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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“THE WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL TOOK UP THE 701 WESTCHESTER CAMPUS OFFICE SPECIAL PERMIT REQUEST LAST NIGHT AMIST A GROWING COMMUNITY CONCERN ABOUT BUILDING  350 APARTMENTS ON THE SITE OF THE 701 OFFICE BUILDING . CITIZENS SPOKE OUT AGAINST  IT FOR THE EXCESS TRAFFIC , ABOUT 1500 MORE CARS A DAY, THEY SAY. A HEARING THAT LASTED MORE THAN 2 HOURS.

THE WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL TOOK UP THE 701 WESTCHESTER CAMPUS OFFICE SPECIAL PERMIT REQUEST LAST NIGHT AMIST A GROWING COMMUNITY CONCERN ABOUT BUILDING  350 APARTMENTS ON THE SITE OF THE 701 OFFICE BUILDING . CITIZENS SPOKE OUT AGAINST  IT FOR THE EXCESS TRAFFIC , ABOUT 1500 MORE CARS A DAY, THEY SAY. A HEARING THAT LASTED MORE THAN 2 HOURS.

THE COMMISSIONER OF PLANNING PRESENTED HIS STRUCTURE FOR APPROACHING UPDATING THE WHITE PLAINS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AT 10:15 PM. DENNIS DOES HARRISON HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? THE WHITE PLAINS PLAN HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2011 DESPITE 10 MIXED USE APARTMENT PROJECTS BEING APPROVED. ONE OBSERVER WHO WAITED TO HEAR MR. GOMEZ COMMENTED THE PLAN WAS “A GOOD START,” THE NEXT STEP IS A POSSIBLE MEETING BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND THREE COUNCIL PERSONS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.

THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY RESIDENTS  GOING INTO THE MEETING ARE ENCROACHMENT ON THE OUTER NEIGHBORHOODS, EVER INCREASING TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE DOWNTOWN AND WHETHER THE ENVISIONED RETAIL SPACES BEING FILLED UP – WHICH DUE TO COVID ARE NOT BEING FILLED UP. CITIZENS WANT TO INFLUENCE THEIR VISION OF THE CITY WHICH HAS UNTIL NOW FOCUSED ON PRESERVING THE SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL DONUT AROUND THE WHITE PLAINS DOWNTOWN AND NOT MUCH CONCERN ABOT ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN. THE OPEN SPACE ISSUES OF 20 YEARS AGO DOWNTOWN HAVE LONG BEEN FORGOTTEN AND CEASE TO BE AN ISSUE THAT GALVANIZES THE PUBLIC . THE HEARING WAS CONTINUED TO JULY 6.

THE WHITE PLAINS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY HAS BEEN FUNDED WITH $50,000 TO BRING IN A  TRAINED EXPLOSIVE SNIFFING CANINE OFFICER TO HAVE MORE IMMEDIATE TIMELY ACCESS TO ASCERTAINING WHETHER BUILDINGS MAY HAVE HIDDEN EXPLOSIVES IN THEM. PREVIOUSLY THE CITY HAD TO RELY ON COUNTY POLICE EXPLOSIVE-DETECTING CANINES.

THE COUNTY COVID INFECTION RATE CONTINUED AVERAGING A HALF PERCENT INFECTION RATE  FROM THE DAY BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY MAY30  THROUGH SUNDAY JUNE 6. DURING THE LAST WEEK 120 PERSONS TESTED POSITIVE  FOR COVID, JUST 17 AVERAGE NEW COVID POSITIVE  PERSONS A DAY OF A TOTAL OF 38,665 TESTED. THE INFECTION RATE FOR THE WEEK CONTINUES SLASHED DOWN FROM 400 INFECTIONS A DAY APRIL 1 TO 17 A DAY A DECLINE OF 94% IN INFECTIONS. THIS BY MY CALCULATIONS HAVE CUT HOSPITALIZATIONS DOWN TO 2% FROM THE 3.5% THE COUNTY HAD BEEN AVERAGING ACCOUNTING FOR JUST 37 HOSPITALIZATIONS LAST WEEK.WELL BELOW THE EXPECTED HOSPITALIZATION RATE BASED ON THE INFECTIONS TO WEEKS AGO.

WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL OPENED ITS CENTER FOR ADVANCED MEDICINE AND SURGERY ON LONGVIEW AVENUE AND MAPLE. SUSAN FOX WELCOMING WELL OVER A 100 INVITEES TO THE OPENING, PRAISED THE  MONTIFIORE- WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL STAFF FOR THEIR HANDLING THE HIGH NUMBER OF COVID CASES AT THIS TIME A YEAR AGO—AS OF LAST WEEK WHITE PLAINS HAD 9 PATIENTS WITH COVID AND A YEAR AGO, 88% OF WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL WAS FILLED WITH COVID PATIENTS . MONTIFIORE HOSPITAL PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THE MONTIFIORE CARDIAC SURGERY TEAM WOULD BE JOINING THE WHITE PLAINS CENTER TO TREAT PATIENTS SOMETIME LATER THIS YEAR

THE WHITE PLAINS OUTDOOR ARTS FESTIVAL ATTRACTED HUNDREDS TO TIBBETTS PARK ON NORTH BROADWAY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WITH AT LEAST 200 TO 300 PEOPLE STROLLING THROUGH THE 80 VENDOR SHOW.

I WAS LISTENING TO YOUR TRAFFIC REPORT JUST BEFORE COMING ON THE AIR TALKING ABOUT THE BRUCKNER EXPRESSWAY AND THE MAJOR DEEGAN “SOLID” WITH TRAFFIC. THE REASON IS THE EXTENSIVE CONSTRUCTION ON THE BRUCKNER EXPRESSWAY AND THE DEEGAN WHICH HAS CREATED EXTENSIVE DELAYS DAILY. I DROVE INTO THE CITY ONE WEEK AGO LEAVING FOR  3^RD STREET IN GREENWICH VILLAGE THE BRUCKNER AND THE TRIBORO BRIDGE AND FDR  FROM WHITE PLAINS. IT TOOK ME 1 HOUR AND 45 MINUTES—ONE HOUR LONGER THAN USUAL . IT IS LIKE RUSH HOUR ALL DAY DRIVING INTO NYC.TALK ABOUT CONGRESTION PRICING, THIS IS CONGESTED DRIVING. AND YOU KNOW WHAT—NO POLICE SUPERVISE THE LANE SQUEEZEDOWNS—ALLOW AT LEAST AN HOUR TO ANY DRIVE INTO THE CITY. RUSH HOUR IS ALL DAY NOW.

I WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK! 7:50 AM TUESDAYS ON WVOX.ORG OR WVOX 1460 AM“

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By White Plains Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Ricca. June 6, 2021:

Dear WPCSD Community Members:

As you know, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker, sent a letter (attached) to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) late Friday indicating the State of New York’s desire to modify the present mask requirements in public schools and align them with the present requirements for summer camps (masks strongly encouraged, but not required).

In that letter, Dr. Zucker indicated that unless CDC objected, NYSDOH would shift the present guidelines beginning tomorrow, June 7, 2021. 

As of this writing, the guidelines have NOT been adjusted and the school district has not received any updates from NYSDOH.

Accordingly, there is no change to the mask guidelines/requirements at the present time. Masks continue to be required in all WPCSD facilities in accordance with State guidelines and our Reopening Plan. 

If/when guidance is changed, the district will follow the State Reopening guidelines and bring the amended NYSDOH guidelines to the WPCSD Reopening Committee for review and consideration (as required by Executive Order) prior to changing any aspects of the WPCSD Reopening Plan. Following the Committee’s review, any recommended changes to district health/safety protocol will be communicated to our community immediately.

Throughout the pandemic, the WPCSD has worked hard to communicate with all community members whenever a shift in State policy/guidelines arises. We will continue to do so. Additionally, the district has observed all requirements and recommendations from the NYSDOH.

Thank you for your continued patience and flexibility as we continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic together. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

Have a nice afternoon and stay #WPProud!

Respectfully,

Joseph Ricca

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https://youtu.be/jpI3O6I8Kzs

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WPCNR MARCH OF HEALTH. Special to WPCNR from White Plains Hospital. June 3, 2021

https://youtu.be/YjODNro3OTY

https://youtu.be/G89yPptsjlE

White Plains Hospital (WPH) opened the doors to its most significant campus addition to date Wednesday: the new Center for Advanced Medicine & Surgery (CAMS) – a 252,000-square-foot, nine-story outpatient center located at 122 Maple Avenue, at the corner of Maple and Longview avenues, in White Plains.

This facility features state-of-the-art operating rooms, endoscopy, ambulatory and procedure suites, wound care delivered through hyperbaric chambers, advanced imaging, non-invasive diagnostic testing and specialty physician offices.

CAMS is the largest dedicated outpatient facility for White Plains Hospital and one of the largest in Westchester County. Connecting to both the main Hospital and Center for Cancer Care, CAMS is the latest addition to the Hospital’s ongoing campus transformation, which included a new Center for Cancer Care, completed in 2016, and the Hospital’s new lobby, inpatient tower, and operating room renovation, completed in 2015. Since 2015, approximately 622,000 square feet have been renovated or added to the Hospital and its offsite locations.

“As the past year confirmed, having access to advanced care right here in our community is critical,” said Susan Fox, President and CEO of White Plains Hospital. “This new facility represents an important step forward in expanding access to comprehensive care delivered by top healthcare professionals in diverse specialties. It also furthers our commitment to enhancing the patient experience, providing the latest advancements in treatment and technology to better serve the needs of our community.”

The new Center for Advanced Medicine & Surgery will feature ambulatory surgery, endoscopy suites, wound care delivered through hyperbaric chambers, and cutting-edge imaging such as the first and only PET (positron emission tomography) MRI scan in Westchester. This technology provides a higher level of detailed views than traditional MRI, allowing for more precise diagnosis and treatment. The Center will also feature top physicians in such specialties including: Orthopedics; Urology; Pain Management; Ears, Nose and Throat; Thyroid; Colorectal; Vascular; Plastic; and Bariatric care; as well as a comprehensive new Heart and Vascular Program.

Dr. Philip Ozuah, President and CEO of Montefiore Medicine, added, “The new Center for Advanced Medicine & Surgery is a tremendous achievement. As a Health System, we are focused on advancing our long-held mission of providing exceptional care to our extended communities. White Plains Hospital has quickly become the tertiary hub for advanced care in the Hudson Valley.

“Later this year, the cardiac surgery team from Montefiore will begin performing cardiac surgery at White Plains Hospital. This new facility will allow for local patient access to these surgeons, who will be working side by side with area physicians supporting a comprehensive cardiac program and represents just one more example of our commitment to providing local access to world-class physicians and advanced services.”

Features of the new Center for Advanced Medicine & Surgery include:

Enhanced Patient Experience: 

The patient drop-off driveway is integrated into the building’s design, allowing for convenient drop off. Two pedestrian bridges will connect the outpatient facility to the main Hospital and the Longview Parking Garage for optimal convenience and seamless access.

Design and Construction:

 The project was designed in accordance with the principles of sustainable construction to support energy efficiency, water efficiency, light pollution reduction, and indoor air quality. The project’s architect is Perkins-Eastman; the facility was built by Turner Construction; the structure utilizes 2,800 tons of steel and 1,100 glass curtain wall panels.

Smart Building Features: The building will feature a robust IT infrastructure designed to facilitate current and future medical technology and telemedicine. An intelligent infrastructure will support automatic building management, energy efficiency through technology and real-time data collection.

The move-in for departments and programs in CAMS will be in a phased approach beginning on June 7.

Floor by Floor Layout:

Level 2: Advanced Imaging

Level 3: Surgical Suites

Level 4: Endoscopy & Procedure Suites

Level 5: Women’s Imaging

Level 6: Non-oncologic Infusion Suite, Pre-Procedure Testing, Urology

Level 7: Heart & Vascular Program – Cardiology, Electrophysiology, Vascular surgeons and Future Home of Cardiothoracic surgeons

Level 8: Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery and Interventional Pain Management

Level 9: The Carl Weber Center for Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine, Surgical Specialties including: bariatrics, colorectal, ENT, endocrine and plastics.

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Summer is just around the corner, and that means Playland Park in Rye will reopen and is staffing up with a virtual job fair.

County Executive George Latimer said: “As one of the largest employers of youth, this virtual job fair is an innovative way for us to staff the park. We typically hold this event in person at the County Center in White Plains. But because that site remains vital for vaccine distribution, we are proud to present this event in a new form for those looking for summer employment.”

Playland Park is seeking qualified candidates to fill ride operator, Kiddyland ride operator and custodial roles. Wages start at $14 per hour. Westchester County is an equal opportunity employer.

Commissioner of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation Kathy O’Connor said: “I encourage those interested in summer employment to apply for a position to help us make summer 2021 a great season. Playland, Westchester County’s only amusement park, is enjoyed by people from the tristate area. Besides being a fun place to visit, Playland is also a fun place to work.”

Candidates will have the opportunity to view video descriptions and job specs. They will then be able to apply to their top three job choices. Qualified candidates will be contacted to schedule virtual interviews.

The job board can be accessed at https://playlandpark.org/work_at_playland/. Interviews will be held on Saturday, June 5.