WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.
Westchester County Parks are Beginning to Reopen for the 2021 Season From Westchester County Chairman of the Board of Legislators, Benjamin Boykin
Beginning Memorial Day: Playland Beach will be open during weekends through June 25th will be open seven days a week after June 25th Croton Point Beach will be open during weekends through June 25th will be open Wednesday-Saturday after June 25th
Beginning June 25:
Saxon Woods, Tibbets Brook, and Wilson Woods Parks will be open seven days a week
Playland Park will reopen to the public beginning June 26th, and will be open as follows: Wednesday to Sunday between 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm The 2021 summer season will run from June 25th to Labor Day Park reservations are recommended the day of, as park capacity will be 25% Please note that Playland Pool will be closed for renovation until Summer 2022 Please forward this E-News to family and friends who may be interested in this information.
en Español Los parques del condado de Westchester están comenzando a reabrir para la temporada 2021A partir del lunes 31 de mayo, Día de la Conmemoración (en inglés Memorial Day):La playa de Playlandestará abierto durante los fines de semana hasta el 25 de junioestará abierto los siete días de la semana después del 25 de junioPlaya de Croton Pointestará abierto durante los fines de semana hasta el 25 de junioestará abierto de miércoles a sábado después del 25 de junioA partir del 25 de junio:Los parques de Saxon Woods, Tibbets Brook y Wilson Woods estarán abiertos los siete días de la semanaEl parque de Playland volverá a abrir al público a partir del 26 de junio y estará abierto de la siguiente manera:De miércoles a domingo de 12:00 p.m. a 4:00 p.m. y de 5:00 p.m. a 9:00 p.m.La temporada de verano de 2021 se extenderá desde el 25 de junio hasta el lunes, 6 de septiembre, Día del Trabajo (en inglés Labor Day)Se recomienda hacer reservaciones para el parque el día de que asistirá, ya que la capacidad del parque será del 25%Tenga en cuenta que la piscina de Playland permanecerá cerrada para renovaciones hasta el verano de 2022Envíe estas noticias electrónicas a familiares y amigos que puedan estar interesados en esta información.
JOHN BAILEY, THE CITIZENETREPORTER’S LIVE BROADCAST THIS MORNING ON WVOX 1460 WITH DENNIS AND TONNY “THE TWO FRIENDLIEST PEOPLE ON THE RADIO” ON THEIR GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER PROGRAM. MR. BAILEY IS HEARD WEEKLYTUESDAYS AT 7:50 A.M. EDT AT 1460 AM OR WORLDWIDE ON WVOX.COM MR. BAILEY’S WEEKLY REPORT HAS BEEN ON WVOX FOR 6 YEARS. HERE IS THE TRANSCRIPT OF THIS MORNING’S BROADCAST
“GOOD MORNING FROM WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA WHERE ITS 46 DEGREES AND CLOUDY WPCNR DEGREES. .
LAST NIGHT AT THE COMMON COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING, THE DEVELOPER OF THE GOOD COUNSEL PROPERTY INTRODUCED A NEW 2 ACRE OPEN SPACE PUBLIC PARK REDESIGN OF THE NORTH BROADWAY ENTRANCE TO THEIR SENIOR CARE-SENIOR LIVING-TOWN HOUSE PROJECT BEING PLANNED FOR THE SITE. THE PARK FEATURES SLOPED WALKING PATHS, OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATRE, SPECIOUS PUBLIC EVENT SPACE FOR MARKETS, CONCERTS. IT IS THE LARGEST (2 ACRES) ACTIVE PUBLIC SPACE PROPOSED FOR WHITE PLAINS IN 20 YEARS. COMMON COUNCIL IMPRESSED.
VIEW INTO THE SENIOR-ASSISTED lIVING, SENIOR LIVING-TOWNHOUSE PROJECT FROM PORTION OF THE PARKOVERVIEW OF LOCATION OF THE “PUBLIC SPACE PROPOSED” SHOWING LOCATION ON THE PROPERTY AND THE OVERHEAD DETAIL
CAN YOU HEAR THE CASH REGISTERS RINGING EVERYWHERE IN WESTCHESTER, DENNIS?
LAST MONTH CUSTOMERS CAME IN ACROSS THE MID HUDSON REGION AND THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY HAS BEGUN.
IN WHITE PLAINS SALES TAX DOLLARS ROSE 3-1/2% OVER MARCH OF 2020—THE FIRST TIME IN 10 MONTHS WHITE PLAINS HAS POSTED AN INCREASE SINCE THE CORONAVIRUS BLANKETED THE COUNTY. IT WAS A $128,000 INCREASE BUT IT IS A SOLID TURNAROUND.
NEW ROCHELLE ROSE 18.5% UP 546,000 TO $3 MILLION 500 THOUSAND; MOUNT VERNON ROSE 38%, $753,000 TO $2 MILLION 753,000 YONKERS HAD A 25% GAIN OF $1,344,000 TOO, SO THE SPENDING IS STARTING SLOWLY
ALL AROUND THE MID-HUDSON REGION THE ECONOMY IS COMING BACK—WESTCHESTER GAINED 18.3% IN SALES TAX DOLLARS, UP 11 MILLION 800 THOUSAND ON TARGET AFTER 1 QUARTER FOR $713 MILLION IN SALES TAXES—BUT IT IS EARLY YET. MAY THE MONEY MOMENTUM CONTINUE.
DUTCHESS COUNTY GAINED 69% IN SALE TAX MONEY– $10.881,000; ORANGE COUNTY UP 20% (5.2 MILLION IN MARCH; ULSTER UP 28%, SULLIVAN 57%, PUTNAM 35% AND ROCKLAND 20% THE NUMBERS ARE ROBUST HEADING INTO APRIL WHICH SHOULD BE AVAILBE PERHAPS END OF MONTH. PEOPLE HER SHOPPING AND FLOCKING TO NEW RO AND YONKERS…NOT SO MUCH WHITE PLAINS…
MAYOR ROACH IN HIS WEEKLY COVID MESSAGE ANNOUNCED THERE ARE CURRENTLY AN ESTIMATED 202 ACTIVE CASES IN OUR CITY, DOWN 49 FROM A WEEK AGO. OVER THE LAST 7 DAYS WE ARE AVERAGING 13 NEW CASES PER DAY.
SUNSHINE PHARMACY RIGHT HERE IN WHITE PLAINS WILL BE HOSTING A MODERNA VACCINATION CLINIC THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 29 TH , 3 – 7 PM, AT THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY CENTER, LOCATED AT 65 MITCHELL PLACE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, BUT – GOOD NEWS: WALK-INS ARE ALSO WELCOME! GO TO: HEALTHMARTCOVIDVACCINE.COM, TO ACCESS THE REGISTRATION FORM IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. AS WITH ALL OF THE VACCINATION SITES, THE VACCINE IS FREE.
WE THOUGHT WE HAD REACHED A TURNING POINT LAST WEEK IN COVID SPREADING AND THIS LAST 7 DAYS HAVE PROVEN THAT THERE IS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MORE PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATIONS SLOWING THE COVID SPREAD
SUNDAY THE INFECTION RATE FOR COVID WAS DOWN TO 2.8%. ON SATURDAY WE HIT A 1.5% INFECTION RATE THE LOWEST THE COUNTY HAS SEEN SINCE OCTOBER 24 SIX MONTHS AGO. WHEN IT WAS 1.4.
WE HAVE REDUCED NUMBER OF INFECTIONS PER DAY FROM ABOUT 400 A DAY ON APRIL 1 TO AN AVERAGE 280 PER DAY 133 SUNDAY AND 150 SATURDAY. THE VACCINEATIONS AND PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOR HAVE REDUCED THE RATE OF SPREAD 75% IN ONE MONTH.
HOW LONG BEFORE INFECTIONS ARE A THING OF THE PAST?
IN THE MID-HUDSON REGION HAS A POPULATION OF 3 MILLION OVER WESTCHESTER, DUTCHESS, ORANGE, PUTNAM, ROCKLAND, SULLIVAN AND ULSTER COUNTIES, THERE ARE CURRENTLY 631,607 (21%) FULLY VACCINATED WITH 78,302 BEING VACCINATED WITH SECOND SHOTS A WEEK., 8,744 A DAY. WPCNR RECKONS THE MID-HUDSON REGION, 7 COUNTIES, INCLUDING WESTCHESTER, COULD BE FULLY VACCINATED IN 31 WEEKS WHICH WOULD MEAN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER.
IN THE LAST THREE DAYS WE CONTINUE TO SEE COVID INFECTIONS DECLINE–1.9% INFECTION RATE THURSDAY, AND 2% ON FRIDAY — AND SATURDAY A 1.5% INFECTION RATE ON 10,000 PERSONS TESTED. THE SPREAD OF CORONA VIRUS VACCINES IS TURNING BACK THE COVID TIED FOR THE LAST 24 DAYS. WITH JUST 150 INFECTIONS SATURDAY. “
WPCNR LAW JOURNAL.From the National Rife Association. April 26, 2021:
The U.S. Supreme Court announced today it will hear an NRA-backed case challenging New York’s restrictive concealed-carry-licensing regime. This sets the stage for the Supreme Court to affirm what most states already hold as true, that there is an individual right to self-defense outside of the home.
This case challenges New York’s requirement that applicants demonstrate “proper cause” to carry a firearm. New York regularly uses this requirement to deny applicants the right to carry a firearm outside of their home. The NRA believes that law-abiding citizens should not be required to prove they are in peril to receive the government’s permission to exercise this constitutionally protected right.
Speaking on the Court’s decision, Jason Ouimet, executive director of NRA-ILA said, “The court rarely takes Second Amendment cases. Now it’s decided to hear one of the most critical Second Amendment issues. We’re confident that the court will tell New York and the other states that our Second Amendment right to defend ourselves is fundamental, and doesn’t vanish when we leave our homes.”
In addition to ruling on this statute, this case will give the Supreme Court the opportunity to clarify the precedent that it has created surrounding the Second Amendment. It has been over a decade since the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to have a handgun in the home for self-defense in District of Columbia v. Heller. In 2010, the court also ruled that the Second Amendment is a fundamental right that applies to the states in McDonald v. City of Chicago.
It is hard to overstate how important this case is. The decision will affect the laws in many states that currently restrict carrying a firearm outside of the home. NRA-ILA is working hard to defend your constitutional rights and is prepared to argue this case in order to protect the rights of Americans everywhere.
The case is called New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen.
WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT.By John F. Bailey. April 26, 2021 UPDATED 5:25 PM EDT:
New York State Covid Tracker reports the rate of coronavirus infections is being controlled and reduced substantially for the first 26 days of April in Westchester.
The Sunday Figures just in continue this very welcome, long awaited trend. Of 5,676 tested Sunday, the Covid Tracker reports 2.3% tested positive (133) in the county, which is a dramatic shift in low test universe results. Usually the lower the number of people tested the higher the infection rate.
Either less people are concerned they need to be tested, or less are seeking testing thinking covid is no longer a threat.
But in the low numbers tested over the weekend the infection rate still dropped — GOING to 1.5% on Saturday, and 2.3% on Sunday. WPCNR interprets this to mean that less people are getting infected with the virus and the county average infection rate is continuing to lower, despite sloppy social distancing masking and loose mingling.
The significant reduction in infections coincides with the numbers of Westchester residents having received both dosages of covid vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna.
Thursday 10,878 persons in the county were tested. Testing positive were 212 people, an infection rate of 1.91 % first time the rate has been under 2% of tests positive since October 31, six months ago when the second wave of covid drove up Westchester infections.
Friday, 9,370 tested saw 190 infected, 2%.
On Saturday, 9,965 got tested and 150 tested positive, an infection rate of 1.5%! This was the lowest number of positives since October 24 when 1.4% tested positive.
The average rate of infections over 24 days of April in Westchester County is 2.9%. The infections per day have dropped from 418 on April 1 to 150 Saturday.
The vaccines have been a game changer.
However 150 infections Saturday means the virus is by no means stopped. A total of 6,740 persons have come downwith Covid in 24 days of April, 133 MORE COUNTING SUNDAY
It’s out there and 133 more now have it. Getting the vaccines are your best precaution and disciplining your distancing and socializing for young and old is the smart thing to do.
The average total new infections per day in April is 280—down 75% since March when 370 to 400 persons were being infected daily in Westchester County, New York, USA.
Currently, according to the New York State Westchester County Vaccination Tracker, 348,106 persons have both vaccine doses (36% of the county 967,612 persons). Awaiting second doses are 487,310 persons who have had their first shot.
The Bottom Line— Shows the Mid-Hudson Region relentless daily and weekly vaccinations obviously the game changer in repressing the covid second wave in the sixth month of the second wave
In the Mid-Hudson region with a population of 3 Million over Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties, there are currently 631,607 (21%) fully vaccinated with 78,302 being vaccinated with second shots a week., 8,744 a day. WPCNR reckons the Mid-Hudson region, 7 counties, including Westchester, could be fully vaccinated in 31 weeks which would mean October or November.
WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2021. News & Comment By John F. Bailey. April 25, 2021:
She will be the first woman to run for Westchester County Executive.
She could be a challenging opponent to incumbent County Executive George Latimer.
She is Christine Sculti, former assistant to County Executive Robert Astorino. Her biography from the Saint Pio Foundation where she currently serves the non-profit philanthropic organization that raises funds for health organizatons presents the potential for her delivering compelling arguments. Here is the Saint Pio profile of Ms. Schulti:
Christine Sculti is a highly skilled professional with extensive experience in government and the private sector. As Chief Advisor to the County Executive, Christine was the highest-ranking woman in County Executive Robert P. Astorino’s administration, which cut taxes and kept spending flat for eight years. She has also served as Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Westchester County Taxi & Limousine Commission, as Assistant to the Mayor of Yonkers, spearheading a 1.5 billion dollar redevelopment project, and in economic development for New York State as Mid-Hudson Regional Director. She currently works as Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of the Westchester County Board of Elections.
As Vice President of a family-owned business and a corporate business development manager for an international business, Christine knows the importance of business-friendly policies that reduce regulations and keep taxes low in order that businesses can thrive and create jobs. She faced adversity when she was present for the bombing of the family’s satellite office at the World Trade Center in 1993. Her experience during that traumatic terrorist attack led her to embrace public service.
A Westchester resident since the age four when her family moved to Hartsdale, Christine graduated from Fordham University. Dedicated to community service, she served on the Hudson River Valley Greenway Board, Harrison Board of Assessors, Rye City Rotary Club, Yonkers Downtown W aterfront Development Corp. and the Mamaroneck Village Tree Committee.Currently, she is the Vice Chair of the Saint Pio Foundation.
Her wealth of experience appears to demonstrate a background of community-government interaction that could match Mr. Latimer.
He is a tough seasoned campaigner. He’s a skilled debater with a gift for rational, avuncular gravitas who has decimated previous opponents he defeated by skillful demonstrations in debates that brought out opponents’ lack of knowledge of county and state procedures.
Mr. Latimer’s “inside baseball” knowledge he uncannily remembers adlib in debates across his 30 years in government elective office impresses . He has used “inside baseball” to great success using facts and situational awareness to portray skillfully opponents’ experience, or lack of experience, as the wrong choice. and he– the right choice with facts, facts, facts which put opponents in the very defensive position of “not knowing” the facts.
Latimer has faced women before in previous challenges, but not as County Executive where he has been the man who charts policy and makes decisions. He is also been highly promotive of women’s issues. He cannot attack Ms. Sculti viciously. He cannot mock her as he did with Mr. Astorino, or attack her lack of government experience because she appears to have it.
However, Ms. Sculti is left with little issues to attack Latimer on in view of the bailout the American Recovery Act has supplied to eliminate losses from Covid and previous Democratic Legislators’ inability to count and multiply when they do county budgets, let alone forecast responsibly.
Whether the Astorino policy of not raising taxes which was Mr. Astorino’s only issue, still resonates is doubtful. People want their Westchester back better than before.
Ms. Sculti should not follow the advice of Republican experts as to what are the issues. Republicans in Westchester do not want to win elections. They do not fund their candidates enough. They cooperate with the Democrats by nominating weak candidates. Worst is that no Republican leaders elected or political pundits speakout regularly on issues before the county or decisions and policies with any kind of criticism or alternative solutions to what the county has decided. You never hear any positive solutions for the future from Republican policy people, because there appears to be no county Republican policy enthusiasts who care.
Ms. Sculti should not be seduced by Republican election experts who banked on Mr. Astorino’s tax holding the line policy as solely enough to defeat Latimer who exploited Astorino’s lawsuit against HUD as a Quixote-like policy which it was.
Mr. Latimer also had a way of selling Westchester on increasing funds for non-profits that it was time. It was a kindly message of compassion during first year of the Trump Terror of creating new regressive policies that hurt, never healed, hated, never loved, and killed and did not save, and enriched the few and impoverished the many. This should be instructive to Ms. Sculti.
Ms. Sculti should focus on a campaign that even if she is not elected will give Mr. Latimer a road map for the next four years, not a return to the “do nothing because we cannot afford it” Spano-Astorino County Executiving.
Ms. Sculti should challenge Mr. Latimer on how to use the excess funds that will be generated the rest of this year by Covid relief and new economic activity in the county. (Sales Tax receipts for the county were up 18% in March and 3 and a half per cent in the city of White Plains).
She needs to challenge Mr. Latimer on bringing in new businesses to the county. Getting the airport more convenient to business, despite Greenwich blocking every effort to expand air traffc. An aggressive air traffic pattern shifting approaches to the airport from the West has been suggested by experienced pilots as the way to handle more traffic without disturbing the gentry from Greenwich living near the airport.
Ms. Sculti should aim to target issues that hurt women: sex trafficking, sex harrassment in organizations, illegal, unsafe housing. With the new Westchester District Attorney , Mimi Rocah that is a natural issue.
Ms. Sculti’s tax focus should be on property taxes in local communities and how they can be equitable and I do not mean revaluing–a disaster–just ask The Town of Greenburgh.
One avenue I would not attack is the Latimer response to the Corona Virus.
In the last three days we continue to see Covid infections decline–1.9% infection rate Thursday, and 2% on Friday — and Saturday a 1.5% infection rate on 10,000 persons tested. The spread of corona virus vaccines is turning back the covid tied for the last 24 days. with just 150 infections Saturday.
There is no guarantee strict enforcement of covid masking, social distrancing and restaurant restrictions would have stopped the spread since enforcement it was not done by county or municipalities. Criticizing past performance can be easily deflected by Mr. Latimer. It cannot be redone. Handing health coordination better in the future is definitely an issue and more explicit information on health issues however that people can understand is;
Ms. Sculti should self-fund. She cannot depend on the Republican Party to spend in the dollars necessary to mount an awareness grassroots funding and media campaign and an interactive media presence as strong as the County Executive has. She has to look big and just as smart as Latimer in the ability to organize and persuade
Ms. Sculti needs to build on the public desire to come back to what Westchester once was.
She needs to create a sloganary vision to crystallize and speak to that fervent desire of her electorate—I suggest a slogan like
” Sculti — “What Westchester Wants”
HEALTH HAPPINESS RESPECT: A FUTURE NOT THE PAST.
Mr. Latimer is a formidable adversary.
Mr. Latimer is riding a wave where he appears to do no wrong in the eyes of the electorate,. Even when matters he supports did not work out, he rationalizes the unintended results as still positive for the county. This self-deprecating talent is very effective when matters do not work out to his administration satisfaction.
But he does accept responsibility for it and does not throw colleagues under the bus for the mistakes. This is very acceptable to the Westchester public. He has also cultivated strong support from the minority communities in Westchester.
Attacking past performance on Mr. Latimer does not work you have to attack with a different future. The Spano slogan of “Government that works for Westchester Families” promises more of the same.
The Latimer ability to portray confidence, thoughtfulness, and concern for people, that he “cares” more, delivered in a folksy, conversational patter of a trusted oldtime sportscaster is compelling. He charms male and female voter alike, inspires confidence and trust.
His daily dominance in the year of the coronavirus, and even before covid the first two years of his administration, made him a daily talk show second only to Governor Cuomo in the unofficial ratings.
It is not just broadcast and cable tv news outlets he dominated. He expanded the reach of the Westchester County website with full rebroadcasts on the county website; he used social media outlets, Facebook for example with daily videocasts of his counted-on news conferences on events around the county, covid briefings and Latimer Chats with county and local officials and experts.
Those are the skill sets Mr. Latimer has that Ms. Sculti will have to demonstrate that she also has, but can do better.
He is literally the “Latimer News Network..”
Ms. Sculti needs to be the “Sculti Westchester Network”
Dear Friends and Neighbors,We all long to put the days of the COVID-19 pandemic behind us – to go back to life as we once knew it before March of 2020. We hope and pray for the health and safety of our family members and friends, a Westchester County without illness and the loss of life. But – the only way we are ever going to achieve that goal is by doing our part to get vaccinated.
The COVID-19 vaccine works – but it will only protect us if we ALL take it.Below are links to sign up for four upcoming clinics at Westchester Community College (WCC) in Valhalla for the first dose of the Moderna vaccine.
Individuals must be 18 years of age or older to receive the vaccine, and must also be able to return to WCC 28 days after their first dose to receive a second dose. Please feel free to share the following:
Saturday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=C06D3EB0BFEC0FAEE0530A6C7C16C408Monday, April 26 from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=C06DA5DDAFA11434E0530A6C7C16DCF0Tuesday, April 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=C06DA5DDAFA21434E0530A6C7C16DCF0To assist residents with getting vaccinated, the Westchester County Department of Health has been regularly posting links on their website www.westchestergov.com/health for one of their vaccine clinics. If you are having a problem with the link, try using a different web browser such Google Chrome. Or, if you need assistance registering, please call 914-995-7425.Please help by doing your part to stop the spread of COVID-19. Thank you.Sincerely,en EspañolQueridos amigos y vecinos,Todos decíamos dejar atrás los días de la pandemia de COVID-19, volver a la vida como la conocíamos antes de marzo de 2020. Esperamos y oramos por la salud y la seguridad de nuestros familiares y amigos, un condado de Westchester sin enfermedad y sin la pérdida de la vida. Pero, la única forma en que vamos a lograr ese objetivo es haciendo nuestra parte para vacunarnos. La vacuna COVID-19 funciona, pero solo nos protegerá si TODOS la tomamos.A continuación, se muestran los enlaces para inscribirse en cuatro clínicas próximas en Westchester Community College (WCC) en Valhalla para la primera dosis de la vacuna Moderna. Las personas deben tener 18 años o más para recibir la vacuna, y también deben poder regresar a WCC 28 días después de su primera dosis para recibir una segunda dosis. No dude en compartir lo siguiente:Sábado 24 de abril de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m. https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=C06D3EB0BFEC0FAEE0530A6C7C16C408Lunes 26 de abril a partir de las 1:30 p. m. a las 5 p.m. https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=C06DA5DDAFA11434E0530A6C7C16DCF0Martes 27 de abril de 10:30 a.m. a 4:30 p.m. https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=C06DA5DDAFA21434E0530A6C7C16DCF0Para ayudar a los residentes a vacunarse, el Departamento de Salud del Condado de Westchester ha estado publicando regularmente enlaces en su sitio web www.westchestergov.com/health para una de sus clínicas de vacunas. Si tiene un problema con el enlace, intente utilizar un navegador web diferente, como Google Chrome. O, si necesita ayuda para registrarse, llame al 914-995-7425.Por favor ayude haciendo su parte para detener la propagación de COVID-19. Gracias.Atentamente,
DR. JOSEPH RICCA REOPENING REPORT ON THE REOPENING THIS WEEK, GRADUATIONS, SUMMER SCHOOL SUMMARY, ASSESSMENT SITUATION, REMEDIATION POLICY FOR THE FALL, HOW SCHOOL WILL SPEND RECOVERY ACT WINDFALL, AND PREVIEW OF THE BUDGET VOTE IN MAY
SECRETARY OF EDUCATION MIGUEL CARDONA TOURS REOPENED WHITE PLAINS HIGH PARTICIPATES IN FACT-FINDING MISSION ON REOPENING SUCCESS.(Photo Courtesy, White Plains City School District)SECRETARY OF EDUCATION MIGUEL CARONA RIGHT IN ANIMATED CONVERSATION WITH SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DR. JOSEPH RICCA , AND PRESIDENT OF THE WHITE PLAINS BOARD OF EDUCATION ROASEMARIE ELLER THURSDAY MORNING IN THE HALLS OF WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL TOURING THE SCHOOL IN SESSIONThe Secretary of Education, Mr. Cardona (center) flanked by American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, left and White Plains Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joseph Ricca (right)on a panel discussing how to reopen schools successfully. (Photo, White Plains City School District.
WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS.By John F. Bailey. April 22, 2021 UPDATED WITH ACTUALITIES APRIL 23, 2021:
The top education administrator in the USA, Secretary of Education Miguel Carona toured White Plains High School, USA this morning with Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joseph Ricca, and Principal of the high school Emerly Martinez. It was part of the Secretary’s national “School Reopening Tour” under way.
Secretary of Education Cardona addressing an in-session White Plains High School Classroom. (Photo, White Plains City School District)
The Secretary whose presence was indicated by black, apparently official security SUVs at 9 this morning in front of the school participated in a “Roundtable Discussion on School Reopening in White Plains,NY” with Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers President, White Plains Teachers Association President Kara McCormick-Lyons, Board of Education President Rosemarie Eller, and spent part of the morning meeting students, educators, and administrators.
His mission on the tour is to “visit schools that have successfully reopened and stayed open to highlight the best practices and discuss how schools can ensure reopening efforts are advancing educational parity.” He will share what he learns on the on-site tours with other members of the Biden Administration, and other schools on the tour “to reach the President’s goal of reopening the majority of K-8 schools within the first 100 days of the Biden Administration.”
One of the few Westchester County School Districts to reopen fully with a below approximately 4% Covid infection rate — of 398 positives (teachers, students, and staff, administrators) since remote learning went into effect last spring about this time) of its 7,197 students,. The school has now by Friday officially reopened for all K-12 grades. It’s approximately 1,300 teachers, staff and administrators are 85% fully vaccinated through a coordinated Westchester County effort across 9 school sites,
WPCNR WESTCHESTER COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER.From Chairman of the Board of Westchester County Legislators Benjamin Boykin. April 22, 2021:
Local Business Bounce Back As we move to the “new normal”, we want to know what that might look like for your business and how the County may help.
We know that businesses of all types, in all sections of Westchester County have been affected by the pandemic. Loss of revenue, increased expenses, changes in consumer behavior, a remote work force, etc. have had immediate impact and may represent a long term shift. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey and share it widely. The deadline for submission is close of business on Monday, April 26th.Take Survey Here:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5WJ88NN
White Plains Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Ricca being interviewed by John Bailey through the magic of Zoom Monday on the White Plains Schools reopening in its fifth week. Here are some highlights of that interview reported this morning by Mr. Bailey on The Dennis and Tonny Good Morning Westchester Program WVOX 1460.
“GOOD MORNING TONNY AND DENNIS FROM WHITE PLAINS NY USA WHERE IT’S 46 SUNNY WPCNR DEGREES AT 7:50 A.M.. THIS IS THE WEEK WHEN ALL WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS ARE OPEN AND THE RETURN TO IN-SCHOOL LEARNING IS WORKING. I INTERVIEWED WHITE PLAINS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DR. JOSEPH RICCA YESTERDAY AND HE REPORTS THAT 93% OF CHILDREN IN GRADES K THROUGH 5 ARE NOW LEARNING IN-SCHOOL AND 75% OF MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL. HE GAVE PARENTS, KIDS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF A “A-PLUS”
HE SAID ON behalf of the board of education, an enormous, thank you to our community of White Plains, this has been a long road, we didn’t get to where we are today without a ton of amazing support from everybody all throughout the Community. Despite the fact that we’re still dealing with COVID we’re thrilled that we were able to welcome back all of our children and all of our Tigers to five day in person instruction.
HE PRAISED PARENTS FOR BEING “COOPERATIVE AND UNDERSTANDING” TO ENABLE THE DISTRICT TO OPEN FOR 4 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS NOW WITHOUT HAVING A MAJOR PROBLEMS
ASKED WHAT THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS, DR. RICCA SAID THAT IF SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY SHOWS SIGNS OF BEING ILL WITH SYMPTOMS OF COVID, STUFFY NOSE FEVER THEY SHOULD NOT SEND THEIR OTHER CHILDREN TO SCHOOL UNTIL THE ILL MEMBER OF THE FAMILY IS TESTED.
DR. RICCA SAYS WHAT HAPPENS IS IF THE MEMBER OF THE FAMILY WHO IS ILL TESTS POSITIVE, THE CHILD YOU SEND TO SCHOOL EXPOSES THEIR WHOLE CLASS TO COVID. SO PARENTS HAVE TO BE VIGILANT AND KEEP THEIR HEALTHY CHILD OR CHILDREN HOME UNTIL THE ILL FAMILY MEMBER IS TESTED NEGATIVE.
DR. RICCA SAID 86% OF WHITE PLAINS TEACHERS ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF HAVE BEEN VACCINATED THANKS TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY AND THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FACILITATING VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS.
COMPLIANCE BY STUDENTS WITH MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES HAS BEEN EXCELLENT ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.
LOOKING FORWARD HE SAID THAT THERE WILL BE GRADUATION CEREMONIES AT LOUCKS FIELD FOR SENIORS AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WILL NOT BE AT THE COUNTY CENTER
HE REPORTED THAT ASSESSMENT TESTS AND REGENTCES WILL BE ADMINISTERED BUT WILL NOT COUNT TOWARDS GRADUATING OR MOVING TO THE NEXT GRADE. HE ADDED THAT PARENTS CAN DECLINE TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN TAKE THE TESTS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO PENALTY OR NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THEIR CHILD’S PROGRESS..
HE SAID ALL GRADES WILL BE AUTOMATICALLLY MOVED TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND NOT HELD BACK BECAUSE OF CURRENT YEAR PERFORMANCE.
HE EMPHASIZED “THIS HAS NOT BEEN A LOST YEAR” FOR WHITE PLAINS STUDENTS.
DR. RICCA PROMISED A “ROBUST SUMMER SCHOOL. SOME STUDENTS WILL BE MANDATED TO ATTEND A SUMMER SCHOOL TO UPGRADE THEIR COMPREHENSION OF THE CURRENT YEAR MATERIAL. HE ADDED THAT PARENTS FEELING THEIR STUDENTS NEED MORE ENHANCEMENT AND REVIEW CAN DECIDE TO HAVE THEIR CHILD ATTEND SUMMER SCHOOL VOLUNTARILY. THEY SHOULD DISCUSS THIS OPTION WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AND TEACHERS.
HE SAID REALISTICALLY THE SCHOOLS EXPECT AND ARE PLANNING FOR INCREASED TIME DEVOTED TO REMEDIATION FOR STUDENTS WHEN SCHOOL STARTS UP AGAIN IN THE FALL
I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE SCHOOL AID EXPECTED TO COME FROM THE AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT . DR. RICCA SAID THE SCHOOL HAS NOT BEN INFORMED EXACTLY HOW MUCH AID IS COMING AND WHAT THE RESTRICTIONS ON HOW IT CAN BE SPENT ARE. HE SAID THE MONEY WOULD BE SPENT ON FACILITIES AS LONG TERM ONE-SHOT INVESTMENTS THAT WOULD NOT REQUIRE INCREASED TAXES IF THE AID IS CUT BACK IN FUTURE YEARS
HE MADE A POINT THAT WHAT HAS MADE THE RETURN TO INCLASS INSTRUCTION ACROSS ALL GRADES SUCCESSFUL IS THE FACULTY STAFF AND INTERACTIONS HAS BEEN TO BE AS SUPPORTIVE AND SYMPATHETIC AS POSSIBLE TO FACILITATE THE RETURN EXPERIENCE. HE SAID HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MIDDLE AND ELEMENTARY STUDENTS HAVE STEPPED UP AND BEEN VERY COMPLIANT WITH PROTOCOLS.
ON ANOTHER POSITIVE NOTE—THE RATE OF INFECTION CONTINUES AT SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 3% ACROSS WESTCHESTER COUNTY THROUGH SUNDAY THE FIRST TIME IT HAS BEEN CONSISENTLY THAT LOW SINCE NOVEMBER 1. IN FACT THE INFECTION RATE SATURDAY WAS 2.3%–IT HAS NOT BEEN THAT LOW FOR 5-1/2 MONTHS.
THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID THE PROPOSED SCHOOL BUDGET INCREASES TAXES 1.3% AND DOES NOT INCLUDE AND OF THE INCREASED STATE AID AS AN ONGOING EXPENSE.
DENNIS YOU CAN WATCH THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW WITH DR. RICCA ON WHITE PLAINS TV THURSDAY 8 PM AND SATURDAY 7 PM ON PEOPLE TO HEARD COUNTYWIDE ON FIOS CHANNEL 45 AND IN WHITE PLAINS ON OPTIMUM CHANNEL 45.”
The John Bailey WVOX WHITE PLAINS REPORT IS HEARD TUESDAYS AT 7:50 A.M. on the Dennis and Tonny Good Morning Westchester “The nicest two people on the radio” program on WVOX.COM, WVOX 1460 A.M..
