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)

Con Ed Makes Big Time Progress Overnight in WP: 1,100 Homes Out as of 9 A.M.

Posted on July 21, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. July 21, 2006: Alphonso of Con Edison Media Relations reports to WPCNR just a few moments ago that Con Edison has restored power to over 1,000 homes in White Plains since midnight. As of 9 A.M., the spokesperson reports only 1,100 homes remain without power. With Keyspan crews on the job today, White Plains power sufferers should have their electricity restored sooner than expected. Mayor Delfino reported yesterday Con Edison had promised him White Plains would be powered up by Sunday. Thunderstorms, one lurking over the County Seat as of this hour may slow the recovery. WCBS Radio reported 6,700 homes remain without power in Westchester (including the 1,100 in WP and 2,400 in Scarsdale).

Con Edison and crews from Orange Rockland, Mid Hudson Power and now Keyspan have cut White Plains powerless from 3,700 to 1,100 in 19 hours. (3,700 were without power at 2 PM and 1,100 remain as of 9 A.M.

Board of Education Capital Projects Committee Sees Cost of Bond Rise to $70 Mill

Posted on July 21, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. July 21, 2006: Triton Construction Corporation presented new numbers based on their review of the projected costs of the School District proposed $66.7 Million Infrastructure and Capital Improvement program Thursday evening to the Capital Projects Committee at the White Plains High School Library because Education House was without power for the second straight day.

Chris Pearson of Triton Construction Corporation, the city’s construction manager on the as-yet-to-be-approved project, presented costs of the projects as approaching $69,366,748, up 3% from the previous $66.7 Million figure.

Pearson attributed the rising costs to a 3% increase in the cost of construction of the new Post Road School from $36 million to $39,359,008. He also warned that costs would escalate due to construction inflation at 2% a quarter. At that rat, considering construction could not start before July 2007, WPCNR estimates the bond amount may eventually have to be floated for $75 Million in either October or December. It is unlikely the Board of Education would put the bond referendum up for vote in November when there would be a high turnout of electorate. Russ Davidson of Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson, who said he had not seen Mr. Pearson’s figures before the evening, said he was pleased Triton’s figures on the project were only 3% higher than what KG & D had estimated.

The Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors stated that the school was expected a gift towards the Loucks Field construction from the Super Developer, Louis Cappelli, but that the amount and form of Mr. Cappelli’s generosity has yet to be announced by the city or Mr. Cappelli. Last week, WPCNR was told by Mr. Cappelli’s spokesperson, Geoffrey Thompson the terms and nature of the gift were being negotiated. (The cost of the renovation of Loucks Field at White Plains High School was estimated by Mr. Pearson last night as being $5,777,742.)

Mike Graessle, Chair of the committee set August 2, Wednesday, for the committee to reconvene and discuss its recommendations to the Board of Education.

The Committee dismissed accountant Richard Hecht’s recommendations to bond the infrastructure improvements separately, based on Assistant Superintendent of Business Terence Schruers bond projections showing no significant savings in tax payments if the district did that. Schruers noted that the cost of the bond in a tax increase would be an additonal $66 to $70 a year in taxes for the average assessed home in White Plains ($15,000) . For a home worth $700,000 in White Plains assessed at $18,000, that cost would be an additional $85 a year in additional to any increases in the school budget any given year.

Peter Bassano speaking to WPCNR after the meeting said that Kaeyer Garment & Davidson’s contract with the district for supervising the project was still being negotiated and the percentage the architectural firm would receive based on the costs of the infrastructure was being vigorously negotiated. KG & D according to the initial contract considered was to receive 8% of infrastructure costs under $5 Million, and 7% of new construction costs over $5 Million. Their contract was cost based.

The Slow Turn On: 2,500 White Plainsians Without Juice at Midnight.

Posted on July 20, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. July 20, 2006. 11:45 P.M. E.D.T.: WPCNR has just received the lastest figures from Con Edison on the slow turn back on of power to White Plains afflicted, powerless Southend of town. As of 11:45 P.M, Elizabeth Clark of Con Edison Media Relations reports there were 2,500 White Plains customers still without power at this hour. Since 2 P.M. this afternoon when Con Ed was reporting 3,700 homes, 1,200 customers have been restored.

Clark said now that the damage assessment has been completed, Con Ed can begin restoring power. “We had to make the areas safe before we could begin restoring power,” she told WPCNR moments ago.

Peter Katz, President of the Saxon Woods Neighborhood Association, told WPCNR tonight he spoke with a Con Edison crew supervisor handling repairs on Saxon Woods Road. Katz reports that the supervisor told him Con Edison expected to beat Sunday’s announced target for complete restoration of White Plains power. Katz said the supervisor told him 23 Keyspan utility crews would be joining Con Ed and Orange Rockland crews in a big push Friday. Katz also reported that power has been restored to Saxon Woods at this time, saying the supervisor he talked with said work had to be executed in Scarsdale first before Saxon Woods could be powered up because the line into Saxon Woods comes from Scarsdale.

Council Approves Ritz-Carlton Site Plan. Dennis Power Appointed to Council.

Posted on July 20, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. Special to The CitizeNetReporter. July 20, 2006: At a Special Meeting of the Common Council this evening, the Council approved a site plan amendment allowing Louis Cappelli to add 56,000 square feet to his Ritz-Carlton 221 Main project, including 15 feet to the hotel podium portion, and in the process approved adding a restaurant, pool and health club to the mechanical level of the first tower now rising on Main Street, according to Suburbanstreet.com’s Jim Benerofe who attended the meeting and briefed WPCNR on what transpired.

He said the Council also nominated Dennis Power to serve in the Common Council seat that has been left vacant by the death of Councilman Robert Greer June 27.

Mayor Joseph Delfino nominated Cass Cibelli, who will run against Mr. Power in a special election in November to complete the final year of the Greer term beginning in January. Cibelli did not receive a second, and Dennis Power was elected unanimously. No one however spoke publicly praising Mr. Power’s return to the council and extolling Mr. Power’s leadership qualities. The Mayor said he looked forward to working with Mr. Power. Power did not vote on the Cappelli project resolution, but was sworn in to the Council after the Cappelli vote was taken.

Mr. Power, never returned WPCNR’s call Tuesday to answer the question of whether he would recuse himself from council votes involving issues before the Common Council that Westchester County has a stake in, and how he would not have a conflict of interest between county development ideas for White Plains and the city’s best interest.

(Mr. Power works for the Office of Economic Development, reporting to Sal Carrera, and serves at the pleasure of Andy Spano, the County Executive. )

Power’s appointment became certain Tuesday when Alexis Greer, Mr. Greer’s daughter, withdrew her name from consideration for the interim seat.

Power is now a member of the Common Council through December 31, and should attend his first monthly meeting August 7.