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WPCNR VIRTUAL FIREPLACE.  The temperature has plummetted 15 degrees since noon,  so WPCNR is providing this virtual fireplace. Simply place your hands on the website and let the warm heat just flow into you, people!

• Tonight–Partly cloudy, with a low around 14. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph.
• Wednesday–A chance of flurries before 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. Wind chill values between 5 and 15. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph.
• Wednesday NIGHT– chance of flurries after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. North wind 3 to 6 mph.
• Thursday–Partly sunny, with a high near 29. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.: 

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Dr. Paul R . Fried
New White Plains Superintendent of Schools

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. January 13, 2015  UPDATED THURSDAY JANUARY 15 (IN ITALICS):

White Plains Board of Education hired a new Superintendent of Schools Monday night.

He is Dr. Paul R. Fried of Ossining, NY.. He comes to White Plains from the Montville Township School District, having been Supertintendent of Schools for 5 years there, and as Superintendent at Mamaroneck from 2005-2010.

Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education told WPCNR this morning that Dr. Fried has signed a three year contract with White Plains beginning July 1, 2015  through 2017-18 for a salary of $275,000 a year, plus $500 a month car allowance, and a $10,000 a year annuity payment each year plus an allowance for communication equipment.

This school year 2014-15, Dr. Fried is employed at Montville Township schools in New Jersey at a base salary of $230,783.  Dr. Fried told The Bergen Record  he was  forced to leave because of  Governor Christie’s cap of Superintendent  salaries…which would have cut Fried’s salary by 30%  to $175,000.

Peter Bassano, a member of the White Plains School Board, told WPCNR, that over the two years the district has searched for a superintendent, Dr. Fried, “really stood out among the 70 to 80 candidates we looked at this year. His was a fit just perfect. We went after him.”

Bassano said, “he had the temperament, the experience, the track record of moving districts forward.” Bassano said he was impressed with Fried’s idea of starting a Humanities Advanced Research Project similar to the national Science Research program.

Asked if Dr. Fried had offered any ideas on how he would might advance the White Plains District forward in that the district is two-thirds Hispanic and African-American, Bassano said Fried needed time to learn the district, talk with educators, principals parents  before he could  formulate such plans.

Bassano said Fried had a strong background in both operations and academics. Bassano anticipated Fried would not be actively involved in forming the White Plains School Budget this year which WPCNR anticipates will top $210 Million, if it is “rolled over” without any cuts.  Previously Dr. Fried supervised a $70 Million school budget in Montville in a district of 4,000 students. (White Plains presently educates 7,164 students.)

Bassano said that Dr. Fried had worked with present Interim Superintendent of Schools Tim Connors, who shared insights as to how Dr. Fried was to work with.

Michele Schoenfeld said Dr. Fried was greeted by about 75 to 100 faculty, administrators, and parents and children at a reception last night at the high school. She said Dr. Fried said “he couldn’t have received a warmer reception, and thaty he would be working to win the trust of the community.” Ms.Schoenfeld said he would be returning to White Plains in the spring to meet with district personnel and parents on several occasions.

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This year Dr. Fried is employed at Montville Township schools in New Jersey at a base salary of $230,783, The Bergen Record reported.  Dr. Fried told The Bergen Record  he was  forced to leave that district  because of  Governor Christie’s cap of Superintendent  salaries…which would have cut Fried’s salary by 30%  to $175,000.

Dr. Paul R. Fried was formerly Superintendent of the Mamaroneck-Larchmont School District from which he retired 5 years ago in 2010. He is according to the New York State Teachers Retirement Fund receiving a $201,701 pension from New York State.

A press spokesperson for the New York State Teachers Retirement System told WPCNR Thursday, if Dr. Fried turned did not turn 65 until  after July 1, he could still receive up to $30,000 in salary without having his pension suspended. The spokesperson added that once Fried turned 65 he could resume the $201,701 pension payment, because there was no limit how much money  he can  earn in addition to his pension once he passes the age of 65.

The White Plains City School District saves paying 17% of Dr. Fried’s salary ($46,750) into retirement benefits for him because he already is retired from New York State. However, since they are paying him  a $10,000 annuity each year the savings in pension payments is $36,750. The school district told WPCNR they did not know Dr. Fried’s exact age at the time he comes on board.

Currently 64 years of age, if he turns 65 after July 1, he will continue to receive the $201,701 pension ( in addition to his White Plains Superintendent’s salary beginning July1, next year), according to the Empire Center for Public Policy. The Center told WPCNR if a person is receiving a pension and they are over 65, they can earn any amount of money in another position.

When Dr. Fried retired from Mamaroneck in 2010, the Larchmont Gazetter reported:the Mamaroneck Schools wrote: “Under Dr. Fried’s leadership, Mamaroneck has soared to new heights. For the first time, the District has developed a system for setting measurable goals for all key areas of work, including student learning, which has enabled much progress to be made in the areas of curriculum consistency and development. A structure now in place creates a highly organized process for teacher goal setting, observation and evaluation, and raises expectations and support for quality teaching. Additionally, the District has significantly and positively changed its relationship with the Mamaroneck Teachers Association (MTA)….he has paid special interest to: early learning and intervention….technology – bringing the District to the 21st century with updated financial, student database, and communications systems.”

The Montville Board of Education said it was “heartbroken” the Dr. Fried, due to Governor Christie’s salary cap on Superintendents of Schools,  was forced because of person circumstances to leave,

 White Plains Superintendents of Schools1874 to 2015

Charles A. Genung    1874-1891

Ralph Stewart           1894 -1897

Sylvester R. Shear   1897-April 1902

William McConnell     May 1902-March 1905

Guy Baskerville          May1905-August 1908

Charles Ramsey        1908-July 1912

John Lumbard            1912-February 1934

H. Cloude Hardy         1934-1947

Frank Nye                    1947-1950

Parmer Ewing              1950-1953

Francis Buros  (Acting)  1953-1954

Carroll Johnson             1954-1969

Arthur Antin                    1969-1981

Jerry Marcus                  1981-August 1989

Alden A. Larson (Interim)  August 1989-March 1990

Saul M. Yanofsky           March 1990-July 2002

Timothy P. Connors       July 2002 to June 2009

Christopher P. Clouet     July 2009 to June 2013

Timothy P. Connors (Interim) July 2013 to June 2015

Dr. Paul R. Fried               July 2015–

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WPCNR REALITY-GO-ROUND. From the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. January 12, 2015:

The recovery of the real estate market in the lower Hudson region of New York continued strong throughout 2014 including its fourth quarter.

Realtors participating in the Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service, a subsidiary of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, reported 14,169 closed residential transactions during 2014 among the four counties of the MLS’s core service area: Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and Orange. This was the highest number for any year since the 2008-2009 recession and 1.1% more than in 2013.

The highest percentage increase – 6.3% – was posted in Putnam County.  Rockland followed at 3.4%, Westchester at 0.6%, and Orange lost a little ground with a decrease of -0.8%.

Westchester, Rockland and Orange Counties all edged back on total sales of single family houses with decreases of 0.9%, 0.6% and 1.7% respectively.

However, they counterbalanced those losses with gains in their respective condominium and cooperative sectors.  Again, Putnam County stood out with an actual increase of 6.1% in single family house sales.

The fourth quarter postings of 2014 were especially strong in comparison to the fourth quarter of 2013.  There were 3,715 closings among all four counties during October through December of 2014, an increase of 6.9% over the same period of 2013, and on an individual basis each county posted an increase.

The region experienced price gains over the course of the year, mostly in the single family house sector.  The median sale price¹ of a single family house in Westchester in 2014 was $635,000, an increase of 4.1% over the $610,000 posted in 2013.

In Putnam the median was $310,000 – a 0.6% increase, and in Rockland it was $400,000, a 3.2% increase.  Fourth quarter medians were of roughly the same magnitude.

Orange County continued to shed its stock of troubled properties – bankruptcies, short sales and the like – which had the effect of driving down the county’s average prices.   The median sale price of an Orange County house on an overall basis in 2014 was $231,250, a decrease of 1.4% from 2013.  There was a signal that this pattern may be ending, however.  Orange County’s fourth quarter median of $231,224 was 2.8% higher than that of 201

Inventory did not change much from year to year.  On December 31 of 2013 the number of for-sale properties posted in the MLS database was 8,942 units in all four residential categories:  single family houses, condominiums, cooperatives and 2-4 family houses. A year later in 2014 there were 143 fewer units, a 1.6% decrease that largely reflected the effect of the larger sales volumes of the past two years.

It appears that this area’s real estate market has stabilized onto a level track since 2013 and that there are no readily obvious derailments such as sharply increasing mortgage rates ahead.  2014  began with average rates of around 4.7% on 30-year conventional loans, which glided down to 4.0% in the late spring, and which have drifted around that rate point, mostly downwards, since then.  Housing here is more affordable as a result, even as prices increase at reasonable rates. The sales volumes are healthy and are supported by an appropriate level of inventory. They justify a cautiously optimistic outlook for more of the same in 2015.

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2001-2015

BEGINNING ITS 15TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF WEEKLY NEWS CASTS

OVER 728 TELECASTS–WHITE PLAINS NEWS LEADER

ANCHORED BY PETER KATZ, JOHN BAILEY AND JIM BENEROFE

YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSMEN

SEE THE JANUARY 9TH PROGRAM

AT

www.whiteplainsweek.com

ON

MARIO CUOMO–HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO WHITE PLAINS AND WESTCHESTER

COUNTY CLERK TIM IDONI ON FORECLOSURE JUDGEMENTS EFFECTS ON REAL ESTATE PRICES

CHILLER WEEK

NEW SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT’S NY STATE PENSION

REAL ESTATE EXPERTS’ X-RAY OF WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING IN HEALTH PROPERTIES, RESIDENTIAL, COMMERICAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY MARKETS

NYSDEC WILL NOT REVIEW FASNY CONSTRUCTION PLANS UNTIL IT IS APPROVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL.

ASSESSMENT ROLL APPEARS EVEN GOING INTO CHALLENGES OF ASSESSMENTS.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE SURGES AHEAD WITH EFFORTS TO ATTRACT MILLENIAL GENERATION AND NYC  BUSINESSES WHO CANNOT AFFORD NYC TO COUNTY

AND MORE

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. January 9,  2015

A Westchester County police officer who was hit by a car on the southbound Saw Mill River Parkway Friday morning was able to get a teen-ager out of harm’s way just seconds before he was struck.

Quick action by Police Officer Paul DeSousa prevented a 15-year-old boy from being hit by the same vehicle that struck DeSousa on the shoulder of the parkway just north of McLean Avenue in Yonkers, Commissioner George N. Longworth said.

“Today’s incident is a reminder that police work is dangerous in many different ways,” said County Executive Robert P. Astorino who went to the scene and later spoke with DeSousa. “I want to commend Officer DeSousa for the decisive action he took to protect the safety of this young man. I am grateful that the officer was not more seriously hurt.”

As the out-of-control vehicle careened toward the officer and teen, DeSousa was able to grab the boy and hoist him on to the hood of the patrol car. DeSousa was then struck and flipped into the air by the impact.

The incident occurred just before 10 a.m. when DeSousa observed the teen-ager walking north on the shoulder adjacent to the southbound lanes of the parkway. Fearing that the youth could be hit by a car, he pulled over and got out to speak with the boy.

As DeSousa was preparing to give the boy a ride back to local streets, a 2014 Infinity coming southbound in the center lane lost control, crossed the right lane of travel and the shoulder, and struck an embankment. The car then came directly at the officer and teen as they stood near the rear passenger-door of the patrol car.

DeSousa was able to get the boy on to the hood before he and his patrol car were hit. The teen was not injured.

Several motorists who witnessed the incident stopped to assist DeSousa, who was able to radio for help.  He was taken by ambulance to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx where he was treated for multiple, non-life-threatening injuries and later released.

“Officer DeSousa put the safety of the youth ahead of his own and used the few seconds he had to get the boy out of harm’s way,” Longworth said.

DeSousa, 27, joined the Department of Public Safety a year ago after serving in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan.