WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR—65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

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WPCNR HEALTH MAINTENANCE OBSERVER. From Somnia, Inc. March 3, 2004: Metro Screening and Somnia have joined forces to raise public awareness about the need for colon screening to aid early detection and prevention of colon cancer during March, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.  To learn more or locate a doctor, call 877-MD-SCOPE or go to www.metroscreening.com.

Colon cancer is 90 percent curable when detected early. Despite these favorable odds, it remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, taking close to 57,000 lives each year – lives which could be saved through colonoscopy screening and early detection.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that fewer than 50 percent of adults are screened as recommended. As there are oftentimes no early symptoms, polyps may grow for many years and become cancerous – without a patient being aware of it. 

The focus of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is to highlight that colon screening can save lives. It is advisable for people over the age of 50 to have a colonoscopy screening every 10 years. For people with a history of colon cancer in their family, physicians may recommend that patients start getting checked earlier. 

Why do patients delay colon screening? Most fear that the procedure will be painful. Many are not aware of the benefit of early screening – how detection and removal of polyps before they become cancerous can save patients from further health complications. With the use of anesthesia administered by an anesthesiologist, colonoscopy can be rendered pain-free. As Medicare and most commercial insurance carriers cover the cost of colon screening, colorectal cancer prevention is easy for patients physically and financially.

“Most people put off scheduling a colonoscopy because they are afraid it will be uncomfortable, even if they understand the importance of screening,” explained Yonkers gastroenterologist Nicholas Golden, MD. “Anesthesia during colonoscopy enables patients to sleep comfortably through the examination.” Dr. Golden is a physician participating in Metro Screening, a free service affiliated with many gastroenterologists in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. All are experienced, pre-qualified, and dedicated to patient safety and comfort. All rely on the presence of board-certified anesthesiologists to offer safe, pain-free colonoscopies.

About Metro Screening

Metro Screening is a free service that puts patients in touch with gastroenterologists in their area who perform pain-free colonoscopies. Through its physician network, Metro Screening enables people to schedule a colonoscopy quickly and easily, without a long wait for an appointment. To learn more or locate a doctor, call 877-MD-SCOPE or go to www.metroscreening.com.

About Somnia, Inc.

Somnia provides comprehensive anesthesia services to office-based surgical practices and ambulatory surgery centers. The company is a management service organization based in New Rochelle, NY. 

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WPCNR MAIN STREET DAILY. From John Martin. March 2, 2004:The White Plains St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee announced the selection of the honorees for this year’s parade at a reception attended by over 200 guests at Vintage Restaurant in downtown White Plains.

 

 

 

St. PATRICK’S DAY HONOREE: The 2004 Grand Marshal is Mary Ann Meegan, according to Parade Committee Chair John Martin.  Mary Ann has long been active in Irish-American groups in Westchester County, having served as past president of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 17 of White Plains. Mrs. Meegan has been a member of the White Plains St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee since 1998. Photo Courtesy, St. Patrick’s Day Parade Commitee.

 

 

Aides to the Grand Marshal were announced as William Bertram, Timothy Connors, Mary Cuff, John Donahue, Anne Fitzsimmons and Dorothy Walsh.  Mr. Bertram recently retired as a White Plains Police Lieutenant and Timothy Connors is the White Plains Superintendent of Schools.  Mary Cuff is the Treasurer of the Women’s Club of White Plains and John Donahue is a White Plains Fire Department Lieutenant.  Anne Fitzsimmons is a Captain in the White Plains Police Department and Dorothy Walsh was instrumental in the foundation of a joint Our Lady of Sorrows – Great Hunger Foundation program to adopt families in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas.                                       

 

In addition to this year’s honorees, the 2003 Grand Marshal, Joseph Davidson, was presented with a commemorative Grand Marshal’s tricolor sash.

 

Chairman Martin also announced that this year’s parade, on March 13^th, will have 17 bands, the largest contingent since the parade’s inception, as well as several floats and many community groups.

 

For more information, call Parade Committee Chairman John Martin at (914) 686-0239 or the White Plains Downtown B.I.D. at (914) 328-5166.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey  March 2, 2004: After a meeting with Mayor Joseph Delfino Friday, Superintendent of School Timothy Connors was able to receive information on the long awaited 2004 city assessments, with a balance of the figures coming to the District Friday, and updated figures delivered Monday in the late afternoon. The bad news was delivered to the Board of Education Monday evening at Education House.

 

 

$1.4 MILLION CUT…BUT — Assistant Superintendent for Business for the City School District, Terrance Schruers reported Monday evening that the city announced their assessments on commercial and residential property had dropped $3, 218,000  year-to-year  (after adjustment for Payment in Lieu of Taxes increases),  resulting, Schruers said in a 3.3% increase in the school tax rate, moving it to 8.45%, or $30 more per $1,000 of accessed valuation. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

Tax Rate To Move Up 3.3% to 8.45%

 

This erosion of assessments requires an increase in the tax rate from the 6.9% of 2003-04 to 8.45% for  the school year of 2004-05 to maintain district revenues.

 

This means, Schruers said, a $30 increase per $1,000 of assessed valuation for the average homeowner.  The revenue drop requires a raise from a tax rate of $349.03 in 2003-04 to $378.54/$1,000 of assessed valuation,

 

To put this into perspective for the resident, if you have a home assessed at $15,000 of assessed valuation, you would pay an additional $30 per thousand, (actually $29.51)  or  about $450 more in school taxes in 04-05, or a total of $5,670, up from $5,235 this year.

 

 This situation has been created because the total assessments, according to the city’s figures supplied,  have dropped from $316,196,649 to $304,718,459, according to the City Accessor Eydie McCarthy’s estimated figures provided to the School District.

 

Meanwhile, Budget Trimmed $1.4 Million to $143,910,784.

 

Mr. Schruers preceded the sobering assessment figures with details on $1.4 Million in cuts in the proposed 2004-05 School Budget trimming the budget from $145,340,666 to $143,910,784.

 

The $1.4 Million in cuts trimmed the total budget increase to 6.89%,  a $9,278,152 increase over the 2003-2004 budget of $134,632,632.

 

Schruers reported $675,000 was reduced in salaries, by transferring grant money to cover increases, and through savings achieved in retirements, in which personnel would be hired at lower salaries.  Another $80,000 in salaries was saved in transferring of grant monies, and $130,000 was achieved through new retirement announcements, for a total of  $885,000 in savings on salary by finding alternate funding sources and personnel management dexterity.

 

The other approximate $500,000 in savings was executed through cuts, equipment  cutbacks, and transfer of last year’s monies not spent in key budget categories.

 

Details of the cuts will be discussed at  the Wednesday evening final meeting of the Annual Budget Committee at 7:30 P.M. at Education House.

 

 

GRANTS FULLY USED. NO PROGRAMS CUT. Superintendent of Schools Tim Connors said that prior to his coming to the district, the tendency of the district was to horde grant money not used in the current year for the next year. He has instructed that administrators use all grant money received in the current year and to look at ways grant money can be used to fund operations in keeping with the spirit of the actual grants. He told WPCNR that no programs are being curtailed or eliminated by any transference of grant moneys to trim the 04-05 budget. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

 

Second straight year Assessments have eroded.

 

After a long decline in assessments from a high of $440 Million assessed values in 1988, assessments stabilized at $320 Million in 1999, where they remained until 2002-03, when they declined to $316 Million, and now again in 2004, they have dropped to $304.7 Million.

 

Schruers said the $14,078,000 drop in assessments this year was primarily due to tax certioraris on commercial properties, the city reported.

 

Mr. Schruers said the city reported $14,078,000 consisted of certioraris over a two year period with $2,569,716 occurring in 2003 due to a Special Franchise Assessment set by the state  “too late to be recorded on the 2003 assessment role,” according to the city figures.

 

In 2004, there was a $399,488 Special Franchise settlement, again “set by the state.” However a total of $7,826,275 in certioraris were substracted in 2003-04 involving the following business properties, a growing trend as Mr. Schruers has noted to the School Board at recent Annual Budget Committee meetings.

 

Hamilton Avenue, Westchester Avenue business campuses get reductions.

 

The business properties receiving certiorari judgments are:

 

 Saint Agnes Hospital ($374,625), 777 Westchester Avenue ($300,000), 701 Westchester Avenue ($150,000), 707/709 Westchester Avenue ($591,000), 925/1025 Westchester Avenue ($391,000), 360 Hamilton Avenue ($972,050), 440 Hamilton Avenue ($1,551,500), 400 Hamilton Avenue ($1,624,100), 60 South Broadway ($268,000), Nordstrom’s ($1,204,000), and 1311 Mamaroneck Avenue ($400,000).

 

Schnurmacher Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing received a new exemption of $701,000. JPI (builders of The Jefferson at White Plains at 300 Mamaroneck Avenue), came off the tax rolls and their first PILOT payment of $345,000 starts in 2004,  and 24 South Kensico, $8,400.

 

JPI to Pay $70,000 more in Taxes.

 

The JPI reduction, WPCNR has learned from a reader who questioned this, is a result of JPI coming off the tax roll and their PILOT “kicking in.” this year. Contrary to the impression the City School District handout gave, JPI has not had their PILOT reduced. (This anomaly of JPI reducing by $275,000 and contributing $345,000 on the same sheets handed out by the City School District Monday evening, means that JPI will contribute a net of $70,000 MORE to the tax roll this year, not $345,000 more, as they School District handout Monday indicated.)

 

$1,010,000 in Major Assessment Increases

 

The following businesses had their assessments raised in 2004:

 

 120 Bloomingdale Road (Bloomingdale’s), up $150,000; 200 Hamilton Avenue (White Plains Mall), up $100,000; 111 Main Street,  up $300,000, Sears, up $100,000, 75 South Broadway, up $50,000, and Crowne Plaza, up $310,000.

 

PILOTs Grow by 78.5%; bring Additional  $4,856,650 to District. Louis Cappelli to the Rescue.

 

The city reports that the School District  can expect  Payments in Lieu of Taxes increasing in 2004 with PILOT payments from the following properties, growing by the corresponding amounts, Clayton Park, $75,750, Fortunoff, $1,200,000, Reckson, $80,050,  Bank Street Commons, $578,400, JPI $345,000, Cappelli, $2,469,050, 333 Westchester Avenue, $8,400.

 

The School District estimates it will receive $6,273,767 in PILOT payments in its 2004-05 budget, up from $3,515,096 last year based on this new information on the increased PILOT payments. This is a 78.5% increase year-to-year increase. However, the overall decrease in assessments is driving the 3.3% increase in the school tax rate from 6.9% to 8.45%.

 

“That’s not what we like to hear,” Schreuers sadly commented on the 8.45% rate.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 1, 2004: The White Plains City School District elementary schools have improved  4^th Grade student scores on the New York State English Language Arts Test 15%  and  students passing the 4^th  Grade State Math Assessments by 8%  in the last four years. Each new fourth grade has scored higher each year since assessment began in 1999, according to data released to WPCNR by Larry Killian, Director of Research, Testing and Evaluation, Friday.

 

GW Comes Through.

Killian said George Washington School was singled out on the New York State Education Department list of most improved schools in the ELA test in 2003, based on the school 22% increase in students passing the ELA assessment since 1999, followed by Church Street School with a 16% gain in students passing the ELA 4^th grade “checkpoint.” 

 George Washington School  raised 4^th graders scores in the Math Assessment 18%, moving from a low of 66% of the 4^th graders passing in Spring 1999 to a District high of 84% passing the Math Test in 2003.

Starting Strong in Math, Continuing the March

Killian said that the White Plains district 4^th graders have scored very high in Math from the beginning of the assessments, starting with 72% passing in all  5 schools in 1999 and improving that standard to 80% in Spring 2003. White Plains elementaries scoring so high at the outset, Killian said, is why the improvement rate in math is slower at 8%. The number of 4^th graders passing Math each year nevertheless is moving up.

 

On the ELA test, George Washington was followed by Church Street School which improved 22% since 1999, Post Road which improved 14%, Ridgeway, 12%, and Mamaroneck Avenue School, 9%. Killian explained that all five schools are now passing the same number of students on the 4^th grade assessments.

 

Tests Identify Children Who Need Help

 

A typical fourth grade universe at a White Plains Elementary school is about 110 children spread over 5 classes. If 68% of students pass the 4^th Grade ELA test district wide in 2003, this would mean that approximately 375 of 550 children pass the state assessment, leaving some 75 children performing below Grade level, or approximately 15 children per school.

 

In the Spring, 2003 ELA tests, 68% of the five elementary school 4^th graders passed their ELA Assessments scoring high enough to place in Levels 3 or 4. In Math 80% passed.

 

Every elementary school in White Plains has responded and improved scores significantly over the last four years on both the ELA and Math Assessment Tests, reflecting the districtwide overhaul of curriculum.

 

School By School, It’s working 

 

The efforts of the school district to upgrade elementary skills  the last four years is most noticeable on the English Language Arts Assessments.

 

Church Street has gone from 56% of its 4^th graders passing in 1999 to 72% in 2003. (A 16% gain.)

George Washington from 50% passing in ’99 to 72%. (A 22% gain).

Mamaroneck Avenue from 55% to 64% (9% gain).

Post Road 4^th grades moved from 51% passing to 65%, a 14% improvement.

Ridgeway improved from 55% passing in 1999 to 67% in 2003, a 12% gain

 

Number Crunchers.

 

On the Math side of the Report Card, the march toward excellence has been slower, because the District started at a much higher score,  but has reached 80% passing districtwide.

 

In 1999 on the Math Assessment, 72% of Church Street 4^th graders passed, and in Spring, 2003 last year’s fourth grade improved that to 81%, a 7% improvement.

 

George Washington moved from 66% passing the Math in ’99 to 84%, highest passing percentage in the District last year.

 

Mamaroneck Avenue School passed 69% of their 4^th Graders in Math in ’99 and has improved that to 77% in 2003, an 8% gain.

 

At Post Road, 70% of their 1999 4^th grade passed the Math, and the 2003 4^th grade, 79% passed, a 9% improvement.

 

Ridgeway was very consistent in Math over the 4 years, 80% passing in 1999, and 81% passing in 2003, a 1% gain.

 

The District as a whole improved the number of 4^th Graders passing Math, 8% with 80% of District 4^th Graders passing in 2003, compared to 72% in 2003.

 

ELA GRADE 4 PERCENT MEETING STANDARD

(Scoring In Achievement Levels 3 and 4)

 

School                   1999       2003    Gain

 

Church Street           56        72          16%

George Wash           50        72          22%

Mam. Ave. Sch         55        64            9%

Post Road                51         65          14%

Ridgeway                 55         67           12%

 

DISTRICT WIDE      53%      68%         15%

 

MATH GRADE 4 PERCENT MEETING STANDARD

(Scoring In Achievement Levels 3 and 4)

      

School                   1999      2003          Gain

 

Church Street          74          81             7%

George Wash           66          84             18%

Mam. Ave.  Sch.       69          77               8%

Post Road                 70          79              9%

Ridgeway                  80          81              1%

 

DISTRICT WIDE        72%      80%            8%

Source: Larry Killian, Director, Research, Testing, Evaluation, White Plains City School District

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WPCNR VOICE OF THE CITY. February 29, 2004: With Budget Director Ann Reasoner noting early this month that the city is running $400,000 ahead of sales tax projections for 2003-2004, yet facing an $8 Million deficit made up of increased projected expenditures, and a $4 Million shortfall in revenue (expected to be made up in parking fees), the city has a budget gap. How do you think the city should deal with it? WPCNR has listed some options in the new survey at the right. Commentors are welcome to write in their suggestions.