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)

Fleet of 30 Cars To Give Revelers Rides Home on New Year’s Eve

Posted on December 30, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAMARONECK AVENUE AMBLER. From Heineken USA. December 30, 2010 (EDITED):

Heineken USA of White Plains will sponsor its seventh annual “New Year. Safe Ride.” program, which provides free, safe rides home to Westchester residents of legal drinking age celebrating New Year’s Eve in downtown White Plains.

Revelers can take advantage of this service between 11:00 p.m. on December 31 and 3:00 a.m. on January 1. The car service will be located in the heart of downtown, on the corner of East Post Road and Mamaroneck Avenue.

Kicking off 2011 the responsible way, this year’s transportation will be provided by a dedicated, 30-car fleet to ensure passengers a safe and comfortable ride home. The service is complimentary for revelers traveling anywhere in the Greater White Plains Area. Cars will not travel beyond Westchester County lines.

Additional details on the “New Year. Safe Ride.” program and the Taxi Magic application can be found at www.responsiblymeans21.com and in participating restaurants and bars, as well as other locations throughout downtown White Plains.

“Emphasizing our values of enjoyment and responsibility, we’ve made a New Year’s resolution to continue helping consumers make every night a night of great choices,” said Dan Tearno, senior vice president and chief corporate relations officer, Heineken USA. “Improvements to our annual “New Year. Safe Ride.” program, such as the use of a well maintained car service, will make it easier than ever for our colleagues, employees and neighbors celebrating the New Year in this great town to have fun and make good decisions.”

“Driving while intoxicated is a serious offense and can have fatal consequences for you, your passengers and others on the road,” said Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore. “Over the past few years, Heineken USA’s continued commitment to this important program has helped provide New Year’s Eve revelers in White Plains a safe way to get home. We are grateful for their continued support.”

Driving under the influence is a national issue during the holiday season, and year-round. Over the past few years, Heineken USA has partnered with a number of communities and law enforcement agencies around the country to offer a safe alternative and remind consumers of the importance of responsible consumption throughout the year.

Commuter Councils Highlight Hidden MTA Ticket Policy Changes Effective Thursday

Posted on December 29, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR WINGS, WHEELS & RAILS. From the Metro-North Commuter Council and the Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council. December 29, 2010:

Effective December 30, 2010, the cost of their railroad tickets will increase. The average increase of approximately 8.8 percent in ticket prices is not, however, the only change that could result in increased costs for riders, as commuters could feel the bite of any one of several fare policy changes.

The Commuter Councils strenuously opposed these measures when they were proposed by the MTA. These unfortunate policy changes were approved by the MTA Board and will go into effect on December 30, 2010. The Commuter Councils remind riders to keep in mind the following changes to tickets issued on or after December 30 when purchasing fares and planning their trips:

· The period of validity on tickets will be reduced. One-way and round trip tickets will be valid for only 14 days including the date of sale, reduced from 6 months;

· Ten-trip tickets will be valid for only 6 months from the date of sale, reduced from 1 year. If purchased before December 30, they will continue to be valid for a period of 12 months;

· A “Valid Thru” date will be printed on the upper right corner of most tickets. Tickets not used by that date will no longer be accepted for travel;

· One-way, round-trip, and ten-trip tickets will be refundable for only 30 days after purchase and a $10 refund transaction fee will be charged, which in many cases equals or exceeds the cost of a ticket.

.”

The Commuter Councils recommend that riders exercise due caution in purchasing fares for travel beyond the current date and do so only when they have a reasonable certainty that the tickets will be used within the new validity periods.

If a rider fails to produce a valid ticket when asked by on-board railroad personnel, he or she will be required to purchase a one-way ticket on the train at an additional charge of at least $5.75. In addition, all on-board transactions, including step-up and extension of ride fees for use of off peak tickets in peak periods and travel to destinations beyond that on the original ticket, will be rounded up to the next dollar. This means that purchasing a ticket on board could cost as much as $6.50 more than the same ticket purchased from a ticket machine or agent.

“Sadly, the MTA is punishing the riders for the LIRR’s failure to properly collect fares on board,” notes LIRRCC Chair Maureen Michaels. David Buchwald, acting Chair of the Metro-North Railroad Commuter Council observes, “These changes will eliminate flexibility needed by riders, especially the growing number whose work and travel schedules do not stay the same from day to day or week to week.”

Commissioner: Police Have Identified Person(s) of Interest in Hit and Run Case

Posted on December 29, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE By John F. Bailey. December 29, 2010:

Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong has confirmed to WPCNR White Plains Police have identified “persons of interest” in last week’s hit and run accident involving a White Plains man, Raul Rios, 23, struck by a late model Mercedes-Benz at 4 A.M. in the morning of December 19, leaving him severely injured.

Commissioner Chong released this statement to WPCNR Wednesday morning:

This case is ongoing and not to compromise or try the case before its presentation this is what we are releasing.

The Hit and Run case is very active and proceeding along. Detectives have recovered some key pieces of evidence that are being examined. We also have some persons of interest that we are looking at and interviews are continuing We continue to ask that any witnesses please come forward as we put this case together.

Police may be contacted at 422-6111, if any witnesses wish to share information on the incident in confidence.

Police: Roads Passable in WP. Persons Shoveing Should Pace Themselves

Posted on December 27, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong. December 27, 2010:

Here is the latest on road conditions in White Plains from the Department of Public Safety as of 11 A.M.;

The roads are generally passable although there is drifting. The hilly areas have invisible patches of black ice so drivers regardless of their autos, suv’s or 4X4’s must remember, ice is ice! If you need not go out and drive, then don’t as we advise the less traffic will allow our DPW to clean the streets without traffic obstruction. T

here are no major power outages to report and we remind people who are shoveling to take it easy and pace themselves.

The Mayor has been up all night along with the commissioners and we think we have weathered this very intensive storm as best we can. Also, please if you are shoveling, do not throw the snow back into the roadway. This causes double work and as the temperatures drop tonight will cause icing and very slick roads. In case of emergency, call 911.