THE ROAD TO GOSHEN: AUTUMN LEAVES ARE TURNING PUTNAM AND DUTCHESS COUNTIES INTO ART — THEY ARE ABOUT 40% TURNED–THIS PHOTO WAS OF ROUTE 9 ON TUESDAY. IT’S ART AT ITS BEST. THIS COMING WEEKEND SHOULD BE GLORIOUS AUTUM FOLIAGE.
JESSICA O’DONOVAN being interviewed by Jim Benerofe on PEOPLE TO BE HEARD in 2013. Ms. O’Donovan, curriculum supertindent for the White Plains district has resigned effective December 31.
WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the White Plains City School District. October 15, 2016.
Jessica O’Donovan, the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction has tendered her resignation from her position effective in December.
Ms. O’Donovan told WPCNR she is leaving the Westchester area to relocate to North Carolina because her husband, an advertising executive, is accepting a new position in that state that she said presented a wonderful opportunity for him and their family.
Ms. O’Donovan leaves as the district is forming an English language learners reorganization to comply with the New York State Education Department requirement that the district must provide specialized instruction for such learners if they comprise more than 20% of a Class population.
Ms. O’Donovan has over the last 5-1/2 years organized and designed the White Plains district Dual Language program that is providing non-English Lanauage students with immersion in English while having half their lessons in Spanish, a program that the district touts as successful.
O’Donovan’s decision comes within two weeks of Howard W. Smith, formerly Superintendent of Schools of the Tarrytowns (a heavily latino school district) being hired through June to be Interim Superintendent while Superintendent of Schools Paul Fried is on leave due to an undisclosed condition.
The district has until January to comply with the State Rule 154 that requires specialized classes for English Language Learners.
WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. October 14,2016:
My comments on the Downtown W.P. Transit District 9/28/16 Public Meeting
I thank all concerned for the opportunity to comment.
1) I do not care if I see appealing buildings and store windows as I walk from the W.P. Railroad Station to the Downtown (Mamaroneck Ave. area). I do want smooth untripable sidewalks and safe crosswalks. I want enough light after dark. I want good signage. I want pure pedestrian crossings (where one can cross and no cars at all are entering the ped. crosswalk when it says “WALK”).
2) I want the seasonal outdoor pleasant plantings to remain.
3) Yes, I certainly also want wide, high-visibility crosswalks for pedestrians. Motorists should be able to understand the purpose of these special crosswalks.
4) Please pre-test all new materials used on the ground for safety (remember the bad bricks all around the downtown).
5) Do some research on what’s lately causing cement sidewalks to “shrink” around the edges. Poor-quality cement? Defective processes of applying the cement?
6) Use special large “watch pedestrian” signs like those at City Place corner of Main St.
7) Slanted parking at station is better than perpendicular. Takes less time.
8) Don’t forget the handicapped who must park or be dropped off at the station.
9) Regarding the proposed bus systems related to the new Tappan Zee bridge. Where are even more buses going to layover (wait to begin a route, so they’ll be timely)? Now they use Hamilton Ave., probably the W.P. bus station. This could be a problem. I saw a bus laying over on Cemetery Rd.
10) The police are not stopping bicyclists who ride on the sidewalks. Why?
Renee Cohen
The layout of the proposed ice rink development at the Kensico Dam reflecting pool consists of a professional game rink surrounded by separate recreational areas at each end.
In addition to the rink installation, the reflecting pool’s nine historic fountains, capable of shooting water 30 feet in the air, are being fully restored. The proposed hockey rink is regulation size (200 feet by 85 feet) and the ice track on the perimeter is 30-feet wide, accommodating two lanes. Approximately half of the 720-foot by 135-foot reflecting pool would be covered with ice.
The idea for the ice rink grew out of plans by Astorino, already approved by the Board of Legislators, to refurbish the reflecting pool at the foot of the dam, including the deteriorating fountains, which have been shut for 10 years.
As those plans were being designed, it became clear that if ever there was going to be a refrigerated rink at Kensico, the time to build it was now because the piping for the ice and the fountains should be built together.
“Operationally, financially, environmentally and practically, it makes sense to tie the skating rink and the reflecting pool fountains into the same project,” said Astorino.
On Friday, Astorino will unveil a proposed capital budget for 2017 of more than $300 million, which comes at a time when Westchester can take advantage of historically low interest rates and the best credit rating of any county in the state. About one third of the total, roughly $110 million, is dedicated for parks improvements.
“The Westchester County park system is one of the county’s best assets,” said Parks Commissioner Kathleen O’Connor. “Every dollar invested in our parks produces dividends year after year.”
The reflecting pool and rink initiative are part of ongoing improvements at Kensico. About $11 million is needed in 2017 to complete the project: $2.5 million to finish the work on the reflecting pool, $4.2 million for the ice rink and $4 million for a maintenance facility.
The economic impact of $300 million translates roughly into 3,000 jobs.