Feiner: Dobbs Ferry Hosp Makes Money; Why Close It? Notes Hearing Monday

WPCNR’S THE FEINER REPORT. By Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. December 10, 2006:

The NY State Assembly Health Committee will be holding public hearings on the Berger Commission report on hospital and nursing home closings this coming Monday at 11 AM at White Plains Library, 100 Martine Ave, White Plains. The committee is providing people with an opportunity to testify in person or via e mail. If you cannot testify in person you should e mail the Assembly at the following address: [email protected].  This is the first time that the State Assembly is providing people with the opportunity to testify electronically. The ‘e hearing’ will enable the committee to hear from many more people than will be able to testify in person.


Oral testimony is limited to ten minutes in length. (Mr. Feiner will be delivering the following remarks:)



My name is Paul Feiner. I am the Greenburgh Town Supervisor. I appreciate the opportunity you are providing residents to testify in person or electronically about the Berger Commission’s Report on hospital and nursing home closings. The Community Hospital at Dobbs Ferry is vital and important to our community. I urge the State Assembly Health Care Committee to do whatever you can to save this very important hospital.


The Greenburgh Town Board unanimously approved a resolution at the December 4th Town Board meeting urging the state to save the Community Hospital at Dobbs Ferry. This hospital should not be closed. The hospital is profitable –in 2006 the hospital projects a profit of $625,000. From an operating margin perspective CHDF is the most profitable entity in the entire Hudson Valley region. The hospital is the lowest cost facility in its region. The average length of stay for patients in NY is 6.1 days versus a national ALOS of 4.8. The average length of stay at Dobbs Ferry is 4.4 days.  The hospital is also the fastest growing facility in the region –discharges have grown by 20% over four years. Referred ambulatory procedures have grown by 24.4% Ambulatory surgery volume has grown by 8% over 4 years. Emergency room volume has grown by 17% over 4 years.


The drive time from the river villages to Phelps, White Plains, the Westchester Medical Center & St. John’s Riverside Hospital is between 15-30 minutes. However, during busy times of the day the drive time more than doubles. A patient in cardiac arrest must reach the hospital within 8 minutes. The closest Emergency Rooms in other hospitals have waits of more than 3 hours or more. If the state closes the Community Hospital at Dobbs Ferry the 900 visits a month will have to be redistributed to nearby emergency rooms in other hospitals which are already overcrowded with extremely long waits causing further waiting times.


It makes no sense to close down a hospital that is making money and serves an important community need. I thank the Assembly Health Committee for providing concerned citizens with the opportunity to express their views on this important issue. Please do what you can to save this important community asset –a hospital known for its personalized attention, great service, excellent health care. When patients visit Dobbs Ferry Hospital they do not feel that they are numbers – they feel that neighbors who truly care about their health are doing whatever it takes to help them get better. This hospital is unique and very special.


The possible closing of this hospital has created a health care crisis in our Greenburgh community. I urge members of the Assembly to visit the Community Hospital at Dobbs Ferry before you make your recommendations. It’s difficult to appreciate the unique qualities of the hospital if you do not visit the hospital in person.


 

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Jamaican Chef, Delivers $1,000 to Help Westchester Autism Foundation

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. December 9, 2006: Allan Vernon, creator of Vernon’s Jerk Sauce when he heard of the plight of the Westchester Autism Foundation, which because of a delay in funding was in need of a cash infusion this month, Mr. Vernon stepped up in the spirit of the holiday season Friday, donating $1,000 to the Westchester Autism Foundation. Accepting the check was  Octavio Gomez, Vice President of the Foundation.



Councilman Glen Hockley, second from left, who helped deliver the “help in need,”  said he has stunned  by the number of residents of White Plains, whom he has learned have autistic children. When he heard that Arnold Streisfeld, second from right, a real estate attorney working with Allan Vernon of Vernon’s Jerk Sauce, Inc.  (far left),who is looking at opening a Jamaican restaurant in White Plains, Mr. Hockley advised Mr. Streisfeld of the Autism Foundation immediate financial aid. Mr. Vernon was very happy to come through in the holiday spirit. Mr. Gomez, center accepts the check (center), Anthony Russo, looks on. The ceremony took place at the Knights of Columbus clubhouse in White Plains. Photo, WPCNR Photorazzi.

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CITY SEEKING ADVERTISING REVENUE


 


WPCNR NEWS COMMENT. By The WPCNR Editorial Advisory Committee. December 10, 2006: The White Plains Parking Department is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to sell advertising space on receipts dispensed by multispace parking meters. The city would benefit two ways. First, the vendor would have to supply the paper on which the receipts are printed, thus saving the city the cost of buying the paper. Second, the vendor would share with the city the money generated from selling the advertising. Proposals have to be submitted to the Parking Department no later than the close of business on Tuesday, Dec. 12. This is  a serious request by the city and the WPCNR Editorial Advisory Committee has some suggestions of who should apply:


 



 




At a recent meeting, the WPCNR Editorial Advisory Committee kicked around some other ideas the city might adopt in order to earn a bit of extra money by selling advertising.  Perhaps WPCNR readers have ideas of their own they could add to the mix.


 



  1. Sell ads on the back of actual parking tickets. This would be an ideal advertising medium for lawyers.
  2. Sell ads on parking meters. This would be ideal for, say, a fast-food restaurant which could advertise, “We’ll have you fed before the time on this meter runs out.”
  3. Place a fleet of toy sailboats in the downtown fountain and sell ads on the sails. This would be perfect for the downtown bars which could advertise, “Don’t drink the fountain water…drink what we serve at our bar.”
  4. Sell ads on the back of real estate tax bills. This might appeal to manufacturers of aspirin and other headache remedies.
  5. Sell commercials during recesses in the televised Common Council meetings. We haven’t yet figured out which categories of advertisers might be interested.
  6. Bottle White Plains tap water under the brand name: “Quarropas Springs Water — The Water of the Smokey ,Marshes the Weckquaeskecks, White Plains First Settlers” or “White Plains Water — New York’s Best Water from the Renaissance City — from the Pristine Taps of the White Plains Department of Public Works” — sell it for $3.99 a bottle.
  7. Sell ads on the  sides of Police Cars for Bail Bondsmen, Gun License Application Specialists, Handsfree Cellphone Devices, Radar Detectors.
  8. Sell advertising on city public reports  — (“Creative Accountant Swat Team — Everything’s an Asset — You too can show a surplus”)
  9. Sell display advertising on the Common Council, Planning Board and Zoning Board Agendas ( “It’s 11 P.M. Next time Let Deltoid, Lightly, Shifty and Smooth handle your proposal — We’re In Touch.” “Resolution Obfuscations While U Wait — Comfortably Seamless), you could even “billboard’ portions of the televised Common Council meeting (“Tonight’s Employee of the Month is brought to you by–“, “The Consent Agenda is Brought to You by –“) — or sell sponsorships of councilperson’s statements. (“The Councilperons’ statements on the MOU are made possible by…”)
  10. Sell bicycle shop ads on the White Plains Police Bike Patrol Bikes. “Bicycles Park Free in White Plains–Check Out the WPPD Pursuit Model this officer is riding at “2 Wheels Around the World.”
  11. Sell advertisements for smoke detectors, fire extinguishers on Fire Department trucks.
  12. Sell billboards for leaf mulchers, garbage disposals, shredding machines on DPW Trucks.
  13. Sell Landmark City Documents : “The Collected Legal Opinions of the White Plains Corporation Counsel,” “The Environmental Impact Statements of Our Time,” “The Common Council’s 25 Best and Worst Decisions — A Retrospective”

 

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SlamDunk Fest Features 16 Teams at County Center Over Holidays.


WPCNR PRESS BOX. From Westchester County Department of Recreation & Parks. December 9, 2006: See some of the area’s best high school basketball match-ups and take a chance at the $1,000 Big Shot during the eighth annual Slam Dunk Challenge Basketball Tournament, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, December 27, 28 and 29, at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.


 



The White Plains Tigers, shown here tipping off against Lincoln Wednesday, a game they had won after the first 8 minutes, will be contending in the SlamDunk fest. Photo, WPCNR Sports


            This year’s three-day event is presented by Westchester County Parks and sponsored by The Journal News VarsityCentral.


            The Slam Dunk Challenge Basketball Tournament will showcase 16 of the best boys’ and girls’ high school basketball teams in the area, featuring some of the most exciting play of the upcoming high school basketball season. The following teams are participating:


 


BOYS’ TEAMS


Archbishop Stepinac High School, White Plains, NY


Cardinal Hayes High School, Bronx, NY


Lakeland High School, Shrub Oak, NY


New Rochelle High School, New Rochelle, NY


Peekskill High School, Peekskill, NY


Pelham High School, Pelham, NY


Uniondale High School, Long Island, NY


White Plains High School, White Plains, NY


Woodlands High School, Hartsdale, NY


Xaverian High School, Brooklyn, NY


 


GIRLS’ TEAMS


Minisink Valley High School, Slate Hill, NY
Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Poughkeepsie, NY


 



WPHS in action in action inthe second half Wednesday against Lincoln. Relentless in your face defense bullseye outside shooting and rugged rebounding by White Plains donminated the action. The Tigers notched victory one on the hardwood road. Photo, WPCNR Sports


 

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