OCTOBER 25–FOUR OUTSTANDING WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME

Posted on October 25, 2025 by John Bailey

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (October 23, 2025) —The White Plains City School District proudly honored four outstanding alumni Thursday afternoon at the induction ceremony for the White Plains High School Hall of Fame – recognizing graduates who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields and made meaningful contributions to society.

FOUR TO THE HALL! Daniel Slepian, Jonette Mines, Susan Altman, Carl Austin (L to R) Photo courtesy White Plains High School

Real estate executive Carl Austin, ’58; WPHS social studies teacher Susan Altman, ’64; Juneteenth Heritage Committee leader Jonette Mines, ’78; and award-winning journalist Daniel Slepian, ’88, were celebrated in the Media Center as the 22nd class of honorees since the Hall of Fame was established in 1996.

The Hall of Fame, which now includes 94 alumni among the school’s more than 40,000 graduates over its 129-year history, celebrates individuals who have achieved professional distinction and made a positive impact in their communities.

Honorees are chosen from public nominations by a selection committee representing civic and school organizations.

Principal Emerly Martinez kicked off the event by noting how special it is to be selected to the Hall of Fame. (Photo courtesy White Plains High School)

“So to be one of the 94 Hall of Fame members is, indeed, a very rare and special honor,” he told a crowd that included previous honorees, elected officials and guests. “Over the years, our Hall of Fame members have distinguished themselves in a wide variety of fields – authors and musicians, doctors, public servants, entrepreneurs and industry leaders, educators, athletes and outstanding community leaders,” he said.

“However, they all have one thing in common: they have benefited from the wisdom, patience, advice and support of the talented men and women who are working as teachers, coaches, counselors, administrators and staff here at White Plains High School,” Mr. Martinez said.

Amy Geiger, a member of the class of 1964 and the co-chair of the Hall of Fame Steering Committee, introduced the presenters – Jim Bruni, Sue Brumer, Lena Anderson and Zotica Medina – who, in turn, highlighted the many achievements of the inductees and welcomed them to the podium.

As president of the White Plains Juneteenth Heritage Committee, Ms. Mines has revitalized Juneteenth celebrations throughout Westchester and Rockland counties. Her dedication to community service extends through leadership roles with the White Plains/Greenburgh NAACP, Bethel Baptist Church and various groups that promote equality and cultural awareness.

“I love White Plains. … I have always been active in White Plains, starting out as a young child in the YWCA Big Sisters Little Sisters program, which is now our Assistance With a Purpose program,” Ms. Mines said.

“I’m greatly appreciative of all the love and support and encouragement I received from my family, church family and community. It warms my heart to see so many of you here,” she added.

A prominent real estate adviser, Mr. Austin has played a major role in shaping the commercial landscape of Westchester County. He has been responsible for dozens of office buildings, corporate headquarters, office parks and hotels throughout the region. In addition to his professional achievements, Mr. Austin has served on numerous community boards, including White Plains Hospital and the Westchester County Association.

“There are many forces that shape our young lives. For me, two stand out – first is encouragement. Parents fundamental, teachers essential. White Plains High School has been a source of encouragement for generations of students,” he said.

“Second is passion. What excites? What do we want to do? Love to do? That is a journey we must start when young. Try out our thoughts. Test, reject. Try again. The journey is worth it. White Plains High School was my safe place to begin,” Mr. Austin said.

A beloved and innovative educator, Ms. Altman taught at White Plains High School for more than 30 years. She organized school-wide forums and conferences on issues such as gender, diversity and the environment, and has helped students broaden their horizons by leading exchange programs with schools in China.

She said that becoming a teacher was “absolutely the right decision.” In fact, she was even a member of the Future Teachers Club while a student.

“I was what I would probably call an out-of-the-box teacher with different ideas. I couldn’t have done any of this without administrative and collegial support, and many of my colleagues are here in support, and I so appreciate their support throughout my whole career,” Ms. Altman said.

She went on to recount the many experiences that made her time at WPHS so memorable and rewarding – so much so that she feels like she actually graduated in 2013, the year of her retirement.

“For example, I did a re-enactment of the tennis courtroom from the French Revolution on the tennis court! And then, we had a birthday party for the Statue of Liberty in 1964, where many students partook in eating cake that was baked for 100 students by the cafeteria staff,” she said.

Ms. Altman, who was a cheerleader and a member of the student legislature, also spoke about the success of the trip to China in 2005 that resulted in the unique sister-school relationship with the Suzhou High School in and a student exchange program that lasted 10 years until the country limited visits.

Ms. Altman also expressed her pride in teaching a human rights elective course that led to a Human Rights club and a Human Rights week that featured a concert by famed musician and social activist Pete Seeger.

An award-winning journalist, Mr. Slepian serves as an investigative producer at NBC News, where he has spent nearly 30 years with “Dateline NBC.” His work has led to the cracking of cold cases and the exoneration of the wrongly convicted, among other notable achievements in his illustrious career.

He called WPHS “the place that changed my life.”

“I was walking around these hallways and was thinking, ‘Who is the teacher that I liked the most?’ With all due respect to Ms. Altman,” Mr. Slepian said, eliciting loud laughter.

The journalist also mentioned his long career at NBC News, during which Dateline debuted its first ever podcast with him in 2019, when he led an eight-episode series, “13 Alibis,” about his probe into a vexing murder case in which an innocent man was eventually cleared.

.“I have been a bit of a renegade in the News Division at NBC … the percolation period for some of my stories is anywhere from six months to 25 years – no joke,” he said. “My book, ‘The Sing Sing Files,’ is about my 20-plus journey that helped free six innocent men from Sing Sing”

He said he traces his journalistic fervor to his days at WPHS, which he said changed his life.

“People often look away in society from people who are not like them,” said Mr. Slepian, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and the recipient of four Edward R. Murrow Awards.

“This place allowed me to challenge my beliefs.The differences were not barriers – they became bridges to my future. There is no way to separate the person that I am now from the seeds that were planted in this building,” he said.

At the conclusion, Dr. Joseph Ricca, Superintendent of Schools, mentioned how special it is to be a member of the WPHS Hall of Fame.

“It’s a really special honor I can never achieve, no matter what I do,” he joked. “And, you know, what I hear constantly, in recounting the experiences of White Place High School, is the opportunity that the school community and the greater community provide.”

“And I’m very happy to report to you today that we continue, that we continue to expand opportunities for our children and for their families,” he said.

In a statement earlier, Dr. Ricca wrote:

“These four remarkable individuals exemplify the spirit of excellence, leadership and service that defines our White Plains graduates.

“So many exceptional students pass through our halls each year, yet only a small portion of them are able to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame — less than 100 inductees in almost 30 years,” he wrote.

“Your commitment to your profession, community and service to others is commendable and deserves to be celebrated. Thank you for being role models for White Plains students every day, showing them that they too can do the extraordinary,” Dr. Ricca added.

The inductees met earlier with students during class sessions to share stories and insights from their careers.

Deya Allen and Nela Older, two seniors who are co-presidents of the Student Government Organization, shared a few thoughts of what it meant to them to have met the honorees.

OCTOBER 24–WHITE PLAINS WEEK TONIGHT THE OCT 24 REPORT AT 7:30 PM EST THE ELECTION FORUMS REPORT ON FIOS CH 45, WPOPTIMUM CH 76 AND www.wpcommunitymedia.org

Posted on October 24, 2025 by John Bailey

JOHN BAILEY REPORTS ON THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ELECTION MAYOR OF WHITE PLAINS FORUM JUSTIN BRASCH AND LEONARD LOLIS TELL THEIR SIDES OF THE STORY.

THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FORUM CHRISTINE SCULTI AND KENNETH JENKINS CANDIDATES FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE wESTCHESTER AT THE CROSSROADS

THE WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL FORUM CANDIDATES

WILL FLORES, RICHARD PAYNE ROBERTO RIPARI JOHN CAMBIERI,

EVELYN SANCHEZ AND NICK WOLFF.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE AT THE WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY FOUNDATION 120 ATTEND

COVID NEW CASES RUNNING 36% BELOW LAST OCTOBER IN WESTCHESTER

OVER 1,600,000 STILL COUNTED AS HUNGRY IN WESTCHESTER LITTLE PROGRESS IN FEEDING THE PERPETUALLY HUNGRY.

WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL INDUCTS 4 INTO ITS HALL OF FAME

DANIEL SLEPIAN, AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST with nbc news class 1988 JONETTE MINES 1978 ,JUNETEENTH HERITAGE COMMITTEE LEADER WPHS SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER SUSAN ALTMAN, 1964, AND REAL ESTATE EXECUTIVE CARL AUSTIN, ’58 PHOTO BY WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL, USA

THIS WEEK JOHN BAILEY INTRODUCES A NEW WEEKLY COMMENTARY:

PERSPECTIVES 26

IN THE ERIC SEVEREID TRADITION

JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

THIS WEEK EVERY WEEK

ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK

SINCE 2001 A.D. 24 YEARS

YOUR EARLY WARNING NEWS SYSTEM

KEEPING YOU INFORMED, FOREWARNED FOREARMED

“JUST THE FACTS, MA,AM”

OCTOBER 24–JUSTIN BRASCH SATURDAY AT AT 7 –CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR OF WHITE PLAINS ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH. 76 AND FIOS COUNTYWIDE CH45 AND RIGHT NOW ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

Posted on October 23, 2025 by John Bailey

TWO WEEKS TO THE ELECTION

MR. BRASCH ON

WHERE THE GALLARIA CITY STANDS NOW IN APPROVAL PROCESS

INFORMING THE PUBLIC MORE IN ADVANCE OF DEVELOPMENTS

THE INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AVENUES OF OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE PACE OF AVAILABILITY

PREPARING FOR A 15,000 INCREASE IN WHITE PLAINS POPULATION

PUBLIC SAFETY

ADDRESSES CURRENT CONCERNS

AND MORE WITH JOHN BAILEY ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

THE PROGRAM

WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY

HAVE THEIR SAY

THEIR WAY

11TH YEAR ON THE AIR

AROUND THE WORLD

OCTOBER 23: FORCE OF INFECTION: YES, THERE IS STILL HUNGER IN NEW YORK NOW FROM DR. MARISA DONNELLY YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST

Posted on October 23, 2025 by John Bailey

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more

Enjoying this newsletter? Why not share it with a friend?

Where NYC’s mayoral candidates stand on city-run groceries

As the NYC mayoral race nears Election Day, I break down each candidate’s plan to address food insecurity and city-run groceries.

Marisa Donnelly

Oct 23

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

READ IN APP

I’m back on the New York health beat after a week of global biosecurity workshops at the WHO and the UN (a huge thank you and shoutout to the Johns Hopkins Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity program!)—and a much-needed vacation. Conversations ranged from cross-border collaboration to public health surveillance and crisis communication.

Me in front of the flags at the WHO in Geneva, Switzerland.

But I’m still thinking about one moment in particular: standing in front of the UN inscription from the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

It was a powerful reminder that public health isn’t just global, it’s local.

What we build here in New York echoes far beyond our borders. And the basics still matter. Dignity, rights, and health begin with access to the essentials: housing, healthcare, and food.

So let’s talk about food—specifically, city-owned grocery stores, which have come up repeatedly in the New York City mayoral race. Through FAQs, I’ll break down what they are, their track records in other cities, and where mayoral candidates stand. (During the primary election, I broke down some of the health-related topics candidates supported or opposed here.)

And as a reminder, the city’s mayoral general election is less than two weeks away! Here are key dates to get on your calendars:

Voter registration deadline: October 25
Vote by mail application deadline: October 25
Early voting: October 25–November 2
Election Day: November 4

Let’s jump in.

What are city-owned grocery stores?

City-owned groceries, sometimes called “city-run groceries” or “public option groceries,” are supermarkets owned or operated by a city.

Because of city ownership and operation, these stores often don’t need to pay rent or property taxes, and can buy foods wholesale, reducing overhead costs and increasing savings for shoppers. Cities can also support them with free utilities or direct subsidies.

If the city itself owns the building or land, it’s automatically exempt from property taxes—publicly owned property used for a public purpose isn’t taxed under New York State law. When a municipality owns and operates a facility (like a library or firehouse), it doesn’t pay taxes to itself.

Why is this a public health issue?

A major goal of establishing city-owned groceries is to make food, and importantly nutritious foods, more accessible.

Food prices in New York City have soared, rising faster than the national average, up 56% between 2012 to 2023, compared to 46% nationally. (Income has also increased in the city, but it’s not keeping up with climbing food costs.)

At the same time, food insecurity—when someone doesn’t have enough to eat at least some of the time—affects 1.2 million New Yorkers in the city. This is up 76% since 2021, with 1 in 6 households with children lacking enough to eat. The figure is higher than the 55% increase seen nationwide.

Figure from Hunger Free America.

In NYC, rates are highest in the Bronx, where 1 in 5 residents and 1 in 3 children experience food insecurity. Staten Island has the lowest, with 11.5% of residents experiencing this problem.

This isn’t just a big city issue.

Across New York state, 1 in 8 (12.5%) of residents lived in food insecure households from 2021 to 2023, including 1 in 6 children.

On top of that, cuts to the SNAP program in the “Big Beautiful Bill”—signed into law over the summer—will likely further exacerbate food insecurity in New York, as they reduce food assistance for low-income families.

But the issue runs deeper than not having the income to pay for enough food.

Many neighborhoods don’t even have grocery stores.

Several New York neighborhoods are considered “food deserts”—where it’s difficult to buy healthy, nutritious food at an affordable price. These deserts often occur when large grocery companies avoid investing in lower-income neighborhoods because they have less purchasing power compared to wealthier neighborhoods, despite high demand for groceries.

A way to measure this in NYC is to look at the ratio of bodegas to supermarkets across neighborhoods. The Bronx, which has the highest food insecurity in the city, has about 35 bodegas per 1 supermarket.

Figure from Paroma Soni at NYCityLens.

With these challenges in mind, mayoral candidates are proposing various solutions to address food insecurity and improve access to healthy, affordable food across the city.

What are the candidates proposing?

Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani, an assembly member and mayoral hopeful, has proposed opening five city-owned stores (one in each borough) at an estimated cost of $60 million.

The idea is to place them in areas where private grocers won’t go, sell food closer to wholesale cost, and exempt them from rent and property taxes.

Cuomo

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has opposed city-owned groceries, and instead proposes a $250 million targeted subsidy program for about 350,000 New Yorkers whose income is just above SNAP eligibility (around 131 to 150% of the federal poverty line). Under his plan, benefits would scale by income—roughly $1,200 a year for a family at the low end.

His rationale is that aid should go directly to families, not into running a government grocery chain. He also believes that city-owned grocery stores could undercut or compete with small grocers and bodegas.

This puts Cuomo in contrast to Mamdani’s approach. He prefers benefits that follow families in specific income brackets, while Mamdani’s plan aims to shift the supermarket structure itself.

Sliwa

Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has criticized the public grocery store model as government overreach. His proposal to combat food insecurity does not detail specific plans, but includes pushing for bridge funding to cover cuts to the SNAP program, reducing red tape for food distributors, and improving access to wholesale markets for small grocers.

Does NYC already have city-owned markets?

Yes.

The city already runs Essex Market on the Lower East Side, La Marqueta in East Harlem, and Moore Street Market in Williamsburg. These are smaller public markets rather than full-service supermarkets, but they provide a precedent. There are three other public retail markets, which are directly managed by the housed tenants.

The city’s Economic Development Corporation already has tax and zoning subsidies granted to developers and grocers willing to open in so-called food deserts. In other words, public dollars already flow to the grocery sector in NYC—just indirectly.

Where else have city-owned groceries been tested?

Most city-owned grocery stores in the U.S. have been in rural communities:

St. Paul, Kansas, a town of 600, has a city-run grocery store that’s been in operation since 2008.
Baldwin, Florida, a town of roughly 1,400, operated its own supermarket after private chains left. The market closed down last year due to lack of customer support.
Madison, Wisconsin signed a lease for a city-owned grocery store in late 2024, but it has not yet opened.

Some big cities are beginning to experiment with city-owned grocery stores.

Atlanta, Georgia opened a city-owned grocery store this summer in a USDA-designated low-income, low-access neighborhood. During its first two months, they served over 20,000 customers. During its first month, fresh produce sales represented 11.6% of their sales, higher than the national average of 10%.
Chicago, Illinois is now exploring options for a public-run market, where multiple vendors could sell groceries and local produce.

Would city-owned grocery stores hurt small businesses?

Potentially.

City-owned grocery stores could move customers from bodegas and small supermarkets. But supporters argue that city-owned stores should be strategically placed in true food deserts, where access to more grocery options is needed, and designed to complement, not compete with, neighborhood grocers. It’s not totally clear to me how they would be designed to not compete with bodegas or small grocery stores, though. I would like to see Mamdami clarify this.

Where would the money to fund this come from?

The short answer is that we don’t know.

It could be reappropriated from FRESH funding, which already supports increasing availability of fresh foods in underserved neighborhoods.

It could come from other city funds. Or possibly from new appropriations or tax revenue. No information has been provided on where funding for these new grocery stores would come from.

What are my thoughts?

Food insecurity is a serious and growing issue in New York.

Too many families can’t afford nutritious food, or can’t access it where they live.

It’s time for our leaders to step up. If that is through city-owned grocery stores, great, but we need clear and defined plans for how to pay for them, where they’ll be located, and how to minimize competition with small local businesses.

If the solution is through direct financial support to families, also great.

But funding alone isn’t enough—we still need to ensure access.

The problem won’t go away if we expect families to commute long distances to get groceries.

And New Yorkers are on board. Two-thirds of New Yorkers support city-owned grocery stores, with 85% reporting their grocery bills have gone up in the past year.

Personally, I lean slightly toward city-owned grocery stores because the proposal addresses both affordability and access.

Bottom line

We need to do something to reduce food insecurity.

City-owned grocery stores could be a great option, but we need additional details on how they would be paid for, sustainability plans, and how to reduce competition with smaller markets and bodegas.

Access to healthy food should not be optional—it’s a human right for all New Yorkers.

Love,

Your NY Epi

Dr. Marisa Donnelly, PhD, is an epidemiologist, science communicator, and public health expert. This newsletter exists to translate complex public health data into actionable insights, empowering New Yorkers to make informed and evidence-based health decisions.

OCTOBER 20–YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST ON MAMMOGRAMS SAFETY. GOVERNORS UNITING ON HEALTH POLICY. LEAD IN PROTEIN POWDERS . DISEASE SURVEILLANCE

Posted on October 20, 2025 by John Bailey

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more

Enjoying this newsletter? Why not share it with a friend?

Lead in protein powders. What you need to know

The Dose (October 20)

Katelyn Jetelina and Hannah Totte, MPH

Oct 20

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

READ IN APP

Happy Monday from Atlanta! I just tried to convince thousands at a public health conference that it’s time to reimagine systems—not just defend the status quo.

I’m happy to report that tomatoes weren’t thrown my way.

This is my fourth state in five days, and the highlight is actually seeing the seasons change and meeting a lot of you in person. I couldn’t be more excited to see my girls (and survive another round of the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack).

Top: Plenary stage with Mike Osterholm; From the bottom left: Met YLE reader Krisandra Allen at the conference. Fall leaves in Idaho. My daughter welcoming me home at the airport.

This week’s Dose runs the gamut: from what’s really going on with lead in protein powders (and whether you should be worried), to a refreshing burst of leadership as 15 governors join forces to strengthen public health collaboration, to falsehoods swirling around mammograms. We’ll wrap with an infectious disease weather report and a quick note for dog owners on an FDA recall.

Let’s go!

Consumer Reports found lead in protein powders. How bad is it?

Last week, Consumer Reports released an analysis revealing elevated lead levels in several popular protein powders and shakes. Google searches for “lead in protein powder” spiked 300%, and influencers lit up social media. Depending on which news source you read, it was either a five-alarm fire or no big deal.

So what’s actually going on?

Lead is everywhere—soil, food, water, and air. Thankfully, overall exposure has dropped dramatically since the 1970s, and modern lab tests can now detect vanishingly small amounts (down to parts per billion). But detection does not necessarily equal danger.

How bad is bad? That’s where things get tricky because not everyone agrees:

California limit: 0.5 mcg/day. This number comes from a very conservative calculation: regulators took the “no observable effect” level for reproductive harm for inhaled lead exposure in workplaces and divided it by 1,000. Many experts argue that this threshold is unrealistic. It’s also not linked to adverse health outcomes.
FDA’s limit: 2.2 mcg/day for kids, 8.8 mcg/day during pregnancy, and 12.5 mcg/day for other adults based on blood lead levels, toxicology data, and a built-in 10x safety factor.
European Union limit: Allows up to 3 mg/kg (3 ppm) in food supplements—roughly 90 mcg per 30-gram scoop of protein powder. In this case, the FDA is far more cautious than Europe (and that’s not usually how things go).

Back to the report: of the 23 protein supplements they tested, two-thirds exceeded “Level of Concern.” One brand (Naked Nutrition Vegan Mass Gainer) hit nearly 16 times the limit. But because Consumer Reports used California’s exceptionally strict benchmark, those numbers sound scarier than they really are.

The average American already gets 5.3 mcg of lead daily from food and the environment.

That’s another reason California’s cutoff doesn’t make much sense.

Still, some products identified in the report could push intake close to the pregnancy (8.8 mcg) or adult (12.5 mcg) daily thresholds.

What this means for you: Don’t worry too much.

While the FDA continues to reduce lead exposure through programs like Closer to Zero and the Total Diet Study (that is, if the funding continues), there are several things we can do in our own homes, especially for parents of kids and during pregnancy.

Check to see if your protein supplement (or any supplement, really) has third-party testing for heavy metals (like USP or Informed Sport).
Advocate for more pre-market regulatory oversight in the supplement industry (which has very little, if any at all) by writing to your local representative.
Eat a diet that includes a variety of nutrient-dense foods, which helps limit exposure to specific food sources and ensures we get an array of protective nutrients.
Prioritize getting your protein from whole food sources.

Big thanks to YLE’s Megan Maisano—Registered Dietitian Nutritionist— for writing this section.

Fifteen states join forces to launch Governors’ Public Health Alliance

Governors from 15 states announced the creation of the bipartisan Governors’ Public Health Alliance, which is a new effort to strengthen coordination and collaboration across state lines.

Why do we need this?

In the U.S., authority over health rests with the states, not the federal government. Health (encompassing both health care and public health) is not only the highest budget item for a state but also the primary reason for state bankruptcy. In other words, governors hold enormous power over your health.

Today, though, federal support is shifting fast, funding is drying up, and states are being forced to get creative.

States must decide whether to maintain their public health departments (due to funding cuts), how to continue purchasing vaccines (if the federal government stops recommending them), whether to negotiate drug prices (like insulin), and more. We saw a similar challenge during the pandemic with bulk purchasing of PPE.

In general, the more coordinating, collaborating, and innovative thinking, the better.

However, I’m growing increasingly concerned about the partisan gaps in public health. Although some Republicans are on the advisory board and the initiative was framed as bipartisan, no Republican-led states have joined. This worries me for my friends in red states, like Texas, but it also has implications for everyone, as diseases don’t care about borders.

What this means foy you: If your state is included, you can rest assured your governor is talking to others, which is a helpful step toward innovative solutions. You could argue it was needed before this moment, too. Public health has been siloed for far too long.

Mammograms save lives. They’ve been wrongly targeted.

Happy Breast Cancer Awareness month! Unfortunately, this month has driven some influencers to post false claims about the harms of mammograms.

So let’s clear this up.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the U.S., and accounts for 1 in 3 new cancers among women each year. (It affects men too, just at lower rates.)

There is strong scientific consensus in support of routine mammograms to prevent breast cancer and detect it early:

Randomized trials show that mammograms reduce the risk of death from breast cancer by 12-20%, depending on age. For every 1,000 mammograms, one death is prevented.
Regular mammograms starting at age 40 are recommended for everyone, but may have even greater benefit for Black women, who are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women and more likely to have aggressive cancers, younger.

There’s some critical nuance here:

With each mammogram, breast tissue is exposed to a small amount of ionizing radiation.
But!
We’re exposed to this type of radiation every day in our natural environment. At high doses, radiation exposure can change DNA and cause harm, but the amount of radiation exposure during a mammogram is about the same as flying from California to New York.
Organizations disagree on whether mammograms every year or every other year are optimal.
Screening recommendations are based on evaluating science to maximize benefit (lives saved) while reducing patient worry, unnecessary costs, and diagnosing and treating cancers and pre-cancers that ultimately wouldn’t cause health problems—also called “overdiagnosis.” This is a balancing act.
Mammograms are just one tool for detecting cancer, and women with dense breasts or high risk for cancer (e.g., family history, known genetic predispositions, or other key risk factors) may benefit from additional screening, such as through an MRI.

What this means for you:

The benefits of mammograms far outweigh the risks. The U.S. Preventive Task Force, the American College of Radiology, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend routine mammograms starting at age 40 for women at average risk of breast cancer.

If you have risk factors for breast cancer, dense breasts, or you’re 75 or older, talk to your doctor about your screening goals and plan. Don’t know your risk? Here’s one risk assessment tool.

For more, see YLE’s deep dive on breast cancer screening recommendations.

Infectious disease “weather report” CDC STILL ON PAUSE

In the U.S., flu and RSV are still quiet. CDC data is still on pause because of the government shutdown, so we’re continuing to reference PopHive data. RSV activity is still low but growing in southern states, like Louisiana and Texas.

RSV Activity in the U.S. Figure from PopHIVE

However, Covid-19 is having a moment in the U.K., with hospitalizations increasing exponentially after a 10-month lull. This isn’t driven by a dramatic variant, but rather by a lack of immunity building up over time.

Flu might also be increasing, which suggests it’s coming soon (as expected) for the U.S.

Figure from Dr. Christina Pagel’s Substack.

Dog owners, check your pup’s food

The FDA recalled Raw Bistro frozen beef dog food for possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled products were sold directly to consumers and to select distributors between Sept. 1 and Sept. 17 in California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota.

Salmonella can make dogs sick, just like humans. Contaminated food can cause illness days later in dogs. And dog owners can get sick from handling contaminated food or dog bowls.

What this means for you: Check the lot numbers on your dog’s food, and toss it if they are included in the FDA recall notice. Sanitize bowls if they held contaminated food, wash your hands, and watch for warning signs in your dog: lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. If you notice these signs, take your pet to the vet.

That’s it for this week! Share your fall leave pics in the comments below so that I can continue to live vicariously through you.

Love, YLE

Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) is founded and operated by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, wife.

YLE is a public health newsletter that reaches over 400,000 people in more than 132 countries, with one goal: to translate the ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below:

Posted on October 20, 2025 by John Bailey

Mayoral Candidate Forum TONIGHT

Monday, October 20
7:00pm – 8:30pm

JUSTIN BRASCH LEONARD LOLIS

White Plains Public Library

Auditorium

Hear from Mayoral Candidates. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of White Plains in partnership with the NAACP of White Plains/Greenburgh. Read on for instructions on how to submit a question.

OCTOBER 20–“LIVE FROM THE LIBRARY” IT’S SATURDAY NIGHT” CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF BUILDING A LIBRARY FOUNDATION

Posted on October 19, 2025 by John Bailey

130 FLOCKED TO THE THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY FOUNDATION CELEBRATING THE FOUNDATION, THE LIBRARY AND “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”

SALUTING 50 YEARS OF “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE” ITS CREATOR LORNE MICHAELS

WITH HIS BIOGRAPHER AND GUEST AUTHOR SUSAN MORRISON

WRITER OF THE BOOK “LORNE: THE MAN WHO CREATED SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”

WPCNR ON THE TOWN DOWNTOWN By John F. Bailey. October 19, 2025:

It wasn’t a Gala. It was a 30^TH Anniversary with 130 of White Plains Who’s Who, Who Supports, Who is, Who Love the White Plains Public Library staged by the White Plains Library Foundation.

The occasion: the recognition of the Foundation’s 30^th year since it was suggested by former Library Director, Sandy Miranda.

The Foundation 30^thanniversary coincided with the 50^th anniversary on October 11, 1975 when that American entertainment institution, Saturday Night Live, the program that was not just comedy but a comedy reality check every week for 5 decades. It has amused America hilariously coast to coast and delivered truths and realities with what Mr.Michaels called “The Big Laugh.”

Ms. Morrison said “Lorne,” was always in search of the big laugh which made the writing and the performance of the a joke or skit “work.” The Big Laugh is still a big star for 50 years after it premiered on NBC and is still on the air.

In my opinion the humor on SNL is most always funny, and laugh-out-loud funny even when silly or actors spell-binding lampoons of the rich and powerful personalities, in spot-on impressions of household known personalities showed the truths behind public figures.

The White Plains Library Foundation frequently honors authors at its events and this year the perfect Guest was Susan Morrison writer of Lorne, The Man Who Created Saturday Night Live.

Her book tells in a clever progression of events uniquely presented with enough inside reveals to satisfy the never-miss-an-SNL fan while portraying a real eye-opening picture of what it takes to make a hit show every week from a man who did it.

Ms.Morrison had the audience glued to her every word as she explained the secrets of how Lorne Michaels started and ran SNL and produced it for 50 years was the natural choice.

Graham Trelstadt, (above) President of the White Plains Library Foundation , after a cocktail hour with very tasty hors d’oeuvres and jazz by the finger-snapping, head bobbing Library Jazz Band in the art gallery, welcomed the festive convivial gathering of believers in reading writing and real intelligence (never artificial) in the auditorium to hear the confidente Susan Morrison of Lorne Michaels whom she worked with for 10 years to write his story and that of the show.

Mr. Trelstadt explained why it is important to support the White Plains Library Foundation:

“The Foundation exists to provide private support to the publicly funded library. We raise funds that leverage the phenomenal support the Library gets from the Common Concil and State sources. The funds we provide to the library allow for innovation and flexibility. They give the Library Director and her staff opportunities to respond to changing needs or brilliant ideas between budget cycles.

Over 30 years the Foundation has been in existence we have served the catalytic seed for exciting new programs (which can be found on the Library website), for innovative equipment like the Igloo, or the 3D printer in The Edge.

We have helped to complete three significant capital projects in the Trove, the Edge, and the Hub.”

With Ms. Morrison at left, White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach thanked the guests for supporting the White Plains Library and reminisced how his mother took him to the library in his home town. Mayor Roach has spearheaded the improvements in the library The Trove, The Edge and the Hub.

Then it was “Saturday Night Live on stage” with the editor turned author for the first time, Susan Morrison (right) in conversation with Foundation Vice President Jessica Rao Lonski, (left) award-winning journalist and media professional with contributor roles at CNBC and Gannett, and communications for Fortune 500 companies.

Ms. Lonski asked short questions that enthused Ms. Morrison and smoothly drew out fascinating Morrison insights into the key structure of the writing of “Lorne” that Ms. Lonski said read like a novel.

Morrison’s secret:

the book is structured around the unfolding of every sequence of the events of a 7-day week of producing one Saturday Night Live program.

Ms. Morrison revealed the show is rigorous, fraught with anxiety of new cast members about being retained after the summer for the fall season.

She revealed the secret of every successful supervisor as Lorne Michaels is– asking the performer or writer to get a real flavor or nuance to deliver the feeling the script or performance of the script intended.

The audience got a good dose of entertainment reality from Ms. Morrison:

Though Saturday Night Lives are fabulous fun to view, Mr. Michaels’ ability to wrangle writers and actors with psychology, sensitivity and precise definition of what he wants to achieve takes patience, rehearsal (and lots of it), doing it until you get it right. It is a tough demanding business.

He also, Ms. Morrison revealed, was terrible on meeting deadlines.

Lorne’s biographer confided this was her first book she had written herself.

When asked by a member of the packed auditorium how she liked being the editee instead of the editor, she shared a penetrating insight into getting the performance you want.

The editor and she had a lot of discussions about portions of the book, and Ms. Morrison found the discussions provided new perspectives she valued and helped the book. She observed that she took from having been edited, her editor gave her a new sensitivity to working with her own authors whom she edits.

Mr. Trelstad saluted highlights over the Library’s and the Foundation the last 30 years.

Sandra Miranda Library Director from 1989 to 2011. Brian Kenney Director from 2011 to 2024 when Mr. Kenney oversaw creation of The Edge for teens and The Hub in 2018 which reorganized services for adults. He welcomed Laura Eckley as new Library Director who started in October.

He recognized Lauren Candela-Katz. Libby Hollahan the first Executive Director of the Foundation from 2010-16.

Mr. Trelstad praised Nancy Rubini recently retired Foundation Executive Director in the 9 years 2016-2025. “We couldn’t be here today without the skills and passion you each brought to your work.”

Mr. Trelstad closed with a look into the Library’s future:

“Now more than ever, as challenges to public funding of libraries and other cultural institutions become more significant and real , we need your continued support to keep the White Plains Library the great community institution that it has become.”

Congressman George Latimer mingling with the White Plains Councilman Richard Payne as Congressman Latimer shared recent highlights in Washington.

The Library Jazz Band was not quite they were in the groove with jazz that was cool and and got the evening off to a rousing start

OCTOBER 17– WHITE PLAINS WEEK TONIGHT AT 7:30 THE OCT 17 REPORT ON FIOS CH 45 AND ANYTIME ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

Posted on October 17, 2025 by John Bailey

THE GARAGE COLLAPSE–WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

THE PLAYLAND BURGLARY

GOVERNOR CONSOLIDATES HOSPITALS

SALUTE TO THE CON ED MEN AS POWER POLES ARE REPLACED AROUND TOWN

HERE COME THE FORUMS FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE RACE,

MAYOR’S RACE AND COMMON COUNCIL

ASSEMBLYMAN BURDICK— PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION NIXES PUBLIC HEARING ON CON ED RATES IN WESTCHESTER. WHAT IS THE STATE LEGISLATURE THINKING? HOW YOU CAN STILL COMMENT

MGM GRAND RESORTS WITHDRAWS FROM EMPIRE CITY CASINO PROJECT

BALLYS PROPOSAL WINS BRONX APPROVAL

COUNTY EXECUTIVE JENKINS SUBMITS CAPITAL SPENDING BUDGET UP 8%

PLUS IMPACTS ON HEALTH OF NATION CAUSED BY SHUTDOWN

BLEAK OUTLOOK FOR THOSE DEPENDENT ON MEDICAID

WHY HAS NOT THE STATE PREPARED CONTINGENCY PLANS?

AND MORE WITH

JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS

THIS WEEK EVERY WEEK

ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK

FOR 24 YYEARS

OCTOBER 17– GOVERNOR HOCHUL CONSOLIDATES ST. JOHNS RIVERSIDE YONKERS WITH MONTIFIORE. OTHER HOSPITALS COMBINED TOO

Posted on October 17, 2025 by John Bailey

Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program Mobilizes State Investments To Improve Resilience of Safety Net Hospitals

Over $2.6 Billion in Investments Awarded To Ensure Access to High Quality Health Care for More New Yorkers Across the State

Governor Kathy Hochul Thursday unveiled transformative investments in six new partnerships between safety net hospitals and health care organizations under the Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program, totaling over $2.6 billion in capital and operating dollars.

St. John’s Riverside and Montefiore Health System to merge

St. John’s Riverside Hospital will become part of the Montefiore Health System, protecting access to high-quality health care services for the existing patient community in Yonkers, Dobbs Ferry, and the surrounding River Towns.
Through this partnership, Montefiore Health System will work with St. John’s Riverside Hospital to expand services at the hospital, with a focus on essential community services such as cardiac and cancer care in both the inpatient and ambulatory settings.
These service expansions will ensure more residents of Yonkers, Dobbs Ferry and the neighboring River Towns can receive crucial and high-quality care close to home.

Westchester Medical Center, Bon Secours Charity Health System, and Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley   combine

Westchester Medical Center (WMC) will fully integrate Bon Secours Charity Health System and Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley into WMC Health, seamlessly streamlining operations across the system.
Under this partnership, WMC will unify its electronic medical record system, expand its residency program and improve access to behavioral health, maternal, pediatric, and ambulatory care services.

“The strength of our hospitals is a reflection of the strength of our communities, and safety net hospitals play a critical role in providing quality health care to vulnerable populations,” Governor Hochul said. “Every person should have access to affordable, reliable health care regardless of the zip code they live in, and these investments will bring vital resources to underserved New Yorkers.” 

Established in the FY25 Enacted Budget, the Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program incentivizes partnerships between safety net hospitals and health care organizations. Through this program, New York is encouraging partnerships with safety-net institutions by providing strategic capital and operating support, in addition to required regulatory flexibility, to improve the resilience and sustainability of safety-net hospitals and expand access to high quality care. Earlier this year, the Governor announced the first eight projects under this program.  

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James V. McDonald said, “I want to thank Governor Hochul for her steadfast commitment to strengthening health care in New York. Safety net hospitals are the backbone of care for vulnerable and underserved communities across our state. Through these strategic investments and partnerships, we are not only stabilizing these hospitals but also building a foundation of resilient and sustainable health services that will ensure access to high-quality care for all New Yorkers for years to come.”

The Department of Health will work closely with these applicants to effectuate their proposed transformation plans and improve access to high quality health care across the state.

Breakdown of Investments In the other 4 Safety Net Hospitals

Arnot Ogden Medical Center and Cayuga Health  

Arnot Ogden Medical Center and Cayuga Health will continue to develop a new comprehensive and coordinated health system, Centralus Health. Through this work, critical infrastructure upgrades will be made to Arnot Ogden Medical Center, including an expansion of behavioral health, ambulatory surgery, and primary care outpatient services.
This new fully integrated health system will improve access and care coordination across the Southern Tier and the Finger Lakes.

Crouse Hospital and Northwell Health

Northwell Health will offer its world-leading clinical and operational expertise in a new collaboration with Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, NY.
Through this collaboration, Crouse Hospital will expand its ambulatory network, modernize its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and construct a new cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Erie County Medical Center and University of Buffalo Physicians Group

Erie County Medical Center and the University of Buffalo Physicians Group will expand access to primary and specialty care in Western New York through a series of projects, including the implementation of a community-wide electronic medical record system for all of ECMC and UB’s medical practices.
The partnership will strengthen the health care workforce in Western New York by investing in recruitment and retention efforts for physicians and primary care residents.
The partnership will also enhance access to care as well as strengthen the health care workforce through the construction of a Community Health Pavilion and Learning Center located on the East Side of Buffalo – a site that will combine primary, outpatient and diagnostic care while offering clinical learning, care simulation and care innovation opportunities.

Maimonides Medical Center and NYC Health + Hospitals

Maimonides and NYC Health + Hospitals are partnering together to preserve and strengthen critical services for the Brooklyn community. NYC Health + Hospitals is a federation of diverse and unique hospitals. Like Maimonides, each has its own respected history and traditions.
This partnership will enhance Maimonides and the role it plays for its patients, staff, and neighbors. The partnership includes a new and sophisticated electronic health record system at Maimonides to improve care coordination and patient experience.

OCTOBER 16– SATURDAY THE “NO KINGS RALLY” HAIL TO “THE QUESTIONERS,” “THE THINKERS,”THE WHAT-IF-FERS,” THE “WHAT-ABOUT-THIS-ERS, “THE “NOT-LET-IT SLIDERS,” THE “FEARLESS-UP-FRONT-IN-YOUR-FACERS” “THE HARD-QUESTIONERS-WHOSE-QUESTIONS-NEED-ANSWERING” “THE TROUBLED,” “THE-THINKERS-WHO-THINK-WHEN-OTHERS-REFUSE-TO-THINK”

Posted on October 16, 2025 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. OCTOBER 17, 2025:

On Saturday morning I will attend the No Kings rally at Greenburgh Town Hall at 9-10 AM sponsored by Central Westchester Indivisible -an event being held in communities all over the nation to highlight the fact that power belongs to the people.

At the rally I will formally announce plans to introduce a resolution before the Greenburgh Town Board creating a First Amendment walkway at Greenburgh Town Hall—honoring our critics, the political activists who take the time to provoke and challenge our decisions at most Town Board meetings. I envision highlighting the names of the first amendment activists along the walkway—an opportunity to honor them.

The activists, who I believe should be honored, are an important part of our democracy. They keep the government in check. Through protests, public speeches at Town Board meetings or on social media – they hold elected officials accountable for our decisions.

It’s important in a democatIc society to have debate.

The activists sometimes make elected officials uncomfortable. They frequently highlight points that otherwise would be ignored. They create controversy (which most elected officials don’t like) and force us to reexamine complex proposed laws and decisions that might remain unexamined.

In the history of democracy – the actions of activists frequently help shift public opinion. We need healthy dissent – where people can disagree with government, protest peacefully and have concerns heard. The activists help pushback against authoritarianism or corruption. We must respect each others right to disagree with each other.

In recent weeks we have witnessed the indictment by the Justice Department of James Comey, former FBI Director who has been critical of President Trump; NYS Attorney General Letitia James, who brought civil cases against Trump; John Bolton, former National Security Advisor and vocal Trump critic; ICE arrested over 14 NYC elected officials at immigration court sit in.

What I’m hoping to do is to contrast what is happening in Washington (arresting critics of the President) with what I hope Greenburgh will do–honoring our critics. Democracy depends on our critics not being afraid to speak out.

PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor