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 MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. December 18, 2003, UPDATED WITH PICTURES, 1:30 P.M. E.S.T.: The draft Final Environmental Impact Statement from Cappelli Enterprises providing its answers and city commissioners’ answers to environmental concerns raised by the Draft Environmental Impact Statement was placed in most Councilperson’s hands Monday evening. It was delivered by the White Plains Police Department about 9 P.M., giving the Common Councilmembers three days, including today to review the document for discussion by the council with the city environmental consultants in a meeting Friday morning at City Hall, beginning at 9 A.M.

“I DON’T BELIEVE I CAN COME TO AN ACCEPTABLE PRICE:” Louis Cappelli, the Super Developer discussing the present state of Bar Building negotiations on White Plains Week this week, the public access news roundup show on Channel 76. He also said he could not see building his $350 Million Dollar hotel and office complex around the Bar Building or its proposed retail court. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

A Planning Department spokesperson said the Draft Final Environmental Impact Statement was not available for viewing by the public because it was the Council’s document, and a work in progress, and would change based on Council input and direction given to city departments based on tomorrow morning’s discussion.

 

Discussion is sure to include council concerns about the proposed demolition of the Bar Building. In the meantime, appearing on White Plains Week on WPPA-TV, Public Access Television this week, Mr. Cappelli said he was at an impasse on going ahead with his Cappelli Hotel (at 221 Main Street) project if he is forced to build around the Bar Building, saying “It doesn’t do me or White Plains any good, if I build a substandard $350 Million project. Building around the Bar Building is a substandard $350 Million Project.”

 

Asked how negotiations, if any, were going on with the owners of the Bar Building on the date of the show, December 5, Cappelli said, “I don’t believe I can come to an acceptable price for the property. (The owners) are demanding an exhorbitant amount of money. It’s not in the realm of fair and reasonable. It’s not even in the realm of a high premium. It is more in the realm of I know I’m in the way of the project, and I guess you’re not going to build the project.”

 

The Silent Underground.

 

Another sensitive area that should be interesting to hear about from city departments is what role the Cappelli organization will have in preparing the Main Street sewer to handle the effluent from both the City Center project and the Cappelli hotel-office tandem.

 

Cappelli revealed on the show that within the last two months, the city Department of Public Works has suggested lining the interior of the Main Street sewer to make the effluent entering the pipe flow smoother, he said, (as the city has had JPI do with the Mamaroneck Avenue sewer at the 300 Mamaroneck Avenue).

 

Asked why he would not automatically replace the sewer to remove any doubt about the sewer capacity, Cappelli said he was “more than willing to pay my fair share (of replacing the sewer pipe) if we all chip in, even more than my fair share.” But he did not feel it was fair that he should pay to dig up and replace the Main Street sewer when the Ginsberg development on Main Street, among other businesses were going to add to the sewer payload, too. He said he did not believe it needed to be replaced.

 

He praised the Department of Public Works department for suggesting lining the Main Street pipe with a smooth synthetic surface as a good suggestion which he was willing to do, since it cost approximately $150,000 to $200,000, as opposed to the estimated $1 Million to $1.5 Million to replace the 100 year-old Main Street sewer line.

 

When asked about Mr. Cappelli’s willingness to reline the sewer pipe Tuesday, George Gretsas, the City Executive Officer, said “we’re not convinced it is needed at this time, but it remains an option.” Gretsas has told WPCNR previously that the Main Street sewer line may need to be replaced after 221 comes on line, in which case, he had said Mr. Cappelli would be expected to replace the sewer line.

 

Bar Building Should Go, Stackpole says.

 

The Bar Building was originally included in the Cappelli Hotel plan. However, the analysis of Robert Stackpole, a member of the Planning Board, when he originally saw the hotel designs which included the Bar Building has lead to the present design of the project that calls for the acquisition and demolition of the Bar Building, or its acquisition by eminent domain.

 

 

ONE OF THE GUARDIANS SPEAKS UP: Robert Stackpole has been a resident of White Plains since 1960. His long experience with the Planning Board has made him unafraid to call them as he sees them. His criticism of the Cappelli monolith building originally planned for City Center, lead to the hiring of Frederick Bland, which resulted in the splitting of the single monolith into two towers. Stackpole also reports that the Cappelli organization is going to enhance the white crowns of the two City Center spires with a more striking design. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

As Mr. Stackpole recalls it, he confronted Bruce Berg of Cappelli Enterprises when Mr. Berg was presenting the Cappelli Hotel design which worked around the Bar Building. After Mr. Stackpole made his comments,  the concept of eliminating the Bar Building was introduced by Mr. Cappelli into his project.

THE ORIGINAL CAPPELLI HOTEL PLAN retained the Bar Building, only “taking” the rear annex portion of the building. The diagram is from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Photo by WPCNR DocuCam.

 

Stackpole told WPCNR Wednesday evening at the Planning Board, that he was stunned that the Cappelli organization was attempting to “wedge” a 34-story hotel in between the Bar Building and Church Street.

 

“It made no sense,” Stackpole said. “I had no confidence that the project would work in terms of traffic flow, parking needs, and aesthetics. Here you were attempting to wedge this mass in between two buildings. I asked Mr. Berg, why are you attempting to work around the Bar Building. Berg said, because it had historical value. I said, let’s talk about the way you’re designing your project.”

DIAGRAM OF THE BAR BUILDING PLAN: Viewers should note the Court Street extension is three lanes wide, and the rear extension of the Bar Building has been taken for a driveway into the hotel complex. Photo by WPCNR DocuCam.

 

Stackpole told WPCNR Wednesday evening, “This is so illogical to wedge this (the Cappelli Hotel) in there between the Bar Building and Grace Church. To extend Court Street logically, you need four lanes, not three. I have less problems with the height of the hotel building, than I do with the mass if you leave the Bar Building there. Where are you going to have the parking if you keep the Bar Building? You would have to put it above ground into the hotel, making the base thicker and more massive. Taking the Bar Building creates a slimmer hotel, more open space, and allows you to lower the height of the building.”

“NO BAR PLAN” FIRST YOU SEE THE BAR BUILDING THEN YOU DON’T: The current Cappelli Hotel plan, showing how the area around Grace Church is loosened up, more sidewalk and urban space is freed up, and building becomes less bulky and thick at the base. Drawing from Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Photo by WPCNR DocuCam.

4 LANES ON COURT STREET WHEN BAR BUILDING IS REMOVED, MORE “PLAZA SPACE” CREATED ON SOUTH SIDE. The overhead schematic of the “No Bar” Plan. From the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Photo by WPCNR DocuCam.

 

THE MAMARONECK AVENUE VISTA LOOKING NORTH WITH THE “NO BAR PLAN”: Note the broader plaza, more space at street level. One of the alternatives the Council will have to consider Friday morning. Photo by WPCNR DocuCam.

MAMARONECK AVENUE LOOKING NORTH WITH BAR BUILDING (slightly to the left of the Cappelli Hotel), showing the crowding affect Stackpole sees if the Bar Building is retained. The rendering is from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Photo by WPCNR DocuCam.

 

Notion of Bar Building being “historical,” is “ludicrous.”

 

Stackpole said he could not understand the White Plains Historical Society stance that the Bar Building was an historical building. Stackpole, who restores historical sites as a hobby, said the Bar Building does not meet any of the tests the state applies to determine whether a site should be included on the Historical register.

 

He ticked them off. “Is it designed by a famous architect? No, the architect has no significant body of work. Is it architecturally significant? No, the building is of a generic style of the period (1920s), and only has two sides of which are designed in the art-deco style. Did anything historical happen there? No.  Did it have any ongoing historical purpose? No, a bunch of lawyers met there. They didn’t even fight to save the County Courthouse (now occupied by the East End of The Galleria), which did have historical significance. It’s ludicrous!”

 

Not Worth the Powder to Blow It Up.

 

He noted that the Historical Society and well-meaning citizens are being used by the the owners of the Bar Building “ whose goal is to create a more desirable piece of real estate. It’s not worth the powder to blow it up.”

 

He said he expected eminent domain would not be used by the city, and that somehow there would be some arrangement reached between the owners of the Bar Building and the Cappelli organization.

 

Stackpole said the proposal for redesigning the Bar Building annex that their owners have proposed that has appeared in the media, has not been presented as a serious proposal because it has not been formally presented to the Common Council or the Planning Board. He raised just two questions from a planning standpoint of where parking for the new Bar Building arcade was going to be provided for the ongoing visitations to the retail outlets the owner plans, and how could traffic flow be handled between the hotel and the Bar Building complex with only three lanes.

 

Mr. Stackpole sighed, saying there are people in the city who do not like to see things change, and he said that in order for the city to grow you have to accept change. In his opinion, this is one of those cases.

 

Stackpole warned that if the Common Council opted to keep the Bar Building, “It would be the most ludicrous planning decision the city has ever made.”

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. From Paul Wood, The Mayor’s Media Relations Office. December 17, 2003: The Mayor’s Office announced Wednesday that the Starbucks concession on Renassance Plaza would not open Thursday morning as planned. Paul Wood, the Mayor’s Economic Development Specialist, said inclement weather and recent snows had set back exterior work, and that the opening would be rescheduled, but did not have a date yet.

STARBUCKS AWAITS ITS OPENING DATE. “America’s Coffee” Stop in White Plains as it appeared Monday evening on Renaissance Plaza. Photo by WPCNR NightCam.

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WPCNR Main Street Journal. By John F. Bailey. December 16, 2003: Applebee’s the cozy, cordial, home of tasty, zesty treats opened Monday in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Joseph Delfino, Councilmen Tom Roach and Benjamin Boykin and Councilperson Rita Malmud presiding with Apple Metro Chief Executive Officer, Zane Tankel doing the honors. Matching checks of $2, 150 each, from proceeds of last Monday evening Applebee’s VIP party were presented by Mr. Tankel to Amy Kohn of the YWCA  and Robert Lapp, President of the YMCA of Central Westchester. Ms. Kohn and Mr. Lapp said the money would be primarily used to award scholarships to families in need of child care programs run by the two organizations.

APPLEBEE’S PIONEERING RESTAURANT IS OFFICIALLY OPENED, ZANARO’S TO COME IN MAY: Zane Tankel, Apple Metro Chief Executive Officer (third from left) wields The Big Scissors with Mayor Joseph Delfino in the Official Applebee’s Opening Ceremony Monday. To Mr. Tankel’s left are Councilman Benjamin Boykin, Restaurant Manager, Hedy Gannon, and Councilwoman Rita Malmud. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

Tankel said that Zanaro’s, his other restaurant planned to take over the Greenpoint Bank building on the corner of Mamaroneck and Main, would open in May. Tankel said he originally planned to open Zanaro’s in December, but Greenpoint Bank space was not ready in the City Center, so he could not begin renovating for his new restaurant. Tankel reports Greenpoint was originally supposed to vacate October 15, now will be out of the space on January 2, at which time he would begin his new Zanaro’s design. He said the restaurant would feature outdoor seating, a party room in the previous bank vault, and a completely unique atmosphere different from his Zanaro’s at New Roc City.

JING FOR THE Y’S: Robert Lapp, President, YMCA of Central & Northern Westchester, left, accepts $2,150 check from Zane Tankel, second from left. Any Kohn, President of the Y.W.C.A. (third from left) holds up her $2,150 check; Mayor Delfino, and Benjamin Boykin. The funds were raised by Applebee’s last week at the V.I.P. party for the opening of the new Applebee’s. Photo by WPCNR News.  

APPLEBEE’S PLEASED AT FIRST WEEK: Mr. Tankel said Applebee’s had a great first week, despite the handicap of not being accessible from the interior of the City Center. “We had a great week, in spite of it,” Tankel said. He said the main entrance to City Center to the left, was expected to be opened this week, allowing shoppers for Target, Circuit City and moviegoers to access the stores and the cinemas from Mamaroneck Avenue. Photo by WPCNR News.

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WPCNR MORNING RUSHES. By John F. Bailey. December 11, 2003 CINEMA DE LUX TOUR: The City Center 15 Cinema De Lux had its premiere for White Plains dignataries, divas, doyennes, dilletantes Thursday evening and drew 800 thumbs up. A crowd of some 400 persons  accepted National Amusements invitations to spend a night at a choice of 10 movies. They strolled the opulent, red, blue, and gold swank carpet in oriental fan pattern and entered the finest movie palaceplex this reporter has seen.  

The sophisticates gawked at the massive Egyptian columns, reminiscent of the Baths of Caracalla, strolled for what seemed like forever down the spacious foyer that rolls on like Route 66, from the East end of the Center Center on City Place to the West end fronting Mamaroneck Avenue, while giving you the consumer choice of every confection and movie you can want on your left, specialties on your right, while accompanied by the tinkling of the ivories from a grand piano.

“THE COLUMNS, THE LIGHTING, COMBINE TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE SPECIAL, THE WOODWORK, THE LITTLE TOUCHES MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE SPECIAL, A LITTLE FINER, IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD,” was Councilperson Rita Malmud’s first reaction on seeing the majestic Grand Hall of Cinema De Lux Thursday evening. The Councilperson recalled it restored the magnificence of theatres of the past that she remembered. Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam. 

Recalling the luxury of theatres long torn down, with 21st century elegance, City Center 15 Cinema De Lux makes movies an experience once more, recalling the magic of “Paramounts,” “Palaces,” and “Majestics” gone by where kids from the Bronx, Brooklyn once entered a world of statuary, chandeliers, and grand staircases that took them into a world where dreams are born.

Ron Jackson, another resident told WPCNR “This is a great Christmas Present for the people of White Plains. I’m so glad the Mayor invited me. It’s wonderful that families now have a safe clean place to enjoy the movies.”

 

YOU’RE CROSSING THE BRIDGE AND INTO THE FIFTH FLOOR OF CITY CENTER, AND “THE LUX” WELCOMES YOU IN. White Plains Peforming Arts Center is slightly to the left. Movie Posters under glass are an ode to theatre marquees of the past. Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam.

STEP RIGHT UP, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND TEENS OF ALL AGES: Just inside the specious swinging glass doored entrance on the left, White Plains movie buffs can purchase their choice of seats in advance by computer in 4 Director’s Halls theatres, and tickets for any of the 11 other theatres at the computer sceens here, which show seating arrangements for the Director’s Halls. The attractions will be shown with prices ranging slightly more than $10 a ticket, on computer screens (shown upper right of pic) with special prices in effect for performances before 6 P.M. Actually pricing was not available to the media last night. Neither were telephone numbers to arrange for amenities, rentals, parties. WPCNR will make the information available when they become available to us. The cinemascopic Grand Hall presents a tasteful “soft” inviting aura without the harsh jarring visual glare typical of virtually every other multiplex in Westchester County.  Seats for Friday’s performances may be purchased on the www.nationalamusements.com website. Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam

AFTER PURCHASING TICKETS, STROLL DOWN THE GRAND HALL BY THE SNACK MIDWAY:  In perhaps the most elegant concession stands ever designed, you and yours can pick from 50 varieties of loose candy  by the pound, or select packaged theatre favorites, on the right side of the hall,(below), that’s the Head of the Downtown Business Improvement District, (in the foreground) are a line up of Ben & Jerry’s, Nathans, Sbarro’s Pizza, and Pretzel Depot, and Starbucks Coffee for the discriminating indulger. The Gold “Oscar” was a special “living statue” for the evening. Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam.

AFTER PURCHASING YOUR DUCATS, LADIES & GENTS CAN RELAX in this lounge awaiting the shows to begin. The complex is so spacious, it is more like the interior of an ocean liner. Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam

OR YOU CAN MEET YOUR BABY FOR DINNER AND A DRINK AT THE SUGGESTIVELY DIMLY LIT   CHATTER’S LOUNGE just off the lounge. Chatter’s serves appetizers, salads, burgers, sandwiches all priced under $8, and cooked to order. Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam

YOUR SEAT RIGHT THIS WAY: Just to the right of Chatter’s Lounge, previously pictured, is the cleverly designed Theatre Concourse, that is a combination of the Grand Central Terminal lower level and a cruise ship passageway, seducing you into the world of make-believe. The theatres, all 15 of them, are so cleverly concealed into the building that you cannot believe there are fifteen of them.  Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam

THE DIRECTOR’S HALL: Here is one of the four Director’s Halls, featuring 24″ wide UltraLeather Seats, and Dolby Digital Surround EX. All the theatres feature the murals of the Bear Mountain Bridge, a very elegant design touch, that lends each theatre a touch of nostalgia when theatres had murals on the walls, a stepup to another level in multi-plex design. We cannot go back to the black box theatre ever again, thanks to the Cinema de Lux. Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam

WPCNR TOUR GUIDES demonstrate the Director’s Hall seating, with all the comfort of a La-Z-Boy.  Patricia Alsina is at right, and Quianne Heyward, left. Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam

PARTIES, ANYONE? Cinema de Lux will stage theatre parties for families and groups, providing the food and drinks in these specious rooms, just off the Theatre Concourse. Theatres may also be rented by corporations, schools, and community groups for meetings, presentations, and special showings. Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam

NOW, ON WITH THE SHOW: Shari E. Redstone, President of National Amusements, and “Mr. Movies,” Mayor Joseph Delfino cut the silver ribbon, officially opening the City Center 15 Cinema de Lux. Ms. Redstone said she hoped to open her Cinema de Lux to local performing groups, businesses, and invite local artists to perform as entertainers in the complex, and promised National Amusements would be a contributing member of the White Plains community. The only faux pas was that Louis Cappelli, “The Visionary,” was not on the podium. He was briskly walking about supervising last minute repairs to theatre interiors calling in a welder here, a carpenter there, to fix the tiniest of imperfections. At the conclusion of the evening, he remarked to me, “I’m done. I can’t do this any more, I’m drained.”  Ms. Redstone praised Mr. Cappelli, saying she wanted to “thank Louis Cappelli for his vision and commitment to redevelop this area.” (at least until this morning.) Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam.

PROUD FATHERS: Mayor Delfino, the father of the new movies in White Plains, back to camera, and the entertainment titan, Summer Redstone, observe Mr. Redstone’s daughter, Shari’s remarks, who ended her talk, saying she loved her father. Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam.

MR. MOVIES, Mayor Joseph Delfino, asked all “How does it Look?” and a “huzzah” came from the assembled multitude. The Mayor thank all involved in the project, and encouraged all to make this the best theatre in the region, and encouraged all “to go out and sell this city and sell this theatre” to all they know. Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam.

“I NEED A WELDER RIGHT AWAY!” That’s the meticulous, intense, concerned Louis Cappelli in center showing two of his construction crew a rough spot on a railing, that he wants smoothed out. Throughout the evening leading to the movie shows, Mr. Cappelli, “The Super Developer,” described as “The Visionary” was looking into things, finding little nicks and imperfections and demanding they be fixed. His manner was cordial, inspiring, a leader’s way. Photo by WPCNR HollywoodCam.

If you want to take your own tour of City Center 15 Cinema de Lux, on Friday evening the shows will as follows: Bad Santa, 7:10; 9:25, and 11:40 P.M.; The Cat in the Hat,  6:50 P.M.; Elf 6:55, 9:15, and 11:20; Honey, 7:20, 9:40, 11:45 P.M.; The Last Samurai, 7:15, 8:00, 10:30, 11:15; The Last Samurai in Director’s Hall, 6:30 and 9:45 P.M.; Love Actually, 9 PM, midnight; Love Don’t Cost A Thing, 7:50, 10:20, 12:35 A.M.; Mystic River, 6:35, 9:35, 12:25 A.M.; Something’s Gotta Give, 6:30, 7:30, 9:30, 10:30, 12:15 A.M.;  Something’s Gotta Give in Director’s Hall at 6, 7, 9, 10, 11:50, and 12:40 A.M.; Stuck on You, at 6:45, 9:50, 12:25 A.M. Tickets and Director’s Halls arrangements may now be available onthe website, www.nationalamusements.com.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. (EDITED) December 11, 2003: County Executive Andy Spano today announced an innovative program designed to give Westchester residents of all ages who lack adequate health insurance significant discounts on prescription drugs. Individuals will pay $15 a year for the program, Families, $26.

White Plains Pharmacies honoring the program, beginning today are: Duane Reade, both Stop N Shop Pharmacies, Post Pharmacy, Target Pharmacy, White Plains Pharmacy, FamilyMeds Pharmacy, Rosedale Pharmacy, K-Mart Pharmacy, and Value Pharmacy.

  The county program, dubbed “WestchesterRx,” will cost county taxpayers nothing, but can save consumers 10 to 50 percent on their medicines. The variations depend on the particular medicine and whether the consumers continue to purchase at a local pharmacy or use a mail order program. And the savings can be even greater if the customer uses an option that accesses pharmacies in Canada.

 

Westchester becomes the first county in the state and one of the first in the nation to use its clout to devise and implement a comprehensive, easy-to-use program to help residents pay for prescription drugs.

“Something is very wrong in this country where the people who can least afford to pay for medicines are paying the highest prices. This is not going to be true any longer in Westchester County,” said Spano. “Our program will provide real savings and provide these savings immediately. And unlike the recently enacted federal prescription drug plan, our program will help people and families regardless of their age.”

The county estimates that there are about 90,000 people in Westchester who are uninsured or underinsured. Ultimately, other value-added services such as vision care benefits and discount coupons will be incorporated.  

 

Participants receive a card that identifies them as members of the county’s new program. People will be able to enroll via the Internet or through an enrollment form. They will be able to buy their medicines at one of 114 participating local pharmacies, through a national network of participating pharmacies or by mail service. A toll-free phone number will be set up for enrollees to call to get names of participating pharmacies – in and out of Westchester – and get answers to other aspects of the program.

 “I believe this is the most important program that we have ever implemented in terms of how many people it will affect and its potential to save lives or at least give people access to drugs that can help them with their illnesses and improve their quality of life,” Spano said.

In creating the prescription drug plan, the County brought to the table industry leaders to administer the program.  Namely, POMCO, administrator of the county’s employee health plan; Arxcel, Inc., an independent prescription drug consulting firm; Inteq, a pharmacy benefit managers corporation responsible for claims processing and network management, which negotiated special group rates with the pharmacies; and finally, LibertyCareRx, a marketing organization that will provide the web site, customer service and handle sales for the discount card.  Together, with the county’s leadership, they have created  a model prescription drug benefit program.

The program also includes a Canadian pharmacy option that allows residents to access medicines produced in America but sold at significantly reduced rates in Canada.

“I am outraged that Americans have to pay up to three times as much as Canadians for the same drugs,” Spano said.

 The program will be operational Feb. 1, 2004  and is open to all Westchester residents. It will begin accepting enrollees in early January. More specific information including a website, brochures and a telephone line will be developed over the next few weeks. There will also be materials and a phone number set up for Spanish-speaking people.  

EXAMPLES OF PRICES

(Actual prices can vary from day to day, so these numbers are not precise) 

·        The average price in Westchester of Lipitor (10mg), taken for high cholesterol, is $81.90 for 30 pills, a month’s supply. Through the county’s program, the medicine at one of the participating pharmacies will be $67.26, a savings of 17.9 percent. If the member uses mail order, the

medication will cost $63.04 for a savings of 23 percent. If the Canadian option is used, the medicine is $54.91, for a total savings of 33 percent.

 

·        The average price in Westchester for Zoloft (50 mg), an anti-depressant, is $86.96 for 30 pills, a month’s supply.  Through the county’s program, the medicine at one of the participating pharmacies will be $73.83, a savings of 15.1 percent. If the member uses mail order, the medication will cost $69.38 for a savings of 20.2 percent. If the Canadian option is used, the medicine is $53.95, for a total savings of 38 percent.

 

·        The average price in Westchester for Celebrex (200 mg), for arthritis pain, is $98.12 for 30 pills, a month’s supply.  Through the county’s program, the medicine at one of the participating pharmacies will be $80.02, a savings of 18.4 percent. If the member uses mail order, the medication will cost $75.35 for a savings of 23.2 percent. If the Canadian option is used, the medicine is. $43.25, for a total savings of 55.9 percent

 

·        The average price in Westchester for Metformin (550 mg), for diabetes, is $23.16 for 30 pills, a month’s supply. Through the county’s program, the medicine at one of the participating pharmacies will be $21.25, a savings of 8.2 percent. If the member uses mail order, the medication will cost $13.11, for a savings of 43.4 percent. If the Canadian option is used, the medicine is. $5.19, for a total savings of 77.6 percent

 

 

HOW THE PROGRAM WILL WORK

 

·        LOCAL PHARMACY NETWORK: Currently, 114 pharmacies in Westchester are part of the extensive geographically diverse pharmacy network. People may bring their prescriptions to these pharmacies, along with their program ID card, to get discounts on their medicines. The local network is made up of chain stores as well as small pharmacies.  The network will have national coverage as well, so enrollees will be able to obtain their medicines outside the county. 

 

Prices can change depending on the wholesale price of a particular drug on a particular day. The pharmacies, via their contract with the WestchesterRx program, have agreed to a negotiated discount. In the instance where the pharmacy may be charging less for a particular drug on a particular day, the WestchesterRx member will get the lower price. In no case will a member pay more through the network than what the store might otherwise charge. 

 

·        MAIL ORDER OPTION: For larger discounts on maintenance medicines, members can use a mail service pharmacy.  The program will use drugstore.com. Prescriptions may be mailed, ordered via the Internet or faxed.  

 

·        CANADIAN OPTION: For even greater discounts, a participant may use the Canadian pharmacy option. WestchesterRx will be working with an intermediary that has relationships with various well-established and quality Canadian pharmacies.