WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR HEALTH AWARENESS. From the Westchester County Department of Health. July 18, 2018:

The longhorned tick has arrived in Westchester County.  The New York State Departments of Health and Agriculture & Markets confirmed the presence of this tick, whose scientific name is Haemaphysalis longicornis tick, in the County.

The tick is native to Australia, New Zealand and eastern Asian, but has been found recently in New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas and now New York.

(Editor’s Note: the following from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture describes the tick in more detail:

The East Asian tick has been known to spread a deadly virus called SFTS, known as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Symptoms of SFTS include fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, disease of the lymph nodes, and conjunctival congestion.

The latest discovery of tick was on the Watchung Reservation in Union County, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday.(in April of this year). While the tick was collected at the site last May, its identification was not made until Monday.

According to reports, a farmer in Hunterdon County first found the tick while shearing a sheep. This sheep had never traveled internationally and rarely left Hunterdon County, according to Andrea Egizi, a specialist at the Monmouth County Tick-borne Disease Lab. The sheep later died from an unrelated cause.

“Steps were promptly taken to eradicate the tick from the index property and the animals in and around it. Tests on the exotic tick in November failed to reveal any tickborne diseases,” New Jersey’s Department of Agriculture said in a statement. “Local, state and federal animal health and wildlife officials, as well as Rutgers University — Center for Vector Biology are working together to eliminate this pest from the index premises and to contain its spread to the surrounding areas. Surveillance in wildlife and livestock species will continue throughout the year.”

This exotic tick species entered New Jersey. Experts are concerned how the East Asian tick entered the United States. Photo: New Jersey’s Department of Agriculture

According to the department’s website, like deer ticks, the nymphs of the Longhorned tick are very small and can easily go unnoticed on animals and people. The species is dark brown and grows to about the size of a pea when engorged on blood, according to reports. They are known to swarm and infest a variety of wildlife as well as humans, dogs, cats and livestock.

The department urged people to notify the state veterinarian if unusual ticks are detected in livestock animals.

While the longhorned tick has transmitted disease to humans in other parts of the world, more research is needed to determine whether this can happen in the United States.

Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD, is once again advising Westchester residents to protect themselves, their farm animals and pets against ticks.

“It is always better to prevent tick bites whenever possible and to remove ticks as soon as possible, and the discovery of a new tick in our area gives us one more reason to be vigilant in performing tick checks on ourselves, our children and pets,” said Amler. “Farmers and livestock owners should consult with their veterinarians and continue to use the same preventive measures that work for other ticks.”

State Health Department research scientists collaborated with researchers at Fordham University and at the Lyme Disease Diagnostic Center of New York Medical College to identify these ticks. The identifications were confirmed by the Rutgers University Center for Vector Biology and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This tick is a concern for the agricultural industry because it may pose a threat to livestock. The State and County Health Departments advise farmers to work with their veterinarians to check their animals, particularly cattle, sheep and horses, for exposure to ticks and to ensure their parasite control plans are up to date and working.

Symptoms of tick-borne disease in cattle include fever, lack of appetite, dehydration, weakness and labored breathing.

If longhorned ticks are suspected, farmers should consult with their veterinarians and can contact the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Division of Animal Industry at 518-457-3502 or dai@agriculture.ny.govfor more information.

Tick prevention and removal tips are available atwww.westchestergov.com/health and include:

While hiking, working, or spending time in wooded areas:

• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to protect against ticks other biting insects.
• Check for ticks often while outdoors and brush off any ticks before they attach.
• Perform a full body check multiple times during the day, as well as at the end of the day to ensure that no ticks are attached.
• Consider use of repellents containing DEET, picaridin or IR3535, following label instructions.

If you have been bitten by a tick of any kind, contact your health care provider immediately if you develop a rash or flu-like symptoms.

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The Westchester Biotech Project (WBP), a not-for-profit organization that brings together a global network of scientists to foster scientific research and collaboration, will present its Rare Disease Symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18 at Iona College.

As part of the symposium, leading experts, scientists, and entrepreneurs will highlight current efforts to diagnose and treat some of the 350 million people affected around the world by 7,000 known rare diseases, of which 95 percent do not currently have a single FDA-approved drug treatment. So too will they address why Westchester is well positioned to become a global research hub for curing some of the world’s rarest diseases.

WBP, a borderless nonprofit organization, is connecting the region’s science brain trust with resources for international impact and is currently developing the Rare Disease Hub for international researchers.

Panalists:      Dr. Antonio Molina-Pachon, the keynote speaker, will discuss why Westchester can compete globally in the field, along with his collaboration with the WBP and its international partners to develop a Rare Disease Research Hub. David Bettoun, Ph.D., vice president, Discovery and Preclinical Development, Chondrial Therapeutics, will discuss the company’s journey to develop treatments for Friedreich’s Ataxia, a rare progressive disease that damages one’s nervous system. Scott Mellis, Ph.D., vice president, Rare Disease Early Clinical Science, Regeneron, will share what it was like to lead clinical development at Regeneron for a medication for an ultra-rare auto-inflammatory disease. Dr. Sergei Petukhov, DVM, partner, Enso Ventures, will provide unique insights into why some companies succeed while others fail and what investors look for in a company.

When:  8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Where: Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y. Ryan Library.

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The Youtube link is

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ON

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EXCLUSIVE VIDEO.

THE $47 MILLION BUDGET BALLOON.

AUDITORS TO LEGISLATURE :

TO CUT A LOT OR TAX A LOT THAT IS THE QUESTION

THE ALL-NEW DESIGN FOR THE WHITE PLAINS MALL REPLACEMENT. ZONING APPROVED

HOUSING DOLDRUMS IN WESTCHESTER CREATE TIGHT MARKET FOR BUYERS SELLERS

HOW TO STOP TRUCKS FROM MEANDERING ON PARKWAYS THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ON — SIMPLE SOLUTION FROM THE THREE SMARTEST NEWSMEN IN WESTCHESTER

THE WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL EMPIRE EXPANDS

ANYTHING GOES AGAIN

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Mr. Buchwald at a recent visit to the White Plains Television Studios.

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2018. From Assemblyman David Buchwald, July 12, 2018:

David Buchwald, Democrat representing the 93^rd Assembly District, formally announced his re-election campaign Wednesday.

Buchwald has earned the endorsement of five parties, including the Democratic, Independence, Reform, Women’s Equality and Working Families Parties.

Illustrating the breadth and depth of support Assemblyman Buchwald has received, over 2,500 Democratic signatures were collected by volunteers, more than five times the amount required to make the ballot. An additional 341 signatures on the Independence, Reform, Women’s Equality and Working Families Party petitions were turned into the Board of Elections.

Assemblyman Buchwald said, “I am honored to have such wide support throughout Westchester. In the Assembly, I have worked on behalf of Westchester residents, from fighting to protect our environment, to standing up for women’s rights, to working to reduce our tax burden. I am grateful that I have earned the support of Westchester’s community and political leaders of all stripes.”

Buchwald continued, “And now, more than ever, it is critical to protect our shared values, as they are under assault from Washington. I would consider it a great honor to continue to stand up for my constituents and to represent Westchester in the State Assembly.

First elected to the New York State Assembly in 2012, Assemblyman David Buchwald has dedicated himself to making Westchester a better place to live, work and raise a family.

A tax attorney by trade, David’s legislative priorities include fighting to protect and preserve our environment, strengthening our public education system, championing sensible gun safety laws, protecting women’s reproductive health rights and the civil rights of all New Yorkers, cleaning up Albany and securing electoral reform.

He is also the author of the groundbreaking constitutional amendment allowing the forfeiture of corrupt public officials’ taxpayer-funded pensions.

The 93^rd Assembly District includes the communities of Bedford, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Pound Ridge and White Plains.

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. July 11, 2018:

Republicans in the  New York State Senate have always said, when pressed for a state abortion statute,:

“Well, we don’t need New York law because we have Roe v. Wade and nobody’s crazy enough to try to roll back Roe v. Wade.”

The exception is  the man they nominated for President of the United States who wound up winning the election.

But that was always the answer, you don’t need a New York law. We have Roe v. Wade. Well now we know we’re not guaranteed Roe v. Wade.

And the New York law, does not currently go as far as Roe v. Wade. Roe v. Wade has the protections that we now rely on in New York.

We never passed the New York State law because we relied on Roe v. Wade and everyone assumed it would always be there and because the Republicans wouldn’t pass it, using that as an excuse.

We now need to codify Roe v. Wade, which will actually increase the protections in New York. God forbid they do what they intend to do.

I want to get it done before the Supreme Court does that because I don’t want any gaps in a woman’s right to protection and we have a better legal case when the Supreme Court acts because I will sue when the Supreme Court acts and I want the New York State law in place.