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.
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Responding to questions from the public and media, the Westchester County Department of Health wants to reassure residents that there are no known cases of the novel coronavirus in Westchester and the risk to the general public remains low.
There are seven types of coronaviruses. Most cause respiratory symptoms similar to the common cold, with mild to moderate illness, such as coronaviruses 229E, NL63, OC43 and HKU1. These four types of coronavirus are quite common and not worrisome.
Only SARS, MERS and novel coronavirus frequently cause severe illness. It is important to know that if there were a case, residents would hear about it from the County Health Department.
Testing for this new type of coronavirus cannot be performed without the cooperation of both the County and State Department of Health, and both departments would be involved in notifying the public and limiting the spread of the illness.
With this new coronavirus now declared a public health emergency of international concern, it is understandable that residents may be wary.
However, there is no reason for people without symptoms to stay home from work or school, or to cancel events.As always, the best way to avoid viruses during cold and flu season is:Avoid exposure – Avoid close contact with people who are sick with fever and cough.
Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away and wash your hands.If someone in your home is sick, clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces such as door knobs and faucet handles with a bleach solution. This is especially helpful during flu season, and any time.And of course, get a flu shot if you have not already done so.
Stay home when you are ill to avoid exposing others.For more information about novel coronavirus, go to www.westchestergov.com/health.Sincerely,
STOMPIN’ AT THE CAFE WBT! STEP RIGHT UP YOUR TABLE’S WAITING. FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE APPEARING ONE MONTH ONLY. MAKE RESERVATIONS NOW. All photos, Courtesy WBT by John Vecchiolla
WPCNR STAGE DOOR. First Rushes Theatrical Review by John F. Bailey. February 1, 2020UPDATED February 4, 2020:
Pull out that sequined dress hiding in the back of your closet, Brenda Starr, get your carrottop done up nice, slip on those seamed silk stockings,paint your nails, bring your elblow-length white gloves cigarette holder, and order up that Gibson before dinner, we’re taking a yellow cab uptown tonight to see the new Toasts of Westchester Broadway Theatre, Five Guys Named Moe who charmed, chortled, hoofered and flew across the stage at last night injecting more “happy” into the opening night audience as I’ve never seen.
I’m telling you, Broadway Baby, this show was meant for you and me.
The Five Guys Named Moe straighten out Napoleon M. Douglas as NoMax on women. Isaiah Reynolds as Little Mo shines his shoes, Quentin Avery Brown as Eat Moe manicures him, Tyler Johnson as No Moe measures him for a suit. Four-eyed Moe (Douglas Lyons) trims his hair and Big Moe (Tony Perry) gives him all he needs to know about women.
The Five Guys Named Moe opened Friday, shocking the usual hipsters, and got them up, moving , shifting shoulders, to the high energy boogies, swings, and syncopated rhythms, sashaying their hips in their seats to the unbelievably hot and involving performance of 5 Fred Astaires with attitude.
They are Quentin Avery Brown as Eat Moe, Tyler Johnson Campion as No Moe, Douglas Lyons the Four-Eyed Moe(he wears glasses), Tony Perry as Big Moe and Isaiah Reynolds the fantastic Tap-Dancing Man that roused a sponteous cascade of clapping as he set the old WBT Boards on fire in the spectacular Club FB Finale.
I tell you my redheaded baby, they dance and sing the roof off the old Elmsford Palace turning back the hands of time when stepping out meant elegance, feeling good about yourself, feeling good about the music you were hearing sung and played by musicians and singing, strutting elegant men who put the glide back in your stride and brings your swagger back into the men and the swing and sway back to a woman’s hips –sure as you’ll lose your blues in Chicago you’ll get happy and take that frown off your face, smiling ear-to-ear as you exit the WBT canopy into the night.
(The previous one- sentence lasting eight lines gives you an idea of the extended song-and-dance numbers this show delivers–one payload of joy after another by a new fab five song-and-dance team — look for the elegant white jackets –and they never break a sweat.)
And kudos to Napolean M. Douglas as the broken hearted No Max for his silky baritone on the wonderful Early In the Morning blues. Man, I know just how he feels.
The Club Sextet — 5 guys are brought back from a once and distant time, start with just the right blues notes from Trumpetman Brian Uhl; the sophisticated Dorsey sound of Steve Bleifuss on “The Bone”; John Daniels Musical Director/Ivories man who makes every key he touches talk to you. Jim Briggs seduces you on mellow saxophone Dave Dunaway Bass and Jay Mack on skins pump the beats and tender the melancholy (of which there is not much) that make these extremely human songs of Louis Jordan and composers of the cafe society era get into you an make you feel –the joy and the emotions in every aspect.
Conga with me, Cherie. Calypso Madness takes over as Four Eyed Moe ( far left genial emcee Douglas Lyons) gets the Westchester audience to sing along on the chorus of Push Ka Pi Shi Pie. He’s aided in mayhem by Isaiah Reynolds (Little Moe) Quentin Avery Brown (Eat Moe) Napoleon M. Douglas (NoMax), Tony Perry (Big Moe), Tyler Johnson-Campion (No Moe)
Howl at their dead-on imitation of chickens in Nobody Here But Us Chickens. sing along with them on the calypso number Push Ka Pi Shi Pie. Ride a train with their excellent choreographed Choo Choo Ch’ Boogie. You get to sing with the Moes on the husband wife song, Caledonia.(How Come Your Hard Head’s So Big)
Oh, what a night, we’re going to have, my Broadway Baby.
It’s the hottest show you will see north of Broadway South. How do these master performers from a once and distant time come back. How they come back is a shocking only-in-the-theatre moment of suspended disbelieve. They come back as five splendidly dressed genis to help No Max get over a woman.
They give him advice on every number. Audience — take their advice they teach every man about a woman, and every woman about a man. The titles of the songs say it all: Beware, Brother, Beware, Look Out Sister, Safe, Sane and Single, What’s the Use of Getting Sober, when I’ll Only Get Drunk Again.
The crowd rose to their feet and delivered a standing to the hardest working men in showbusiness.
It’s great Valentine’s Day gift and yours truly would not steer you wrong. Just had to get this hot tip out. The only thing that’s missing are souvenir matches to take home at this spectacular timely show.
Thank you Moes, and Bill Stutler and Bob funking the impresarios for giving us the show we needed, the country needs at just the right time.
Thanks we needed that!
The place is going to be mobbed, or “Moe-d” to be precise, because it only runs for one month call the maitre d’ and he will try to get you a top table with. Call 914-592-2222 or go to the secret website, www.BroadwayTheatre.com and reserve early.
WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER.From Scarsdale Voters Choice Committee. February 1, 2020:
31 January 2020
Dear Scarsdale Friends and Neighbors, After the surprise announcement from Scarsdale’s Mayor and Board that they were halting the Freightway timeline, we still have not received an answer as to why they met behind closed doors to make this decision.
We asked the Mayor and the Board to explain how having a closed door meeting complies with the Open Meetings Law, but they have refused to answer. We also do not know what the new timeline is or when the Board plans to implement a plan for Freightway with broad and diverse community input.
Two days ago, the Petition to Halt Freightway until Scarsdale residents’ questions are answered reached over 810 signatures. We thank Scarsdale residents and merchants who have signed the petition and who have been willing to give feedback as to why you are supporting it. Your participation in municipal matters is so important. Please forward the petition to your friends and neighbors. There is still time to sign it.
Both the Scarsdale School Board of Education and Village Board are in the throes of budget season and are asking for residents’ feedback. Both the school district and Village personnel are projecting tax increases. Details about both are on their websites. Please make sure you write the boards with your feedback.
WPCNR HEALTH ADVISORY.From Westchester County Department of Health. January 31, 2020:
Responding to questions from the public and media, the Westchester County Department of Health wants to reassure residents that there are no known cases of the novel coronavirus in Westchester and the risk to the general public remains low.
There are seven types of coronaviruses. Most cause respiratory symptoms similar to the common cold, with mild to moderate illness, such as coronaviruses 229E, NL63, OC43 and HKU1. These four types of coronavirus are quite common and not worrisome. Only SARS, MERS and novel coronavirus frequently cause severe illness.
It is important to know that if there were a case, residents would hear about it from the County Health Department. Testing for this new type of coronavirus cannot be performed without the cooperation of both the County and State Department of Health, and both departments would be involved in notifying the public and limiting the spread of the illness.
With this new coronavirus now declared a public health emergency of international concern, it is understandable that residents may be wary. However, there is no reason for people without symptoms to stay home from work or school, or to cancel events.
As always, the best way to avoid viruses during cold and flu season is:
o Avoid exposure – Avoid close contact with people who are sick with fever and cough.
o Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
o Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
o Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away and wash your hands.
o If someone in your home is sick, clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces such as door knobs and faucet handles with a bleach solution. This is especially helpful during flu season, and any time.
o And of course, get a flu shot if you have not already done so.
o Stay home when you are ill to avoid exposing others.
JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS JASON FREI-PEARSON OF WHITE PLAINS IN THE FIRST OF PEOPLE TO BE HEARD INTERVIEWS OF THE CANDIDATES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY JUNE 23 FOR ASSEMBLYMAN DAVID BUCHWALD’S 93RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT SEAT
1. Why he is running
Do you think New York State is heading in the right direction? Is Westchester County and the 93rd Assembly District heading in the right direction?
SHOULD state Medicaid budget should be cut?
Should state audit hospitals to discover abuses of Medicaid billing and possible price fixing?
Should state fund county infrastructure repairs to roads and bridges the counties?
Should School Aid be shifted to poor performing districts from althy better performing districts?
What is your position on the new bail law?
Should marijuana be made legal
Should we support continued cooperative energy purchases where towns and cities
Should Energy price increases be limited to the consumer price index,
How should we lure business into Westchester?
What should be the priorities for the 93rd District?
How should New York State Government reorder its priorities?
Yesterday, on Holocaust Memorial Day, I visited Auschwitz in Poland, representing New York at the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the camp’s liberation.
Words alone fail to describe the experience of visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau and being there together with Holocaust survivors. Auschwitz was an unimaginable hell come to life, and it is now a symbol of what the Jewish people have endured and what this world allowed to transpire.
During this visit I met survivors and heard their stories of pain and suffering. I stood on the ground where millions of Jews and countless others were tortured and killed.
But I also learned of the hope and resilience of the Jewish people. At a time of rising anti-Semitism, the lesson of Auschwitz is especially important today.
As part of my 2020 State of the State, I have laid out a strong agenda to fight this wave of hatred. These proposals include passing a first-in-the-nation domestic terrorism law and expanding our school curriculum to make sure every child in New York is educated on diversity, tolerance and religious freedom.
New York is home to the largest Jewish community outside of Israel. When any New Yorker is attacked for their identity, it is an attack on all of us. It is our duty to speak out and combat hate whenever and wherever we encounter it. We must bear witness and remember the stories of the Holocaust, and vow to never let what happened over 75 years ago to happen again.
The 8 White Plains Properties leased to solar installer for an annual fee of $900,000 a year total announced last night .
WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey January 27, 2020 UPDATED JANUARY 28, 2020:
Mayor Thomas Roach, the solar pioneer in Westchester County, announced to the Common Council at their work session Monday evening an agreement with Distributed Solar Projects LLC, a spinoff company of General Electric Solar for installation of solar panels on 8 city-owned buildings and facilities.
The city released details on the agreement Tuesday morning. The agreement, pending Common Council approval is for 26 years with payments to the city of $960,000 per year, a total of $25 Million over the life of the agreement. The panels are installed by Distributed Solar Projects at no cost to the city. All eight installations are expected to be completed in March, 2021. The annual fee paid to the city will be used to “advance additional sustainability initiatives, facilities and infrastructure in the city.”Distributed Solar Projects pays for all maintenance of the facility.
WPCNR believes this is the first such municipal solar panel site lease of city-owned property in the county. The Mayor introduced the historic deal, completed in about one year this way:
Mayor Roach introducing the solar panel installations at Monday evening work session.
The Mayor introduced Commissioner of Public Works Richard Hart who explained the process by which the properties were selected:
Richard Hart explains the solar project
Mayor Roach added that the city has another program that is reaching out to commercial property owners who might wish to include solar panels on the roofs of their properties.
In a news release from the Mayor’s office, the city reported
“The community solar model produces solar energy that goes back to the grid and allows residents who enroll in the program to receive a credit on their bill every month. This program is expected to generate approximately 6 megawatts of power annually which is enough energy to power 4,800 homes per year. This equates to a reduction of 46,400 tons of carbon dioxide which is equivalent to removing 8,900 passenger cars from the road.”
Mayor Roach issued this statement: “As most people have come to recognize, we are in a climate crisis. It is incumbent on all of us to do what we can to reduce our reliance on carbon-based fuels. I am pleased to see the solar program move forward. It is the culmination of hard work on the part of our staff and a commitment on the part of our administration to institute a program that is not only environmentally beneficial, provides a community benefit to the taxpayers as well.”
WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. From the Service Employees International Union 32BJ. January 27, 2020:
The following statement may be attributed to Lenore Friedlaender, Assistant to the President of 32BJ SEIU and leader of the union in the Hudson Valley:
“By lifting the injunction against the Trump administration’s ‘public charge’ rule(Monday), the Supreme Court is allowing the creation of an immigration system that discriminates against the poor and middle class.
Not only can the administration deny a green card to anyone who has accessed the most basic healthcare, housing, and nutrition benefits, they can also deny a green card to anyone who might seem ‘likely’ to need those benefits in the future.
As one of the nation’s largest unions with majority immigrant membership, we are appalled at how this rule will especially impact immigrants from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.
This rule is racist and classist because it targets, mainly, immigrants who are integral parts of black and brown neighborhoods and economies. Though the rule will now go into effect, we will continue to support all ongoing court challenges to its legality.”