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 LIBRARY LINE. From Libby Hollahan. January 14, 2016:

The White Plains Library Foundation (WPLF) has been awarded a $35,000 grant for 2016 from The Allstate Foundation (TAF) to support educational programs, titled the “Allstate Readiness Series,” on two critical issues facing communities today: teen safe driving and economic empowerment. This grant-supported partnership, which began in 2011, enables the White Plains Public Library to provide educational workshops for teens and adults, in addition to supporting community outreach and public awareness advertising in White Plains.

“The Allstate Readiness Series enables the White Plains Library to help build a stronger, safer community by providing vital information on safe driving practices and financial literacy to thousands of teens and adults,” said Libby Hollahan, WPLF Executive Director.  “We are grateful to TAF for its generous ongoing support, and are pleased that local Allstate agents have volunteered their time to work with us at community outreach event throughout the year.”

“As a national leader in promoting teen safe driving as well as economic empowerment, The Allstate Foundation develops partnerships with non-profit organizations such as public libraries to bring these initiatives to local communities,” said Kayla Taylor, New York Allstate Foundation Spokesperson. “We are proud to continue our partnership with White Plains Public Library to provide educational programs for teen and adult audiences on subjects that impact their safety and well-being.”

“The Allstate Readiness Series is funding innovative workshops in our teen library, The Edge, that teach teens to become responsible drivers, while also helping them learn digital media skills.  Teens are creating video games and public service announcement videos, learning coding and designing websites, all centered the theme of safe driving,” said Library Director Brian Kenney.  “Allstate support is also enabling us to provide financial literacy and career development workshops that have benefited many adults and teens in our community.”

The teen safe driving component of the Allstate Readiness Series also includes programs for parents and teens led by safe driving educators and speakers who have been personally affected by accidents involving distracted drivers.   In addition, the Library distributes safe driving information to thousands of teens and adults at events such as the annual Loucks Games at White Plains High School and White Plains Department of Public Safety’s National Night.  Through the grant, the Library also delivers a public awareness ad campaign, this year on the theme of “#gettheresafe,” focused on safe driving behaviors, with billboard ads in prominent locations such as the City Center Cinema Delux movie theater lobby.

The White Plains Library Foundation, a non-profit organization, was incorporated in 1995 to raise funds to help meet the long-range goals of the White Plains Public Library.   The Foundation’s work supports a wide range of programs and initiatives that promote literacy, educational achievement, career development, and lifelong learning.  For more information, visit www.whiteplainslibrary.org.e Allstate Foundation works to bring out the good in people’s lives. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the “NextDoor” Network. January 9, 2016:

The “Nextdoor Network” a neighborhood “grapevine” service reports that after Public Safety Commissioner David Chong advised neighborhood associations of an”uptick” in breakins of unlocked vehicles lately — Two persons driving a 2014 Lexus were caught by police in the act of a just such a break-in Friday.

The neighborhood report from an eyewitness advised fellow neighbors:

WPCNR is checking with the police for details.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. JANUARY 7, 2015:

WHITE PLAINS POLICE HAVE ADVISED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THERE HAS BEEN A “SLIGHT UPTICK” IN THEFTS FROM VEHICLES AND PROVIDE THESE CRIME PREVENTION STEPS RESIDENTS CAN USE TO SECURE THEIR HOMES AND VEHICLES.

CRIME PREVENTION TIPS

   Safeguard your home and vehicle

Protect your home while you are out ….

• Remember it gets dark early, so turn on lights and leave a radio or TV on so it looks like someone is home.
• Always keep doors and windows locked – even for a five-minute trip to the store.
• Use strong reliable locks such as deadbolts, which can resist ramming and kicking.
• An easy and inexpensive way to secure your windows is to use the “pin” trick.  Drill an angled hole through the top frame of the lower window partially into the frame of the upper window.  Then insert a nail or eyebolt.  The window can’t be opened until you remove the nail.
• To improve security on sliding glass doors, you can install keyed locking devices that secure the door to the frame or place a piece of wood or a metal bar in the track of the closed door to prevent the door from being opened even if the lock is jimmied or removed.

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Protect you vehicle and belongings….

• Lock your vehicle and pocket the keys
• If you have a GPS remove it and the suction cup from the window, and wipe the ring left from the suction cup from the window.  Store it out of sight.
• If possible, avoid parking next to vans, pick ups and other large vehicles.  These large vehicles can “hide” your vehicle and make it difficult to observe.
• Don’t invite a vehicle break-in by leaving packages or valuables (cellular phones, compact discs, computers and radar detectors, etc.) in sight.
• Whenever possible, park in well lighted and busy areas.
• If your car is equipped with an alarm system, use it.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CALL THE COMMUNITY POLICING DIVISION 422-6341

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The White Plains Public Schools have scheduled two important 2016-17 budget planning forums for January and March. The first forum will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 20th,  at 7:30 p.m., and the second forum will be held on Wednesday, March 16th, also at 7:30 p.m. Both forums will be held at White Plains High School in the B-1 room.

Residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the school budget planning process by providing input. The budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 17th, 2016, from noon to 9 p.m. at the districts regular voting locations. For further information about the budget or the forums, please call 422-2071.

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WPCNR YESTERDAY. News and Comment. January 2, 2016:

At midnight Thursday evening, Mayor Tom Roach and several members of the Common Council sang “Happy Birthday to the City of White Plains,” from the stage set up for the New Year’s Eve Spectacular. Security checks took as little as five minutes  to clear White Plains Police security for the music and festivities starting at 10 P.M.

When the White Plains “Ball” dropped at midnight, it was 100 Years to the moment when White Plains incorporated as a city, which officially took place January 1, 2016 at midnight. There is an interesting backstory as to why the first White Plains Common Council Meeting was held at midnight.

Drawing from Renoda Hoffman’s history of White Plains, It Happened In Old White Plains, I learned that the reason for the midnight meeting was interesting.

Ms. Hoffman noted that after Governor Charles E. Hughes signed the bill granting White Plains Charter as a city in April, 2015, elections were held in November, 1915 resulting in the election of Mayor Ffarrington M. Thompson with a 795 vote margin as Mayor of the city of 19,000. Councilmen elected were Joseph AllenCharles H. Dewsnap. Frederick M. Garthwait ,Frederick  C. McLaughlin John T. Rehill, and William J. Weiss.

The last meeting of the White Plains Village Trustees was held New Years Eve December 31 at 7 PM. At that meeting, it was announced the first meeting of the Common Council would be held at 10 AM New Years Day.

However when Councilmen  Allen, Weiss, and McLaughlin arrived at 2 Grand Street, the law offices of Mayor Elect Thompson , Mr. McLaughlin was informed the first meeting had been held 10 hours before at midnight as the New Year started.

Councilmen  Allen  and Weiss said they had received notice of the change in time late New Years Eve moving the 10 A.M. meeting up 8 hours to midnight. McLaughlin said he had not been informed of the time change. Allen and Weiss complained that no reason had been given for the time change at the time they received the call from the person informing them the meeting was moved up from 10 A.M. to midnight.

City residents arriving for the 10 A.M. time, were “annoyed” when informed the meeting had already taken place.

Hoffman reports that Councilman McLaughlin “believed the time had been changed because of a statement that appeared in the Daily Argus falsely reporting that he (McLaughlin) was planning to attach appointees to city positions. McLaughlin pointed out that those men had left their previous positions to accept the appointments. He had merely suggested that council members should ‘come out in the open’ and make appointments by open balloting.”

McLaughlin is quoted as saying: “I think the meeting at midnight was stupid and undignified. They made themselves ridiculous. I shall do my duty as I see it.”

With Mayor Thompson’s vote creating a quorum commissioner appointments were approved, 4-0 at the very private midnight meeting.

The Water Commissioner Edward West reported a $24,054 surplus to the city, but warned if cows and livestock were not kept from reservoir property, the new city watersupply would become polluted. He recommended fencing the entire watershed. Then swearing in of Commissioners began.

Henry Sutherland was appointed first temporary City Clerk. Miguel Hauck, Public Works Commissioner was given office space on Court Street. Finance Commissioner  Charles Fuchs was given space at the Tod Building, where the Michaelian Office Building stands now.  John W. Calhoun was appointed Commissioner of Public Safety and installed in offices at the Grand Street firehouse, that also housed police and firemen.

The schools at that time were under the management of the city. Two women were chosen to serve on the Board of Education, Harriet M. Griffin for 3 months and Eveline Dickenson for 1 year. Other members were Richard E. Dougherty, Ambrose F. McCable, Willam X. Weed and R. Emmett Digney. Terms ranged from 1 to 4 years.

Charles Dewsnap was voted President of the Common Council.

There were 16 meetings of the Common Council that January 1916.

The total City Budget in 1916, including the school budget was $653,944.45.

The 2015-16 White Plains CITY budget  with the school budget NOT INCLUDED is $179.2 Million, and if city budget  is raised 4% will increase to over $186 Million.  The White Plains City School budget for 2015-16 is $205.8 Million and if it is raised 4% will increase to $214 Million. The total cost of running the 2015-16 city and schools is $385 Million

What were the salaries of the 1916 Staff:

Mayor–$1,000

Councilman–$1,800

Commissioner of Public Works–$4,000

Commissioner of Public Safety–$2,500

Commissioner of Finance–$3,500

City Clerk–$2,500

City Judge–$2,000

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