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)

OUTAGES UP! 2,025 of 23,054 customers W/0 Power in WP . 14%OF COUNTY

Posted on August 28, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From Con Edison and the Mayor’s Office. August 28,2011 UPDATED 2:30 P.M E.D.T.:

Con Edison Storm Center is reporting multiple power outages in White Plains with 2,069 city customers out, of that number 1,533 are in the Highlands area along West Post Road.

CitizeNetReporter readers have told WPCNR the county is impassable with many main roads closed. The latest information on the county website is as of 5 A.M., but is still current.

The northern bands of Hurricane Irene worked into the area at Tropical Storm Force (50 to 73 miles per hour) with higher gusts this morning.Rain has stopped, there are now light winds crossing the city.

It appears the number of outages continue to grow because of the impassable nature of the county roads, and Con Edison crews being unable to reach many areas.

Alphonse Quiroz, Con Edison spokespersons told WPCNR earlier today at 10 A.M. the company cannot send its crews in bucket lifts up to fix pole damage until the gusty winds die down. The company has 1,708 crews, but Quiroz says the crews are hampered reaching areas throughout the county because of downed trees.

Meanwhile as of 2 P.M. the number of customers without power in Westchester County have risen to 47,079 of Con Edison’s 348,198 customers, 14% of Con Ed’s customers in Westchester are without power. Con Edison website is estimating power restoration in the county by 7 P.M. Monday afternoon

The White Plains website reports:

Many city streets are closed due to flooding and tree debris. Residents are advised to stay off roadways.

Here is an up-to-2:30 P.M. count of the outages, Mt.Kisco, Mamaroneck and New Castle are hardest hit:

Ardsley: 141

Bedford: 531

Briarcliff: 1,073

Bronxville: 1,505

Cortlandt: 1,353

Croton: 185

Dobbs Ferry: 192

Eastchester: 214

Elmsford: 477

Greenburgh: 3,065

Harrison: 1,487

Larchmont: 1,018

Mamaroneck Town & Village: 6,369

Mt. Kisco: 3,454

Mt. Pleasant: 1,673

Mount Vernon: 1,934

New Castle: 4,054

New Rochelle: 963

North Castle: 3,411

N. Pelham: 31

Ossining: 333

Peekskill: 73

Pelham Manor: 96

Pelham Village: 64

Pleasantville: 580

Port Chester: 856

Rye Brook: 460

Rye: 993

Scarsdale: 585

Tarrytown: 186

Sleepy Hollow: 510

Tuckahoe: 41

White Plains: 2,069

Yonkers: 5,773

Yorktown: 2,926

The city website reports the shelter at Post Road School, 175 W. Post Road, is now open for those who cannot stay in their homes.

Persons who are in need of transportation to the shelter should call the Public Safety non-emergency line at 914-422-6111

Downed wires should be reported to The City of White Plains Non-Emergency line at 914-422-6111

Power outages should be reported to Con Ed at 1-800-752-6633 (1800-75CONED)

Many streets are closed due to flooding and tree debris. Residents are advised to stay off roadways.

Public Safety: No serious Damage to White Plains in Earthquake Tremor

Posted on August 25, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the White Plains Department of Public Safety. August 25,2011:

White Plains was lightly shaken by the 5.9 earthquake that centered in between Charlottesville and Richmond Virginia Tuesday afternoon.

Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong noted to WPCNR,

“The city is fine, no reports of major damage or any injuries. Many of the bigger buildings in the City self evacuated and people acted in a very orderly manner. Police vehicles and fire vehicles were immediately dispatched into the streets as a precaution but no one approached or reported injuries. “

Chong in a statement to WPCNR observed that most of the folks (after the tremor) returned to their buildings or left the city. There were no major traffic issues in the City. Chong advises residents and property owners to call Public Safety if they suspect any structural damage to their residences.

WP Performing Arts Center Announces Sept. 27 Gala Opening

Posted on August 25, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Kathleen Davisson. August 25, 2011:

White Plains Performing Arts Center Board of Trustees and the Honorable Thomas M. Roach, Mayor of White Plains, announce that the annual Season Opening Celebration will be held at the theatre on Tuesday, September 27. The Chair of the evening’s event is Councilman John M. Martin, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel of All New York Title Agency, Inc.

The evening begins at 6:30pm with a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception. At 7:30 pm, the entertainment portion of the evening features a preview of the upcoming Mainstage Season and Conservatory Theatre productions. Musical selections include songs from: Spring Awakening, The Drowsy Chaperone, CATS, Lend me a Tenor, The Secret Garden and several surprise performances.

Tickets to the event are priced at $100. Sponsorship levels range from $1,000 to $5,000. Proceeds from the event will support the Conservatory Theatre, an educational youth theatre program of the White Plains Performing Arts Center. For more information about the event, ticket purchases and sponsorship opportunities, please access the theatre’s web site at www.wppac.com, visit or call the box office at (914) 328-1600.

County Legislators Override County Exec Vetoe. Approve Children’s Museum Playlan

Posted on August 25, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Tara Martin, County Legislature. August 25, 2011:

The Westchester County Board of Legislators voted Wednesday evening to override the County Executive’s veto of a ten year lease agreement for the operation of a children’s museum in a historic building on County property at Playland. The unanimous vote, held at the special meeting of the Board, received bi-partisan support. Legislators approved the bill on August 8^th in a unanimous bipartisan vote.

The North Bathhouse, Playland, June 2011. Photo,WPCNR NEWS ARCHIVE.

“This lease reaffirms the continuing resurgence of Playland as both an important family destination and strong economic engine for the residents of Westchester,” said Board Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers). “Because it such a real ‘win-win’ situation for the people of Westchester, I am extremely glad that it has been passed by my colleagues on the Board, and now I strongly urge the County Executive to give it his approval.” Under the terms of the lease, the Westchester Children’s Museum will occupy about half, or approximately 21,390 square feet, of the former men’s bathhouse on the Playland boardwalk and make $6,441,300 in interior and exterior renovations in exchange for a yearly rent of one dollar ($1).

“The reuse of a portion of the Playland bathhouse as a children’s museum is consistent with the family-oriented concept and mission of this wonderful County resource,” said Majority Whip Judy Myers (D-Larchmont), who sponsored the lease bill in the Budget & Appropriations Committee.

“The museum will serve as another attraction at Playland during the summer months, and will bring visitors out through the rest of the year as well.”

Majority Whip Myers noted that over 870,000 children under 11 years of age live within a 15-mile driving radius of the future museum site at Playland Park in Rye.

“This will be a great educational and recreational resource for kids and families in the region,” said Legislator William Ryan (D-White Plains), chairman of the Board’s Committee on Public Works, Parks, Labor & Transportation.

“The additional revenue the museum will bring to the County is an added benefit. Under the lease agreement, the Westchester Children’s Museum will be responsible for making capital improvements to the bathhouse, all of which will be subject to approval of the Westchester Department of County Parks, Recreation and Conservation, along with the Department of Public Works because of the Playland’s National Historic Landmark designation. If the Westchester Children’s Museum is not open a year after signing the lease, the property reverts back to Parkland. All of the parking fees collected for visitors to the museum will go into the County’s coffers,” Ryan said.

To date, the Children’s Museum has raised over $8 million for the project. Tracy Kay from the Children’s Museum expects to have 198,000 visitors per year and 50,000 cars over the course of a year.