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 COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. February 20, 2013:

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino launched a major initiative today that brings together resources inside and outside county government to protect schools and communities from acts of senseless violence such as the tragedy in Newtown, CT.

            Called Safer Communities, the initiative is a combination of practical, ready-to-go programs that combat violence by drawing on the expertise of the county departments of Public Safety, Health and Community Mental Health in collaboration with local police chiefs, educators, clergy, civic leaders and elected officials. The goals are to educate the public about available services and programs, enhance those capabilities and evaluate progress on an ongoing and long-term basis.

            “After Sandy Hook, every community in the country asked, ‘What can we do to prevent this from happening again?’” Astorino said. “As county executive and a father of three young children, I want to be part of the answer. The Safer Communities initiative is a start. Combating violence, because it afflicts our society in so many ways, is a complex undertaking. Our approach is to attack the causes and consequences of violence comprehensively, collaboratively and continuously. Fortunately, most of what we need, we already have. So the major effort here involves creating awareness around existing resources, building relationships to improve communication and acting as a unified team to increase our effectiveness.”

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School Safety

            The initiative will get under way with a “School Safety Symposium” on Feb. 27 at SUNY Purchase. Organized by George N. Longworth, the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, and the Westchester County Chiefs of Police Association, the event is designed to provide educators with practical guidance on how to make schools safer and enhance coordination between law enforcement and school districts.

            William Bratton, former commissioner of the NYPD and former chief of police in Los Angeles, will be the keynote speaker, kicking off the event at 9 a.m. Bratton is well known for implementing strategies that have prevented and reduced violent crime wherever he has served. In addition, experts from Westchester County and around the country will detail best practices for improving school security.

            Among the topics to be discussed are:

·         An Overview of School-based Violence in America – Charles H. Boklan, U.S. Secret Service (Retired)

·         Practical Emergency Preparedness for Schools – Matthew A. Miraglia, a noted school security expert

·         Police Response to Dynamic Incidents in Schools – Chief Inspector John Hodges, Westchester County Department of Public Safety.

            “Familiarity and coordination are two critical tools when preparing for and responding to a crisis,” Longworth said. “This forum will give educators a realistic sense of what they can expect and a chance to strengthen relationships and lines of communications with their law enforcement counterparts.”

            Every school leader in Westchester has been invited by County Executive Astorino to attend and to extend the invitation to their administrative teams and Boards of Education.

            At 11:15 a.m., there will be a panel discussion focusing on the dynamics among law enforcement, school officials and parents during a crisis and bridging gaps between strategies that look good on paper and real-time decision making in actual situations.

            Among the panelists scheduled to appear are Kelly Chiarella, Westchester-East Putnam PTA region director; Isabel Burk, schools safety coordinator for Southern Westchester BOCES; and Louis Wool, superintendent of the Harrison Central School District and president of the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents.

            “The opportunity to talk about what works and doesn’t work ahead of time and in very realistic terms should be invaluable for all school districts that are in the process of updating security plans,” Wool said. “Insights from law enforcement, parents, educators and other government officials will help us develop the kinds of collaborative solutions we need to be effective.”

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Safer Communities P. 3

            The public is invited to attend the panel discussion at 11:15 a.m. Those wishing to attend will have to present identification and register at the door for entry. Because of the sensitivity surrounding security strategies, the earlier portion of the program  will be limited to school and law enforcement officials.

            School officials interested in having similar sessions conducted in their districts should contact their local police department or the Department of Public Safety at 864-7858.                                                                                    

Community Violence Prevention

            On April 9, the departments of Health and Community Mental Health will hold a “Community Violence Prevention Forum” at the County Center. The county is working with the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the program, whose emphasis will be to address violence as a public health issue that affects all of our communities.

            “The idea is to bring a public health approach to treating and preventing violence,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Sherlita Amler, MD. “By identifying causes, addressing symptoms, monitoring progress and measuring results we will increase our chances for positive outcomes.”

            The leadership forum is designed to attract community leaders – mayors and supervisors, school district leadership, community groups, not-for-profit agency directors and clergy. The forum will provide a national perspective on violence prevention as well as the opportunity to share best practice models with leaders around the county.

            “The purpose is to share best practices, identify gaps in the system where schools and communities need some help and then to implement programs to address these gaps,” said Commissioner of Community Mental Health Dr. Grant Mitchell, MD.  

            One of the post-forum benefits for schools will be to take advantage – if they have not already done so – of the nationally recognized School-Wide Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (SWPBIS) Program. A collaboration between the Department of Community Mental Health, Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES and the Lower Hudson Regional Special Education Technical Assistance & Support Center brings this data-driven program to Westchester County. SWPBIS creates and maintains safe learning environments in schools by assessing factors, such as high rates of problem behavior that interfere with learning, ineffective disciplinary practices and insufficient support and expertise in addressing problem behavior.

            The program has been used effectively in 26 districts and is available to all public, private and parochial schools by contacting the Department of Community Mental Health at 995-5225.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. Exclusive. February 15, 2013:

The Board of Education of the Union Free School District of the Tarrytowns office announced to WPCNR Friday morning that the Board voted unanimously to authorize the hiring of White Plains Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Clouet for a four year contract.

The Board office also announced that Dr. Clouet has accepted the position at a first year salary, beginning in July of $253,000, $27,000 more than White Plains is paying him.

Clouet will leave White Plains after serving four years. He was hired to replace Timothy Connors in 2009. The White Plains Board of Education had an opportunity to retain Dr. Clouet, but refused to reopen his contract.

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From July 2008 through March 2009, while working as a portfolio manager at a hedge fund he co-founded, FORTUNA obtained Inside Information concerning various technology companies from employees at other hedge funds for the purpose of trading on that information. The Inside Information was disclosed by company insiders in breach of their duties to their respective employers.

For example, in July and August 2008, FORTUNA obtained Inside Information concerning Akamai, Inc. (Akamai) from Danielle Chiesi, a portfolio manager at New Castle Partners, a hedge fund. Chiesi told FORTUNA that Akamai planned to report that its revenue guidance for the following quarter would miss expectations and that, internally, the company believed that its stock price would fall following the quarterly earnings announcement. FORTUNA executed trades based on that Inside Information, and earned approximately $2.4 million in profits.

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WPCNR HOME FRONT. From Timothy Idoni, Westchester County Clerk. February 12, 2013:

A month-to-month review of land recordings in the Westchester County Clerk’s Office has revealed that the 9,756 documents recorded in January of 2013 was only surpassed over the last five years by an unusually high 10,597 in March of 2011.   

“January recording figures for items such as deeds and mortgages support reports of increased activity in the Westchester real estate market,” began Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni.  These recordings include deeds, mortgages, mortgage assignments and satisfactions of mortgage. 

“Real estate professionals in our area were rightfully encouraged by market activity in the last quarter of 2012,” continued Idoni, “and so we are pleased to share strong numbers for January of 2013, the second best month we’ve had in over five years.”  A month-by-month breakdown of land recordings in the Office of the Westchester County Clerk over the last five years follows:

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WPCNR MILESTONES. The Eulogy of Deputy Chief Billy Delanoy delivered at Monday morning’s service by Commissioner of Public Safety, David Chong. Courtesy White Plains Department of Public Safety. February 11, 2013:

Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong, right. Fire Chief Richard Lyman, center, and Common Council President John Martin, left saluting the hearse baring Chief Delanoy to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel this morning.

Thank You Delanoy and Delvecchio Families, most specifically to Billy’s beloved high school sweetheart, his wife, Joanne, his sons, Christopher, Paul and Gregory, his Father, Joseph, His Father-in-Law, Former City Mayor Alfred Delvecchio, and the entire Delanoy and Delvecchio families. Thank you all, for the honor and privilege in allowing me to say a few words about the Department of Public Safety’s, Deputy Fire Chief William Delanoy and my friend Billy.

First of all, to Joanne, Christopher, Paul, Gregory, Billy’s dad Joseph, and the entire extended Delanoy and Delvecchio families, on behalf of our Mayor, Thomas Roach, all of our Common Council members, Fire Chief Richard Lyman, Police Chief James Bradley, and every Commissioner ,official in this City, elected and appointed, every employee in this city, and the many thousands of people who throughout the County and the region that have been lucky enough to be touched over the years by Billy, we extend to you, our deepest condolences and you have our heartfelt prayers.

Many words have been spoken in the last few days, all true and heartfelt about Deputy Chief William Delanoy.  To say that Billy will be missed seems such an understatement.  Those words just don’t seem to put it in the right perspective. 

Although Deputy Chief Delanoy was a legend in our Fire Department, a great Chief and leader, a man who was so dedicated to a profession he loved, to his fellow firefighters who he groomed, trained and protected, a man dedicated to this city, he always was just “our” Billy.  Never did I ever witness him having a bad day and never did I ever witness him without the constant smile and that confident attitude.  He’d light up a room by just walking in. He could speak to anyone, from Mayors and Commissioners to Kindergarteners, and if no one was listening, he could talk to himself. 

Deputy Chief William Delanoy.

Photo courtesy,White Plains Department of Public Safety

Deputy Chief William Delanoy was a “can do guy”.  Nothing seemed to faze him, no matter if it was a huge fire, a difficult rescue, a firefighter injured, a personal matter with a family member or a friend, Billy would be able to think it out and work it out, and most importantly be there to help out. He was the star quarterback for a championship team.

 I could stand here for days speaking about all the lives that Billy has touched, there are so many instances that Billy was just there for everyone.

 That’s how special Billy is to all of us packed into this church and standing outside.  It seemed to me like the entire City of White Plains came to his wake to pay their respects.

Here are some of the personal reflections I have of just some of the many conversations I had with Billy.

To Joanne, know that Billy loved you from the first day he saw you.  He told me that you were High School sweethearts, and he was so looking forward to the day you both retired.  That his love for you is everlasting.

To his sons, Christopher our Firefighter, Gregory, the business man and Paul, the NYPD Officer, He spoke of each and everyone one of you, and his pride in you, his boys, his sons,  you just glowed from his heart.  All fathers love their children, his love and pride in each of you just shined through with every passing year as you grew older and more successful.

To his Dad, Joe, thank you for Billy, he’s in heaven taking care of mom, thank you for your 35 years of service to this City as a firefighter and a fire lieutenant.  Billy learned from the very best, sir.

To his Brothers in the Fire Department, please know that he defended the fire service and the profession and each of you with passion. He loved the Fire Department he loved his fire brothers.  He wore that uniform and what it stood for with honor.

I will miss my Deputy Chief, my friend, my confidant.  Billy, you taught me so much about the Fire Service and its traditions and culture.  I am a better person because of you my friend.  I think we all agree that we are all better because we were touched by Billy. 

Heaven has gained another angel, although in our hearts and minds much too soon.  Knowing Billy, he’s already put together a Yankee and Giants fan club of Angels.  He is waiting for spring training and he is debating all the other angels in heaven about how best to run the team on earth. I also know that he is no longer angry at the Giants and the PSL.  He now has front row seats.

That’s our Billy, the man, the legend, the friend, the angel and a true son of the City of White Plains.  There will be no other like him, so today we retire your number Deputy Chief William Delanoy.  We will never forget you and the legacy you left us.  We are all better people because of you.  This City is a better place because of you.

So please, everyone in this church today, please rise and join me as we salute Deputy Chief William Delanoy, The Delanoy and Delvecchio families for all that they have done to make our lives better.  Let’s give our Billy and his family the standing ovation that he deserves.

We miss you Chief, I miss you Dear friend.  Rest in eternal peace.