THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

Free Bereavement Counseling to 9/11 Widows, Widowers, Children

Posted on April 7, 2002 by John Bailey

WPCNR Community Bulletin: Bereavement Support Groups for 9/11 widows and widowers and their children, ages three and up, are being offered free by Westchester Jewish Community Services. The two groups – the one for parents and the one for children — run concurrently on Wednesdays from 1:30-2:45 at 701 Westchester Avenue in White Plains. The groups are led by social workers specially trained in bereavement counseling.

For additional information about these programs or to register, call Elisabeth Gilbert at 949-7699, ext. 546 or Karen Dreher 949-7699, ext.313.
The WJCS also sponsors a series of other specialized need support groups at houses of worship in White Plains covering a series of critical concerns. The following is a description of the groups some which are getting underway this week:

With funding from UJA Federation, Westchester Jewish Community Services has begun offering support and counseling programs at several houses of worship in White Plains. These programs, which are free and open to all members of the community, include:

TEMPLE ISRAEL CENTER:
BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING
A support group for those trying to cope with the loss of a loved one.
Wednesdays – 12:30 – 1:30 PM

Contact: Lilly Singer, CC, at 949-7699, X 366.

RECENTLY SEPARATED/DIVORCED SUPPORT GROUP *
Wednesdays – 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Contact: Karen Dreher, CSW, at 946-8851, X316 or 949-7699, X313.
*Starting Wednesday, April 10. Six sessions. Pre-registration required.

BET AM SHALOM
SYNAGOGUE HELPLINE

Need quick assistance or information? Schedule a 15-minute consultation with Karen Dreher, CSW, at 946-8851, X316 or 949-7699, X313.
Leave your name, phone number and the best time for a call back.

CAREGIVER’S SUPPORT GROUP *

For primary caregivers of individuals who require constant care.

Tuesdays – 7:30 – 9:00 PM

Contact: Lilly Singer, CC, at 949-7699, X366.
*Starting Tuesday, April 9. Six sessions. Pre-registration required.

HEBREW INSTITUTE
AGING SUCCESSFULLY *

Thursdays – 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Contact: Lilly Singer, CC, at 949-7699, X366

*This group DOES NOT meet the first Thursday of each month.

CONGREGATION KOL AMI
INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATIONS

Contact: Karen Dreher, CSW, at 946-8851, X316 or 949-7699, X313.

Private Day Treatments Seek First Medicaid Rate Increase in 20 Years from Assemb

Posted on April 7, 2002 by John Bailey

WPCNR Sunday Eagle. Special from Clear View School April 7, 2002. 2:00 PM EDT: Private Day Treatment Centers, the backbone of New York State programs for the mentally disabled are calling on citizens to write their assembly persons, urging they support passage of the first Medicaid increase in the amount paid to Day Treatment Programs in 20 years.
According to a Clear View School communication, the Senate in Albany supports such an increase, a $1.8 million appropriation, which when “leveraged” by local and federal matching funds, will grow to $7,200,000. Clear View, located in Scarborough, New York, has educated numerous disabled youth from White Plains and surrounding towns in Westchester County for 34 years.

The school is urging advocates for the disabled to write their assemblypersons, requesting they support this modest increase.

According to the school that has been in the forefront of persuading legislators to support educational and residential programs for the disabled, the Medicaid rate for children’s Day Treatment Programs has not been increased for over twenty years.

The school also feels that private programs should be supported on a scale more equal to what the state day treatment programs receive. Presently, according to Clear View, state-run agencies now receive twice the daily rate of the voluntary agencies ($100 a day vs. $47).

Clear View in its call for support for the increase in the Medicaid Rate, maintains that children’s Day Treatment Programs are “the first line of engagement” with children suffering from mental illness and “our best resource for maintaining mentally ill children in the community.”

The school also points out that current funding levels from the state, and what the school calls “an absence over the years of any cost of living adjustments (COLAS)…have made it extremely difficult to maintain qualified staff and ultimately threaten program survival.”

The organization in a statement said that low salaries are being additionally threatened by “enormous increases in the cost of medical insurance.” (The White Plains City School District had a similar problem in this year’s school budget where rising medical insurance costs and retirements combined to raise the cost of fringe benefits 15.5%.)

Police,City Reach Agreement on New Contract Through 2004

Posted on April 5, 2002 by John Bailey

WPCNR FRIDAY GETAWAY GAZETTE, Special from City Hall April 5,2002, 6 PM EST: The White Plains Police and the City of White Plains have come to a tentative agreement on a new three year contract, calling for raises of 3.75%, 3.75% and 4% in 2002,2003, and 2004, respectively. George Gretsas, the Mayor’s Executive Officer said it was “the first time in memory that the city had reached an agreement with the police before expiration of a current contract.”
City Hall’s official announcement stated, “The City and Police Benevolent Association are pleased and delighted to announce that the parties have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract.

Three Year Pact

“The parties have agreed to raises of 3.75% for 2002, 3.75% for 2003 and 4% for 2004. In addition, the agreement provides other improvements to fringe benefits, including:

* An increase in the supervisor differential.
* An increase in the detective differential.
* Stipends for certain officers with specialties such as being bilingual, in return for a reduction in call back pay.
* Increases in longevity pay.
* A new night differential for members working certain shifts.
* Increases in the Welfare Fund.
* An increase in the uniform allowance.
* A new benefit allowing members to sell unused vacation days back to the Department, thereby making more work days available to the Department.
* A new sick leave bonus to encourage better attendance.

Contract Awaits Union Approval

The Mayor’s Office Official Statement reports, “the tentative settlement must be ratified by the PBA membership and the Common Council. Both Mayor Delfino and PBA President James Carrier are confident that the agreement will be approved.

Mayor pleased.

The statement said, “Mayor Delfino expressed pleasure that an agreement had been timely concluded. Mayor Delfino also praised the sincere and dedicated efforts of all parties to work to achieve a new contract before the existing contract expired for the first time in recent memory.

Three and Out

George Gretsas, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, in advising WPCNR of the agreement said, “It was especially satisfying that the cooperative effort enabled both parties to reach this settlement after only three bargaining sessions. ”
Agreement was concluded in the final negotiating session Thursday evening.

BID’s Kathleen Gunn Looks to BID to Adjust to changing downtown.

Posted on April 3, 2002 by John Bailey

WPCNR MORNING SUN By John F. Bailey. UPDATED April 4, 2002. 10:30 AM EST: The Downtown Business Improvement District Wednesday appointed Kathleen Gunn, currently with the Mayor’s Office, to the recently vacated post of Executive Director. Ms. Gunn has been credited with spearheading the Mayor’s Digital Divide initiative, and prior to this was experienced in the writing of grants, and a community liaison officer for Congresswoman Nita Lowey. Ms. Gunn begins her new job April 22.

THE BID’S NEW GUNN: Kathleen Gunn, newly appointed Executive Director.
File Photo by WPCNR

Applied on her Own.

Ms. Gunn, speaking to WPCNR Thursday morning said she decided to apply for the Executive Director position on her own because she felt her credentials were a good fit. She cited her experience in the Mayor’s economic development office, her liaison work with Congresswoman Lowey, and her experience in seeking government grants.

Asked what she felt she would bring to the BID and what direction she might take, she said she would be meeting with the BID Board, the Common Council, the Mayor’s office and other interested parties after she begins work April 22 to define that direction.

BID Role Must Fit the Changing City

“The City of White Plains is changing. It is changing into a very different downtown with different needs,” Ms. Gunn said. “You’re going to have many new residents in the downtown with different needs. I’m looking forward to helping the BID evolve to meet those needs.”

Gunn said she hoped to bring her experience in acquiring grants for the SelfHelp Community Services to play in her new job. She planned no increase in staff.

Vogt confident in Gunn’s Familiarity with Economic Development

Harold Vogt told WPCNR this morning that Ms. Gunn was selected based on “her own skills, competence and her past involvement in programs of interest to the BID. All bode well,” he said. “She will be an integral part of policy development, as we move ahead.”

Voght said that he looked forward to Gunn improving BID’s communications and profile.

In the official news release announcing Gunn’s appointment, Voght said, “I am delighted that Kathleen Gunn will be the new Executive Director of the BID, and I am confident that she will bring much to the successful operation of the BID as it plays a key role in the downtown. Gunn said, “I am very honored to have been selected by the Board of Directors and look forward to working with the community on the continuing effort to revitalize downtown White Plains.”

Gunn was unanimously voted to the position by the BID’s Board of Directors. Vogt, in the official release, thanked the Search Committee which was chaired by WP Board Director, Ted Peluso, with BID Board Members, Jeff Stillman, Hal Masback, John Martin, Mark Ellman and Leon Silverman participating.

The Gunn Resume

Gunn has a Masters Degree in Public Administration/Non-Profit Management, and a Bachelors Degree in Political Schience from Pace University. She was Grant Manager at SelfHelp Community Services, responsible for securing funding for that organization’s programs and services. She was a District Representative for Congresswoman Nita Lowey, handling constitutent cases for the Congresswoman’s district office in White Plains.

Digital Divide Dynamo

Ms. Gunn in the last two years has organized, coordinated and brought together community interests to open three Digital Divide Labs in White Plains at Slater Center, the White Plains Youth Bureau and Mercy College to address the lack of computer access affecting underprivileged youth and adults. A fourth lab is being contemplated for a location at Centro Hispano.

Gunn has a businesslike way of getting things done with a very pleasant attitude, and she focuses on the long term objective, putting aside personal ego and preconceived notions to achieve tangible results.