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)

It’s Castelli vs. Harckham. Katonah CL Defeats WP’s Greene for 89th Seat Nod

Posted on January 14, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. Special to The CitizeNetReporter. January 14, 2010 UPDATED 11:15 P.M. E.S.T.: Peter Harckham, the County Legislator from Katonah, defeated White Plains Alison Greene by a 13,000 to 7,000 “weighted” vote on the second ballot tonight at the County Democratic Convention at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for the nomination to run for White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley’s 89th District New York state Assembly Seat, which Mr. Bradley vacated when he became Mayor.

At the County Republican Convention, Rob Castelli was nominated for the 89th Seat. Mr. Castelli, speaking to WPCNR this evening, said he is hoping to obtain the Conservative and Independence Party lines as well. He said Harckham is vulnerable having supported Andy Spano on many issues as County Legislator, the recent affordable housing settlement in particular.

Harckham and Castelli have 4 weeks before the Special Election coming up February 9.

Mr. Harckham, quoted in a news release, gave this statement:

“I am extremely humbled and gratified to have earned the trust and support of my fellow Democrats. With just a few short weeks to go before the election, I will strive to be worthy of that trust, and to present the voters of the 89^th Assembly District with a strong voice to restore confidence and accountability in Albany. I promise to run a strong, clean, competitive campaign that brings our message of new hope and confidence to the people of our district.”

Dr. Clifford Gevirtz, our correspondent reports, withdrew before the first ballot. Charlotte Watson did not withdraw, and after she finished third in the first vote, Harckham and Greene contended.

Harckham will face a Republican candidate, reported to be Rob Castelli whom Adam Bradley defeated in 2004 in his bid for reelection for the 89th Assembly District seat,25,571 votes to 17,457.

Our correspondent said that Ms. Greene made a gracious speech in support of Mr. Harckham, and he, in turn, made an equally gracious acceptance speech.

Astorino Proposes Non-Union Cty Managers Pay 15% of Their Health Care Costs

Posted on January 14, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Association. January 14,2010: Today the WCA hosted close to 500 business and political leaders at its 13th Annual Breakfast with the County Executive. At the breakfast, County Executive Rob Astorino made a major policy announcement that will help reduce the cost of government. He has proposed legislation requiring all non-union managerial County employees contribute 15 percent of the overall cost of their health insurance premiums. This legislation would affect more than 400 county employees and would mean a savings of about $1.2 million a year.

We urge the business community to contact their local County Legislator and tell them to vote YES on this legislation. They should also be reminded to voluntarily contribute the 15% as County Executive Astorino announced he would do.

Pedestrians Struck at Lake Street Bridge

Posted on January 14, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From a WPCNR Correspondent. January 14, 2010: Tonight, Thursday January 14, there was an accident about 5:45 PM near the Getty Station on Lake Street. According to witnesses, a teenage girl and her mother left a hair salon at 58 Lake Street and walked out into the street, and were (both) struck by a late model car headed east towards Harrison. The driver was ok, however, both pedestrians were rushed to WP Hospital with cuts and internal injuries.

Foreclosure Filings Quadruple Year to Year in Final Q: County Clerk

Posted on January 13, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR County Clarion-Ledger. From Timothy Idoni, Westchester County Clerk. January 13, 2010: The number of foreclosure filings in Westchester County in the last quarter of 2009 was more than four times as high at 353 filings as they were during the same quarter of 2008 when 76 filings were recorded.

“A foreclosure action, which is filed in the Westchester County Clerk’s office is the first step of a process that can result in the loss of a home or building,” stated County Clerk Timothy C, Idoni. “However,” continued Idoni, “Westchester homeowners need to know that commencement of a foreclosure action or filing does not mean that their home will ultimately be lost to foreclosure, especially if they get help.”

The county clerk’s office reports that the increase in the number of foreclosure filings in 2009 reached an all time high of 3,113 or 907 more filings than the 2,206 recorded in 2008. There is encouraging news however as the number of judgments resulting in foreclosure or actual loss of a home for the last quarter of 2009 -63- were lower than 2008 when 92 judgments were recorded. Judgments were also significantly lower for the year with 732 compared to a high of 1,033 in 2008.

“If you are at risk of foreclosure, seek help immediately,” urged County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni, whose office records all foreclosure filings. “Don’t wait until it becomes too late to save your home,” he cautioned, emphasizing how foreclosures can hurt our neighborhoods, our families and severely impact municipal budgets and services. “And while judgments were down in 2009, the troubling rise in commencements of foreclosures is a clear indicator that more at-risk Westchester homeowners need to start now to pursue efforts to avoid losing their homes,” said Idoni. He urged residents to consider the following:

· Avoid being subject to legal action by not falling behind in your mortgage payments. If you receive a warning letter from your bank or lender, or concerned that you will fall behind on payments, seek help now. Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO), a non-profit housing agency with offices in White Plains and Mount Vernon, conducts Mortgage Default Orientation Sessions most Tuesdays in their White Plains office. Call a trained counselor at 428-4507 or visit www.wroinc.org to see how they can help you.

· You don’t have to lose your home, even if you are served with foreclosure papers. Do not throw in the towel and give up. Try to enter into a repayment plan, secure a modified loan, refinance with another lender or sell your home on your own to avoid foreclosure.

· Avoid falling victim to foreclosure rescue scams. As foreclosure rates climb, so do the number of mortgage foreclosure scams targeting at-risk homeowners. Don’t make a bad situation worse by falling prey to these scam operations. Only seek help from a reputable counseling agency or a trusted attorney to guide you through the process.

The Westchester County Clerk is the Clerk for the Supreme Court where foreclosure actions are heard. The public can visit the Legal Division located at 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in White Plains between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays to look up legal records, judgments, liens, lis pendens, and other business records. For more information on our Legal Division, please call 995-3070 or visit our website at www.westchesterclerk.com.