White Plains CitizeNetReporter | In 2018: 1.1 Million Pages Viewed. 117,063 Unique Visitors Make 29,700 Visits a Month. 321 Visits a Day. 2,028,191 Hits NoBots, The White Plains Daily News Service Since 2000 A.D. John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. TV: White Plains Week 7:30 FRI, 7 MON & People to Be Heard 8PM THURS, 7 PM SAT on FIOS CH 45, ALTICE CH 76 "Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Teacher Tests Positive for Covid at Eastview. Middle School on Remote Learning Tuesday.

Posted on September 22, 2020 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the White Plains Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joseph Ricca. September 22, 2020:

On his Facebook Page late Monday evening, Dr. Joseph Ricca, White Plains Superintendent of Schools posted this message on the first day of in school learning. Eastview Middle School has had a teacher test positive for COVID:

“We had a good first day of hybrid learning in the WPCSD today. It was wonderful to welcome our tigers back to our facilities. Thank you to all who worked so hard to get us here.

Unfortunately, we also learned of a positive case of COVID-19 at Eastview this evening. The district is presently engaged in the contract tracing process with the Department of Health.

Accordingly, Eastview will observe a remote learning day today. Any additional scheduling modifications will be communicated as needed.

At present, there is no indication that any of our children were exposed in this instance.Please see the message from (Principal) Dr. Rodriguez below.

Any community member who may have potentially been exposed in this instance will be contacted with additional information and instructions. We know that, as we move forward, additional instances of COVID-19 in our district are possible.

We will continue to communicate with you as needed. Please continue to take all of the necessary precautions to stay safe and well.————————————————————————

Dear Eastview Community,

So that you are aware, a faculty/staff member at Eastview tested positive for COVID-19 this evening. The individual was in the building on Friday and was potentially in contact with other staff members.

The contact tracing process is taking place now and will continue with the Department of Health tomorrow. Any staff member who may need to quarantine will be contacted directly by our district nursing coordinator and/or the Department of Health as soon as possible.

Out of an abundance of caution, and to allow appropriate time to contact trace, Eastview will move into full remote learning for tomorrow, September 22, 2020.

All certified staff, clerical staff and teaching assistants will be working remotely on Tuesday, September 22nd.

Students will engage in a full day of remote learning and participate in their scheduled 9-period day. We anticipate that all un-impacted faculty and staff will return to the building on Wednesday, September 23rd and children will return to their hybrid schedule on Thursday, September 24th.

If that plan needs alteration, we will notify everyone directly tomorrow(today). Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly should you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,Dr. Daisy Rodriguez Principal

DaisyRodriguez@wpcsd.k12.ny.us

Schools Open Smoothly in White Plains

Posted on September 21, 2020 by John Bailey

**School’s Open Drive Carefully. First Day of School (Photos, John Sheppard, White Plains Schools)**

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. September 21, 2020:

Dr. Joseph Ricca, White Plains Superintendent of Schools gave this statement at noon today on how the opening of hybrid learning in White Plains was launching, with the first group of returning-to-inclass learning returned while a second group was learning from home:

**WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL OPENS FOR HYBRID LEARNING**

“It was a beautiful day to welcome our Tigers back to our school facilities in the WPCSD. Because of the careful planning and amazing commitment of our colleagues, our first day of Hybrid Learning ran smoothly.

We are grateful to all of our community members for their flexibility and their patience as we worked to build a new system to support our learners in novel ways.

While the opening of school this year was certainly different, and one for the history books, the tradition of White Plains pride remains unshakable, pandemic or not.”

Mondaire Jones Wins Suit to Stop Post Office from delaying election mail.

Posted on September 21, 2020 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2020. From the Mondaire Jones for Congress Campaign. September 21, 2020:

Today, Mondaire Jones, announced he had won his suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alongside 15 other plaintiffs, against President Donald Trump and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to stop interfering in the November General Election through sabotaging the United States Postal Service.

“The stakes of this November’s election are too high to watch from the sidelines. Now more than ever, our democracy is on the line, our rights are on the line, and the fate of this nation is on the line,” said Jones. “In the midst of a global pandemic requiring more Americans to vote by mail than ever before, we are simply asking for a free and fair election. I’m grateful to the District Court for affirming our right to one.”

In response to Jones’ suit, the District Court ordered the USPS to take the following national action: (1) to treat all election mail as Priority and First-Class; (2) to pre-approve all overtime pay between October 26 and November 6, 2020; (3) to submit a list of steps necessary to restore First-Class Mail and Marketing Mail on-time delivery scores to their highest levels; and (4) to allow late and extra trips to facilitate the prompt delivery of election mail. The Court also ordered the USPS to file weekly reports to keep the public apprised of its progress in meeting these goals.

The suit was filed on August 17th, 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by the law firm Cohen & Green and the Law Office of Ali Najmi, on behalf of Jones, State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, and 14 other plaintiffs:

Democratic nominee for State Assembly in the 93rd District Chris Burdick, Democratic nominee for State Assembly in the 94th District Stephanie Keegan, Candidate for New York City Council Seth Rosen, Collegeville Borough Councillor Shannon Spencer, and voters Kathy Rothschild, Diana M. Woody, Perry Sainati, Robert Golub, Mary Winton Green, Marsie Wallach, Matthew Wallach, Mac Wallach, Carol Sussman, Rebecca Rieckhoff.

“The Court’s directive to ensure election mail is treated with the highest priority, and to ensure adequate and timely approval of overtime, is critical to protect our right to vote,” said Ali Najmi, attorney for Plaintiffs. “This national injunction will ensure the integrity of the election.”

Mayor of White Plains Moves to Limit Incursions of 5G Relays in White Plains. Promises October 6 Enactment to Limit Proliforation.

Posted on September 21, 2020 by John Bailey

**Ruth Moss of 5GAlert Westchester reports White Plains progress on limiting the high intensity radiation of 5G transmission spread in residential neighborhoods, near schools, and residences.**

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE EXAMINER. Special to WPCNR From 5GAlertWestchester. September 21, 2020:

Ruth Moss of 5GAlert Westchester announced today that White Plains Mayor Tom Roach and the Common Council are continuing to work on amending the White Plains telecommunications ordinance to make it more protective. Ms. Moss in a news release writes:

“The Mayor has now promised that the work session between White Plains attorneys and the 3-person 5GAlert Westchester oversight committee is to take place shortly and the results enacted into law on October 6. I hope there will not be another delay.

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DR. JOSEPH RICCA AND ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION ON THE OPENING OF HYBRID LEARNING IN WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS TOMORROW

Posted on September 20, 2020 by John Bailey

JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS DR. JOSEPH RICCA AND DR. DEBBY HAND ON HOW WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS WILL OPEN TOMORROW RECORDED SEPTEMBER 9. (TO PLAY PRESS THE > ARROW AT BOTTOM OF VIDEO ABOVE)

Sweet Taste of Autumn for 40 Years is Back! Thompson’s Cider Mill Opens Today on a Perfect Autumn Day at Two Locations, says Westchester County’s “Geoff Appleseed”

Posted on September 19, 2020 by John Bailey

WPCNR AGRICULTURAL REPORT. September 19, 2020:

The bees came back and did their job this spring, the apple blossoms held off coming out until after the frosty spring, and has created the sweet taste of autumn, a tradition in the Hudson Valley for 40 years. This is Thompson Cider Mill’s 44th year.

Geoff Thompson proprietor and Cider Master at Thompson’s Cider Mill opened his autumn tradition today at 335 Blinn Road, off Spring Valley Road, a short right, (just off route 134 West Exit 11 off the Taconic Parkway North (Exit 13 A, Southbound) of serving up fresh blends of his best apples today and every weekend Saturday and Sunday.

Mr. Thompson opened today at noon with lines of hard cider fans lining up 335 Blinn Road location(above), and similar cider enthusiasts just a short way down at 1311 on Route 134 (Kitchener Road)

Mr, Thompson, holds up a bottle of his popular hard cider, at the Blinn Road location joined by Yorktown Town Supervisor, Matt Slater, right

To accommodate social distancing at his cozy and quaint cider mill, he has the sweet cider available only at a second location to assure social distancing at Fable: From Farm to Table, 1311 Kitchener Road, Ossining NY, where fresh pressed cider was sold.

By 2;30 Saturday after young ladies at the Fable Farm said they had already had to have 2 resupply runs on the first Thompson sweet cider of the season.

Despite the hottest summer on record in the Hudson Valley Mr. Thompson reports the apples are smaller and juicier and tastier making for the usual unique, savory, refreshing cider blends that has made Thompson’s Cider Mill an autumn tradition. (Be sure and wear a mask)

Thompson told WPCNR the cold March hurt the peach harvest, but the apples are smaller and juicier, making cider perfect, tangy, mellow, refreshing. And you get to sample before you buy.

You can find out more at the Thompson’s Cider Mill Facebook Page. The telephone is 271-2254. Tell them the CitizeNetReporter sent you!

Mr. Thompson who considers himself first and foremost a cider craftsman who creates a different cider blend every week, is known in his day job as the deft Maestro of All Media in these parts as founder of the advertising agency, Thompson & Bender with Dean Bender and Liz Thompson.

League of Women Voters Schedules October 13 Forum for 5-candidate Lowey Congressional Seat. District Attorney Forum Cancelled Due to Republican Candidate Not Responding.

Posted on September 18, 2020 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2020. From the League of Women Voters. September 19, 2020:

The League of Women Voters announced Friday that it will sponsor a virtual Candidates Forum for candidates in the U.S House of Representatives NY CD 17 election. There are five candidates in the race, Joshua Eisen (ECL), Yehudis Gottesfeld (C), Mondaire Jones (D; WF), Maureen McArdle-Schulman (R), and Michael Parietti (SAM).

In another announcement Friday, the League said it was cancelling the virtual forum for the Westchester District Attorney election because one of the candidates, Bruce Bendish did not respond to the League invitation.

The virtual Forum will be held Tuesday October 13, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The League will use the cloud-based video conferencing application Zoom, and participants will join from their chosen remote locations.

The Forum will also be live-streamed via Facebook and be available for subsequent viewing through Election Day Tuesday November 3. Questions will be solicited from the public.

The New York 17th Congressional District covers parts of central and northwestern Westchester county, and part of Rockland county. The district is currently represented by Nita Lowey, who is retiring at the end of her term.

League of Women Voters of White Plains president and member of the Westchester LWV executive committee, Stephen Cohen, said, “this Candidates Forum is an important opportunity for residents of the 17th Congressional District to hear where candidates stand on important issues in a calm, respectful, nonpartisan environment that encourages civil discourse. The Forums have even greater importance today when candidates’ options for making themselves known to their constituents is greatly curtailed. We are pleased that all candidates in the race will be participating.”

This Candidates Forum is being presented by the League of Women Voters of Westchester in conjunction with the local Leagues of New Castle, Northeast Westchester, and White Plains, and the League of Women Voters of Rockland County.

Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York Honors RGB’S LEGACY by Advancing Her Values

Posted on September 18, 2020 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. From the WBASNY

The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) is devasted by the news of the passing of the Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 87.
But we are not defeated. The news about our Esteemed Supreme Court Justice and Beloved Champion of Women’s Rights and Equality and Justice for All comes at the most difficult and inopportune time.

We are already engaged in a collective struggle to process the pandemic, natural disasters, civil unrest, and political uncertainty. This blow hurts – profoundly.

Chief Justice John Roberts struck the proper tone in his official statement on behalf the U.S. Supreme Court:

“Our nation has lost a justice of historic stature. . . . Today we mourn but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her, a tireless and resolute champion of justice.”

That is exactly how WBASNY will remember Justice Ginsburg – aka the “Notorious RBG.”

We will remember her in our continued tireless efforts to fight for equal rights for all.

We will remember her in our continued resolve to defend and demand justice for all.

We will remember her in our continued firm and fearless stance in the face of any and all efforts to roll back women’s hard-won rights and political gains.

We will remember Justice Ginsburg as we champion the causes she championed – in the courtroom, in the workplace, and at the polls. Rest in Progress, Justice Ginsburg – and thank you for showing us the way.