JOHN BAILEY, PETER KATZ ,JIM BENEROFE INTERVIEW
DR. JILL HARKAVY FRIEDMAN
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION
IN A SPECIAL PEOPLE TO BE HEARD REBROADCAST AT 7
ON ALTICE CABLEVISION CH 76 AND VERIZON FIOS CH. 45 COUNTYWIDE
AND RIGHT NOW on www.wpcommunitymedia.org
THE SIGNS OF SUICIDE,
WHO COMMITS SUICIDE
HOW TO INTERVENE WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE YOU THINK IS AT RISK
WPCNR POST ROAD STORY. September 5, 2019: The Westchester Business Journal reported today that the White Plains Urban Renewal Agency will consider the eminent domain of properties from 1-2 East Post Road to 184-188 South Lexington Avenue for an unspecified urban renewal project.
In an article by Peter Katz, an owner of properties on that route, Gabe Arrango expressed complete surprise at this development which he was advised of August 19, to read Mr. Katz’s detailed report go to:
WPCNR MILESTONES. From the Robert Martin Company. September 4, 2019:
As co-founder of the Robert Martin Company, Weinberg was a real estate development pioneer who transformed Westchester County over the past 60 years
Robert F. Weinberg, a visionary commercial and residential developer who over six decades transformed the landscape and economy of Westchester County as co-founder of the Robert Martin Company, died of natural causes at his home in Manhattan on Sept. 3, 2019. He was 90.
Working side-by-side with his life-time business partner, the late Martin S. Berger, Weinberg and the Robert Martin Company were at the forefront of innovation and change in the real estate industry.
The company pioneered the development of more than six million square feet of office and industrial parks across Westchester and Fairfield counties, as well as over 3,000 apartments, condominiums and single-family homes throughout Westchester.
Weinberg’s astute business sense consistently kept the company on the cutting edge of real estate trends. This enabled the firm to play a leading role in a wide array of major projects, including the creation of expansive suburban office and industrial parks, hotels, retail centers, as well as thousands of housing units. The company was particularly active in the cities of White Plains and Yonkers; the towns of Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant; and the villages of Tarrytown, Elmsford and Port Chester.
Combining their first names, Weinberg and Berger, who died in 2011, founded the Robert Martin Company in 1957. They began by modestly building five single-family homes in Ardsley. They quickly expanded, building larger single-family home developments in Hartsdale, Yorktown, White Plains, and other communities.
The company was the first major developer to invest in the Urban Renewal of downtown White Plains. Its work there included the development of sixteen unique projects, culminating in the development of a full city block opposite the White Plains train station known as Westchester Financial Center. Located at 50 Main Street, the project included two office towers, an apartment tower, and a common parking garage.
In the late 1960s, they took a step that was to change the course of their business and in real ways, even the trajectory of economic development in Westchester. Acquiring a large tract of land on Route 9A in Greenburgh, Weinberg and Berger decided to build an office-warehouse park, the first of its kind in Westchester County.
The overwhelming success of the Cross Westchester Executive Park led to a series of transformative mixed-use office and commercial projects that the company developed, including the South Westchester Executive Park in Yonkers; the Mid Westchester Executive Park in Hawthorne; and the Stamford Executive Park in Stamford, CT
The company also led the way in the redevelopment of downtown Port Chester and constructed over 1,000 apartments in Elmsford and Greenburgh.
A memorial service will be held Friday, September 6, at 9:30 a.m. at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, located at 1076 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028 at 81st Street. Further arrangements are being made for the family to receive friends in both Westchester and New York City.
The family suggest, in lieu of flowers, that memorials be made in his memory to the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center in Yonkers, N.Y., or the Ranachqua Foundation, which supports Boy Scouts activities and college scholarships, in Bronx, N.Y.
WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. September 4, 2019:
Upholding Westchester County’s Commitment to suicide prevention, awareness and the importance of overall mental health, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, the Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) and several community partners kicked-off the month of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
The month-long messaging campaign was created to help educate Westchester County residents on the appropriate ways to discuss mental health crisis in identified communities, and the resources available to them.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “It isn’t always easy to speak up if you think a family member or friend may be dealing with a mental health crisis. Throughout the month of September, in partnership with our Department of Community Mental Health, we will be rolling out public service announcements, task forces and educational materials to help our residents start that discussion. Helping those around us is everyone’s responsibility, and we want everyone to know about the support and services that are available to them.”
The Suicide Prevention and Awareness Plan includes:
· Westchester County being selected as one of only four counties in the state to initiate a Suicide Fatality Review Committee
· Introduction of Westchester County Suicide Prevention Awareness Task Force
· Series of public service announcements aimed at educating Westchester residents on the importance of mental health.
· Training calendar of various Suicide Prevention & Education efforts throughout the month of September
· New DCMH Brochure
· New Mental Health Awareness and Education Tip Sheet
Each public service announcement will delve into a specific population, and explore the appropriate ways to discuss suicide prevention, and overall mental health in that community. The public service announcements will include the following themes:
· Children/Adolescents Mental Health
· Importance of supporting Employee Mental Health in the Business Community
· Veterans and Mental Health
· Senior Citizens and Mental Health
· Law Enforcement and Mental Health
Utilizing the unique hashtag #BeTheLink, the educational campaign addresses how to recognize the potential warning signs of a mental health condition, how to best help someone who may be struggling with mental health issues and how to “link” those in need with Westchester County services and supports.
Commissioner of DCMH Michael Orth said: “It’s everyone’s responsibility to support each other’s mental health. We can all help prevent tragedies in our own communities by learning to recognize and take seriously the signs of depression and emotional pain. It is important that we reach out to family members, friends, neighbors and colleagues and open the door for conversation.”
Lt. Wayne Hardy, 1st Vice President Westchester Rockland Guardian Association said: “We as ‘Guardians’ encourage all to call us, we will come to your meetings, we speak with youth, seniors, even police academy recruits. We aim to make everyone’s lives a little easier and lower the chances of suicide.”
Hassan Bilal, Member of “Mind, Body & Spirit Community Coalition” Westchester County said: “We aim to do as much as we can, in everything we can, to make sure this situation does not happen to someone else. The only way to do that is to work to get the word out, to let people know that there are agencies, individuals and community groups that are there to help them.”
Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH)
For more information and a complete list of resources and services, please visit us at: https://mentalhealth.westchestergov.com