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EVERY WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK SINCE 2001 WITH GUEST ANCHOR JOHN MARINO OF WESTCHESTER TALK RADIO
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County Health Department Reminds Residents to Take Precautions Against Mosquitoes
WPCNR HEALTH ADVISORY.Westchester County has learned of its first human case of West Nile Virus this year, which was confirmed in an Elmsford resident with multiple underlying medical conditions, who is recovering at home.
Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD, said: “This first case of West Nile Virus should remind us all to take precautions against mosquito bites by removing standing water from our property, especially after recent heavy rain and flooding, and using repellents when we spend time outdoors, especially from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.”
West Nile Virus infection most often causes a mild or moderate flu-like illness, but can be more serious particularly for people 60 and older, and those with other health complications. In 2021 and 2020, three people were diagnosed with West Nile Virus, and in 2019, one Westchester County resident had the virus.
The Westchester County Department of Health evaluated standing water around the resident’s home and nearby catch basins, and treated those with larvicide as needed.
Residents should inspect their property and remove any standing water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Residents who notice large areas of standing water on public property should report them to the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000.
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en Español U.S. CENSUS DATA SHOWS OUR COUNTY HAS GROWN!In order to reflect the increased population, the County legislature’s district boundaries must be readjusted equally.YOUR INPUT IS GREATLY NEEDED!Learn why and how this process is importantSee the newly proposed district mapsProvide public comment and ask questionsSchedule for Redistricting Public Input Sessions: Northern Westchester Tuesday , September 13th 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Peekskill Middle School 212 Ringgold St., Peekskill, NY Central Westchester Wednesday, September 14th* 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Board of Legislators Chamber 148 Martine Ave., 8th Floor, White Plains, NY Southern Westchester Monday, September 19th 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm Yonkers Public Library – Riverfront Library 1 Larkin Center, Yonkers, NY Sound Shore/Mt. Vernon Tuesday, September 20th 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Mount Vernon City Hall – City Council Chambers 1 Roosevelt Square N, Mt Vernon, NY *Remote participation is available via Webex on Sept. 14th For more information, visit www.westchesterlegislators.com/redistricting2022en Español  ¡LOS DATOS DEL CENSO DE EE. UU. MUESTRAN QUE NUESTRO CONDADO HA CRECIDO!Para reflejar el aumento de la población, los límites de los distritos de la legislatura del Condado deben reajustarse por igual.¡SU OPINIÓN ES MUY NECESARIO!Aprenda por qué y cómo es importante este procesoVer los mapas de distrito recientemente propuestosProporcione comentarios públicos y haga preguntasCalendario para la Redistribución de Distritos Sesiones de Opinión Pública: Norte de Westchester martes, 13 de septiembre 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Escuela Secundaria Peekskill 212 Ringgold St., Peekskill, NY Centro de Westchester miércoles, 14 de septiembre* 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Cámara de la Junta de Legisladores 148 Martine Ave., 8.º piso, White Plains, NY |
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WPCNR WESTCHESTER COUNTY LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. September 8, 2022:
Effective immediately, masks will no longer be required on Westchester County Bee-Line Buses, and Bee–Line ParaTransit. Earlier today, New York Governor Kathy Hochul removed the mask requirement on public transportation.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “Largely steady COVID rates are making COVID part of our new reality, but not an illness that should impact our day-to-day life as it did two years ago. As always, those who feel more comfortable wearing a mask should do so, but that is a choice not a mandate.”
Latimer is still encouraging those who are eligible to receive the fourth COVID-19 vaccine. New York State still requires masks at health facilities, including nursing homes.
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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS.. From the White Plains Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Joseph Ricca. September 7, 2022:
| Dear WPCSD Community Members and Staff: Wednesday evening, the district was notified of a possible/alleged threat made by a student against WPHS. The reported threat was focused on an alleged/possible act of violence against the school community. As soon as the report was received, an investigation was conducted jointly by the district and the White Plains Police Department in accordance with our standard safety and security procedures. Fortunately, the alleged threat was subsequently deemed non-credible and there is no threat to our school population. Please be aware that all comments that may suggest any possible threat to the safety and security of our school community will always be handled as a serious situation. Accordingly, any such statement comes with significant consequences, even if they are made jokingly and/or are deemed as not being credible. The White Plains City School District holds the safety and security of all students and staff as our highest priority and recognizes the need to be transparent regarding incidents that may impact our school community. We will always act in a manner that maintains a safe and secure environment for our students and staff both inside and out of our buildings. We are appreciative for the swift action of the WPPD and the proactive vigilance of our school community members. As always, every member of our school community is encouraged to report any potential concern to the WPPD and/or school administration immediately. Finally, the WPPD will be present in and around the district today (Friday) to further reduce any possible concerns. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Respectfully, Joseph L. Ricca, Ed.D.Superintendent of Schools |
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Training sessions kick off with school district superintendents on
state’s new gun legislation, Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs)
WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the Office of the Westchester County District Attorney. September 7, 2022:
As schools welcome students back from summer, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office is launching new training sessions for superintendents on New York’s new gun laws that went into effect September 1, particularly, Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), which school administrators and health practitioners, like school nurses and counselors, can apply for when they see students in crisis.
The first session will be held Friday, September 9, 2022, with the Council of School Administrators (CSA) at Southern Westchester BOCES with superintendents representing southern Westchester schools. A second session with northern Westchester school superintendents is being planned. The Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health will also be present during these sessions.
“Schools are one of our most valuable partners in the fight against gun violence and the engagement of school administrators is a critical investment in the safety of our school communities,” said Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah, who earlier this summer released a detailed Gun Safety Plan in the wake of the state legislature’s response to mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde followed by the U.S. Supreme Court overturning New York’s conceal carry law.
“These trainings are part of my Gun Safety Plan in action, and I’m doing everything in my power, as DA, and as a mother to school-aged children, to ensure New York’s new gun laws are used as effectively as possible.”
A package of sweeping new gun legislation signed in June by Governor Kathy Hochul went into effect September 1 and includes gun-free zones and new age restrictions on semi-automatic weapons. The legislation also enhanced New York’s red flag laws. School officials are one of a few categories of people who can now apply for ERPOs—court orders that temporarily restrict individuals who pose an imminent risk to themselves or others from purchasing and possessing firearms.
“It’s important that as educators and administrators we understand our new role in having a direct impact on the safety of our students and we’re proud to partner with the DA’s office so we can be equipped with the best tools,” said Dr. Jen Lamia, President of the Council of School Administrators (CSA) for Southern Westchester and Superintendent of Byram Hills Central School District.
“We’re wholly committed to being central players in this timely dialogue with legal experts who can guide us on ensuring the utmost safety of our school communities,” said Dr. Eric Byrne, President of the Lower Hudson Council of School Administrators for Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties and Superintendent of Rye City School District.
Red flag law training with community stakeholders has been a cornerstone of DA Rocah’s agenda to keep Westchester County safe from gun violence. These trainings mark a continuation of a gun safety partnership between Westchester schools and the DA’s Office that began in 2021 with the launch of the Safe Storage Program, a countywide initiative with Moms Demand Action that provides valuable resources to families in every Westchester school district on New York’s gun laws and safe firearm storage practices.
“There is nothing more important to me than the continued safety and protection of our students in Westchester County,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer. “Schools should always be a safe haven – a place where our young people can go to learn, develop and better themselves. It is our responsibility in government to partner with educators, administrators and law enforcement to guarantee the utmost safety of our school communities. I thank DA Rocah for her attention to this important matter.”
Together with other county agencies, including the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health and the Department of Public Safety, the District Attorney’s Office will continue to expand training on New York’s gun safety laws to interested groups throughout the county.
DA Rocah’s detailed Gun Safety Plan was recapped in the office’s Gun Safety Community Forum in July. A recording of the forum can be viewed at: Gun Safety in Our Community Virtual Forum – July 18, 2022
The presentation slides from the forum are available at: https://www.westchesterda.net/images/stories/pdfs/gunsafety.pdf
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WPCNR YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST BY DR.KATELYN JETELINA. September 7, 2022. Reprinted with permission.
Yesterday, the White House announced a new plan: one COVID-19 shot per year. The idea is this will decrease public confusion and increase booster uptake by aligning with the flu vaccine campaign. Reading between the lines, I think this is also a political signal to shift out of the SARS-CoV-2 emergency phase.
Will an annual shot plan work? Maybe. But there’s a lot that needs to align beforehand. And I certainly hope this doesn’t mean we are accepting our current state of affairs with vaccines.
The annual COVID-19 plan largely follows our flu model: evaluate circulating strains and update the vaccine before the flu season. This model works for the flu for three main reasons:
SARS-CoV-2 is mutating 4 times faster than the flu.
It’s not seasonal nor annual.
It’s not mutating in a ladder like form.
And we do not have global surveillance systems in place.
We expect and hope that COVID-19 will eventually be like the flu but to assume that has already happened is premature.
I also think it is a gamble, as the virus continues to surprise us. To pivot the public—again—is risky.
The fall bivalent vaccine is also our first attempt to apply the flu model to SARS-CoV-2. This is our pilot. And we really need to see how the pilot works in the “real world” before making sweeping declarations, like an annual shot. We need the data, the time, and the humility to tell. Let’s first get through winter.
The annual COVID-19 booster plan also means the White House has one goal: prevent severe disease and death. And our first generation vaccines can do this well. In fact, the first generation vaccines saved an estimated 20 million lives across the globe in one year.
However, we can and should do better.
This does not mean boosting our way out of the pandemic, but it means leveraging innovation and science to develop next generation vaccines that last longer and/or prevent infection/transmission. This would have immense, positive ripple effects. It would slow transmission. It would slow viral mutations. It would slow morbidity (long COVID-19). It could sunset the pandemic.
Next generation vaccines include:
These next generation vaccines are obtainable. We are well on our way, but this cannot be accomplished without investment from Congress.
It costs an estimated $1 billion to develop and test a drug or vaccine from start to finish. And it takes risk, as not every vaccine makes it through clinical trials. Money will move mountains in science and research. But we need a push from the public, and a push from the administration. We need an Operation Warp Speed 2.0.
The White House plans to have only one booster per year. This plan may (or may not) be a good one, as the stars would need to align for it to be effective. Regardless, next generation vaccines need to be a part of this conversation, as they are a critical solution for better health. We just need to fight for it.
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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Gina Arena Campaign. September 7, 2022:
STATEMENT FROM GINA ARENA, CANDIDATE FOR STATE SENATE DISTRICT 40
On the Farm Laborers Wage Board’s recommendation to reduce the overtime threshold
“A board of unelected bureaucrats in Albany intentionally hurt our farms by pushing forward with this unaffordable mandate.
When I think of New York’s agriculture industry, I think of our local farms here in Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland. Fresh food – right here in the Hudson Valley. But the reduction of the overtime threshold will undoubtedly devastate these local farms.
Our New York Family Farmers are just barely holding on during a time of surging inflation and a broken supply chain. The last thing Albany should be doing is economically harming our food producers more.
Peter Harckham and Governor Kathy Hochul must immediately step in and stop this bad policy from moving forward. If they cared about our family farmers, they would.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: DISTRICT 40 COVERS Westchester & the Hudson Valley. New York’s 40th District includes the towns of Beekman, Pawling and the village of Pawling in Dutchess County, the towns of Carmel, Patterson and Southeast, and the village of Brewster in Putnam County, and the city of Peekskill, the towns of Cortlandt, Lewisboro, Mount Pleasant, New Castle, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Somers and Yorktown, the town/village of Mount Kisco, and the villages of Briarcliff Manor, Buchanan, Croton-on-Hudson, Pleasantville and Sleepy Hollow
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WPCNR FBI WIRE. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. September 7, 2022:
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that AIMEE HARRIS and ROBERT KURLANDER pled guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property involving the theft of personal belongings of an immediate family member of a then-former government official who was a candidate for national political office. HARRIS and KURLANDER pled guilty Wednesday before United States Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave and will be sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Harris and Kurlander stole personal property from an immediate family member of a candidate for national political office. They sold the property to an organization in New York for $40,000 and even returned to take more of the victim’s property when asked to do so. Harris and Kurlander sought to profit from their theft of another person’s personal property, and they now stand convicted of a federal felony as a result.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “As they’ve admitted with today’s pleas, the defendants conspired to steal an individual’s personal property, which they subsequently sold to a third party and delivered across state lines. As a consequence of their actions, they now face punishment in the federal criminal justice system for their crimes. I’d like to thank the Public Corruption Units at both the FBI’s New York Office and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their dedicated effort in this case.”
According to the Information and statements made in court:
In or about September 2020, HARRIS and KURLANDER conspired to steal, transport across state lines, and sell personal property that belonged to an individual (the “Victim”) whom HARRIS and KURLANDER knew was an immediate family member of a then-former government official who was a candidate for national political office.
The Victim had stored the property, including a handwritten journal containing highly personal entries, tax records, a digital storage card containing private family photographs, and a cellphone, among other things, in a private residence in Delray Beach, Florida, at which HARRIS was temporarily residing.
After HARRIS stole the property, she enlisted KURLANDER to help her facilitate its sale. HARRIS and KURLANDER then made contact with an employee of an organization based in Mamaroneck, New York (the “Organization”), who instructed them to use an encrypted application to communicate with the Organization and requested photographs of the Victim’s property.
After receiving the photographs, the Organization offered to pay for HARRIS and KURLANDER’s transportation of the property from Florida to New York City. HARRIS and KURLANDER subsequently traveled to New York City with the Victim’s property at the Organization’s expense and met with employees of the Organization.
During that meeting, HARRIS described the circumstances of how she had obtained the Victim’s property, provided the property to the Organization, and disclosed that the Victim had stored additional property in the residence where HARRIS continued to have access.
After the meeting, and at the Organization’s request, HARRIS and KURLANDER returned to Florida to obtain more of the Victim’s property in order to provide it to the Organization. They later met with an Organization employee in Florida and gave that employee more of the Victim’s stolen property, believing that the Organization would transport or cause the transport of the stolen property from Florida to the Organization’s offices in New York, which the Organization subsequently did. The Organization subsequently paid HARRIS and KURLANDER each $20,000 for the stolen property.
* * *
AIMEE HARRIS, 40, of Palm Beach, Florida, and ROBERT KURLANDER, 58, of Jupiter, Florida, each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Under the terms of their plea agreements, HARRIS and KURLANDER each agreed to forfeit $20,000, and KURLANDER agreed to cooperate with the Government.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jacqueline C. Kelly, Robert B. Sobelman, and Mitzi S. Steiner are in charge of the prosecution.
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APPEARS ON AIR WORLDWIDE TUESDAYS 7:50 AM
ON DENNIS AND TONNY’S GOOD MORNING
WESTCHESTER PROGRAM WVOX 1460 & WVOX.COM
“GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER, DENNIS AND TONNY FROM WHITE PLAINS NY USA. WHERE WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS!
THE COMMON COUNCIL MEETS TONIGHT AT CITY HALL HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING ON EXTENDING THE CITY PARTICIPATION IN THE SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER/WESTCHESTER POWER CONSORTIUM OF 24 TOWNS AND CITIES TO CONTINUE AT THE NEW FIXED GREEN ENERGY RATE OF 15.1 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR WITH A BASIC RATE OF 13.3 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR. \
THIS RATE FIXES THE PRICE OF KILLOWATT HOUR FOR GREEN ENERGY FOR MEMBER CITIES OF THE CONSORTIUM FOR TWO YEARS.
ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK LAST WEEK I INTERVIEWED DAN WELSH DIRECTOR OF WESTCHESTER POWER AND NINA ORVILLE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER WHERE THEY ANNOUNCED THE RATES.
I ASKED THEM WHY THE RATE OBTAINED AFTER THEIR “PAUSE” CALLED LAST SPRING IS HIGHER.
MR. WELSH SAID WHEN BUYING ELECTRIC POWER, YOU ARE BUYING ELECTRONS WITH NO ABILITY TO DISCERN WHETHER THE ELECTRICITY IS MANUFACTURED BY GREEN SOURCES SOLAR, WIND OR WATER IT IS BECAUSE THE NEW YORK INDEPENDENT SYSTEMS OPERATOR SETS THE PRICE OF ELECTRICITY AT OR NEAR THE HIGHEST PRICE POINT.
PRESENTLY NATURAL GAS IS THE HIGHEST PRICED AND MOST USED SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY, MEANING INSTEAD OF SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER BEING ABLE TO BUY GREEN SOURCE GENERATED ELECTRICITY AT A LOWER PRICE THAN NATURAL GAS THE LARGEST FUEL SOURCE, THEY CAN’T.
THEY HAVE TO BUY IT OFF THE GRID AT THE NYISO SET PRICE. THIS IS STUNNING NEWS TO ME.
IT MEANS THE NEW RATE FOR GREEN ENERGY NOW IS EVEN HIGHER THAN ORIGINALLY REJECTED BY WESTCHESTER POWER LAST SPRING.
MY ELECTRIC BILL AS A GREEN CUSTOMER OF WESTCHESTER POWER FOR AUGUST THE FIRST MONTH UNDER THE STANDARD CON ED RATE OF 11.2 CENTS PER KWH FOR THE ELECTRICITY AT THIS NEW RATE OF 15 CENTS THE ADVANTAGE IS THE NEW GREEN FIXED RATE REMAINS FIXED FOR 2 YEARS,
BUT IF I USE 1,389 KILOWATTHOURS OF ELECTRICITY NEXT AUGUST AT THE NEW GREEN RATE OF 15.1 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR INSTEAD OF $155 FOR THE ELECTRICITY i PAY $210 AT THE NEW FIXED GREEN RATE A 40% INCREASE TO GET GREEN ENERGY WHICH MAY OR NOT BE GREEN SOURCE GENERATED ANYWAY.
WHY IS THE PRICE OF NATURAL GAS SO HIGH?
MR. WELSH SAID BECAUSE THE USA IS SENDING OUR NATURAL GAS OR PART OF IT TO EUROPE DUE TO THE UKRAINE-RUSSIA WAR SHORTAGES AND RUSSIA CLAMPING DOWN ON NATURAL GAS EXPORTS TO EUROPE.
THE NEW GREEN RATE AND BASE RATE (13.3 CENTS PER KILOWATTHOUR) FROM SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER AND WESTCHESTER POWER WILL START BEING CHARGED IN DECEMBER MR. WELSH AND MS ORVILLE SAID.
MAYOR ROACH IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF GREEN ENERGY
TONIGHT HE IS APPOINTING MARIAM ELGUETA TO BE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TO THE MAYOR AND CLIMATE SMART COORDINATOR TO LIAISON WITH HIS CLIMATE START COMMUNITY PROGRAM TO FACILIATE MORE AGGRESSIVE ENERGY SAVINGS IN WHITE PLAINS.
HE IS ESTABLISHING A CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITY TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY AND WORK PLAN FOR ESTABLISHING A BASE LINE FOR CITY CURRENT EMISSIONS, RECOMMEND REDUCTION TARGETS, IDENTIFY NEW STRATEGIES FOR REDUCTIONS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND TO RECOMMEND WAYS IN WHICH THESE STRATEGIES CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CITY’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING EFFORTS.
THE MEMBERS OF THE CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITY TASK FORCE ARE:
Judith Mezey, Planning Department Deputy Commissioner
Rebecca Fahey, White Plains Department of Public Works
Jeremiah Frei-Pearson, White Plains Sustainability Committee
Samuel Scafidi White Plains resident
Vennela Yadhati, White Plains resident
Mariam Elgueta, Secretary to the Mayor
The Mayor will chair the Task Force
THIS IS A GREAT DAY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
SCHOOL STARTED TODAY AND SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DR. JOSEPH RICCA IN OUR BACK TO SCHOOL INTERVIEW LAST WEEK SAID NEW SECURITY PROCEDURES WERE IN EFFECT , BUT CANNOT DISCLOSE THEM.
THERE IS NO MANDATORY MASKING IN EFFECT BUT STUDENTS CAN DON MASKS IF THEY WANT TO.
PARENTS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO SEND STUDENTS TO SCHOOL IF THEY SHOWED SIGNS OF ILLNESS. AGGREGATE TESTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS IF REQUESTED. PARENTS CAN DO THAT BY CALLING THEIR CHILD’S SCHOOL.
PARTITIONS BETWEEN STUDENTS IN SCHOOL CLASSROOMS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
SUPERINTENDENT RICCA SAID THAT IF COVID CASES OR MONKEYPOX WERE TO INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY, THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS ARE PREPARED TO RETURN TO REMOTE LEARING OR DISTANCING AND MASKING MEASURES. THE DISTRICT HAS PLANNED FOR THIS POSSIBILITY
NO BULLYING OVER MASKING OR NOT TO MASK WILL BE TOLERATED, THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID.
DR. RICCA STATED TO HIS KNOWLEDGE, OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE PROCEEDING LIKE WHITE PLAINS, RETURNING TO A NORMAL SCHOOL SITUATION WITH CAUTION.
TOM CHAPIN WILL START DOWNTOWN MUSIC AT GRACE AT NOON ON SEPTEMBER 28. AND THAT’S IT FOR THIS WEEK…DENNIS AND TONNY?