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

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WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. From National Weather Service. September 18, 2003: Hurricane Isabel Is About To Make Landfall In The Outer Banks Of North Carolina. This Storm Will Then Move Inland This Afternoon… And Will Track Well West Of The Area On Friday As It Weakens. Meanwhile…A Large Area Of High Pressure Will Continue To Slide Slowly Eastward Over Northern New England. The Difference In Pressure Between These Systems Will Result In Strong And Gusty Winds Across The Region Tonight And Friday.

Currently…Winds Across The Region Are Generally Out Of The Northeast Around 15 Mph…With Gusts Between 20 And 25 Mph. These Winds Will Gradually Increase In Magnitude This Afternoon And Will Climb To 30 To 35 Mph…With A Few Gusts As High As 45 Mph.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. September 17, 2003 UPDATED September 18, 2003, 2 PM E.D.T.: Frank Cantatore, Chairman of the White Plains Republican Committee told WPCNR Wednesday evening that The Board of Elections had assured him the White Plains Primary votes would be counted Thursday morning. Yesterday, he said he was told by Carolee Sunderland, “They were more interested in the Yonkers and Eastchester races.” Mr. Cantatore said the delay, “was inconvenient for everybody.”

By 5 o’clock Wednesday, a spokesperson for Co Commissioner Carolee Sunderland’s office told WPCNR that recounting of White Plains Affidavit Ballots and Absentee Ballots in the “too-close-to-call” Republican Primary would not take place at the Board of Elections until Thursday. “They’re still busy making rulings on Eastchester, New Rochelle and Yonkers,” the spokesperson said.

A total of 80-odd Absentees and Affidavits were to be counted by the Board of Elections in the White Plains race, and instead of taking White Plains first, the Absentees and Affidavits from more populated areas of the county were opened and are being ruled on first. The spokesperson said no White Plains results were expected the rest of today; and they had not started counting and ruling yet, and  gave no reason why the much lower vote in White Plains was not handled first.

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WPCNR STREETS OF WHITE PLAINS. September 16, 2003:  The Auxiliary of the White Plains Hospital Center will hold its 27^th annual Scarecrow Fun Festival at Crossway Field, Mamaroneck Road (across from the Scarsdale Municipal Pool), Scarsdale, on Sunday, October 19, 2003 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (rain or shine.) Proceeds from the event will be used to purchase Critical Care Beds for White Plains Hospital Center.  Parents are urged to register their children no later by October 10.

Adults and children of all ages are welcome to create their own, unique, life-size scarecrow, complete with birth certificate. All supplies needed for scarecrow construction are provided (recycled shirts, pants, neckties, decorative materials, glue, twine and straw.) However, feel free to bring your own clothing and decorations to personalize your creation.

This event makes a great family outing. You are guaranteed to have lots of fun. There will be food, music, magicians and face-painting. Use this opportunity to have quality family time and to teach the value of helping others in the community.

There will be three scarecrow-making sessions:10-11:45; 12:00-1:45; and 2:00-3:45. Due to space restrictions, only 75 scarecrows can be made at each session. Reserve by October 10^th to receive confirmation and reservation time of your choice. The cost is $30.00 per scarecrow. A maximum of five members are allowed on each team, which must include at lease one adult, over 21 years of age. There is a charge of $5.00 for one additional child per team. However, children under 2 are admitted free. No refunds will be given. Contributions are welcome and tax deductibe to the fullest extent allowable by law. For additional information, phone 681-2440. Send checks made payable to The Auxiliary of White Plains Hospital Center c/o Leslie Schwartz, 28 Haverford Avenue, Scarsdale,New York 10583. Free parking is available.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey September 16, 2003: Jeffrey Binder, attorney for “White Plains’ Forgotten Councilman,” Larry Delgado, reports that the Appellate Court will hear oral arguments on the Larry Delgado-Glen Hockley quo warranto action Thursday morning in Brooklyn.  The case has been awaiting its turn to be heard on the Appellate calendar since April.

The court will hear the attorney general’s office arguments that there is no statute of limitations (other than the six year statute of limitations that exists on the books), to when the state can initiate a quo warranto action.  Glen Hockley’s attorney, Thomas Abinanti, filed a motion to dismiss the quo warranto in the beginning of 2003. Final papers were filed at the close of April, 2003.

The quo warranto action which seeks to remove Glen Hockley from the Common Council as remedy for the jammed voting machine which the attorney general contends cost Mr. Delgado 103 votes during his contest with Mr. Hockley for the last seat on the Common Council in November, 2001. Mr. Hockley has been in office since March, 2002, when the Court of Appeals dismissed the Special Election remedy and he has served half of the three-year term.

Binder theorized that the motion to dismiss was not expedited on the Appellate calendar, because there was no vacancy existing on the Common Council that was filled with Mr. Hockley’s appointment after the Court of Appeals voided the Judge Francis Nicolai ruling, amended by the Appellate Court  that Delgado and Hockley face each other in a special election in March, 2002.

The Attorney General’s office then took seven months to investigate, gather evidence and prepare the quo warranto action, filing it in November, 2002, a year after the original Hockley-Delgado election.

Binder said the attorney general’s counsel and Mr. Hockley’s attorney would each have 15 minutes to argue their positions, and the Appellate Court would have a decision on the motion to dismiss within a few days. After which, Binder expected an appeal to the Court of Appeals, by whichever side lost the motion.

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WPCNR WESTCHESTER COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Department of Communications. September 15, 2003: Westchester County is mobilizing for the possible impact of Hurricane Isabel later this week, and County Executive Andy Spano urged residents to take preparatory steps as well.

“We are watching this hurricane closely, and reports are that it could affect our area Thursday evening,” said Spano. “While people should not panic – after all it could miss our area — we are taking all steps possible now to prepare, and I advise residents of Westchester to do the same. A major hurricane hitting our area could result in power outages, loss of phone service and disruptions to our water and gas systems. Each home should be prepared to ‘go it alone’ for at least three days.”

Spano added that later today the county’s website (www.westchestergov.com) will have a special link to an emergency site where the county will post up-to-date information as well as the latest weather reports so residents can track the storm.

The county is working with local officials and police departments, providing maps that pinpoint areas that are vulnerable to flooding and preparing sandbags to shore up those areas. Hospitals, schools and businesses are being contacted to offer assistance and open lines of communication. The county has also begun taking steps to prepare backup systems should its sewage treatment plants be swamped by the storm.

The county’s Bee-Line system, as well as its para-transit system, which transports handicapped and elderly residents, are preparing to adjust schedules and notify riders should the storm become too severe.

Preparing for the Hurricane:  You & your home

• Develop a household disaster plan. Avoid separating your family. Contact family members outside the area to designate them as a clearing house for local family that may be able to call points outside the area, but not be able to communicate locally.

• Do not use candles or kerosene lamps as light sources, as they can pose a fire hazard. Instead, keep a supply of flashlights and extra batteries on hand.
  
• Clean rain gutters and outside drains around your home.
  
• Think of storms we have had in the past with heavy rainfall. Recall what clogged leaked or flooded areas or other problems resulted that you may be able to address before the next storm.
  
• Look around outside, bring in any light objects, loose patio furniture, garbage cans, toys or articles that could become a hazard should they become airborne in the storm.
  
• Tie down heavy objects, such as barbeques, lawn ornaments etc. Turn off propane tanks.
  
•  If you have a boat make sure it is securely moored. If you have a trailer, i.e. camping etc, make sure it is securely tied down.
  
• Fill you cars’ gas tank.
  
• Secure any shutters, cover or tape large windows if possible.
  
• Have extra cash on hand, ATM machines may be out of service.
  
• Remember to check on relatives and neighbors, especially those with disabilities or special needs. They may need your assistance in their storm preparations.
  
• Seal valuables and important papers in water tight baggies.

Prepare for Water and Sewer Disruptions

• To keep perishable food cold, freeze water in plastic jugs and use in freezer or coolers. Fill up other emergency water containers.
  
• Clean jugs, bottles and other containers. Scrub bathtubs thoroughly, sponge and swab with regular, unscented liquid chlorine bleach, then rinse. Let the tub and other containers dry. Fill with water.
  
• If you have a pool, do not drain it completely. Instead, drop the level by one or two feet. Submerge outdoor furniture and pool equipment in the pool. Turn off electricity to pool pump. Add extra chlorine to compensate for heavy rains.
  
• Keep five-gallon buckets with tight-fitting lids for use as emergency toilets. Line each bucket with a heavy-duty plastic trash bag
  
• See food supply preparation for an emergency for more information.

Prepare for Power Disruptions

• Turn your refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings. Open only when absolutely necessary, and then close quickly.
  
• Unplug appliances to prevent damage in case of an electrical power surge.
  
• Authorities will instruct you if you should turn off utilities.
  
• See power outage preparedness for more information.