efforts to ensure Westchester’s families are receiving quality, affordable health care by fighting for a fair, responsible budget.  Westchester County Medical Center is facing severe financial difficulties already.  In Westchester, we can’t afford to sacrifice the quality of health care available to our families.

The medical center, the largest hospital in the seven-county Hudson Valley region, provides critical care that local hospitals are unable to provide and is one of Westchester’s largest employers.  The governor’s budget threatens to seriously jeopardize the quality of care in Westchester County and may further hinder the medical center’s ability to thrive.

I will continue fighting to ensure our families get the care and respect they deserve, and support legislation that ensures health care providers can make patient care their first priority.  Corporate interests must be held accountable when they deny necessary medical treatment from a patient.

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WPCNR DOWNTOWN DAILY. By John F. Bailey. April 22, 2004: A number of residents in White Plains heard the report, so did millions of listeners in the New York metropolitan area. Fortunoff was reported by WCBS Radio, which was quoting a The New York Post report,  to be attempting to sell their six upscale shopping meccas in the New York area for $350 Million. Fortunoff recently opened its newest retail palace in White Plains in September, which they constructed at a cost of $90 Million.

Fortunoff, contacted by WPCNR this morning, is characterizing this report as “inaccurate.”

Catherine Mara, spokesperson for Fortunoff told WPCNR, the Fortunoffs had retained the firm of Peter Solomon, Inc., an investment banker,  to attempt to rasie capital for future expansion of the company into other areas. She characterized  the “leak” of this information as being misconstrued. Here is the official statement released by Fortunoff to WPCNR today:

“Fortunoff has retained the firm of Peter Solomon Inc. in order to look at the possibility of raising capital to finance additional locations and growth opportunities.  Our most recent expansion in White Plains further demonstrates that we have a continued interest in growing and innovating.  We are looking at business options that would allow us to strengthen our strategic position in the market place.  That has been a Fortunoff hallmark for decades.  The Fortunoff families have an obligation to the company’s future, to explore a broad spectrum of options designed to keep the Fortunoff name and reputation strong and robust through future generations.”

Asked by WPCNR where Fortunoff might be considering expanding its reach, Ms. Mara said she did not know.  She also did not know at this time how much  expansion capital Fortunoff was looking to raise.

A local real estate observer remarked to WPCNR that he could not understand why Fortunoff would be selling their line of one-of-a-kind locations  for such a small amount of money, considering they spent $90 Million on their new White Plains store alone.

Another local White Plains attorney, specializing in retail mergers, noted last night to WPCNR that he could not understand why Fortunoff would be selling at this time at the start of what appears to be the beginning of a retail boom. The source said, usually you do not sell at the begining of a market, but at the top.

Peter J. Solomon & Company is an investment banking firm, which most recently advised Land’s End during its $1.9 billion dollar sale to Sears Roebuck in March of this year. To find out more about Solomon, their website is www.pjsolomon.com

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. APRIL 22, 2004: The Common Council will hold a Special Meeting Thursday evening at 6 in City Hall in the Mayor’s Conference Room to hear a proposal for a “sculpture garden” to be created at the White Plains Public Library Plaza.

The Main Event of the evening will be consideration of the enhanced site plan for the Cappelli Hotel-Condoplex proposed for the 221 Main Street block in White Plains. It is expected that details of the open space area about the project and detailed enhancements to the architectural design of Super Developer Louis Cappelli’s “Three Towers” will be showcased. The developer is hoping the Council will be accepting of the site plan, in expectation of a positive vote approving the project May 3.

The Council will also take up development of an “Affordable Home Ownership Program,” and be briefed on capital projects involving “Miscellaneous Storm Water Drains, Sanitary Sewer Lines, and the Orchard Street Pump Station Improvements.”

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WPCNR PRESS TENT. By John F. Bailey. April 20, 2004: Hudson Hills Golf Course in New Castle opened this morning with all tee times sold out, and just a few times left on the weekend as of noon. Golfers playing the tight, picturesque course gave it rave reviews, lauding the closely cropped bent grass fairways, the absence of draconian rough, the true-tracking greens,  the mountain top views, and the imaginative holes. One golfer described the course as “Challenging but in a comfortable way.” Golfers felt they got their money’s worth, calling it “gorgeous” and easily the best course in the county. One complaint: the golfers hoped for some young ladies to drive the refreshment carts.

HEADING FOR THE FIRST TEE: Westchester County Executive Andy Spano, and Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz (who oversaw the creation of the golf course),  head for the first tee at Hudson Hills today for the first official tee shot, followed by Donna Green, Susan Tolchin, County Legislators George Oros and Michael Kaplowitz (New Castle). Photo by WPCNR Sports

RIGHT DOWN BROADWAY: County Executive Andy Spano hits it dead, solid, perfect launching the first official Tee Shot at Hudson Hills. Executive Spano said building the course was a great thing because the course preserved wetlands, and allowed Westchester golfers for years to come to enjoy the spectacular setting, which otherwise, he said would have become an office building. (IBM had been planning to use the land for an office building.) Spano noted that the land had been acquired by the Andrew O’Rourke administration, and it was his vision to transform it into a golf course of “country club quality at county golf prices.” Executive Spano said he had not played the course yet, but hoped to in coming months.  He added that the cost of running the golf course would be entirely paid for by golfers. Photo by WPCNR Sports

THE MAN WHO GOT IT DONE: Larry Schwartz, Deputy County Executive takes his drive. Mr. Schwartz noted to WPCNR that the course took one year to build,  then the grass was allowed to grow for a year, in order to give the bent grass time to gain strength, with the project taking 3 years in total to complete. Schwartz said bent grass was chosen to provide a country club, professional feel to the course. Golfers playing the course today, interviewed by WPNCR agreed, saying the course was magnificent. Every golfer we spoke to had nothing but kind words to say.  Photo by WPCNR Sports.

THE BIG THREESOME: County Legislator Richard Wishnie, County Executive Andy Spano, and County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, left to right, meet the media. Wishnie called Hudson Hills “The greatest achievement of the Spano Administration,” noting how the Town of Ossining and the Ossining School Board had cooperated with the County to preserve the tax base by allowing land on the south side of the course to be used for housing to shore up the tax loss, and provide funds for the school district. County Executive Spano suggested to Mr. Oros that Hudson Hills “was one of the greatest achievements of his administration.” He also praised his Deputy, Larry Schwartz for supervising the construction of the course, saying it was “a labor of love” for Schwartz. Mr. Kaplowitz said, as Legislator from New Castle, the course was a great resource for the residents of his district, and the rest of the county. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

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WPCNR HEALTH BULLETIN. From Westchester County Department of Health. April 20, 2004: The Centers for Disease Control on Friday confirmed type H7N2 Avian Influenza in a Westchester County resident who was sick in November 2003 but has since recovered.  H7N2 is less severe than the strain of Avian Flu that sickened people in Asia earlier this year.

“At this time, it is not known where or how this individual may have been exposed to H7N2 or to what extent any underlying medical condition contributed to his illness, though we are conducting an on-going investigation,” stated Dr. Joshua Lipsman, Commissioner of Health for Westchester County.  “None of the patient’s immediate family members are known to have contracted the infection.  At present, there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission or risk of infection to the general public.  The Centers for Disease Control, the New York State Department of Health and Westchester County Health officials are cooperating in the investigation,” he said

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Influenza viruses that infect birds are called “avian flu viruses.”  These viruses are genetically distinguishable from influenza viruses that normally infect people.  Birds that are infected with avian influenza viruses release virus in saliva, nasal secretions and feces.  Disease spreads to other birds when susceptible birds have contact with contaminated excretions. 

H7N2 Avian Influenza has been observed on numerous occasions in poultry in the United States, but is rarely associated with human illness.  Only one other human case is known to have occurred in this country, in a Virginia poultry worker in 2002.  It is unusual for a human to contract H7N2, but there is no indication of any

 increased risk to members of the general public.  It is believed that most cases of avian influenza infection in humans result from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces.  Symptoms experienced by persons with H7N2 influenza have included conjunctivitis (eye infections) and influenza-like illness with cough, fever and muscle aches.                               

For more information about H7N2 Avian Influenza, call the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000 or visit www.westchestergov.com/health.