WHITE PLAINS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER RESCHEDULES

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The presence of novel coronavirus COVID-19 in Westchester County reminds us of the importance of taking care of ourselves and one another, as we come together to experience the magic of live entertainment at the WPPAC.

After numerous discussions with the City of White Plains & Westchester County officials, and with an abundance of caution, we have made the difficult decision to suspend and reschedule all of our upcoming special events and Mainstage performances for the next several weeks.  We have joined our colleagues of Broadway, Performing Arts Center @ Purchase College, Carnegie Hall, the NBA, the NHL, MLB, the PGA Tour, Seattle 5th Avenue Theatre, The Metropolitan Opera, and many other arts organization which hold events for audiences greater than 250 persons. In making this decision we have put the health and well-being of our wonderful patrons, artists and staff at the forefront.

We are in the process of reorganizing our 2020 calendar to accommodate these rescheduled performances.  The new dates are as follows: 

·         The Spouse Whisperer: May 21 at 8pm

·         Mainstage production of Side Show: October 9 -25 

·         John Lloyd Young Jukebox Hero: November 7 or 14 (final date will be announced next week upon artist confirmation) 

Questions about tickets to any upcoming event please email boxoffice@wppac.com for assistance. In order to provide the best service we are suggesting that everyone email us in the event it becomes necessary to restrict staffing our box office. All of our staff can monitor emails and our ticketing system remotely.

We thank our patrons for their patience and understanding and wish the best of health to them, their family and friends during this challenging time.

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WHITE PLAINS WEEK OCT 13 SHOW NOW ON YOUTUBE ROUNDS UP THE CORONA VIRUS–& ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

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JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS–

THE VIRUS ROUNDUP

link to youtube – 3-13 show https://youtu.be/dMI3Nmzw4B4

GOVERNOR CUOMO ACTS TO CONTAIN CORONAVIRUS SPREAD — MARSHALL HOSPITAL CAPACITY
WESTCHESTER D.A. ANTHONY SCARPINO INTERVIEW ON CORONAVIRUS SCAMS
WHERE WE STAND NOW–THE LATEST NUMBERS

ON CHANNEL 76 CABLEVISION AND CHANNEL 45 FIOS COUNTYWIDE AND WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG AT 7:30 PM EDT

REAL NEWS IN REAL TIME–

28 MINUTES NO COMMERCIAL INTERRUPTION

JUST THE FACTS, MA’AM

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WESTCHESTER BROADWAY THEATTRE CLOSES FOR 4 WEEKS

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Westchester Broadway Theatre. March 13, 2020. 2;45 pm edt:

WESTCHESTER BROADWAY THEATRE CLOSED BY MANDATE

The Westchester Broadway theatre has been mandated by the office of the Governor of New York State to close our doors effective 5 PM, March 13.  We will be closed a minimum of four weeks.

Our current show, All Shook Up is being postponed to a date yet to be determined.

In reaction to the coronavirus, all efforts are being made to slow the spread by limiting the number of people congregating in one place.  The safety and well-being of our patrons, actors, musicians and our entire staff is our first priority.

We should not be thinking of ways to protect the theatre but thinking of ways to protect our fellow humans.  Our health must come first.  Please follow all the health professional’s advice; wash your hands often, disinfect all surfaces, sneeze into tissue, avoid touching your face and shaking hands with others.

If you have already purchased tickets for any of our shows, between March 13 thru April 14, 2020, a credit will be put into your account – when we reopen you can use that credit to purchase tickets to any show you’d like.  We will also include a free drink….and together we’ll all toast a return to normalcy.

Our box office will be available by phone (914)592-2222 ONLY for limited days & hours yet to be determined.  As this is a rapidly evolving situation, we will continue to keep you updated but encourage you to check our websitewww.broadwaytheatre.com  for all updates.

Thank you for your continued support and stay well.

WBT Management and Staff

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THE MAYOR’S CORONAVIRUS REPORT

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The Governor today confirmed 112 additional COVID-19 cases in New York State, bringing the total to 328. 148 of those cases (27 new cases) are in Westchester County.

The state is expecting the number of cases to continue to rise in the foreseeable future. As of today, 3 individuals in White Plains are positive for coronavirus. We have been informed that these individuals are abiding by all the required quarantine measures.

Today, the Governor announced measures aimed at further containing the spread of the virus by prohibiting gatherings of 500 or more people and requiring that gatherings of less than 500 people reduce their capacity by 50% effective at 5 PM on Friday, March 13th. Broadway will go dark starting tonight. The Governor did not put an end date on these restrictions, but said the state is re-evaluating daily.

The state is advising business leaders around the state to think about ways in which they can “reduce density” through options such as telecommuting and shift changes if possible. Reducing density (that is, reducing the number and type of situations that bring a large number of people together in close quarters), along with increasing testing capacity, is a top priority of the state as a means of stopping the spread of the virus.

Announcements

White Plains Public Library

The White Plains Public Library, along with many other libraries in Westchester, will suspend all intra-library and inter-library loans for the foreseeable future. We believe this is in the best interest of both staff and patrons. This means library patrons will no longer receive items from other libraries and we will no longer send out our items to other libraries. If you have a hold on material owned by White Plains, then it will be held for you like always. However, you may still return your items to any library in the Westchester Library System and borrow materials from any library. We know that this is an important service, and we plan to bring it back as soon as possible.

As a precaution to help limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and support the City of White Plains’ efforts to promote social distancing, the White Plains Public Library has suspended all programming and events through March 31.  The Library will remain open during our regular hours.

Recreation & Parks Dept.

  • Out of concern for the health and well-being of our program participants, staff, and fellow residents the Recreation and Parks Department has decided to cancel all programs and activities effective tomorrow, March 13th until further notice, as a precaution to help limit the spread of coronavirus and support the City of White Plains’ efforts to promote social distancing. We do not take this action lightly and came to this conclusion after careful consideration and discussion with public health experts. We hope this passes very shortly and that activities can begin with a healthy and robust spring season. We wish you safety and good health!

Senior programs held at the White Plains Community Center, 65 Mitchell Place, will be suspended effective Friday, March 13th through Sunday, March 29th.  

Youth Bureau

The White Plains Youth Bureau will suspend the following Saturday programs beginning this Saturday, March 14th:

Boys Academy

Girls Academy

Battle Hill Teen Lounge Program

My Brother’s Keeper Program

The Open Gym Program

The Girls Rosebud Program

Music Program

Programs are currently scheduled to re-start on Saturday, April 11th.

Program and Event Cancellations & Postponements

The White Plains St. Patrick’s Day Parade scheduled for Saturday, March 14th, has been canceled.

White Plains Library Foundation 25th Anniversary Gala scheduled for March 14th, has been postponed.

AARP has decided to suspend the AARP Tax Aide program at the White Plains Public Library for the weeks of 3/16 and 3/24. They will re-evaluate after the 24th. Please check the Library website, https://whiteplainslibrary.org/, for updates.

The Youth Bureau’s Women in STEM Forum scheduled for Sunday, March 29th will be moved to the fall.

The Youth Bureau’s Grandpas United Sports Talk scheduled for Monday, March 30th has been canceled.

The Youth Bureau Arts Show: Soulful Homecoming scheduled for Thursday, April 2nd, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, June 2nd.

The STEAM Fair/Youth Bureau Open House scheduled for Saturday, April 25th has been canceled. The Open House will be rescheduled for the fall. The STEAM Fair will not be rescheduled.

Prevention Information

City buildings and facilities continue to be cleaned and disinfected throughout the day. We continue to make this a priority. In our parking garages, we have commenced a twice daily sanitizing procedure that includes all pay stations, parking offices, and elevators.

Residents who are concerned and/or have questions about coronavirus should call the NYS DOH hotline at: 1-888-364-3065. This hotline is staffed 24/7. We urge everyone to continue to practice common sense preventive measures. While there is currently no vaccine to prevent this virus, these simple steps can help stop the spread of this and other respiratory viruses:


• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

In addition to general guidance provided to the public, NYS has been providing sector-specific guidance to groups such as health care workers and nursing homes. We expect more of this in the coming days. We continue to work with state, county, and local officials to ensure a coordinated response and will continue to update residents on a regular basis.  For more information access these trustworthy resources:

NYS DOH:
https://health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/

CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

Westchester County DOH:
https://health.westchestergov.com/

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Governor Cuomo on the CoronaVirus: What’s Ahead? State Ability to Handle the Virus Caseload. Budget Concerns Virus has Caused.

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. March 12, 2020:

Today Governor Cuomo in a news conference, outlined what he and his administration expected lay ahead in the state effort to turn around the spread of coronavirus across the state. In addition to announcing closings, he elaborated on the progress of the disease, and assured New Yorkers the state had the hospital resources to treat the number of residents whom he predicted would have to receive hospitalization. Here is the portion of his news conference recorded this afternoon.

Governor Cuomo News Conference today outlining what the state can expect in the weeks ahead. WPCNR VIDEO CAPTURE
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GOVERNOR MOVES TO CUT MASS GATHERINGS AS NUMBER OF CORONAVIRUS CASES GROW

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Confirms 109 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State – Bringing Statewide Total to 325; New Cases in 14 Counties

Events OF 500 or More Individuals Cancelled or Postponed

Any Gathering Under 500 Required to Cut Capacity by 50 Percent

Nursing Homes Visits- Only Medically Necessary Visits Allowed

First Public Drive-Through Testing Facility Starts Friday

BROADWAY SHOWS SUSPENDED UNTIL APRIL 12

WPCNR CORONA VIRUS REPORT. From the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. March 12, 2020:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the state will institute limits on mass gatherings, directing events with 500 or more individuals in attendance to be cancelled or postponed. Public health experts agree mass gatherings with people making sustained close contact are a place where the novel coronavirus can easily infect many people quickly and continue its spread.

As such, events, gatherings, or places of business with less than 500 individuals in attendance will be required to cut capacity by 50 percent, with exceptions being made for spaces where individuals do not make sustained close contact, such as schools, hospitals, public buildings, mass transit, grocery stores and retail stores.

These new regulations will go into effect Friday, March 13th at 5pm, with the exception of Broadway Theaters where the limits will go into effect this evening at 5pm.

In an effort to protect some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers, Governor Cuomo also announced only medically necessary visits will be allowed at nursing homes. This policy will be effective Friday at 5pm.

The state is also asking nursing homes to set up skyping and other online communication capacity so families can tele-visit their loved ones. Additionally, the state will require health screenings for all nursing home workers each day when they enter a facility and require them to wear surgical masks to guard against any potential asymptomatic spread.

In order to increase testing capacity, the State is contracting with BioReference Laboratories to run an additional 5,000 tests per day on top of what the state is already doing. These additional 5,000 tests per day will come online next week.

This additional testing capacity is on top of that of the 28 private labs the Governor announced are partnering with the state in the coming days and weeks. Additionally, the Governor announced the first public drive-through testing facility on the east coast will start testing people tomorrow in New Rochelle. Testing will be done by appointment only. New Rochelle residents who have been quarantined will be tested first. 

Finally, the Governor confirmed 109 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 325 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 325 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:

Albany County: 1 (1 new)

Broome County: 1 (1 new)

Delaware County: 1 (1 new)

Dutchess County: 1 (1 new)

Herkimer County: 1 (1 new)

Monroe County: 1 (1 new)

Nassau County: 41 (13 new)

New York City: 95 (43 new)

Orange County: 1 (1 new)

Rockland County: 7 (1 new)

Saratoga County: 3 (1 new)

Suffolk County: 20 (14 new)

Ulster County: 4 (3 new)

Westchester County: 148 (27 new)

“The spread of this coronavirus is not going to stop on its own, and we know that mass gatherings have been hotspots for the virus to infect large numbers of people quickly,” Governor Cuomo said. “To help contain it, we are instituting limits on large events as well as new measures to protect our most vulnerable populations — including people in nursing homes — and preparing our healthcare system to be able to deal with any future capacity issues. While the context is key and the anxiety is outpacing the facts of this situation, we will continue taking aggressive action to protect public health and prepare for any future spread of this virus.”  

“Our number one priority is protecting the public health and every action the Governor and the State of New York have taken thus far have been in furtherance of that goal,” State Health Department Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said. “Public health experts have been clear that limiting large public gatherings where there is potential for close contact is a critical way to slow the spread of this virus. This regulation will help keep people healthy and safe.”

The Governor also announced that the State is taking measures to create a reserve workforce of health care professionals in the event of a staffing shortage and identify state facilities that can be used as temporary hospitals.

The State is asking former doctors, nurses and other health care professionals to reconnect with their former employers and offer to work on an on-call basis in the cases of a staffing shortage. The State is also identifying National Guard medics for reserved staffing and contacting medical schools to identify possible reserve health care professionals. Additionally, the Department of Health is accelerating regulations to get more health care personnel trained so they can work in other areas.

For all schools in communities with the highest rates of positive cases, the state will be taking proactive steps to implement protocols that limit mass contact. Today the Governor announced SUNY Albany will cancel in person classes for the rest of the semester effective tomorrow after a positive case was confirmed today.

Additionally, any business that cannot accommodate rigorous cleaning standards should contact Empire State Development at (212) 803-3100 for a close order.

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D.A. ANTHONY SCARPINO SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7 ON “PEOPLE TO BE HEARD” WPTV ON FIOS CH.45 COUNTYWIDE, AND CABLEVISION WHITE PLAINS CH. 76 AND WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

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WESTCHESTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANTHONY J. SCARPINO, JR AT HIS INTERVIEW WITH THE WHITE PLAINS EXAMINER AND JOHN BAILEY THIS MORNING AT HIS OFFICE.

THE EFFECT OF CORONA VIRUS ON THE COURTS

CORONA VIRUS TELEPHONE SCAMS SPREADING ACROSS THE AREA

ISSUES COURT SYSTEM IS CONSIDERING TO PREVENT SPREAD OF THE VIRUS

SEE IT AT 8 COUNTYWIDE ON FIOS CH. 45 AND IN WHITE PLAINS CABLEVISION CH. 76 OR www.wpcommunitymedia.org

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IF A PERSON IS QUARANTINED FOR POSSIBILITY THEY HAVE CORONA VIRUS, THEY CANNOT LEAVE THEIR HOME OR RESIDENCE in New Rochelle Corona Virus Containment Zone.

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WPCNR CORONA VIRUS REPORT. By John F. Bailey. March 12, 2019: Mayor Noam Bramson of New Rochelle confirmed in a robocall to New Rochelle residents this morning, that quarantined persons could not leave their homes/residences.

The robocall appears to correct the impression on a widely viewed television media reports last night stating there was no quarantine in the New Rochelle Containment Zone, and people were free to leave the zone,

Bramson’s robocall stated: ” Except for individuals subject to quarantine, residents are free to come and go, (Editor’s note: meaning, only non-quarantined residents could leave the 2-mile diameter Containment Zone)

A spokesperson reached by WPCNR on the New York State Corona Virus hotline, 1-888-364-3065, clarified this policy of quarantine stay-in-your-home/ residence policy by telling WPCNR, a quarantined resident cannot leave their home, because this would mean they could spread the virus, if they had it. The spokesman added they could not go out for errands or trips of any kind.

Originally the quarantine of 36 persons, members or associated with the member, who had contracted the virus, of Temple Israel in New Rochelle, were ordered quarantined in their homes by Dr. Sherlita Amler, Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Health for 15 days beginning March 1. March 15 is coming up, but at this time the Department of Health has no information whether the quarantine on those subject to it will be lifted.

Here is the text of of that Mayor Bramson Robocall that the Mayor shared with WPCNR:

A few moments ago, I (Mayor Bramson) sent the following citywide robocall:

This is Mayor Noam Bramson, with an update on the coronavirus outbreak.  Here’s what’s new:

The National Guard has arrived in Westchester and will be working here in New Rochelle beginning today to assist in the delivery of meals, cleaning of public facilities, and the distribution of supplies.  The Guard will not be engaged in any military or policing activities, and is operating purely as logistical support.

The containment area in the Wykagyl neighborhood takes effect today,  Within this area, large gatherings at large institutions are prohibited.  But, contrary to false rumors, there is no change in daily life.  Except for individuals subject to quarantine, residents are free to come and go, and businesses are open.

In an effort to support our business community through this period, New Rochelle is offering free parking at all metered spaces citywide for at least the next two weeks.  New Rochelle is open for business, and if you are a healthy adult, please continue to patronize our local restaurants and shops.

Now, a reminder on previously reported information:

Nursing homes and assisted facilities will not accept visitors until further notice, as a means of limiting exposure for our most vulnerable population.

If you experience symptoms, contact your doctor or health care provider for individual guidance on testing.  If you do not have a doctor, then call ahead to the emergency room, do not simply show up.

All of us can protect ourselves and our families by following common sense public health guidelines, including reasonable social distancing.

Additional information is available by calling 1-888-364-3065 or 2-1-1 or by visiting newrochelleny.com/coronavirus.

This is a big challenge for New Rochelle, but our community is rising to the occasion by demonstrating strength, resilience, calm, and support for our neighbors.  

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