WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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Happy Thanksgiving week! This is a friendly reminder that although there are a ton of circulating viruses, you and your family can have a healthy gathering while taking care of the larger community (i.e., overflowing hospitals). Here are a few key steps for this week:

If you’re sick today…

There’s a good chance you’ll be contagious on Thursday, regardless the type of virus. I would seriously consider, unfortunately, staying home. The infectious windows for the “triple threat” viruses are as follows:

• Flu: Contagious for 5-7 days after start of symptoms.
• RSV: Contagious for 3-8 days after start of symptoms. Some infants and people with weakened immune systems can spread the virus even after they stop showing symptoms, for as long as 4 weeks.
• COVID-19: We see strong evidence (here, here) that an Omicron infection lasts, on average, 8-10 days. Some people will be infectious for less, and some will be infectious for more. You won’t know unless you test.

Cadence testing (COVID-19)

Cadence testing will help catch false negatives for COVID-19. Antigen tests are not perfect, especially among asymptomatic people, but they can help. (You can expect the average antigen test to catch 44% to 70% of asymptomatic cases).

For cadence testing, it’s best to test tomorrow morning and again on Thursday morning before getting together.

• Both negative: You’re good to go, especially if you have other measures in place.
• Positive tomorrow: Bummer. But you could be at the end of your viral journey. Test again on Thursday, but be prepared to cancel.
• Positive Thursday: Stay at home. Sorry.

Mask before event

Mask everywhere in public for the next four days leading up to the event. Masks work against all respiratory viruses. Be sure to wear a good one (like N95).

Ventilation

On Thursday, get that air moving. Buy a CO2 monitor if you want to ensure good ventilation.

Newborns at event

If you have a newborn (under 6 months), I would be a little more cautious this Thanksgiving. For example, wear your baby in a carrier so that people won’t ask to hold the baby. If you do let people hold them, don’t let them kiss the baby or ask them to wear a mask.

Sick after event?

If you’re over age 65 or high risk, get tested and get an antiviral as soon as possible. We have them for the flu and COVID-19.

For children under 2, sometimes it’s hard to know when and where to get care, and pediatric hospitals are under incredible stress right now. As a mom, I found this interview helpful on what signs to look for. When in doubt, call the pediatrician.

Bottom line

Have a wonderful and healthy Thanksgiving! See you on the flip side.

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Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers following the historic winter storm that buried upstate communities in the Buffalo and Watertown areas with more than six feet of snow since Thursday evening.  

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that President Biden approved her request for an Emergency Declaration for Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Niagara, Oneida, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Wyoming counties, following the historic winter storm that buried some of New York’s upstate communities with nearly seven feet of snow this past week. Under an Emergency Declaration, direct federal assistance is available for the previously listed counties and FEMA is authorized to provide emergency protective measures for the State that includes search and rescue operations, as well as actions to protect critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges, water control facilities, utilities, and mass transit facilities. At Governor Hochul’s direction, State agencies’ emergency response assets remain on the ground in affected areas of Western New York, Central New York and the North Country, assisting local governments with cleanup and restoration efforts. 

“I thank President Biden for immediately granting our emergency declaration request and for our ongoing strong partnership as well as Senator Schumer for his assistance in securing relief for New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “My team and I will continue working around the clock to keep everyone safe, help communities dig out, and secure every last dollar to help rebuild and recover from this unprecedented, record-shattering historic winter storm.” 

Over the weekend, Governor Hochul submitted a request to the federal government for an Emergency Declaration, which was granted Sunday evening. The last time New York State submitted an Emergency Declaration request for a similar winter storm was in 2014, when it took weeks to grant the request. An Emergency Declaration can be declared for any occasion or instance in which the President determines federal assistance is needed. These declarations supplement State and local efforts in providing emergency services, such as the protection of lives, property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States. Governor Hochul will also ask the federal Small Business Administration to evaluate how it can help small businesses harmed by the storm in the 11 counties and contiguous counties, once state operations transition from response to recovery mode.  

Governor Hochul and New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Commissioner Jackie Bray encouraged local officials in impacted counties to continue working with their County Emergency Managers to submit any resource needs directly into NY Responds, the state’s web-based system that enables both local governments and state agencies to submit and share vital emergency-related information and resource reque

“Thank you to all Western New Yorkers and our emergency management experts and personnel who continue to show up for each other during this historic winter storm,” Governor Hochul said. “We are working around the clock to keep everyone safe and urge all New Yorkers to stay vigilant and prepared during this potentially life-threatening weather event.”

Prior to the arrival of lake effect snow on Thursday, Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency for 11 counties and contiguous counties, which remains in effect. Additionally, New York’s emergency management experts have been in constant communication with their local counterparts for days leading up to the event.  

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, there has been unprecedented coordination, communication and action taken by state agencies to assist our local counterparts in keeping New Yorkers safe. Eleven counties remain in a State of Emergency and DHSES is working with Governor Hochul to secure federal assistance to help recover from this historic storm.” 

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Emergency Management and Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the Department of Transportation, New York State Police, and Thruway Authority also pre-deployed the following resources to Western New York and the North Country:  

NYS Equipment in Western New York and North Country  

• 484 large and medium plow trucks  
• 14 tow plows  
• 98 large loaders  
• 24 snow blowers  
• 39 tracked vehicles (of which 24 are snowmobiles)  
• 533 generators in the regions  
• 202 chainsaws in the regions  

NYS Personnel in Western New York and North Country  

• 1,056 DOT and Thruway operators and supervisors  
• 142 State Police members  
• 150 National Guard members  
• 24 ICS (Incident Command System) personnel  

Snow began to fall in parts of upstate New York on Thursday and as of today, more than six feet of snow was reported in Erie County and Jefferson County, including Hamburg, Blasdell, Orchard Park in Erie County and Natural Bridge in Jefferson County. Throughout this time, these areas experienced a peak of six inches of snowfall an hour, which created extremely dangerous travel conditions. 

The Lake Erie snow band is now south of Erie County in the Southern Tier (Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Allegany counties). Snowfall totals up to six inches are expected in these locations with snowfall rates of one to two inches per hour. Tonight, the band is forecast to lift north again bringing another one to three inches of snow to the city of Buffalo.  

Gusty winds up to 50 mph are forecast today for many locations, resulting in blowing and drifting snow in the western counties.  

An intense lake effect snow band pushed south of Jefferson County and is impacting southern Lewis, Oswego, and far northern Cayuga counties on Sunday. Oswego County is expected to receive two to three feet of snow through tomorrow morning. Snowfall rates of up to four inches per hour and wind gusts up to 40 mph are possible. 

Governor Hochul and local officials continue to urge New Yorkers to avoid travel in the impacted areas in both regions to continue to allow plow crews and emergency responders to continue  

Federal Emergency Declaration  

The Governor has submitted a request to President Biden for a federal Emergency Declaration for Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Niagara, Oneida, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wyoming Counties. If approved, the Emergency Declaration will provide access to federal funding for impacted counties to support ongoing response and rescue operations.  

Agency Activities  

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services  

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services is closely monitoring weather and travel conditions, coordinating State agency response operations, and communicating with local governments throughout the event. The State Office of Emergency Management began interagency coordination calls with the National Weather Service on Wednesday to prepare for the impacts of the storm across upstate regions. 

The State’s Emergency Operations Center in Albany was activated on Thursday, as well as a Regional Operations Center in Cheektowaga, Erie County, where DHSES is coordinating field response with State Agency partners including NYSDOT, State Police and the Thruway Authority. Additionally, OEM staff are embedded at the Erie County Emergency Operations Center and command centers for the Towns of Hamburg, Orchard Park, and Evans to support coordination between state and local response. The State’s stockpiles are prepared to deploy assets to local governments to support any storm-related needs.  

The State Office of Fire Prevention and Control assisted with rescuing more than 150 people from trapped vehicles and moving them to safety. State Fire personnel continue to assist local governments with performing wellness checks on residents and structural integrity assessments. 

Department of Transportation 

In Western New York, Route 219 from I-90 to Peters Road is currently closed. Working in coordination with state and local officials, the Department is monitoring conditions and will update the public when these roads are reopened. 

The State Department of Transportation is responding with 3,287 supervisors and operators. Staff can be configured into any type of response crew that is required, including snow and ice operations, drainage, chipper, load and haul, and cut and toss. Additionally, 75 Incident Command System personnel are available to support the event. 

The Department sent additional plows and operators from other regions to Erie County on Friday to further assist with snow and ice removal operations, including on local roads in the Town of Hamburg, the City of Buffalo, the Village of Blasdell and the Town of Orchard Park.  The Department has also helped the City of Niagara Falls with plowing operations on main arterials. DOT plows are also assisting with snow and ice operations on primary routes within the City of Watertown and Village of Black River.   

In addition to existing resources, DOT is bringing in contractor resources to Western NY from Finger Lakes, Central NY, and Western NY. This includes 64 loaders, more than 130 large dump trucks, one skid steer, and about 200 more personnel. 

All residency locations will remain staffed for 24/7 operations throughout the duration of the event and priority cleanup operations. All available snow and ice equipment is ready to deploy. Fleet mechanics in affected areas will be staffing all main residency locations 24/7 to perform repairs and keep trucks on the road. 

Commercial Vehicle Ban 

The commercial vehicle ban remains in place on Route 219 from Route 39 to I-90 – the road remains closed.  On I-81 from Exit 33 to the Canadian border, trucks are still required to use the right lane only.  

DOT has lifted its full commercial vehicle ban at the following locations:   

• Interstate 190 – Route 62 to I-90  
• Interstate 290 – full length  
• Interstate 990 – full length  
• Route 33 – expressway portion only 
• Buffalo Skyway Route 5 – full length  
• Route 400 – full length 

Thruway Authority 

Thruway Authority personnel continue cleanup efforts following the significant lake effect storm with 657 operators and supervisors ready to respond statewide. Thruway has shifted and deployed additional staff and equipment from its New York, Syracuse, and Albany Divisions to support snow and ice operations and snow removal efforts in Western New York. Deployed resources include operators and supervisors, mechanics, large plow trucks, and large snowblowers. 

The Thruway has reopened to all traffic and there are no commercial vehicle restrictions at this time with the following exceptions: Thruway (I-90) exit 55 (Lackawanna) remains closed to all traffic to support the closure of Route 219. Additionally, exit 56 (Blasdell) and exit 57 (Hamburg) remain closed to commercial traffic to facilitate cleanup efforts in these areas.  

Variable Message Signs and social media are utilized to alert motorists of winter weather conditions on the Thruway. The Thruway Authority also encourages motorists to download its mobile app which is available for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic information, live traffic cameras, and navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway. You can follow the Thruway Authority on Twitter: @ThruwayTraffic and @NYSThruway and on Facebook at NYS Thruway Authority. 

National Guard

At the direction of Governor Hochul, the New York National Guard has 109 Soldiers and Airmen on duty Sunday supporting the state response to the snowstorm. An additional 75 Soldiers and Airmen, with engineer vehicles to remove snow, will come on duty today, Nov. 20. Additional equipment being deployed includes four front-end loaders and eight, 10-ton dump trucks from the 204th Engineer Battalion and the 152nd Brigade Engineer Battalion; additional Humvees and personnel from the 102nd Military Police Battalion in Auburn, and the 174th Attack Wing in Syracuse, also will provide general purpose response and debris clearance. 

On Saturday, National Guard troops assisted the New York State Thruway Authority with clearing part of the Thruway, cleared roads in the town of Hamburg and transported people to medical appointments. Other troops deployed for the mission come from the 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, and the 107th Attack Wing and the 105th Military Police Company. The National Guard personnel are using Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station as a base to support the snowstorm mission. 

New York State Police  

The State Police added extra patrols to the areas most impacted by the lake effect snow, and has staged additional specialty vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles, utility task vehicles and snowmobiles, in those regions. All four-wheel drive vehicles are deployed, and troop emergency power and communications equipment has been tested.  

Department of Public Service  

New York’s utilities have approximately 5,780 workers available statewide to engage in damage assessment, response, repair, and restoration efforts. This includes an additional 280 external FTEs secured by National Grid. NYSEG has an additional 224 contractor line workers and 99 contractor tree workers staged to respond as needed. DPS staff will track utilities’ work throughout the event and ensure utilities shift appropriate staffing to regions that experience the greatest impact.  

Winter Safety Tips  

Winter Travel  

Some of the most important tips for safe driving include:  

• When winter storms strike, do not drive unless necessary.  
• Use caution on bridges as ice can form quicker than on roads.  
• If you must travel, make sure your car is stocked with survival gear like blankets, a shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, extra warm clothing, set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick energy foods, and brightly colored cloth to use as a distress flag.  
• If you have a cell phone or other communications device, such as a two-way radio, available for your use, keep the battery charged and keep it with you whenever traveling. If you should become stranded, you will be able to call for help, advising rescuers of your location.  
• The leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents. Before getting behind the wheel, make sure that your vehicle is clear of ice and snow; good vision is key to good driving. Plan your stops and keep more distance between cars. Be extra alert and remember that snowdrifts can hide smaller children. Always match your speed to the road and weather conditions.  
• It is important for motorists on all roads to note that snowplows travel at speeds up to 35 mph, which in many cases is lower than the posted speed limit, to ensure that salt being dispersed stays in the driving lanes and does not scatter off the roadways. Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will operate side by side, as this is the most efficient and safe way to clear several lanes at one time.  
• Motorists and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited lines of sight, and the size and weight of snowplows can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely reduce visibility or cause whiteout conditions. Motorists should not attempt to pass snowplows or follow too closely. The safest place for motorists to drive is well behind the snowplows where the roadway is clear and salted. Never attempt to pass a snowplow while its operating.  

Heavy Exertion  

Heavy exertion, such as shoveling snow, clearing debris or pushing a car, increase the risk of a heart attack.  

To avoid problems:  

• Stay warm, dress warm, and SLOW DOWN when working outdoors.  
• Take frequent rests to avoid over-exertion  
• If you feel chest pain, shortness of breath, or pain in your jaw radiating down your arm, STOP and seek help immediately.  

Power Outages  

• Call your utility to determine area repair schedules  
• Turn off or unplug lights and appliances to prevent a circuit overload when service is restored; leave one light on to indicate when power has been restored  
• If heat goes out during a winter storm, keep warm by closing off rooms you do not need  

Heating Safety  

• Use only safe sources of alternative heat such as a fireplace, small well-vented wood or coal stove or portable space heaters  
• Always follow manufacturer’s instructions  
• When using alternative heat sources such as a fireplace, woodstove, etc. always make sure you have proper ventilation  
• Keep curtains, towels, and potholders away from hot surfaces  
• Have a fire extinguisher and smoke detectors and make sure they work  
• If you use kerosene heaters to supplement your regular heating fuel, or as an emergency source of heat, follow these safety tips:  

-Follow the manufacturers’ instructions  

-Use only the correct fuel for your unit  

-Refuel outdoors ONLY and only when the unit is cool  

-Keep the heater at least three feet away from furniture and other flammable objects  

-When using the heater, use fire safeguards and ventilate properly  

For more safety tips, visit https://dhses.ny.gov/safety.  

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THIS WEEK EVERY WEEK

FOR 21 YEARS

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THE HOCHUL-ZELDIN RACE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY?

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THE STATE OF THE REPUBLIC

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Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced today that after a four-week trial, a jury found New York City resident Cynell Brown, 32, guilty of the 2018 murder of Tarrytown resident Jessica Wiltse.  

The defendant was found guilty yesteray on November 16, 2022, of Murder in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, and two counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence, all felonies. The defendant faces a sentence ranging from a minimum of 15 years to life to a maximum of 25 years to life in state prison when he is sentenced on January 12, 2023. 

On February 27, 2018, at approximately 7:10 a.m., the defendant used a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol to shoot 34-year-old Wiltse two times in the chest and arm in her home on White Plains Road in Tarrytown. The victim was transported to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, where she was pronounced dead.  

As detailed during the trial, police recovered the gun that the defendant used to murder Wiltse in a garbage can at a bus stop near the victim’s home as well as a suitcase near the garbage can that contained papers with the defendant’s name and phone number. Police also recovered a bag of cocaine that the defendant discarded from the window of a cab as he fled the scene. Additionally, police obtained surveillance video showing the defendant purchasing a number of grocery items the night before the murder that were later recovered from the victim’s home.  

The defendant was apprehended by the Port Authority Police Department, with the assistance of the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan on the evening of February 27, 2018. The multi-agency pursuit and investigation was conducted by the Tarrytown Police Department, with the assistance of the Greenburgh Police Department, the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, the Irvington Police Department, the Ardsley Police Department, the Dobbs Ferry Police Department, the Sleepy Hollow Police Department, the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, the New York State Police, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, the Westchester County Department of Laboratories and Research, and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.  

The case is before Judge George Fufidio in Westchester County Court, and is being prosecuted by Major Case Bureau Chief Nadine Nagler and Counsel to the Trials and Investigations Division John O’Rourke.