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)

New Post Road School Wired, Ready. Teachers to Come Aug 31.

Posted on August 24, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS.PHOTOS OF THE DAY . August 24,2009: The new Post Road School was scheduled to be plugged-in to the internet today with Verizon scheduled to wire up the about-to-debut $39 Million school after interior computer network wiring was installed the last week. Landscaping was scheduled to start this week. The tentative schedule for the schools teacher-force to get into their classrooms is for the teachers to come in August 31, giving 10 days to ready classrooms for the start of the 2009-10 school year. Sources tell WPCNR the project is wrapping up on schedule.

Looking Like A School Sunday. The new $39 Million Post Road School from the Sterling Avenue Entrance Looking Very Nice Sunday.

The administrative staff has already been into the offices on the Sterling Avenue entrance side. WPCNR has been informed all electricity is in; school furniture is in; school supplies are stacked in classrooms awaiting the teachers. The playground adjacent the main school entrance is to be completed in time for school to start September 9, however playground equipment WPCNR has been told will not be in place. Demoltion of the former Post Road School will begin with interior asbestos removal and structural dismantling, with the building itself tentatively coming down in November

The New School viewed from Soundview Avenue Sunday

School Supplies Stacked in Classrooms, Awaiting the Teachers’ Touches.

Work to ready the Playground isn in progress. Old Gymnasium being incorporated into the new Post Road School is behing the yellow steamshovel.

Rockford Thunder Come Back to Win Pro Fastpitch Championship, 2-0

Posted on August 24, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. From National Pro Fastpitch. August 24, 2009: The Rockford Thunder captured their first Cowles Cup at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio, on Sunday afternoon crowning them the 2009 NPF champions as they defeated the USSSA Pride 2-0 in the final game of the season. Rockford climbed back from a 1-0 deficit and near elimination to win both of their series on the weekend and become champions.

Cat Osterman led the way with her second complete game shut out of the day only allowing the Pride to have one single and a walk on the day. Between the two games on Sunday, Osterman struck out an amazing 26 batters and only gave up four hits. For the tournament, Osterman struck out 50 batters in 31 innings in five starts, pitching 31 of her team’s 41 innings. Photo, Rockland Thunder

The only player to get on for the Pride in game three was Oli Keohohou who drew a walk and hit an infield single that bounced off of Osterman’s glove in the fifth inning.

The Thunder picked up enough offense for Osterman against tough pitching by Sarah Pauly and Monica Abbott. Leadoff hitter Shanel Scott got Rockford going right away with a hit to left field jsut past a diving Kristin Schnake. Scott would eventually score on a sacrfice bunt by Lyndsey Angus to give Rockford a 1-0 lead. For good measure, Chelsea Spencer added another run when she blasted a towering shot that soared over the center field fence for a solo home run.

The home run would be the last pitch Pauly threw as the Pride turned to Abbott, who shut down Rockford’s offense the rest of the way. Abbott gave up a signle to the first hitter she faced, but then retired 12 of the next 13 hitters to close out the game. Even though Abbott kept the Pride close, Osterman wouldn’t allow the Pride offense an opportunity to get back in the game.

Following the game Osterman was announced as the MVP of the NPF Championship weekend after picking up all of her team’s victories. The Thunder ace allowed only gave up an astonishing two runs, one earned, in her five starts of the tournament.

Feiner: Offer $$$ to Burbs to Invite Affordable Housing In

Posted on August 24, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor. August 24, 2009:

Westchester County officials should consider providing financial incentives to neighborhoods that agree to implement the desegregation agreement–which will require 750 affordable homes or apartments, 630 which must be provided in towns and villages where black and hispanic residents make up a small portion of the community. I suggest that Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano and the members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators schedule a meeting with all the mayors & Town Supervisors to discuss the implementation of any affordable housing plan.

, comptroller’s office should be asked to sign off on the plan.

As a former member of the Housing Committee of the Westchester County Board of Legislators and as Town Supervisor of Greenburgh – I have been very interested in affordable housing initiatives. In recent decades almost every elected official has supported affordable housing until it’s proposed in their community. Voters usually support the election of candidates who stand for affordable housing until the proposed units are recommended in their back yards. The aggressive NIMBY reactions from residents in most communities in Westchester against any affordable housing has resulted in few affordable housing units being built in the county in recent decades.

Recently the Greenburgh Town Board approved a zoning change to allow for workforce housing in the Fulton Park neighborhood. Although the housing is going to be situated across the street from a deli, a Verizon office building & Staples store – many residents came out against the proposal. They also motivated other civic associations within the town to oppose the project. The location of this complex is ideal for affordable housing – within walking distance from downtown White plains, the White Plains train station, Central Ave. The site was previously used for homeless housing and before that was a sleezy hotel. If an affordable housing proposal for working people at this location is controversial – it is not unreasonable to assume that there will be significant opposition to all the units of housing that are proposed by the county–no matter where it is located.

If the county enters into a stipulation with the federal government and promises to build affordable housing within the county – it is important that a plan be implemented to reduce neighborhood opposition. If neighborhoods receive benefits if housing is placed in their community – members of the community might reluctantly support the housing instead of fighting it.

The county should consider offering to acquire and pay for additional open space in the immediate neighborhoods impacted by the housing units. Another financial incentive that should be considered: the county should pay for the costs of educating the additional children who will be attending the public schools. Perhaps, additional grants could be made by the county to the affected school district to provide enhancements for other students (such as free SAT preparation courses). Other financial incentives to neighborhoods that are impacted by any stipulation should be considered.

Some people might suggest that it’s unfair for the county to reward neighborhoods that accept affordable housing. I disagree. Neighborhoods are accepting a social responsibility that others neighborhoods don’t want. The bottom line: The county should make affordable housing so appealable to neighborhoods that residents feel that their property values will go up because they will receive amenities not available to others if the housing is placed near them. Maybe we can make affordable housing so appealable that communities will compete for the privilege of having affordable housing within their boundaries.

Obviously, if this kind of agreement is implemented – a legal agreement will have to be approved. The State Attorney General’s office

Assisted Living Facilities Not Required to Have Emergency Power On Site: State

Posted on August 20, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. By John F. Bailey. UPDATED 3:30 P.M. E.D.T., August 20, 2009: According to the New York State Department of Health, New York state “assisted living facilities” like the Esplanade Senior Residence in White Plains are not required to have on premises an emergency source of power in case of a power outage.

The question of a backup power source came up after the 130 tenants of The Esplanade were without power for about five hours Thursday evening as result of a burned out feeder cable beneath Mamaroneck Avenue.

According to Jeffrey Hammond, spokesperson for the New York State Department of Health, “Assisted living facilities are required to have in place and to follow an established protocol to insure the comfort and safety of the residents.” Asked if this stopped short of requiring a source of emergency power, Hammond said that was correct.

Last night, White Plains Department of Public Safety opted not to attempt to evacuate the 130 tenants of the Esplanade, because of the difficulty and health risks involved.

Currently there are two assisted living facilities planned for construction in White Plains, the Kensington assisted living facility on Maple Avenue and Longview Avenue and the North Street Community senior condominiums and assisted living facility.

Frank Pagani of Thompson & Bender, speaking for the North Street Community reports this afternoon that the North Street Community assisted living facility planned for the former St. Agnes Hospital site will have total emergency backup: “Regarding your inquiry, the assisted living facility planned for North Street will have 100% back up for life safety operations (sprinklers, emergency lighting, automatic doors) and the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning system. And, in about 3-4 months, building 311 (doctors’ offices facility) will be 100% backed up in case of a power failure.”

Damon Amadio, White Plains Commissioner of Building, advised WPCNR Thursday afternoon that the Kensington whose plans have not been finalized was required to have emergency back up for its fire pump, elevators, and lighting, and said he’d be very surprised if the building was not planning on installing a full power backup facility. Amadio said the Kensington was required to by code because of its height and number of proposed residents.

Amadio reported that nursing homes in the city were required by national and state law to have full emergency power backup systems. He said that facilities without backup systems have been known to contract with outside generator-supply companies to rent generators to keep the facilities operating during an extended power outage period. He said according to the city code, buildings were not allowed to keep buildings occupied when the temperature in them dropped below 50 degrees, but there was no city ordinance saying a building could not be occupied when it reached a maximum temperature. Amadio was checking into whether or not the Senior Armory Residence had an emergency generator.

Mr. Hammond of the Public Affairs Office of the Department of Health said that persons as a Hotline persons can call to report concerns they have about assisted living facilities which keeps identity anonymous. That HOTLINE is 1-866-893-6772.

The Department of Communications of Westchester County told WPCNR that the Esplanade and all other assisted living facilities in the county are strictly under the jurisdiction of the New York State Department of Health, which regulates how those facilities are constructed and managed.