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A REBROADCAST OF OUR PEOPLE TO BE HEARD COVERAGE OF THE JULY 18  STATE SENATOR SHELLEY MAYER’S FORUM ON RESPONDING TO HATE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR SCHOOLS, AND NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR

SEE IT ANYTIME ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

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	View in browser What’s going around: Bonus edition It’s still flu season BY CAITLIN RIVERS DEC 27 Reprinted with permission READ IN APP Hi — I hope you and yours are staying well as we round out 2023. I wasn’t going to post this week but checking the data is such a longstanding habit that I couldn’t resist a quick update. Briefly: Influenza-like illness is increasing quickly, with 5.1% of visits to the doctor for fever and cough or sore throat, up from 4.4% the week prior. The entire Southern region and most of the Western region are seeing very high levels of activity. New England is also heating up, with New York City in the very high category and other jurisdictions at moderate or high. The Midwest still looks pretty good, but activity is definitely increasing there as well. Outpatient influenza-like illness activity. Source: CDC Covid-19 activity is also rising. The number of new weekly hospitalizations has climbed to over 25,000, up from a recent low of around 15,000 (note: this data is as of December 16, so it’s a little out of date). However, we are still far below last winter’s peak. The Midwestern and Northeastern regions have the highest rates of hospitalization, and those regions also have the highest wastewater concentration. People over the age of 70 are still at highest risk of hospitalization. Source: CDC RSV activity is still high across the country. That’s all for today, just wanted to make sure you have the latest. See you next year! Force of Infection is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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WESTCHESTER COUNTY RECORDS 6^TH CONSECUTIVE WEEK OF RISING COVID CASES:

WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL REPORTS 71% OF ADMISSIONS TO BEDS FOUND WITH COVID.

WPCNR CORONAVIRUS SURVEILLANCE. Statistics from New York State Health Department. Observation & Analysis by John F. Bailey. December 27, 2028:

The week before Christmas December 17 to December 23,  23,111 persons tested positive for covid, an average of 3,851 a day in the New York City Metropolitan area.

The statistics reflect that the Mid Hudson Region of Westchester, Orange, Rockland Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan and Putnam counties rolled up 4,107 new cases  684 a Day with Westchester County leading the county with an average of 263 a day. Westchester had  more than half the Mid-Hudson cases last week.

Long Island reported 7,110 cases (Nassau and Suffolk Counties) Dec 17 to 23^rd or 1,015 a day,

The two Long Island Counties Nassau and Suffolk County  with 7,110 cases combined with the Mid Hudson 7 counties , 4,107, flooded the 9 counties surrounding New York Cith  with 11, 217 new cases in 6 days, December 17-23. (Covid cases are reported with a 3 day lagl)

In fact the suburban counties have 11,217 cases almost equally the  11, 994  cases of the 5 boroughs of New York City. The Mid Hudson Region new cases in the week before Christmas were 94% of New York City  total cases (all 5 boroughs).

This super spread of the Mid-Hudson counties and Long Island is striking, because the 7 Mid Hudson Region counties and the 2 Long Island counties only have 45% of New York City population.

The rate of spread during the socializing before even the Christmas weekend travel started has
Westchester County on target for a 7^th  consecutive week of sharply increased cases from December 1 through December 23, Westchester County was reported by the New York State Health Depart today. The 3-day lag in reporting makes the figures on new cases even worse. There are much more to come into January.

The Covid positives of the entertaining and mixing and mingling over Christmas Weekend have not even  been recorded yet. Significantly the covid in the air is getting much higher reports Sunday through Friday especially last week.

Sunday Dec 17:   185

Mon.     Dec 18:    330

Tues.     Dec  19:  301

Wed.     Dec 20:    336

Thurs.   Dec 21:    327

Fri.         Dec 22:   231

Saturday Dec. 23: 128

TOTAL IN 7^TH WEEK: 4.,993 IN Westchester County

No one is talking about this trend. Not the Governor’s office. No State Senator or State Assembly, No County Executives. No Mayor  or County Legislator.

Just because they are not talking about it does not mean you should not be aware of Covid in the air in the company you keep.

Rough estimates indicate we could  December between 8,000 infections for the month in the county to as many as 12,000 or more if this rate of spread is not substantially reduced.

Locally, the White Plains Hospital saw its steady influx of new patients admitted being found with covid continuing.

From December 8 through December 22, The New York State Department of Health recorded White Plains Hospital admitting 150 patients to beds and of the 150 , 106 or 71% tested positive after admission.

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WPCNR THE SUNDAY BAILEY .By John F. Bailey. Originally published, December 12, 2021:

We need that Old Christmas Magic more than ever this year.

The Waitresses sang in the song back in the 1980s, and this is just part of “Christmas Magic”—it all has to do with you.

I admit I have not been looking forward to this Christmas Season, but Brenda Starr who lives with me, being a redhead, well Christmas is her favorite holiday and works very hard at creating Christmas magic.

She organizes! She bakes cookies, lots of them. She tosses salads. She cooks. The WPCNR Headquarters is filled with appetizing aromas.

The magic of the week starts December 12. She starts by pushing me to go out and get a Christmas Tree every year. This year she pushed me early out in the 30 degrees last weekend. Years ago I took my son and tried to get him to pick out the tree. I would tell him what to look for:

A tree which looks good on all sides no matter from which way you look at it. Know the height of tree that fits comfortably with scant inches of the ceiling of the room you’ll display it in.

The top of the tree shape is key: it needs a symmetrical ascension of branches extending higher and arched more to a single high trunk  extension. This kind of top  delivers the look to put small delicate bulbs, and decorations in ascending steps to the highest part of the tree where you place a star or spire on the top single trunk.

Well I set out to Amodio’s last week, and the courteous lads serving the Christma Tree selection showed me the six footers priced at $99. The first one was too wide at the bottom. The next too thin in a triangle with not good wide, slender shape.

Then the lad spun out THE TREE. In 50 years of selecting Christmas Trees, I know THE TREE I will get the moment I see it.  It just introduces itself!

The process of tree selection starts the Christmas Magic

So I tote it home in the trunk of the car. And convey it to the porch. Put it in water and wait to the time when Brenda Starr says it is the day to put it up.

We use the same Christmas tree stand we have used for fifty years. Always trouble screwing in the bolts that hold our tree. I  guide the tree into the stand while Brenda Starr ducks under the spread boughs of the tree to tighten or loosen the screws of the stand as need be and tells me from under the tree which direction to slant it to get it straight.  She looks at the tree determines if it is straight then turns it to the best side.

Then the lights go on. The tree seems to wait expectantly.

This year, Ms. Starr in her only mistake of the year, could not find the Christmas Tree lights. So instead of criticizing her I said, “We must have thrown out the candle lights and the candy cane lights from last  year, I’ll go to the True Value and get new ones. Let me call.”

I call and I drive on down to the store that has everything. I’ve been going there since 1976 when a big friendly man named Al ran the store.  The  new owner said we only have a few lights left. I drive on down, picked up two sets. Returned home and Ms. Starr affixed the lights with me holding the lights.  As she strung them from top of the tree to about midway., we both realized there were not enough lights to cover the tree.

But there was another problem, Ms. Starr did not like the second set of lights because the colors were wrong, orange and piurple, “not Christmas colors.” I did something most uncharacteristic, “I said you’re right. I like them because they were flashing and but purple is not a Christmas color, let me go back and exchange them for another set of the ones on the tree.”

She was stunned.  You see what I mean by Christmas Magic? The tree the atmosphere, the decorating was altering my behavior. So back to True Value, I make the exchange and even saved money.

When I returned, Ms. Starr, said “Look.”

She had opened a box of what she thought were decorations for the tree and  found the electric lights from last year. “I’m sorry.”

I did something even rarer in the face of the discovery, I laughed, “I knew this would happen, but I can string those other lights on the pine trees off the porch.”

On with the new second set of lights she liked!

Together, we put decorated bulbs collected over 50 years ever since her days as a crack reporter on The Flash.

The pictures of my daughter the skater  27 years ago, reindeer, train bulbs, glass icicles, glass stars.  The tree seemed to give off vibes of warmth  even seemed to be preening and the fresh sap got on our fingers. After an hour the tree is filled.

I then went out and decorated the pine trees outside the house, not much but it just made the trees seem so much taller standing proud and seemed to enjoy the lights being looped on to the branches. When I plugged in the long extension chord the house did not catch fire or  bulbs cause a short circuit.

The finding of the lights after I had gotten new ones, was I felt another mysterious arrival of that old Christmas Magic.

What is the Christmas Magic?

It is the magic we cast ourselves, continuing the same traditions and doing the things together that bring us close, when we decorated trees with our parents or helped Mom bake and the mellowness and teary sentimentality we feel towards family who have drifted apart, from each other frayed by the strains of any distant relationship.

Those Christmas visits at Grandma’s house on Sunnyside Avenue in Pleasantville, playing Christmas carols in high school in freezing temperatures at the Manville Road Circle in Old Pleasantville.

It all comes back. That’s Christmas Magic.

We need it more than ever this year.

Back in the 1980s, The Waitresses put out a perfect song that expresses Christmas Magic, called “Christmas Wrappings” that you can hear by doing a search on the internet. Here are the lyrics

Christmas Wrappings

Bah, humbug!” No, that’s too strong

‘Cause it is my favorite holiday

But all this year’s been a busy blur

Don’t think I have the energy

To add to my already mad rush

Just ’cause it’s ’tis the season.

The perfect gift for me would be

Completions and connections left from

Last year, ski shop,

Encounter, most interesting.

Had his number but never the time

Most of ’81 passed along those lines.

So deck those halls, trim those trees

Raise up cups of Christmas cheer,

I just need to catch my breath,

Christmas by myself this year.

Calendar picture, frozen landscape,

Chilled this room for twenty-four days,

Evergreens, sparkling snow

Get this winter over with!

Flashback to springtime, saw him again,

Would’ve been good to go for lunch,

Couldn’t agree when we were both free,

We tried, we said we’d keep in touch.

 Didn’t, of course, ’til summertime,

Out to the beach to his boat could I join him?

No, this time it was me,

Sunburn in the third degree.

Now the calendar’s just one page

And, of course, I am excited

Tonight’s the night, but I’ve set my mind

Not to do too much about it.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!

But I think I’ll miss this one this year.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!

But I think I’ll miss this one this year.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!

But I think I’ll miss this one this year.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!

But I think I’ll miss this one this year.

Hardly dashing through the snow

Cause I bundled up too tight

Last minute have-to-do’s

A few cards a few calls

‘Cause it’s r-s-v-p

No thanks, no party lights

It’s Christmas Eve, gonna relax

Turned down all of my invites.

Last fall I had a night to myself,

Same guy called, halloween party,

Waited all night for him to show,

This time his car wouldn’t go,

Forget it, it’s cold, it’s getting late,

Trudge on home to celebrate

In a quiet way, unwind

Doing Christmas right this time.

A&P has provided me

With the world’s smallest turkey

Already in the oven, nice and hot

Oh damn! Guess what I forgot?

So on with the boots, back out in the snow

To the only all-night grocery,

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

In the line is that guy I’ve been chasing all year!

“I’m spending this one alone,” he said.

“Need a break; this year’s been crazy.”

I said, “Me too, but why are you?

You mean you forgot cranberries too?”

Then suddenly we laughed and laughed

Caught on to what was happening

That Christmas magic’s brought this tale

To a very happy ending! “

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!

Couldn’t miss this one this year!

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!

Couldn’t miss this one  this year

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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From White Plains Schools Superintendent Dr. Joseph Ricca. December 20, 2023:

On behalf of the White Plains City School District Board of Education, and the entire school community, please accept my best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday season and a joyous New Year!

We are amazed to be nearing the midpoint of the academic year so quickly! Thankfully, we do not have the challenges that we’ve experienced in past years regarding COVID-19. Still, we recognize that ‘cold and flu’ season remains a fact of life and we are committed to maintaining a healthy learning community. Our community continues to follow the preventive measures available to keep our schools safe, healthy, and secure.  Once again, we are grateful to our wonderful staff for continuing to provide an outstanding educational experience for our children in a healthy and safe school environment.

As is usual in our school district, we have many reasons to be #WPProud.  Among these, we honored 156 Scholar-Athletes from ten Fall Varsity Teams at the December Board of Education meeting.  White Plains athletes had a successful fall season and five of our Girl Swimmers went to the State Championships.  The High School INCubatoredu program received the WIN Champions Award from the Business Council of Westchester in November for connecting students to real world learning.  We have seven High School seniors named Commended Students in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program.  And, most recently, representing our amazing staff, Coach Fred Singleton was inducted into the prestigious Armory Coaches Hall of Fame.  A four-time Westchester Coach of the Year, Singleton has been coaching and supporting our Tigers for 48 years!

Also, last month, we saw eight athletes named to the Athletics Hall of Fame.  In a ceremony on November 13th, inductees were Steve Casarella, Tomas Cobb, Kelsey Kulk, Jason McLaughlin, Mark Santa-Donato, Chuck Stogel and Mike and Quincy Summers.  An overflow crowd was on hand in the High School Media Center to celebrate this wonderful accomplishment.

College letters are just starting to come in and we’re happy to report that WPHS seniors have received acceptances from schools such as Brown, Dartmouth, Tufts, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia,  Penn State, Hartwick College, SUNY/Albany, Hampton University, and Culinary Institute of America, just to name a few.  There will be many more to come!

Finally, we thought you would enjoy the photo below of Mr. May and our WPHS Tiger String Ensemble performing a holiday medley for the White Plains Rotary Club this week – it was a lovely opportunity to connect with an organization that both puts service above self and supports our Tigers through competitive scholarship opportunities annually!

Don’t forget to keep up with us on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/wpschools our website, www.whiteplainspublicschool.org and X (Twitter):  www.twitter.com/@drjosephricca

Of course, please feel free to contact me at any time with any questions or comments.

Again – all the best for a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to sharing updates and good news with you in 2024!

Respectfully,

Joseph Ricca