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)

Governor Orders Flags Lowered to Half Staff in Honor of State Trooper David W. Cunniff

Posted on December 18, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. December 18, 2013:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Thursday, December 19, in honor of New York State Police Trooper David W. Cunniff.

Trooper Cunniff died Tuesday as a result of severe injuries sustained during a traffic accident that occurred last night on the New York State Thruway.

“Words cannot describe the depth of our sorrow as we mourn the tragic loss of Trooper Cunniff,” Governor Cuomo said. “He served the people of this state with valor and courage and was taken from us far too soon. On behalf of all New Yorkers, my deepest condolences are with the loved ones of Trooper Cunniff and we will lower flags on state government buildings this Thursday to honor his memory and service.”

Trooper Cunniff is from Duanesburg, NY and is survived by his wife, Amy, and two sons, 6-year-old Caleb and 4-year-old Zachary. He was 35 years old. Trooper Cunniff was a 9 year veteran of the New York State Police. He worked in Troops B, G and was a member of the then Executive Services Detail at the New York State Capitol. He was assigned to Troop T in February of 2009.

620,000 NY-ers Eligible for BASIC STAR Have Not Renewed. Only 15 Days Left to Keep your STAR

Posted on December 18, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.December 18, 2013:

Geoffrey Gloak of the New York STate Department of Taxation and Finance told WPCNR Tuesday that with 15 days to go to renew Basic Star Exemptions, 25% of homeowners eligible for the BASIC STAR EXEMPTION have not renewed yet.

Gloak in a statement to WPCNR wrote:.

“76% (more than 2 million) have registered, but more than 620,000 have not. Help us ensure that every eligible homeowner continues to receive the benefit they deserve! Average savings is $700 every year! ($740,000,000 in tax savings.)John, we expect that those homeowners who were receiving inappropriate STAR exemptions won’t register. If 1% of the exemptions is inappropriate, that translates to 19 million in savings for New York Taxpayers. “

The Basic STAR exemption is available on the primary residence of homeowners with incomes under $500,000. The registration stems from a Tax Department investigation that found thousands of taxpayers receiving STAR exemptions on more than one property.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today reminded homeowners to register for the Basic STAR property tax exemption by the December 31, 2013 deadline.

With 15 days remaining to register, more than 2 million homeowners have registered for their Basic STAR exemptions. The registration facilitates Governor Cuomo’s 2013-14 Budget initiative to save New York taxpayers millions by eliminating inappropriate exemptions.

The Tax Department has directly mailed all of the 2.7 million homeowners who claimed the exemption last year, participated in 225 local meetings, fielded more than a half million phone calls, and registered thousands of people at local events including the State Fair.

Senior citizens receiving the Enhanced STAR exemption are not impacted by the new registration program.

To register, visit www.tax.ny.gov or call 518-457-2036. Online information is available in six languages, and translators stand ready to assist speakers of all languages via telephone. The Department is offering extended STAR Hotline hours – 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. weekdays, and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

BREAK-IN UPDATE: Police Have Good Leads on 2 Males Who Attempted a House Break-In On Devonshire Drive in Rosedale Neighborhood Tuesday afternoon.

Posted on December 17, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. December 17, 2013 UPDATED 10: 30 P.M. E.S.T.:

Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong advised WPCNR on the latest developments in the search for two males who attempted a break-in on Devonshire Drive in the Rosedale neighborhood.

Early Tuesday evening, the Commissioner gave WPCNR this statement:

“Search was called off around 4pm after all homes in the area were secured. We have some good leads and the Detectives are following upon them.

The homeowner was not hurt and reacted the proper way by calling us immediately.

“I remind all residents to keep presents out of sight and turn on interior lights and activate home alarms if they have them.

White Plains police are still searching for two males who attempted to break into a home on Devonshire Dr. in the Rosedale section of White Plains.”

WPCNR has learned the males sought are white, one was wearing a green jacket, the other a black jacket. They were being tracked by following their footsteps in the afternoon snow.

The search eventually spread west towards Mamaroneck Avenue and involved the West Street area vicinity by the Windward School. Mamaroneck Avenue is the gray road to the left, the Hutchinson River Parkway is the blue two lane road to the right in the map abovel

WPCNR advises anyone with information on possible suspects in the break-in to contact the police 422-6111 if you think you have seen two males matching the description.

The search, as the Commissioner reports was called off at 4 P.M.

Two Council Members Tighten Up FASNY FINDINGS STATEMENT LANGUAGE. FASNY FINDING ON FOR THURSDAY NIGHT

Posted on December 17, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. By John F. Bailey. December 17, 2013:.

French American School of New York Findings Night has been rescheduled for Thursday evening at 6 PM before the Common Council in City Hall, in the Council Chambers.

Two members of the Common Council according to a source familiar with the revised Findings Statement, have gone through last week’s document with a fine tooth comb, attempting to clear up ambiguity, enforcing various obstacles and hoops” as he described them. (when the vote on the Findings Resolution was tabled because some members of the Council wanted to make changes).

The WPCNR contact, who has read the revised Findings Statement said the two have rewritten portions of the Findings Statement to be “tighter, more compelling and concrete by changing legal words from “shalls” to “musts” and “coulds to musts.”

The new Findings Statement at the conclusion of the document still limits capacity of the school to 950 students, instead of the French American School capacity of 1,200. It still requires the entrance to the school to be off of North Street, requiring the approval of the White Plains High School, and no entrance to the school off Ridgeway.

The source WPCNR spoke to expects the Council to approve the proposal by a 5-2 or 4-3 vote.

The meeting is expected to be televised on the Government Channel 75 on Cablevision or Channel 44 on Verizon FIOS.

On December 9 the Findings meeting was open and adjourned after 2 minutes, 35 seconds, to allow the Common Council to incorporate further changes in the statement.