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)

Archbishop Stepinac Opens. Enrollment Increases 53%

Posted on September 8, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Archbishop Stepinac High School, White Plains, NY September 8, 2014:

Classes for the new school year began today for Archbishop Stepinac High School’s Freshman Class consisting of 213 students, representing yet another spike in enrollment that the 66-year-old, all boys school has experienced in recent years.

Since the 2008-2009 school year when the freshman class consisted of 139 students, enrollment has soared 53%.

“Equally significant is that over the same five-year period, the percentage of prospective students who indicated that Stepinac was their first choice also jumped sharply,” said Father Thomas Collins, (Pictured above appearing last September on WHITE PLAINS WEEK, the White Plains TV City News Roundup Show) President. He added, “Back then, 139 students put Stepinac first. This year, 242 made Stepinac number one, representing an astonishing 74% gain.”

The impact of soaring enrollment forced Stepinac this summer to create a wait list for the freshman class as well as hire eight new faculty members.

In explaining the striking difference that five years has made at Stepinac, Father Collins pointed out that today’s freshman class will enjoy several advanced educational and extracurricular features and capabilities that were not available to freshmen in 2008-2009.

They include an all digital textbook library, the first of its kind in the nation; a state-of-the-art computer lab and physics lab; a synthetic turf athletic complex as well as significant enhancements to the school’s Major Bowes Theater and notable building façade, parking lot and grounds improvements.

“As these became a reality, we showcased them at our Open Houses. Over time, word-of mouth—combined with our marketing efforts—sparked increased interest among our target audience of middle-school boys and their parents,” Father Collins explained. “Given our school’s tremendous progress and consistent record of shaping future leaders by providing an outstanding academic education grounded on strong Roman Catholic values and traditions, it comes as no surprise why so many more prospective students and their parents are knocking on our doors.”

Geographically, each of the key areas where Stepinac draws enrollment—the Bronx, lower and Central Westchester— have shown increases over the past five years. But, the school has also been steadily attracting students from northern Westchester, a trend which is expected to continue in the years ahead.

The catalyst that sparked Stepinac’s seemingly overnight enrollment success story was the decision that the Archdiocese of New York made five years ago for 10 of its high schools including Stepinac to become independently chartered. In so doing, each school would be responsible for budgeting, fund raising, marketing and other governance functions associated with running a successful educational institution.

As part of its new independent status, Stepinac created a Board of Trustees comprising prominent alumni and other leaders who have been committed to chart the school’s new future. In 2011, it appointed Father Collins, a Stepinac alum (Class of 1979) as its ninth leader. Previously, he served as Stepinac’s Associate Dean of Students.

“The key to Stepinac’s success has been the tremendous generosity and support of our alumni who have made it possible to raise and invest several millions of dollars to help keep our school at the forefront of secondary education in the region,” Father Collins related. “I cannot imagine how this remarkable story can be told without their fierce loyalty and commitment.”

Sometime later this fall, the school’s new video conference center, located adjacent to the library, will open. It will not only enhance Stepinac’s ability to communicate with its core constituents but it will be used by students to interface with their counterparts in foreign countries, a likely outcome from Stepinac’s recent hosting of students from China. “A new and exciting chapter in education is happening and Stepinac is proud to help lead the way,” Father Collins stated.

FASNY FINAL CHAPTER? PUBLIC HEARING AT WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL TONIGHT: Those Who Spoke Previously NOT allowed to Speak: Mayor’s Office. Anti FASNY Video Goes Viral.

Posted on September 8, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. SEPTEMBER 8, 2014 UPDATED 11:30 A.M. E.D.T.:

The continuing White Plains Common Council Public Hearing on the French American School of New York proposal for a Special Permit to build a 5 building campus and nature conservancy, with entrance off North Street, and its corallary hearing on the the closure of Hathway Lane will resume this evening at White Plains High School at 6:30 P.M.

The hearing will only hear persons who have not spoken and commented at either of the two concurrent hearings previously wishing to address the Common Council and they are required to sign in to be on schedule to speak beginning at 5 P.M.

The Mayor’s Office confirmed to WPCNR Monday morning that if a person has spoken at either of the concurrent hearings previously, or at both concurrent hearings, they will not be allowed to speak at this evening’s meeting, because the meeting tonight “is considered a continuation of the hearing.”

This third “continuation” of the hearings was originally moved to September 8 from September 2 after summer-long pressure placed on City Hall by the Gedney Association and critics of the French School proposal, complaining that many could not speak at the September 2 date, that date being the day after Labor Day. City Hall bowed to the pressure and moved the hearing to tonight to the larger, air-conditioned venue, the White Plains High School Auditorium.

This morning a video titled FASNY:IT’S NOT A DONE DEAL made its appearance on You Tube depicting the Gedney Farms fight against the project. It may be seen at

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=809tyjLvs68

Tonight on WHITE PLAINS TV: LOCAL DOCTORS ON OBAMACARE AFTER 9 MONTHS

Posted on September 8, 2014 by John Bailey

TONIGHT ON

PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

WESTCHESTER COUNTY’S MOST RELEVANT INTERVIEW PROGRAM

DR. JACK STERN

NEUROSURGEON

WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER

DR, MIRIAM LEAVITT-FLISSER

PEDIATRICIAN, BRONXVILLE

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IN ACTION IN WESTCHESTER

HOW IT’S CHANGING HEALTH CARE

HOW IT IS AFFECTING PATIENT CARE

HOW IT IS CHANGING DOCTORS’ PRACTICE

HOW TO TREAT A VISIT TO THE DOCTOR

HOW HOSPITALS ARE CHANGING.

IS IT BETTER, IS IT WORSE?

THEIR ANSWERS WILL LIFT YOU RIGHT OUT OF YOUR CHAIR

INTERVIEWED BY JOHN BAILEY AND JIM BENEROFE ON

PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

“WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, HAVE THEIR SAY.”

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM AT

www.whitepainsweek.com

and see

THIS WEEK’S WHITE PLAINS WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 5 SHOW:

PETER KATZ, JOHN BAILEY AND JIM BENEROFE

ON THE PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO WESTCHESTER

BUSINESS AS USUAL AT WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL.

LCOR’S 55 BANK STREET 17 STORY RENTALS/RETAIL APPROVED

THE $10 MILLION DAM FIX DECREED BY THE STATE

JOE DILLON ANNOUNCES HE’S RUNNING AGAINST GEORGE LATIMER

THE PLAYLAND STALL BY THE COUNTY EXEC AND BOARD OF LEGISLATORS CONTINUES. NO DEALS IN SIGHT

“Neighborhood Support Letter” for French American School Sent Using FASNY POST OFFICE PERMIT

Posted on September 7, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR SOUTHEND TIMES. September 7, 2014:

Opponents of the French American School of New York have alleged the “Neighborhood Letter” widely circulated in the Southend of White Plains Friday, and endorsed by 41 residents of the area, calling on the Mayor and Common Council to approve the French American School campus project was sent, and paid for not by the endorsers, but by the French American School of New York itself..

The letter was printed in its entirety on the lohud.com website. WPCNR excerpted highlights of the letter on Saturday..

Saturday morning WPCNR was informed that the envelope in which the letter was mailed was marked with First Class Permit Number 2101 , White Plains, NY which is registered in the name of the French American School of New York. The implication apparently is the sending of the letter was paid for by the French American School and not by the residents who signed the letter, though the residents might have been asked by the French American School to put their names to the letter.

A letter signed by Denise and Joseph DeMatzo, now circulating pointing out the French American School of New York Permit, alleges,

“the pro-FASNY letter was sent under USPS Permit No. 2101. Neighbors who have saved (previous)FASNY mailings found that this is FASNY’s Permit Number. Thus, this is not a grass roots effort.”

The writers also note: “the (FASNY) letter contains a critical factual misrepresentation. On the first page of the letter the author(s) states: FASNY now owns the property, and it is zoned for a school (emphasis added). This is patently false, for, as you know, FASNY requires a Special Permit for the very reason that the property is not zoned for a private school such as FASNY.”

It is unclear at this time whether the endorsers of the letter collaborated to draft the letter and asked FASNY to send it for them, or if FASNY drafted the letter and asked the endorsers who wound up on the letter if they could use their names to sign the letter.