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)

Free Flu Shots at Westchester County Center Thursday

Posted on October 7, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR HEALTH HERALD. From the Westchester County Department of Health. October 8, 2013:

County Executive Robert P. Astorino announced that the Westchester County Department of Health will offer free flu shots to residents on Thursday, Oct. 10, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.

“Flu shots are one of the best ways to stay healthy, and we hope residents will take advantage of this opportunity, and will encourage their family members and friends to get a flu shot, too,” Astorino said.

The county has 500 doses which can be given to adults and children ages 9 and up. Residents should register in advance for the flu clinic at www.health. ny.gov/Go2Clinic. Those without internet access can call (914) 995-7425, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“It’s important for everyone six months and older to get a flu shot every year,” said Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD. “A flu shot now will provide protection throughout flu season, which can last well into the spring. It’s also equally important to wash your hands frequently, to avoid sick people and to stay home when you are sick.”

The flu shot is safe and provides protection against the three strains of the flu that are circulating this season.

To prevent spreading the flu, cough or sneeze into your elbow and wash your hands often with soap and water. If you do get a respiratory infection, stay home until 24 hours after your fever subsides, to avoid spreading your germs. Clean surfaces you touch frequently, such as doorknobs, water faucets, refrigerator handles and telephones. Get plenty of rest, exercise and eat healthy food.

For more information, visit www.westchestergov.com/health, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/wchealthdept, follow us on Twitter @wchealthdept or call us at (914) 813-5000.

County Introduces Complete Streets for bikers, pedestrians and cars to share road. Increases Safety for All Study Says

Posted on October 7, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. October 8, 2013:

Acknowledging that bicycling, walking and the use of public transportation are becoming become common alternatives to the use of motorized vehicles here in the county, the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) unanimously passed an Act today making it a County policy to consider “multi-use” features when constructing or renovating County roadways.

Referred to generally as a “Complete Streets” policy, the new Act, when signed into law by the County Executive, will codify the practices currently followed by the County Department of Public Works and Transportation, which are making room for and encouraging greater use of Westchester roadways and thoroughfares by bicyclists and pedestrians with the idea of reducing congestion and pollution caused by motor vehicles.

“The Complete Streets legislation brings together smart, health-conscious and environmentally-friendly solutions to lessen the traffic on our roadways,” said Legislator Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining), chair of the BOL Government Operations Committee and lead sponsor of the bill. “Readying our infrastructure—for today and tomorrow—should mean incorporating the best visionary ideas around to meet the changing needs of our population.”

Borgia added that New York State’s Complete Streets law went into effect in February 2012, and this new legislation expands the policy to County roadways in order to “enhance the safety of all segments of our population, including persons with disabilities, senior citizens, children and emergency service providers.”

Typically, Complete Streets policies lead to changes in transportation planning, design and construction processes. Factors leading to the policy include a high proportion of workers commuting on foot or by bike, carpool or public transit; pedestrian injuries and fatalities on roadways; and a community interest in quality of life improvements.

“Our residents are striving to make their communities more walkable and bike friendly,” said BOL Majority Leader Pete Harckham (D-North Salem), a co-sponsor of the Act. “This law will assist in achieving those goals.” Harckham spearheaded the Complete Streets initiative for Westchester with former county legislator Martin Rogowsky in 2009.

Although some circumstances do not warrant Complete Streets designs, a number of studies have provided ample evidence that they can reduce infrastructure costs by 35-40% and reduce injury and crash risk for pedestrians by 28% and for bicyclists by 50%.

“This new policy will modify the traditional automobile-centered approach to community planning while creating jobs that will give a boost to Main Street as well,” said MaryJane Shimsky (D-Hastings-on-Hudson), another co-sponsor of the Act.

Students Learn TV News Reporting at Town of Greenburgh Television

Posted on October 7, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR MEDIATHON. From Paul Feiner, Supervisor Town of Greenburgh. October 8, 2013:

The Town of Greenburgh will launch its fourth year of the Greenburgh Student News Network (program named by students), an eight-week program that focuses on how to develop, research, write and produce a news story, will meet once a week on Thursdays, 4:00pm to 6:00pm starting October 10, 2013 and ending December 6, 2013. This program is organized by Paul Feiner, Town Supervisor and Judith Beville, Town Clerk

Each session, designed in the workshop format, will include approximately 30 minutes of discussion/instruction on a topic related to news story development and the remaining time will involve collaboration with other students, writing their stories, interviewing techniques, information gathering, shooting “B-roll,” (background scenery), meeting guest consultants, as well as learning “final cut” and editing. Eventually, all students will have the opportunity to present her/his news story in the Cable Television Public Access studio at Town Hall. The “take-away” will be a personal disc of his/her news story.

Sessions are taught by Patricia Lang, retired NBC Television news room director. Patti is a resident of Greenburgh and we’re very fortunate to be able to benefit from her experience, expertise and community outreach.

The first two weeks will serve to introduce students to the program. We would like to enroll at least two students from each school district to represent a cross section of our town in terms of student involvement.

If you know of students who would be able to benefit from this program, please direct them to me, Judith Beville, Greenburgh Town Clerk, (914) 993-1504. Upon registering, students will receive parent permission forms. One can also register by e mailing [email protected]

Board of Education Appoints New Superintendent Search Firm. Fact Finder for Teacher Contract Stalemate

Posted on October 7, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. October 7, 2013 UPDATED 1:35 P.M. E.D.T.:

The Board of Education met Monday evening and appointed School Leadership, LLC as the search firm charged with the task of finding a new Superintendent of Schools for White Plains.

The Board also appointed a Fact Finder, Rosemary Townley, Esq., (above) an Arbitrator & Mediator with offices in Larchmont to participate in the now deadlocked labor talks between the White Plains Teachers Association and the City School District. The teachers are entering their second year without a contract, having rejected a contract twice which had eliminated step increases. Ms. Townley was assigned White Plains by the Public Employees Relations Board of the state. Her method of compensation was not available.

WPCNR has learned from Kerry Broderick, President of the White Plains Teachers Association that the district and the teachers have agreed on selection of Ms. Townley. Mr. Broderick said that the district and the teachers went through fact-finding and mediation last year, and have agreed to start the process again.

“It’s all about the abiltity (of the district) to pay,” Broderick told WPCNR. “The district had no problem setting with the administrators,(Adminstrators and Supervisors Association). That’s an issue for us.”

Broderick reported they would have several meetings with the fact-finder either in individual formal proceedings with the district and separate with the teachers, or informal proceedings. The format has not been decided.

Broderick said after fact-finding, the finder creates a report crafting some recommendations for settlement to both parties. Ms. Broderick said those recommendations are not binding on either party.

Timothy Connors, Interim Superintendent of Schools told WPCNR, said both the district and the teachers would submit a brief outlining their positions and facts.The fact-finder then meet with the district and the teachers, hear the respective positions, and then, in Connors words “submit a report on where there’s room to look at coming together. It is not binding.”

School Leadership, LLC is currently handling superintendent searchs for Fairport, N.Y.; Hamburg, NY; Sag Harbor, N.Y. and Scarsdale. In the last school year (2012-13) they filled superintendent positions in Eastchester; Elmsford, Edgemont, NY;Niagrara Falls; Pawling; Southampton,N.Y..Lynbrook.

Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education told WPCNR Tuesday that School Leadership will receive a fee of $18,500, School Leadership would conduct community forums in White Plains to hear what White Plains citizens look for in a new superintendent, with candidates presented to the board in the spring. Schoenfeld said a new Superintendent is planned to be in place by July, the start of the 2014-15 School Year.