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)

Punishments Forthcoming in High School Senior Prank Gone Out of Control

Posted on June 8, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. June 8, 2012 UPDATED WITH VIDEO LINKS, JUNE 8, 2012, 1:33 P.M. E.D.T.:

A massive food fight broke out in the White Plains High School cafeteria Thursday at lunchtime, instigated by members of the senior class.

It was reported to WPCNR by witnesses that cellphones were confiscated by school officials to prevent pictures and video being made of the incident. However, today visual confirmation of the chaos may be seen on videos secretly shot inside the school at the food fight, posted on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cOsNlWQn-U another YouTube video documenting the dangerous hall situation may be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ_KnuUpQZ8

According to Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Christopher Clouet, yesterday in a written statement, Clouet wrote WPCNR:

“Yes, there was a “food fight/water balloon fight” …apparently as part of a “senior prank”. There were no fisticuffs and there were no arrests.Staff handled it quickly. Students returned to class and were dismissed without incident at the end of the day.

School will be open tomorrow!

I am disappointed that a small fraction of our students acted in an inappropriate way today. School administrators are investigating. We do anticipate that disciplinary action will be taken.”

White Plains Police units were called to the scene that witnesses said was dangerous

White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety, David Chong wrote WPCNR: “. Our School Resource Officer and a few patrol units and Community Affairs units responded to help out at the HIgh School. There are no reported arrests at this time.”

Parents learned of the incident when students returning home from White Plains High School this afternoon reported that the school was in lockdown from the lunch hour on. Students said rumors of a food fight to be staged were all over the halls of the school this morning, and when lunch hour began, students (alleged to be members of the senior class executing a senior prank) wearing masks launched a fusillade of balloons,(some balloons were said to be filled with urine) and food projectiles.

One witness said a student was hit near the eye with an apple launched by a slingshot and was taken to a hospital (THIS IS NOT CONFIRMED). Assistant Principal Dixon was seen covered in food.

Custodians from other schools in the district were called in to clean up the mess in the cafeteria described as being awash in water, juices and emptied garbage. Witnesses said students were running out of the cafeteria to escape the out-of-control situation at the height of the melee. Witnesses said students slipped and fell on the soaking cafeteria floors, the mess was that bad.

All appeared quiet as of 4:30 P.M.

COST OF SHUTTING CITY DUMP MILLIONS HIGHER ACCORDING TO NYDEC. COUNCIL MEMBERS

Posted on June 7, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR DUMP NEWS. By John F. Bailey. June 4, 2012:

A spokesperson for the New York State Department of Conservation confirmed to WPCNR this week the cost of sealing and closing the Tri Chloral Etylene-contaminated Gedney Landfill is going at least $2 million more beyond than the $8 Million to $10 Million price originally told the Common Council, which has yet to authorize financing for the entire clean-up.

Wendy Rosenback, spokesperson for the NYDEC told WPCNR that Martin Brand, Program Director of the Division of Materials Management for the DEC estimates the cleanup, scheduled to begin in July, will cost the city $10 to $12 Million.

WPCNR has been told by sources that the Common Council has been informed privately in a non-public meeting within the last three weeks with the city Department of Public Works the cleanup could cost as much as $14 Million and a request to float more in bonds for the additional financing was met with dismay to say the least. Whether the figure is as high as $14 Million has not been confirmed by any member of the Common Council, but the DEC today confirmed it is going to soar higher than the $8 to $10 Million the Department of Public Works originally estimated.

When WPCNR contacted Common Council members to see if the $14 Million figure had been related to them, Councilmen David Buchwald, Dennis Krolian, and John Martin all said the cleanup project was still in the bid process and they had not heard that price from the Department of Public Works. Councilwoman Beth Smayda said she did not recall a meeting on that topic and Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona wrote WPCNR she was not at any such meeting. Councilman Benjamin Boykin did not respond.

WPCNR called Joseph Nicoletti, Commissioner of Public Works and left a message and asked him if the DEC’s Brand was correct, and if the $14 Million figure had been disclosed to the Council or was closer to $12 Million. Mr. Nicoletti so far has not responded.

The DEC and the City Department of Public Works have been formulating a plan for remediation, sealing and closure of the dump since 2005 when the DEC informed the city it has to deal with the TCE-contamination that had been seeping into the Mamaroneck River estuary flowing through the dump. The city had previously ignored the TCE-contamination since 1976, which was left over from when a dry cleaning establishment was located adjacent to the dump. As part of the process he city has also been directed by the DEC to resod the Our Lady of Sorrows Softball Field adjacent the dump

Susan Habel, Commissioner of Planning Announces Her Retirement.

Posted on June 7, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. JUNE 7, 2012:

The White Plains Commissioner of Planning for the last ten years will retire effective August 8, the Journal News reported today.

Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel. speaking Monday evening at the Common Council meeting. No announcement of her impending retirement was made at the meeting by the Mayor or city officials. She will retire in August.

Habel has been with the city since 1985 when she joined the Planning Department, and was appointed Commissioner in 2002 under the Joseph Delfino administration, replacing Michael Graessle. Habel crafted the zoning that transformed the city downtown from 2003 to 2008 in what was known as the “White Plains Renaissance.”

Mayor Thomas Roach gave this quote to the Journal News on Habel’s legacy:

“Sue has been an invaluable resource to the city of White Plains and to me personally. Her dedication is apparent. She literally lived her job. She leaves behind a legacy of strong work and a city changed for the better.”

Why Did the Geese Cross the Road?

Posted on June 6, 2012 by John Bailey

TO RENT VACANT OFFICE SPACE, OF COURSE!

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. June 6, 2012:

Our Roving Photographer captured this tour of a inquiring family of Canadian Geese this afternoon crossing busy Mamaroneck Avenue.

Johnathan Denet, A Good Samaritan, and owner of Westchester Gutter Supply (914-552-8134)stopped his van (left), exited his vehicle and halted traffic to aid the inquiring visitors, at his own risk.

JONATHAN DENET, WHAT A GUY!

Mr. Denet said he saw several cars whiz by, honking at the geese and had to do something. “I’ve always been an animal lover and I didn’t want to see them hurt.”

Mr. Denet’s brother is a White Plains Police Officer.

WPCNR is pursuing an inquiry at City Hall to see whether the city is going to install geese crossing lanes at key intersections.