THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

WPCNR HEALTH HERALD. From Westchester County Health Department. July 12, 2003: The Westchester County Department of Health this week announced the success of two initiatives designed to combat West Nile virus; the Annual Spring S.T.I.N.G. events which collected old tires from residents for recycling and the completion of its larvicide application program.   The initiatives are particularly important as the County enters peak season for West Nile virus in August and September.

Over 1,500 old tires were collected during the two Spring S.T.I.N.G. weekends in conjunction with the County’s Household Clean-Up Days.  Larvicide briquettes were applied to catch basins throughout the County to prevent mosquito larvae in the catch basins from developing into adult mosquitoes that are capable of spreading West Nile virus to humans.

Measures residents could take to eliminate mosquito breeding areas were also announced.

                        “I applaud the residents of Westchester who took on the task of recycling old tires,” said County Executive Andy Spano.  “Spring S.T.I.N.G. has been an annual event for the past three years and each year I continue to be impressed with the enthusiasm of our residents to do their part in protecting the public health.”

            Beginning in mid-May, certified technicians from the Westchester County Department of Health began applying briquettes of the larvicide Altosid XR (methoprene) into County, State, and municipal catch basins on May 13.  Of the 65,570 catch basins countywide, a total of 57,570 were treated with larvicide.  The remaining 10,000 were inspected but not treated for reasons such as the catch basin being void of a sump and having no place for water to collect; the sump or the entire catch basin being filled with sediment so water could not accumulate; or other similar factors that made the catch basin an unfit mosquito breeding ground.  Orange

dots have been marked on all catch basins to identify which have been treated and which have not.  One orange

dot indicates that the catch basin has been treated.  Two orange dots signify that no treatment was necessary for that particular basin.                                                                                                                                              

 “While the two Spring S.T.I.N.G. weekends were a tremendous success in the collection of so many potential mosquito breeding grounds found in old tires, I would like to remind residents that there are many year-round outlets for residents to recycle tires in Westchester County,” said Dr. Joshua Lipsman, Commissioner of Health.  “Without the constant vigilance of our residents and the removal of sources of standing water in our neighborhoods, the control of West Nile virus would be much more difficult.”  Residents can call the County’s Household Recycling Hotline at (914) 813-5425 or visit the Health Department’s website at www.westchestergov.com/health/WestNile.htm for a complete list of year-round tire recycling centers.  

The Health Department also offers the following suggestions for eliminating mosquito breeding grounds from around private homes and property:

·        Get rid of all water holding containers, especially old tires, cans, buckets, drums, wheelbarrows and bottles.

·        Cover all outdoor trash containers to keep rainwater from accumulating inside.

·        Drill holes in the bottoms of all recycling containers that are left outdoors.

·        Clean roof gutters and remove standing water from flat roofs.

·        Drain the water in birdbaths, plant pots and drip trays twice weekly.

·        Sweep driveways after it rains so that they are free of puddles.

For additional information on West Nile virus, call the Public Health Information Line at (914) 813-5609, or visit its website at www.westchestergov.com/health.

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS MAIN STREET. By John F. Bailey. July 11, 2003. 1:00 A.M. E.D.T.: A citizens’ Committee to Save the White Plains Watch, (the city monthly newspaper published for the past five years), is in the process of being formed.

In an electronic mailing sent and forwarded to a large number of citizens, Barbara Benjamin is calling upon White Plains residents to help “The Watch” by becoming subscribers and placing advertisements. The mailing, a copy of which was sent to White Plains CitizeNetReporter, characterizes itself as a “call to arms to try and find a way to save the White Plains Watch!” Ms. Benjamin’s letter asks for it to be forwarded by e-mail to “any and all who might be willing to help,” and asks for a volunteer to get the committee going.

Ms. Benjamin, interviewed by WPCNR Thursday afternoon said, she has gotten a “fabulous” response, with people telling her “I’m going to help.” Ms. Benjamin did not say how many had contacted her, or how they planned to help, but said they could help by “becoming subscribers and taking out ads.” She said she was moved to send out the mailing because “The Watch” is “a good paper” and the city needs a free independent press.

 

The recruiting message sent out through Ms. Benjamin’s e-mail address, says that she had spoken with Susan Chang, the publisher of The Watch, and learned that Ms. Chang will not be publishing an August issue. Ms. Benjamin’s letter goes on to say that, “As a result of the city black ball of  The Watch, she has lost advertisers and is losing money on each issue, which she cannot continue to do.”

Ms. Benjamin’s letter suggests that the citizen’s committee be formed to “publicize her plight and the reason for it;” conduct a mailing to get subscribers, and hold a “fund-raiser”.

WCNR asked Ms. Benjamin how the Committee will be formed, and proceed, and she said that it was uncertain at this stage. (Her e-mail text said she hoped a volunteer would come forward “to help me get this going.”

Publisher Declines to Comment.

Prior to calling Ms. Benjamin, WPCNR  contacted Susan Chang. Ms. Chang said she did not wish to comment on the “Save the Watch Committee.” She said “we are continuing to publish” and that though The Watch has published in August in the past, they chose not to do so in August because of  her staff vacation schedules. As I was about to ask Ms. Chang what Ms. Benjamin could have meant by the “city black ball of The Watch,” the telephone call was disconnected. Calling back immediately, I talked to Ms. Chang’s assistant who said Ms. Chang did not wish to speak further on the issue.

In my interview with Ms. Benjamin, I started by asking her what she meant by the “city black ball” comment in her mailing, she said if Ms. Chang was not going to comment she was not going to comment. Ms. Benjamin also said this effort of hers, “had nothing to do with CCOS (Concerned Citizens for Open Space, the organization with which she is associated).” 

When pressed on the details of how the city was “black-balling the watch” according to the allegation in her letter, Ms. Benjamin became irritated, said I was “a troublemaker” and said she would not speak to a “yellow journalist like you.” And on that comment, she terminated the interview. 

WPCNR contacted the Mayor’s Office asking what they thought Ms. Benjamin’s  comment  about the “city black ball” meant, and the Mayor’s Office had no comment.

Complete Text of the Save The Watch Commitee Letter Circulated July 7:

This memo is being written by me as a private citizen and not as chairperson of anything. It is a “call to arms” to try and find a way to SAVE THE WHITE PLAINS WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I spoke to Susan Chang today. She will be putting a notice in the July issue of the Watch re our Candidates Meeting because there will be no August issue.

As a result of the city black ball of the Watch, she has lost advertisers and is losing money on each issue, which she cannot continue to do.

I believe a citizen’s committee should be formed, a Save the Watch Committee, and we should find a way to:

1) Publicize her plight and the reason for it

2) Do a city mailing and try to get her hundreds of subscribers.

3) Host a fund raiser to help her out

These are not things she can do herself. It is up to this community to get all the people who support the Watch to fight to save it. Closing it would be a terrible loss to the city and a free press.

I do not want to be chairman of this, but I will be happy to open my house to a “get started” meeting and work hard with any committee that can be formed.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO ANY AND ALL WHO MIGHT BE WILLING TO HELP. I can think of a great many people who should get this e-mail, but I don’t have the necessary e-mail addresses — but you might. I CAN BE AN E-MAIL CENTER FOR RESPONSES, BUT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOMEONE VOLUNTEER TO HELP ME GET THIS GOING.

Barbara