WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.
WPCNR FBI WIRE. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. August 30, 2022:
The FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, Greenburgh Police Department, and the Westchester County Police Department are seeking possible victims in a human trafficking investigation and believes hundreds of women may have been victimized.
Investigators arrested Ysenni Gomez on August 12, 2022, and charged her with sex trafficking in Westchester County, and the Bronx.
An FBI agent details in a federal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York how Gomez posted an online ad searching for waitresses to work at a restaurant in Manhattan.
Gomez interviewed a woman who responded to the ad and said she had the job. On the victim’s first day, Gomez told her there was no waitress position and forced her into having sex with men by threatening to call federal authorities to have her deported.
During the investigation, agents discovered more than 1,600 ads associated with Gomez promoting prostitution, dating back 10 years, using Facebook, Bedpage.com, and MegaPersonals.com.
Gomez is known to go by aliases Carolina and Ysenni Peguero, and could possibly have used the business name “Chicas Express” in the ads she placed.
WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Shoenfeld , White Plains City School District. August 30, 2022:
Among new staffing at the White Plains Public Schools for the opening of schools on
September 6th are seven new administrators to lead the district’s schools.
Valerie Lakestream has been appointed Director of World Languages/ENL Programs, K-12. Previously she worked in similar capacities in the Port Chester and Pelham districts. She has Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Pace University and advanced degrees from Clarkson and Long Island Universities. Ms. Lakestream replaces Lisa Panaro who retired.
The Principal and two Assistant Principals were appointed at the Highlands Middle School.
Michael Eaton, formerly Assistant Principal there, replaces Ernest Spatafore (retired) as Principal.
Mr. Eaton, who served as Acting Principal last year, holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Lehman College.
Tara Daly and Jessica Maracallo will fill Assistant Principal positions at Highlands. Ms. Daly was previously a Social Studies Teacher at the school, before serving as Acting Assistant Principal last year. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Manhattan College and Master’s Degrees from Pace University and Manhattanville College.
Ms. Maracallo comes to White Plains from Assistant Principal positions in Elmsford and Mount Vernon. She has Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the City College of New York. They replace Mr. Eaton and Valerie Cadet Simpkins, who has moved to another district.
WPCNR ONCE AND FUTURE OF WHITE PLAINS. August 30, 2022:
The One White Plains Comprehensive Plan Committee (CPC), appointed by the Common Council last month will meet for the first time September 21.
CPC MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT PUBLIC HEARINGS. MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED; AGENDAS, PRESENTATIONS, VIDEOS AND MEETING NOTES WILL BE POSTED FOLLOWING THE MEETINGS.
The city administration describes the duties of the CPC as :
” PARTICIPATE IN REGULAR CPC MEETINGS TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE COMMENTS ON DRAFT PLAN CONTENT, REPRESENT THE COMMITTEE AT PUBLIC EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, AND IN THE COMMUNITY, HOST PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND WILL ULTIMATELY FORWARD A PROPOSED PLANNING DOCUMENT TO THE COMMON COUNCIL FOR THEIR APPROVAL. ONCE ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL, THE PLAN PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE DECISIONS ON DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING, CAPITAL SPENDING, AND GENERAL POLICY DECISIONS.“
WHAT IS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE (CPC)?
THE CPC IS A GROUP OF 17 VOLUNTEERS APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL TO ASSIST CITY STAFF AND THE CONSULTANT TEAM THROUGHOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP PROVIDED BELOW:
WPCNR ONCE & FUTURE WHITE PLAINS. From the City of White Plains. August 30, 2022:
The City is applying for New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant program to create sustainable and accessible connections between our neighborhoods and downtown by improving bike and pedestrian pathways, connecting and enhancing existing public space, and installation of public art, wayfinding signage.
Planning Department Staff will be present at the September 7th Farmer’s Market for the public to have the opportunity to shape the application.
The public may also participate on September 13, 2022 at the White Plains Public Library Auditorium from 6:30 – 8 PM to share your vision, identify needs and opportunities for potential projects and learn more about the grant. The auditorium is ADA accessible via the elevator.
For more information contact the Planning Department by phone at (914) 422-1300 by email at onewp@whiteplainsny.gov or visit the grant webpage here.
WPCNR Q&A ON WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR.With Michelle Melendez, District Clerk & Records Access Officer White Plains Schools. August 29, 2022: UPDATED SEPTEMBER 1, 2022:
EDITOR’S NOTE: IN AN INTERVIEW WITH WPCNR TUESDAY, DR. JOSEPH RICCA SUPERINTENDENT OF WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS STATED THAT IF PARENTS HAVE NOT OBTAINED REQUIRED VACCINATIONS, THEY WILL HAVE A 2-WEEK “GRACE PERIOD” RUNNING FROM SEPTEMBER 6 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL UNTIL FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 TO OBTAIN AND SUBMIT PROOF OF VACCINATIONS NEEDED FROM THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.
WPCNR: John Bailey here, Ms. Melendez, could you find out what mandatory vaccinations are required of parents to have to be administered to their children this year prior to starting school?
Ms. Melendez:Required vaccinations are unchanged in NYS – the current requirements are attached.
WPCNR: Specifically, is it recommended that all elementary students, middle and high school be fully or partially vaccinated for covid?
Ms. Melendez: It is recommended by the NYSDoH, however, it is not required. Parent/guardians should speak with their primary care physician.
WPCNR: Is it recommended that preschool aged students 6 months to 5 years be vaccinated with the pre-k vaccines?
MS. Melendez:It is recommended by the NYSDoH, however, it is not required. Parent/guardians should speak with their primary care physician.
WPCNR: Are no covid vaccinations of students prior to starting school required through 5 to 12?
Ms Melendez: COVID-19 vaccination is not a requirement.
WPCNR: Are administrators, teachers and staff encouraged to get the monkeypox vaccination if they show signs of the disease or are diagnosed with it (only available for 18 and over).
Ms. Melendez:Employees are encouraged to speak with their primary health care provider regarding non-required vaccinations.
If you need help in what documents you need to register your child, contact the Family Information Center at 914-422-2038. Monday through Friday. First day of schools is September 6, the day after Labor Day.
WESTCHESTER HAS 6,325 CASES OF COVID PRIOR TO START OF SCHOOLS THIS YEAR COMPARED TO 5,704 A YEAR AGO.
WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS.By John F. Bailey. August 29, 2022 UPDATED 5:15 P.M. WITH COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER STATE OF COVID-MONKEY POX TODAY “ACTUALITY”
Westchester County has 621 more cases of covid as of the end of August this year than the county did at the end of August last year, when covid was slightly rose through August into Labor Day, averaging 1,301 a week going into the start of schools last September.
This afternoon, County Executive George Latimer continued his cautious approach to covid an had this good news about Monkeypox spread in this video clip below:
George Latimer confirmed the continued diminution of covid cases and a slowing of monkeypox in the county today. (To see and hear his comments click the white > arrow to the left of the clip screen above.)
As of August 27 this year, Westchester has lowered the rate of new cases by 39% from July numbers to 6,325 or 1,581 new infections a week, despite having 10,298 new covid cases in July. This, whatever the cause, vaccine coverage, low testing quantities, or careful social behavior, Westchester delivered an improved ratio of how infected persons spread the disease, a rate of spread equaling 1 infection only infecting .61 of another person (10,298-July divided by 6,335 August new cases). That is a spread rate that contains and limits spread of the disease.
The Labor Day Weekend last September ushered in a new spread of the disease in September that delivered an average 1,067 new cases a week over the next month. In October that 1,067 produced 2,560 new covid cases 1 infecting every 2 persons, with remote learning and partial attendance and social distancing in effect through most of the county school districts, as well as masking and social gathering restrictions.
Those 2,560 October infections in 2021 last fall produced 4,068 new cases in November during the Veterans Day and Thanksgiving weekends, a spread rate (with many social restrictions and school restricted attendance and distancing precautions in effect) of 1 person to 6 persons (4,068 divided by 2,560 October covid cases), which in turn lead to an explosion of new covid infections in the December holidays followed by 36,000 infections in January stymied by the vaccines by April.
So we are in what appears to be a greatly improved position the disease did not spread excessively in the last 28 days of August. Infections went down from the excessive 10,298 covid infections in July.
The Mid-Hudson region reported 386 new cases last week, an infection rate of 7%. The entire region including Nassau and Suffolk reported cases equaling 66% as many cases as New York City five boroughs.
In two weeks the number of cases went down across the Mid-Hudson region, despite the continued leading spread rate of Nassau and Suffolk Counties
In two weeks the hot spots of Covid infections in the towns and cities declined significantly. Only 8 reported over 100 cases on August 24 , Log page on left, and 5 had cases in the 90s. Daily infections went down, too.
The number of active cases in the leading locations across the county went down as the comparison shows with infections averaging 7% of those tested (and verified by lab testing).
A good week in Covid management.
This may be the effects of the long ballyhooed “Herd Immunity” and vaccinations taking effect.
However the vaccinations in the school population across the state released by the state health department last week show 97% of pre K children have not had any vaccinations. Completed Vaccinations of 5 to 11 year olds in the elementaries of New York are only at 54.6% meaning almost half of 5 to 11s are not fully vaccinated. In another grouping: those elementaries with at least one dose that is even less. The Middle school to high school is also very at risk from not full vaccination coverage. The potential for infections being spread in school particularly with absence of testing protocols has potential for regenerating last year’s spread.
That is the situation the state faces as schools start.
The situation is aggravated by the tidal wave of monkeypox infections in New York City that is ahead of covid infections.
School districts should be aware of theses potentials for infections and perhaps have some backup plans if the CDC relaxation of standards should appear to be premature considering the vaccination gaps in the elementary middle school and high school populations in New York State.
WPCNR CORONAVIRUS SURVEILLANCE.From the NY COVID TRACKER. Observation & Analysis by John F. Bailey. August 28, 2022:
Each person catching covid in Westchester in July and 10,298 did, infected just 1/2 a person, below the 1.1 (one person infects one other person) infection rate that signals the decline of an epidemic according to the Center for Disease Control standards.
Saturday infections of covid in the county were reported as 186, completing the week of August 21 through 27 with 1,300 new cases, just 1 person above last week’s total of 1,299. Technically this snaps the 7 consecutive weeks cases have declineed but only by 1 persons, but the dwindling number of new reported infections continued virtually even for the week.
WPCNR COVID LOGBOOK FOR AUGUST THROUGH THE 27TH OF THE MONTH. OF 10,298 CASES IN JUNE EACH OF THEM PASSED THE DISEASE TO JUST .6 (POINT 6 OR HALF A PERSON). AN INFECTION RATE OR SPREAD RATE OF 1 to .6 . (Below the 1 infecting 1 standard needed to be met consistently to stop the spread of the disease.
