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)

Out of the Sun: Pearl Harbor Attack Remembered

Posted on December 7, 2009 by John Bailey

Out of the Sun

The Arizona engulfed December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor

Out of the sun on the quiet Sunday they came

Steel birds of death blazened with red suns raining fiery havoc on Battleship Row.

One by one, ruthless planes dove, destroyed to their nation’s shame

Thunderous explosions scattered fiery death on Sunday dawn’s glow.

Flames belched from bowels of stricken Arizona, America’s pride,

On Hicham Field pilots raced to planes to defend

As their birds were crippled on ground by Zeros’ glide

Gunners in turrets on ships floundering filled skies with flack’s din.

In search of carriers the marauders could not find

They ruthlessly strafed and bombed leaving Pearl

In smoking ruin, ships sunk, burning as raiders flew into the Sun

The day of infamy had been ignited in the Zeros’ swirl.

The Attack Begins 8 AM December 7, 1941

As America listened a world away, a somber FDR

Spoke of December 7 as ever a day that will live in infamy.

America must never forget that Pearl Harbor Scar

When an unsuspecting America slept in complacency.

To the 2,403 who perished that day under merciless bombs

Hails of bullets, terror of torpedos out of nowhere

America must remember forces against our freedoms

Relentlessly work always to surprise us with deadly bombs’ glare.

Vigilence is the price of freedom that must always be defended

Against those who would destroy our republic from within

As well as the dark forces in far off places we have offended.

But the answer is not curtailing freedom at home rather it to champion.

The USS Arizona lies in Pearl’s waters, bleeding the lives

Of her men through the eerie eternal slick marking the rusting hulk.

Beneath Pearl’s waters, the blood of free people oozes from the shadowy bulk,

Bleeding forever, freedom’s spirit living forever in lost lives remembered.

She never rests.

Note: The Pearl Harbor attack which took place 65 years ago today and its aftermath is dramatically depicted at http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm

All Night Lights! New Post Road School Blazes 24/7 Due to Poor Electric Design

Posted on December 3, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. December 4, 2009: The $38.5 Million “green building, eco-efficient, energy-saving” Post Road School opened to rave reviews in September with no reported glitches. However, the security lighting system in halls and stairways and entrances cannot be controlled efficiently due to flaws in the electric system controlling the lights.

Neighbors may be wondering why the new Post Road School has blazed like an airport terminal all night long 7 days a week these past three months. Fred Seiler confirmed the problem with the lighting to WPCNR Thursday. The school according to Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler, has too many lights that are security lights which cannot be dimmed and are not motion-sensitive, and apparently, (it is not quite clear why), cannot be turned off individually.

Seiler confirmed the electrical-design perpetual lighting problem in the new school Thursday afternoon to WPCNR, after a parent contacted WPCNR complaining about the waste and how long it has been literally going on.

Post Road School, Sterling Avenue entrance. Wednesday 11:30 P.M

According to Seiler the district became aware of the problem when the school opened in September and they have had “many discussions” about how to fix it. It seems the lights cannot be turned off individually. The lights in question are the main entrance interior lights, the three hall levels and the stairwells. Individual classroom lights are motion sensitive, and even dim according to the amount of light coming in the windows, as well as being switch-controlled.

New Post Road School, Wednesday Evening 11:20 P.M. Soundview Parking Lot.

Post Road School Cafeteria, Soundview Avenue side. 11:35 P.M. Wednesday Night.

Seiler said the problem stems from a misunderstanding between the architect, Kaeyer, Gartment & Davidson which called for the lights (which Seiler said were too many), and the way in which the electrical contractor wired the lights. “People say, well why don’t you just turn them all off,” Seiler explained, “but that’s no good either , because then you have no security lighting, at night.”

Seiler said the project for rewiring the lights has been put out to bid. He said he had no idea how much it would cost.

Parents familiar with the problem contacted WPCNR complaining about the problem. One said the lights have been on for months and they considered it a waste of money.

Seiler said the school district did not have an idea of how much the 24 hour lighting has eaten up in additional electricity bills.

Legislature Cuts Community Residence Agencies But Not as Much as Predicted

Posted on December 3, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the New York Association of Community and Residential Agencies. December 4, 2009 A Deficit Reduction Plan (DRP) was approved by both houses of the State Legislature Wednesday. The State Assembly approved the measure early Wednesday morning with the State Senate taking action before Noon. The next step to enact the approximate $2.7 billion in cuts is approval by the Governor -which is expected.

The State Legislature rejected the Governor’s proposal to cut all OMRDD local assistance by 10%. While NYSACRA continues to obtain specific details as to the exact nature of the cuts, it appears that non Medicaid services may be subject to the 10% reduction, Medicaid services receiving a 5% cut and ICF services excluded from a cut. This translates into an estimated $37 million cut to the OMRDD voluntary sector. It is important to underscore that the Commissioner will have the flexibility in decision- making as to exactly how the reductions will be implemented and stresses that the $37 million reduction is an approximate figure. Likewise to serve as a reminder, the DRP reflects mid-year reductions to the current fiscal year (2009-10) and will be effective November 1, 2009.

The total $550 million in local assistance reductions will be achieved through targeted actions ($160 million) and 12.5% local assistance cuts (deemed across the board reductions) to unspent 2009-10 funds ($390 million). OMRDD sister agencies, OMH and OASAS will be subject to the 12.5% across the board reductions.

There remains a $500 million deficit in the current fiscal year and uncertainty as to how the Governor will achieve these savings. Additionally, discussions continue as to the severity of the State’s cash flow and whether the Governor will seek to address this through payment delays to providers.

Astorino Taps Plunkett Deputy County Exec, Meehan County Attorney

Posted on December 3, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Transition Office of the County Executive Elect, Rob Astorino. December 3,2009: Westchester County Executive-elect Rob Astorino (R-I), who promised to attract to his administration the “best and brightest Westchester has to offer” to reduce the cost of county government, today announced two senior administration appointments, Kevin J. Plunkett as Deputy County Executive and Robert F. Meehan as Westchester County Attorney.

Kevin Plunket, left, newly appointed Deputy County Executive with County Executive Elect, Rob Astorino, and member of the Astorino transition team, Kay Karsky. WPCNR NEWS ARCHIVE

Mr. Plunkett currently serves as Chairman of the Astorino Transition Committee and Mr. Meehan is the Mount Pleasant Town Supervisor. These appointments are the first announced by the County Executive-elect, who takes office on January 1, 2010.

“Kevin Plunkett and Bob Meehan will bring to these positions a wealth of experience in government and sound public policy judgment,” County Executive-elect Astorino said. “They are highly skilled and accomplished professionals who will be great assets to Westchester County government. I have known Kevin and Bob for more than two decades and they will be indispensible to me as I work to move this county forward.”

Kevin J. Plunkett – First Deputy County Executive

Mr. Plunkett is a partner at the law firm of DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise & Wiederkehr, LLP, which is based in White Plains, NY. He has a distinguished public service resume: Mr. Plunkett is a Member of the Governor’s Judicial Screening Committee for the Second Department. He is a Board Member of the New York State Thruway Authority; a Member of the Taconic State Park Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission; a Member of the Board of Visitors at Pace University Law School, and Chairman of the Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley, Inc. Mr. Plunkett has served as counsel to many Westchester County communities.

Robert F. Meehan- County Attorney

Mr. Meehan has served as the Mount Pleasant Town Supervisor since 1990. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1974 and has extensive experience in municipal and related areas of law. He received his B.A. from Fordham University and J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. He has served as a Law Clerk to Supreme Court Justice Richard F. Kuhnen and as the Mount Pleasant Town Attorney prior to being elected Supervisor. Mr. Meehan has extensive community and public service credentials. He is a current member and past President of the Westchester/Putnam Town Supervisors Association and the Westchester Municipal Officials Association.

“I am honored to have been chosen to serve as Deputy County Executive,” Mr. Plunkett said. “County Executive-elect Astorino and I share a vision of a more efficient Westchester government that puts taxpayers and economic growth first. Westchester is facing many challenges, and we are assembling an outstanding team to meet those challenges head on.”

“I have known and worked with Rob Astorino for 25 years,” Mr. Meehan said. “I am thrilled that he has asked me to serve in this capacity. There are many critical legal issues before this county, and I am grateful for his confidence in my abilities to manage them.”