WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state’s progress combating COVID-19.  

“We are continuing to closely monitor the numbers across the state and working with localities to identify hotspots and dispatch resources as necessary,” Governor Hochul said. “We all want to put COVID-19 behind us, but the reality is we still have more work to do – and we need to stay vigilant. The vaccine is still our greatest weapon in this fight, and those who are still unvaccinated need to understand the power they have in their hands to help New York and our nation finally beat this virus.”

 
Yesterday, 5,447 New Yorkers tested positive for COVID-19 in New York State, bringing the total to 2,323,065. 

 (WPCNR EDITOR’S NOTE: In Westchester County New York Covid Tracker reports 134 persons tested positive of 4,566 persoms tested, an infection rate of 2.9%yesterday in Westchester County Sunday, September 12.

From Sunday September 5 through September 12, going back, 150 persons were found covid-positive Saturday, 165 tested positive Friday and 300 tested positive last Thursday, 168, positive last Wednesday; 118, Last Tuesday and 103 last Monday, a total of 1,004 positives in one week, last week.

From Monday September 6, back to through Sunday August 29, 1,230 persons tested positive for the disease. August 29, 147 positives, August 30, 139 positives, August 31, 212 positives; September 1, 176 positive; September 2, 193 positives; September 3, 188 positive, September 4, 175 positives, and September 5 148.

This is the first time Westchester hit over 1,000 new positives in a week, (two weeks in a row I might add) since mid-April.

At the present average infection rate in Westchester County of 2.5% positive a day and a spread rate of .7, or less than 1 person infected for every person infected, this may result in approximately 140 new infections in 2 weeks.

Today at the Westchester County Covid Briefing, Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins said that hospitals in the county had told the county 90% of all new Westchester covid cases have occurred in persons who had not been vaccinated.

County Executive George Latimer said the current 106 hospitalizations was well below the 588 hospitalized last January at the height of the second wave. He said the county had a 1,000 bed capacity set aside for covid treatment. Latimer said that 85% of Westchester 1,004,000 residents had been vaccinated with at least one shot.

Mr. Latimer reported that the spread of covid was well below the last January number of cases of 11,000, and that the county was organizing vaccination pop-up sites which had been slowed by the Ida storm damage last week.

Mr. Jenkins said pop-ups would happen at Port Chester Middle School on September 17 from 3 to 6 PM; Cross River John Jay High Schools on September 21 at 2:45 PM to 5:45 PM and New Rochelle Leonard Schools on September 22, 1 to 11 to 4 PM.

Mr. Latimer said FEMA was overing registration for Ida storm damage claims 7 days a week at Mamaroneck Courthouse and at the Will Library in Yonkers, and residents from any community in the county could file for relief funds there.

This is the first time Westchester hit over 1,000 new positives in a week, (two weeks in a row) since mid-April. (END Editor’s Note).

County	Total Positive	New Positive
Albany	27,769	64
Allegany	3,875	13
Broome	21,020	59
Cattaraugus	6,508	18
Cayuga	7,622	44
Chautauqua	10,357	45
Chemung	8,660	19
Chenango	4,057	11
Clinton	5,351	22
Columbia	4,497	8
Cortland	4,638	18
Delaware	2,883	13
Dutchess	33,101	53
Erie	97,137	198
Essex	1,868	6
Franklin	3,270	40
Fulton	5,110	15
Genesee	5,893	14
Greene	3,833	7
Hamilton	396	0
Herkimer	5,828	9
Jefferson	7,118	33
Lewis	3,070	1
Livingston	5,028	9
Madison	5,236	13
Monroe	76,411	143
Montgomery	4,899	8
Nassau	203,217	250
Niagara	21,655	65
NYC	1,039,416	1,388
Oneida	24,984	50
Onondaga	44,435	106
Ontario	8,294	22
Orange	53,579	85
Orleans	3,498	11
Oswego	9,149	24
Otsego	4,037	11
Putnam	11,604	24
Rensselaer	12,913	39
Rockland	50,062	47
Saratoga	17,988	39
Schenectady	14,921	36
Schoharie	2,016	8
Schuyler	1,223	3
Seneca	2,364	10
St. Lawrence	8,357	60
Steuben	7,991	24
Suffolk	222,987	211
Sullivan	7,620	18
Tioga	4,282	18
Tompkins	5,683	14
Ulster	15,968	33
Warren	4,501	22
Washington	3,743	23
Wayne	6,650	18
Westchester	139,332	134
Wyoming	3,818	4
Yates	1,343	6

 
Yesterday, 29 New Yorkers died due to COVID-19, bringing the total to 43,977. A geographic breakdown is as follows, by county of residence:  

Deaths by County of Residence
County	New Deaths
Albany	1
Broome	2
Cattaraugus	1
Erie	1
Kings	6
Madison	1
Nassau	2
Oneida	1
Onondaga	2
Orange	1
Oswego	1
Queens	5
Richmond	1
Steuben	1
Suffolk	2
Tompkins	1

 
All New York State mass vaccination sites are open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first-come, first-serve basis. People who would prefer to schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site can do so on the Am I Eligible App or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX. People may also contact their local health department, pharmacy, doctor or hospital to schedule appointments where vaccines are available, or visit vaccines.gov to find information on vaccine appointments near them. 

Yesterday, 22,196 New Yorkers received their first vaccine dose, and 17,509 completed their vaccine series. A geographic breakdown of New Yorkers who have been vaccinated by region is as follows: 

	People with at least one vaccine dose	People with complete vaccine series
Region	Cumulative Total	Increase over past 24 hours	Cumulative Total	Increase over past 24 hours
Capital Region	735,425	461	675,490	509
Central New York	575,008	426	533,319	326
Finger Lakes	744,228	511	693,824	614
Long Island	1,801,624	3,053	1,595,677	2,376
Mid-Hudson	1,413,276	1,609	1,252,219	1,461
Mohawk Valley	286,457	197	264,841	222
New York City	6,364,071	14,662	5,645,175	10,912
North Country	266,355	221	240,097	130
Southern Tier	381,440	232	351,989	244
Western New York	811,645	824	745,523	715
Statewide	13,379,529	22,196	11,998,154	17,509

Today’s data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported – 109,138
• Total Positive – 3,686
• Percent Positive – 3.38%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive – 3.19%
• Patient Hospitalization – 2,391 (+24)
• Patients Newly Admitted – 257
• Patients in ICU – 544 (+25)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation – 282 (+15)
• Total Discharges – 196,282 (+202)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 29
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 43,977
  The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.
• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC – 56,029
  This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.
• Total vaccine doses administered – 24,347,526
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours – 38,558
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days – 337,322
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose – 79.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series – 71.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 81.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 73.3%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose – 66.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series – 60.1%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 69.1%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 61.7%

Each region’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:  

Region	Friday, September 10, 2021	Saturday, September 11, 2021	Sunday, September 12, 2021
Capital Region	4.38%	4.29%	4.42%
Central New York	5.60%	5.76%	5.73%
Finger Lakes	4.55%	4.68%	4.69%
Long Island	4.28%	4.23%	4.12%
Mid-Hudson	3.64%	3.67%	3.64%
Mohawk Valley	5.36%	5.33%	4.92%
New York City	2.19%	2.15%	2.15%
North Country	5.57%	5.71%	5.83%
Southern Tier	3.34%	3.30%	3.31%
Western New York	4.78%	4.93%	5.07%
Statewide	3.22%	3.22%	3.19%

 
Each New York City borough’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:

Borough in NYC	Friday, September 10, 2021	Saturday, September 11, 2021	Sunday, September 12, 2021
Bronx	2.59%	2.49%	2.50%
Kings	2.20%	2.19%	2.19%
New York	1.54%	1.53%	1.56%
Queens	2.35%	2.30%	2.29%
Richmond	3.63%	3.45%	3.28%

 
Yesterday, 29 New Yorkers died due to COVID-19, bringing the total to 43,977. A geographic breakdown is as follows, by county of residence:  

Deaths by County of Residence
County	New Deaths
Albany	1
Broome	2
Cattaraugus	1
Erie	1
Kings	6
Madison	1
Nassau	2
Oneida	1
Onondaga	2
Orange	1
Oswego	1
Queens	5
Richmond	1
Steuben	1
Suffolk	2
Tompkins	1

 
All New York State mass vaccination sites are open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first-come, first-serve basis. People who would prefer to schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site can do so on the Am I Eligible App or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX. People may also contact their local health department, pharmacy, doctor or hospital to schedule appointments where vaccines are available, or visit vaccines.gov to find information on vaccine appointments near them. 

Yesterday, 22,196 New Yorkers received their first vaccine dose, and 17,509 completed their vaccine series. A geographic breakdown of New Yorkers who have been vaccinated by region is as follows: 

	People with at least one vaccine dose	People with complete vaccine series
Region	Cumulative Total	Increase over past 24 hours	Cumulative Total	Increase over past 24 hours
Capital Region	735,425	461	675,490	509
Central New York	575,008	426	533,319	326
Finger Lakes	744,228	511	693,824	614
Long Island	1,801,624	3,053	1,595,677	2,376
Mid-Hudson	1,413,276	1,609	1,252,219	1,461
Mohawk Valley	286,457	197	264,841	222
New York City	6,364,071	14,662	5,645,175	10,912
North Country	266,355	221	240,097	130
Southern Tier	381,440	232	351,989	244
Western New York	811,645	824	745,523	715
Statewide	13,379,529	22,196	11,998,154	17,509

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The next White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) meeting is tomorrow Sept. 14 at 7pm. Mayor Roach & Commissioner Gomez will be the guest speakers. The topic is the new Comprehensive Plan and how the neighborhood associations can/should be involved. A question and answer session will follow a brief overview of the topic, timeline, and process.

The meeting will take place in person in the Highlands Middle School auditorium. Masks are required in the building.  There will also be a live Zoom component for those that are interested in listening to the discussion.  Unfortunately, only those who are at the meeting in person will be able to participate in the question and answer portion of the meeting.   The Zoom link for the meeting is below. 

Topic: WPCNA Meeting 9/14 
Time: 7pm
https://zoom.us/j/95370891872?pwd=amlZdDVyWmhZMzUwTmhvRDRFalFyUT09

Other opportunities to individually participate in the planning process are below, but our voices are heard best when they are united as a neighborhood.

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WPCNR COVID REPORT. By John F. Bailey. From the NY State Covid Tracker September 10, 2021

One week after the Labor Day holiday began, Westchester covid testing recorded 300 people testing positive for corona virus out of 9,825 tested.

It is the highest single infection day since Westchester stymied the new wave of covid in mid-April when the county recorded 291 new covid infections on April  15.

This is the first time in five months the infection number has hit the 300 mark, (132 more new cases than testing recorded the day before.)

The 300 persons found to be positive were in a testing universe of 9,825 Thursday, jumping the daily infection rate to 3.1% of those tested up from2.3% on Wednesday, September 8, when 7,262 were tested.

The growth or spread rate of yesterday is consistent with the 281 infections two weeks ago on August 26,  when you divide the 300 new cases by the 281 cases on August 26, the spread rate is  1.07, meaning each of the 281 infected with Covid on August 26 if the spread rate continues in the stable zone of spread which does not exponentially expand the number of new cases, but will infect  1 other person perhaps within the next two weeks which would could mean  300 new cases from yesterday’s new persons infected.

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Locations Will Offer Assistance to New Yorkers Impacted by Remnants of Hurricane Ida Who are Eligible for Individual Assistance Program

Governor Kathy Hochul and the Federal Emergency Management Agency today announced the openings of several Disaster Recovery Centers that will provide information, assistance and help for New Yorkers who were impacted by the storms and flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Recovery specialists from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be available to answer questions and provide information on the types of federal help available to homeowners, renters and business owners as a result of the major disaster declarations stemming from the hurricane.

The Boroughs of the Bronx, Queens, Kings, Richmond and Westchester County were designated for Individual Assistance under the major disaster declaration for the Remnants of Hurricane Ida.

“New Yorkers who were impacted by last week’s devastating floods and storm damage can now receive in-person, one-on-one assistance with professionals equipped to assist in the recovery process,” Governor Hochul said. “I thank our partners in the federal government for working quickly to establish these necessary facilities as we continue to get New Yorkers the help they need.”

The following Disaster Recovery Centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until further notice:

Medgar Evers College – 231 Crown Street, Brooklyn, NY 11225

Queens College, Student Union – 152-45 Melbourne Ave, Flushing, NY 11367

Hostos Community College – 450 Grand Concourse, E. Building C, Bronx, NY 10451

Grinton I. Will Library – 1500 Central Park Ave, Yonkers, NY 10710

Mamaroneck Village Court Clerk – 169 Mount Pleasant Ave, Mamaroneck, NY 10543

College of Staten Island, Gymnasium Building R1 – 2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314 

The locations in Yonkers, Mamaroneck and Staten Island will operate in mobile centers before moving into their fixed locations. Additional DRC sites will be announced at a later date.

Impacted NYC residents may also call 311 or visit NYC.gov/IDA to access available City services.

State agency personnel will be stationed within the DRCs to connect impacted citizens with state programs or services that may be available to assist them in their recovery.

Survivors with internet or phone service may register with FEMA using the FEMA App, online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. Individuals who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. These toll-free telephone numbers are operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Operators are multilingual and those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should update FEMA with their specific number assigned to that service. If you need accommodations for language or a disability, let the operator know.

With current connectivity issues, the recovery center also offers a place for survivors to register for assistance in person and get one-on-one help from recovery specialists.

For additional online resources, as well as FEMA downloadable pamphlets and other aids, visit www.disasterassistance.gov and click “information.”

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. September 9, 2021:

Westchester County will unveil a new 9/11 memorial dedicated to the first responders who lost their lives to 9/11 related illnesses Friday. The unveiling of the Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial is a fulfilled promise made by County Executive George Latimer to honor those we have lost due to 9/11 related illnesses:

·         Firefighter – Gary S Allo – White Plains Fire Department

·         Police Officer – Christopher M Barry – NYPD

·         Sergeant – Patrick J Boyle – NYPD

·         Sergeant – Patrick T Coyne – NYPD

·         Battalion – Chief Kevin R Byrnes – FDNY

·         John M Cozza – Construction Industry

·         Emergency Medical Technician – Luis De Pena, Jr – FDNY

·         Police Officer Kenneth X Domenech – NYPD

·         Police Officer Nicholas G Finelli – NYPD

·         Lieutenant – Clark W Douglass – White Plains Fire Department

·         Firefighter – Daniel R Foley – FDNY

·         Detective – Mark S Gado – New Rochelle Police Department

·         Richard A Grace – Construction Industry

·         Commissioner Peter S Guyett – Yonkers Fire Department

·         Firefighter – Herbert D Harriott – Rye Fire Department

·         Police Officer – Joseph F Heid – NYPD

·         Detective – Michael A Houlahan – NYPD

·         John A Lo Bianco – Construction Industry

·         Police Officer – Anthony Maggiore – Yonkers Police Department

·         Executive Director – Stephan Hittmann – FDNY

·         Fire Fighter – Gary S Martin – White Plains Fire Department

·         Lieutenant – Roy D McLaughlin – Yonkers Police Department

·         Firefighter – Robert A Mentrasti – Fairview Fire Department

·         Detective – James W Monahan – NYPD

·         Police Officer – Walter L Mallinson – Harrison Police Department

·         Lieutenant – John W Moran – FDNY

·         Firefighter – Kevin J Nolan – FDNY

·         Police Officer – Kathleen O’Connor Funigello – New Rochelle Police Department

·         Firefighter – John V Peteani Jr – Yonkers Fire Department

·         Firefighter – Michael R O’Hanlon – FDNY

·         Firefighter – Eduardo A Rivera – Yonkers Fire Department

·         Detective – Joseph E Seabrook – NYPD

·         Captain – Robert J Spatta – Croton on the Hudson Fire Department

·         Deputy Chief – Frank G Strollo – New Rochelle Fire Department

·         Captain – Ronald G Peifer SR – FDNY

·         Captain – Dennis P Tortorella – Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department

·         Firefighter – Neill S Tyndal JR – Yonkers Fire Department

·         Detective – Charles J Wassil JR – Peekskill Police Department

·         Lieutenant – Marden C Wolf – White Plains Fire Department

·         James P Sullivan – New York City Transit Authority

·         Sergeant – Peter C Woods – NYPD, Hartsdale Fire Commissioner & Co-Chair Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial

Friday, September 10

2pm

The Rising Memorial

Kensico Dam Plaza

Valhalla, NY 10595

The unveiling on Friday, September 10 will be a private event for family and friends of those lost before the public unveiling on Saturday, September 11 at the County’s memorial at 3:30pm.

Latimer said: “This memorial is the culmination of a promise this County government made to the families and loved ones of these true Westchester heroes. We will not ever take for granted the actions of these individuals and hope that each person who visits this memorial understands their lasting impact.”

The new memorial, which overlooks The Rising memorial at the Kensico Dam Plaza, is made up of granite stones set on a stone veneer wall. Each stone is etched with the names of the Westchester first responders lost to 9/11 related illnesses.  The Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial is designed to complement the stonework of the Dam and surround The Rising as an eternal watch.

The total length of each wall is 20’ and will hold up to 4 4’ long memorial stones each, for a total of 8 memorial stones. A light – which will be known as the Eternal Light – is centered between the two walls and directly across the entrance to the original memorial, The Rising.  This light will be on 24/7 to signify the light shone on the County by those this memorial intends to honor.

Construction of this solemn memorial was done by R. Pugni and Sons, Inc.  The design of the memorial was completed by a combination of the County’s dedicated Department of Planning. Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation and a committee made up of loved ones of those lost to 9/11 related illnesses. The committee, was co-chaired by New York City Police Officer Matthew J. McCauley and NYPD Sargent Peter Woods who lost his battle to a 9/11 related illness earlier this year.

McCauley said: “On the eve of the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks we are reminded of the nearly 3,000 lives that were lost that day, including those from Westchester County who are memorialized at “The Rising.”  Unfortunately, the toll of those lost continues to increase due to 9/11 related illnesses that have claimed so many of our 9/11 First Responders.  Again, Westchester County has seen far too many lost to 9/11 illnesses.  As the Co-Chair of a Committee made up widows, children, other family members, friends and first responders themselves, we applaud Westchester County Executive George Latimer and his team for supporting our vision and desire to have a memorial for those 9/11 First Responders that worked or resided in county, who have died of illnesses they developed as a result of their heroic actions in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks.  This permanent memorial alongside “The Rising” will ensure that the sacrifice of all lost that day and thereafter is never forgotten.” 

The committee, who the County owes a debt of gratitude to for their dedicated work, is made up of:

·         Peter Woods, Co-Chair

·         Matthew McCauley, Co-Chair

·         Georgia Asciutto

·         Valerie Sullivan

·         Anne Byrnes

·         Margaret O’Hanlon

·         Chelsea Wilson

·         Patricia Mallinson

·         Ellen Peifer

·         Sabrina Douglass

·         Chief Andrew Sandor, New Rochelle Fire Department

·         Firefighter Robert Barbella, White Plains Fire Department

·         Carol Ann Gleason

·         Andrew Mentrasti

·         Sara Trujillo

·         Kevin McGuire

·         Firefighter Sandra Bessels, Harrison Fire Department

·         Firefighter Robert Curtin, Mount Vernon Fire Department

This committee, through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, met regularly to plan this new memorial. The work done by them, to honor their loved ones, will be forever cherished by the people of Westchester County.

Following this private unveiling for families, Latimer and first responders from the region, will fully unveil the memorial to the public during the County’s 9/11 ceremony the following day at 3:30p.m.