THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

Health Departmentr Approves Montefiore-White Plains Hospital Partnership

Posted on October 2, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR HEALTH BIZ. From White Plains Hospital Medical Center. October 2, 2014:

Today, eight months after agreeing to a mutually beneficial partnership, Montefiore Health System and White Plains Hospital announced that their agreement has been approved by the New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council. Final approval by the State Health Commissioner is expected before the end of October, and once the partnership agreement is filed with the Secretary of State, the transaction will be complete.

When that occurs, White Plains Hospital will become a member of the Montefiore Health System, and will serve as the tertiary hub of Montefiore Health System’s growing Westchester network. The alliance will result in more advanced and coordinated care in the region.

“This is an innovative partnership that benefits both organizations, but most importantly, benefits the one million people living in Westchester,” said Jon B. Schandler, CEO of White Plains Hospital. “Together our organizations are better positioned to continue to enhance and expand the level of healthcare here in our community.”

Montefiore brings to the partnership its academic and research expertise as the University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine; clinical expertise, including its notable Centers of Excellence in cancer care, transplantation and children’s health; and decades of experience providing integrated, well-coordinated care to improve the health and well-being of those with chronic diseases.

“This agreement will advance Montefiore’s integrated system of care and bring our academic medical expertise to White Plains,” said Steven M. Safyer, M.D., President and CEO of Montefiore Health System. “Working with our partners at White Plains Hospital and the private-practice physician community, we will deliver the best, most innovative care in Westchester and the region.”

Susan Fox, White Plains Hospital President, added, “We could not have made a better choice in selecting Montefiore as our partner. Our visions of providing high-quality care for our community are aligned, and we will expand our clinical services and operations by working closely with Montefiore. We will continue to invest in advanced tertiary services provided close to home.”

The regulatory approval process has been ongoing since both institutions announced their desire to form a strategic partnership in February. In April, CEOs from White Plains Hospital and Montefiore Health System signed formal documents outlining the partnership. The Project Review Committee of the State of New York Public Health and Health Planning Council voted unanimously to support the partnership on September 17^th.

Assemblyman Buchwald Hosts Small Business Non Profit Forum Tuesday

Posted on October 1, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR ASSEMBLY ROUNDS. From the Office of Assemblyman David Buchwald. October 2, 2014:

Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Westchester) announced that he will be hosting his third Small Business Forum on Tuesday October 7th, with this one focused on the important topic of how small businesses and nonprofits interact. The goal of the meeting is to facilitate an exchange of ideas and to understand the priorities and concerns of the business and nonprofit communities in Westchester County.

It will be an in-depth conversation with experts on how these two types of organizations can work to help each other and what resources are available for their use. Assemblyman Buchwald is pleased to be hosting this forum at the White Plains Public Library located at 100 Martine Ave., and the public is invited to participate. The forum will begin promptly at 9:30am and will conclude at 11am.

Please RSVP with Assemblyman Buchwald’s District Office Director Alex Roithmayr at 914-244-4450 or [email protected]

Johnny V. Reminisces with GWU Professor about Meeting Jackie Robinson on Happy Felton’s Knothole Gang at Old Ebbets Field

Posted on September 30, 2014 by John Bailey

The legendary Happy Felton (right), with Knothole Gang Members, Richard and Barry Zamov in the 1950s. Both grew boys grew to be educators, Richard (below with John Vorperian (left) on the set of BEYOND THE GAME, teaches Sociology at George Washington University, leading a course on Jackie Robinson’s Legacy, and Barry teaches in Florida.

WPCNR SPORTS. From John Vorperian, Host, White Plains TV’s BEYOND THE GAME. September 30, 2014:

Dr. Richard Zamov, Director of the Jackie Robinson Project at George Washington University, reminisces with WPTV Sports Personality, Johnny V. this evening at 10 P.M. on Cablevision Channel 76 in White Plains, and countywide at 10 P.M. on Verizon Fios Channel 45.

Dr. Zamov and his brother, Barry grew up loving the Brooklyn Dodgers, appearing once on the best pre-game show of all time, Happy Felton’s Knothole Gang, telecast before Dodger home games on the old Channel 9, where they met and shook hands with the great Jackie Robinson.

Dr.Zamov’s meeting with Jackie turned into a major force in his life. He teaches a Sociology Course at GWU: SOC 2151.10 (32224) “Jackie Robinson: Race, Sports & The American Dream. As chairman of the Jackie Robinson Society, he has introduced Mr. Robinson’s role as an informal civil rights leader to more than 1,200 students attending 14 schools in six states, the District of Columbia and Japan.

Dr. Zamov received a Certificate of Recognition from White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach at his appearance in The Edge at White Plains Public Library in September, and the Westchester County Board of Legislators declared September 18 “Jackie Robinson, the Man and His Legacy,” Day.

The interview will also be shown at 9 P.M. onFriday

THE HEARING THAT NEVER ENDS DO NOT END. FASNYLAND RECONVENES OCTOBER 28, 6:30 P.M.

Posted on September 29, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. September 29, 2014 UPDATED 10:30 P.M.:

The jury will remain out on the French American School of New York proposal to build a 5-building campus on the former Ridgeway Country Club as the concurrent hearings have adjourned to October 28 at 6:30 P.M.

The continuation makes it a certainty that no Common Council decision will be made before Election Day, November 4.

The scope of the questions and acerbic comments delivered by the Council to the FASNY representatives indicate that it may be months before the site plan, legal agreements, traffic management, aesthetics, and construction protocols are satisfied to the Council satisfaction, if they indeed can be satisfied. The FASNY representatives appeared stunned by the commentary leveled at them this evening.

Comments from the public may still be delivered for consideration, based on this evening’s French American School of New York adjustments offered tonight. Tonight’s council questioning was based on public comments through the September 9 adjournment of the hearings. New comments may be sent to the Mayor’s Office at 255 Main Street or the City Clerk through the 28th and beyond.

The adjournment is for the French American School of New York to respond to questions raised by all 7 members of the Common Council with Michael Zarin, the attorney for The French American School. Tonight’s session lasted from 6:30 P.M. to 10:15 P.M.

Mayor Tom Roach was very concerned about whether the “Conservsancy” agreement “ran with the land,” should the operation planned by FASNY cease to be a school. He said that perpetual use of the conservancy by community residents was a key matter that FASNY had to address. He also said that discontinuance of Hathaway Lane “could not be taken lightly,” and that not a compelling case has been made yet.

Councilpersons Dennis Krolian was very concerned about the safety issues on North Street, and wanted more traffic study of the effect of FASNY’s suggestion of adding a 140-foot left turn lane in the northbound lane of North Street leading in to the North Street entrance. He also sparred with Mr. Zarin’s longheld view that schools and churches had to be approved based on previous court rulings, pointing out that the actual decision cited by Zarin said that approval depended on the impact on the neighborhood.

Krolian also queried Zarin closely on the question of where the school stood with the Army Corps of Engineers on the issue of jurisdiction over wetlands. Zarin soft-shoed around the importance of this Army Corps jurisdiction issue, not saying where the school actually stood with the Army Corps. Krolian did not press Zarin on whether all documents had been submitted.

Councilperson Milagros Lecouna was most concerned about why the school site plan increased square footage of the first Phase of the project ( High School and Middle School) was 30,000 square feet larger when enrollment had been decreased 20%. She also wanted clarification on what exactly Phases 1 and 2 consisted of.

Councilperson Nadine Hunt-Robinson commented she was most concerned about the health and safety of White Plains High School students, the restrictions and conditions of the conservancy agreement, and the specifics of the construction plan, and the enforcement of the school busing plan and contingencies if other school districts stopped providing school busing servieces.

Zarin, FASNY attorney, said the school is looking for guidance from the city on the construction plan restrictions and requirements. He mentioned in passing that Turner Construction was going to be the contractor.

Beth Smayda expressed concern on the issue of landscape buffering, the additional parking near Hathaway Lane and why it was needed, as well as the outdoor basketball court and the need for a three-dimensional video simulation.

John Martin, the Council President observed that a compelling case for Hathaway Lane closure had not been made. He termed the traffic management plan “insufficient.”

In convening the continued hearings Mayor Thomas Roach said the hearings would not be closed tonight because there are a number of questions that the applicant will have to address. Common Council questions will be forthcoming later this evening.

The hearing (with both continuations of the site plan special permit and the Hathaway Lane closure running concurrently), should be available on the city of White Plains website Tuesday for your viewing.