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 WEST SIDE STORY. By John F. Bailey. April 30, 2009: The White Plains Housing Authority today advertised for Requests for Qualifications for private developers with experience in public housing development in the next step in rehabilitating Winbrook, the  World War II-vintage public housing project on White Plains’ West Side. The Request for Qualifications  describes the  Housing Authority as looking to partner with a “master developer” with experience in working with the Federal Government in developing large-scale low income housing projects.

Creating the Winbrook of Tomorrow Begins. A partial view of the buildings to be replaced while residents wait,  as part of the Winbrook Rehabilitation Project. Planning the design of the project has begun.

The Request for Qualifications notes that the Winbrook development is planned to contain a mix of low income housing, assisted living housing, and commercial use, and extensive tax-friendly forms of government developer assistance and financing are expected to be made available on a project that the Department of Housing and Urban Development is described as looking on with favor.

The Request notes that each of the existing 5 Winbrook buildings will have replacement buildings built and completed with Winbrook residents being given “prority,” for the new housing.

The RFQ report obtained by WPCNR at the Housing  Authority Thursday states on page 6 that a pre-development planning team has been put together to execute preliminary designs and possible development plans for the site, to wit, “a process to define preliminary needs, design concepts and plans that will guide the development process is underway.”

White Plains Commissioner of Planning, Susan Habel was asked by WPCNR if the Planning Department has been working inconjunction with the WPHA “Pre-Development Planning Team on the project, consisting of  Saccardi & Schiff(planning), Warshauer, Mellusi & Warshauer (architects) and Divney, Tung, Schwalbe (engineers) and a national planning firm that executes major federal projects.

Habel, in a written statement, explained, “The Housing Authority has been working with its consultant and design team to develop a plan for the redevelopment if the Winbrook site. They have met with their residents. They are making a submission to the city for a rezoning which will be referred out at the May Council meeting and they will be scheduling meetings with a range of community groups and neighborhoods, area property owners,etc.

The Planning Department will be reviewing their proposed rezoning when it is referred to the Department.

Because of the schedule for submissions for Federal Stimulus funding, the Housing Authority mist work on a tight timeframe.”

A call to Mack Carter, Executive Director of the White Plains Housing Authority for more details of the plans for the rebuilding of  Winbrook which has apparently been proceeding quietly. Mr. Carter had not returned the WPCNR call as of Thursday evening, as he was out of the office Thursday for a meeting, staff said.

The Winbrook project is the second major government-involved project to show progress. Last month the U.S. Post Office announced intentions to develop the Post Office property on Fisher Avenue with a major complex, directly across the street from Winbrook.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. April 30, 2009:  White Plains Administrators eligible to retire this year are being offered $25,000 substantially more than double their payment for unused sick days they would have received, as an incentive to retire by the School District.

Civil Service Employees Association members eligible to retire are being offered $10,000  incentives going forward  with the same generosity.

The incentive payments to clear the payroll of high salaried employees are being funded out of the current 2008-2009 salary line, Assistant Supertintendent for Business Fred Seiler told WPCNR Wednesday. The payments are cash incentives that replace payment for unused sick days.

Both the Administrators and Supervisors Association and the Civil Service Employees Association have approved the new “incentive” policy, eliminating payment for unused sick days in future years, “booking” the $25,000 and $10,000 payments as being out there for Administrators and CSEA employees to take with them into retirement. The$25,000 and $10,000 Retirement Incentives Policy was approved by the Board of Education Monday evening.

Seiler, asked what was the difference between unused sick day pay and the cash incentive payouts, said the maximum amount any administrator could be paid if they had not been sick in twenty years was approximately $12,500, meaning administrators opting to retire were getting double the maximum sick day payout as an “incentive” to retire.Seiler did not mention whether the CSEA employees were getting the same doubling effect. 

The Assistant Superintendent for Business said the district anticipates hiring replacement administrators for perhaps some $25,000 less in salary, if the administrators retiring (five are anticipated to accept the incentives)are replaced, realizing savings in the 2009-2010 budget. Seiler left open the possibility the administrators would not be replaced. He said that by offering the incentives the district could also avoid layoffs of teachers and teaching assistants next year.

Asked what the overall anticipated savings anticipated from the incentives, Seiler said it depended on whether or not the administrators were replaced and whether savings from CSEA personnel taking the $10,000 retirement incentives would be used to rehire other personnel, preventing layoffs. The district proposed 2009-10 budget anticipates the firings of about 50 persons, including 24 teachers and 20 teaching assistants. An estimated 58 layoffs including those 44 might be possible.

Dr. Leonora Boehlert, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, told WPCNR the $25,000 incentive for administrators to retire and the $10,000 incentive to ease CSEA members into retirement was not based on the number of unused sick days at all. She said the payments “were not pro-rated and not related to the number of sick days, only retirement eligibility.”

Boehlert, asked how many sick days per year administrators and district CSEA employees were entitled to, said in a statement, “Each contract has different amounts and calculations. The amounts are higher than the sick leave incentive for CSEA and administrators.”

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WPCNR HOMELAND SECURITY NEWS. News Briefing from Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. April 30, 2009: This is the daily briefing to bring everybody up to speed on where things are with respect to the 2009 H1N1 virus. 

 We now have 10 states with confirmed incidents of H1N1—Arizona, California, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Ohio, and Texas. We are likely to see more states, more cases, and some more hospitalizations over the coming days, and we are prepared for that.

 As you know, and I’m sad today to report, that today we had our first confirmed death as a result of the H1N1 virus in the United States. It was a 23-month-old child, and our sympathies go out to her family out of this. But as I said and have been saying, this is a flu, and a flu cycle. We think we’re at the beginning of a flu cycle, which typically brings with it some severe illness and death. Indeed, in the normal seasonal flu cycle, we will have about 36,000 deaths in the United States. That’s a fact that surprises many. But it is part and parcel of an influenza cycle. So our thoughts are with those who have contracted the virus now, and of course for the family of the child who died.

 Every American should know that we are aggressively responding to this outbreak. Antiviral medications are en route to states to supplement their own stockpiles. Indiana, New York, New York City, already have their allocations. Several other states will receive their allocations by today. And all states will receive theirs no later than the third of May.

 Let me point out an important difference here. There’s been some confusion between antiviral and vaccine. A vaccine is administered to prevent the flu from occurring. An antiviral is occurred after you get sick to mitigate the symptoms so that you feel better. So it is the antiviral stockpile that I’m referring to now.

 We’re also actively monitoring travelers at our land, sea, and air ports. We’re watching them for signs of illness, and we have appropriate protocols in place to deal with those who are sick. Precautions are being taken to protect travelers and border personnel. Anyone exhibiting symptoms is being referred to an isolation room where they can be evaluated by a public health official before proceeding to their destruction.

 I know there have been some calls to close the border. I want to address that directly. First of all, it is important to know that we are making all of our decisions based on the science and the epidemiology as recommended to us by the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC, the public health community, and the World Health Organization [WHO] all have said that closing our nation’s borders is not merited here, that the focus, the public health focus, should be on mitigating the impact of this virus. And so we are following those recommendations now. 

 As I said, we continue to actively monitor those coming across the borders and at our airports, as we’ve been doing all week. And we are also distributing flyers and public health information to individuals. As of today, Customs and Border Protection has referred a total of 49 suspected cases to the CDC or state and local officials. All the results have been negative, except the eight that are still under study.

 I know that in addition to travelers, many parents across the country are concerned about school closures, and President Obama spoke about this earlier today. The Centers for Disease Control has recommended that schools with confirmed cases of H1N1 virus or schools with suspected cases linked to a confirmed case consider closing on a temporary basis. Some schools have already followed that advice. The best thing parents can do right now is to make sure you have a contingency plan in place so that you’ve made arrangements to care for your child in the event of a school closure.

This is also a good reminder for businesses to think about contingency planning as well.  As I said, we’re going to be working through this for a while. You have to anticipate what happens if you have employees who are parents. The schools have closed. The employees need to stay home. How do you continue with your business operations? And so all of us should be dusting off our business contingency plans, looking at things such as telecommuting and the like so that operations keep on going.

 And of course, we advise anyone with flu symptoms to stay home or consult a doctor if you have severe symptoms. This is a problem that every individual can help us with by adopting common sense solutions or precautions. Cover your mouth or nose when you sneeze. Don’t go to work or school or go on a plane or a bus if you are sick so that you don’t communicate the disease to others. And wash your hands often.

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WPCNR MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WHITE PLAINS POLL. April29,2009: Last week the120-acre Ridgeway Country Club, it was learned, is being offered for sale for $20 Million. The private club in the heart of prime, pricey White Plains neighborhoods, is, according to zoning, ripe for subdivision into about 100 homes.

Ridgeway Country Club Views

In view of the city’s propensity for building parking garages for private concerns  the last eight years, should the city step in and borrow $20 Million or more to take over the Ridgeway Club, as advocates for open space argued the city should purchase the New York Presbyterian Hospital property for many years?

Yesterday, city hall did not respond to WPCNR questions as to whether the city is considering buying the club to preserve Gedney Farms neighborhood ambience. Westchester County government has flatly said it has no interest in purchasing the club.

You make the call: should the city step in and save the club? Vote it in or out in the poll at right.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. from Piaa Haas, Westchester Broadway Theatre. April 28,2009:On Monday, May 4, 2009, The Westchester Broadway Theatre will again, be hosting the annual Cab Calloway Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2009.  Cab Calloway was a resident of Elmsford, N.Y. for approximately 34 years. His career spanned over six decades and was highlighted by his work on stage, film, television and in the recording industry. The Cab Calloway Lifetime Achievement Awards are meant to honor his commitment to excellence in the performing arts as well as his dedication and support for young, rising talent. It is an honor that the award bears his name.

The recipients are recognized for their body of work, dedication and contribution to some aspect of the performing arts in Westchester County. This criterion can cover performers, educators, entrepreneurs, technicians, designers, producers, directors, choreographers, composers, librettists, conductors, actors, dancers, mentors or even individuals who, through their continuous support, have had a positive effect on some aspect of the performing arts in Westchester.  Recipients are chosen by an advisory panel from names submitted by any of the following: The Cab Calloway Foundation, previous recipients of the award, or individuals who know a person worthy of the honor. The awards were established by George Puello in 2001

The special guest presenter will be Lloyd Price (Mr. Personality ). He was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 crowning a career that included over eleven major albums (and  was featured on an additional seventy), numerous television specials, countless tours, and major hit singles such as “PERSONALITY“, “LAWDY MISS CLAWDY” and “STAGGER LEE”

Guest appearances by; Barry Liebman, The Westchester Chordsmen, Dorina DiLullo, The Westchester Ballet, Anthony Valbiro, Anthony DeCosta and The Lighthouse Protégé Choral Ensemble. A portion of the evening will be devoted to celebrate the life of MICHAEL TIMMONS, previous recipient of the Cab Calloway lifetime Achievement Award, who died earlier this year.

THE 2009 HONOREES ARE:

BARBARA SIMONETTI, HAL SIMONETTI AND SUSAN GEFFEN

Founders of The Armonk Players at The North Castle Public Library and Lifelong supporters of the Arts in Westchester.

The Armonk Players has been “home” to Barbara Simonetti since its start in 1997. Whether producing, performing, or backstage, she has experienced deep personal satisfaction with a group of actors and crew that has become family. Barbara is a realtor with Houlihan Lawrence in Armonk, has been a town resident for 36 years.

Hal Simonetti , Co-Founder, Producer, has built many sets for the Players, Directed 84 Charing Cross Road and was in numerous productions and several staged readings. Hal also served on the North Castle Planning Board 

Susan Geffen. Co-Founder, Producer, Front of House, President of the Friends of The North Castle Public Library for 1998-2000 and 2004-2008. Susan serves on the North Castle Architectural Review Board and she is a juror for the Armonk Outdoor Art Show.

MARGARET MARY PIKE

Founder of The Margaret Pike School of Dance in Yonkers. An  Irish Immigrant, She devoted her life to instructing children and adults in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Irish Step Dancing, and Ballroom.

ANASTASSIO (STASH) ROSSI

Now retired, Doc (Stash) Rossi Was The Choral Director at Westlake High School and the driving force of their Musical Theatre program, contributing his directorial, designing and  technical  skills. He is Associate Director of The Westchester Chordsmen, Director of The Sweet Adelines Chorus (Golden Apple).

BETH FRITZ-LOGREA AND JEAN LOGREA

Co-Artistic Directors of the  Westchester Ballet Company since 1989 and Co-Directors of the Logrea Dance Academy. Annually, they produce the spectacular Nutcracker at the Westchester County Center.

PAULA LAMONT

She is an active member of The Harrison Players since 1969. She is a Graduate of the AMERICAN THEATRE WING where she studied with Agnes DeMille and Jose Limon. She is the Director of The Paula Lamont School of Creative Dancing and National President of the Ziegfeld Club.

*ELISABETH RAE LAMONT (1907-1996), Will be honored posthumously.  She was a Radio and television personality (ABC: Good Looks And Good Living). She was a member  of  The Ziegfeld Follies and  for nine years served as President  of The Ziegfeld Club. She was the creator of the  Elisabeth Rae Lamont Cosmetic line which was extensively used by prominent Broadway  actors because of it’s quality.

* IRMA DENER  (1923-2008) will  be honored posthumously for her lifelong support of the arts in Westchester and in particular for her thirty–five year patronage of THE WESTCHESTER BROADWAY THEATRE.

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