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Autumn Sunset Pleasantville, New York. Sunday, November 26 Photo by Janet Bailey
Autumn Sunset
FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK Hearing that Never Ends Postponed Again, fulfilling WPCNR Prophecy
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WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. October 25, 2014:
According to the city of White Plains website, the October 28 continued hearings on the Special Permit Application for the French American School of New York to build a school campus on the former Ridgeway Country Club has been postponed to give the Common Council time to review a load of new submissions by FASNY that arrived Friday. No indication yet when the hearings will resume.
This means that there will be no vote on the project until after election day, November 5, a prediction that the program White Plains Week and WPCNR have maintained for months.
WHITE PLAINS WEEK ON THE ELECTIONS NOW ON THE INTERNET WORLDWIDE. ON PRIMETIME TV TONIGHT
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JOHN BAILEY, THE CITIZENETREPORTER
ON TELEVISION CHANNELS TONIGHT–FIOS45 THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND CABLEVISION 76 IN WHITE PLAINS AT 7PM
PETER KATZ, ANCHOR FOR ALL SEASONS
ON THE CUOMO ASTORINO “DEBATE”
CUOMO’S FUTURE
THE LOCAL FORUMS
THE FIRST OFFICE PARK CONVERSION AND HARRISON HAS IT
THE SALES TAX DOLDRUMS
AND ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD
TONIGHT AT 10 P.M., FIOS CHANNEL 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND ON CABLEVISION CHANNEL 76 IN WHITE PLAINS
JON SCHANDLER
CEO OF WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL ON THE MONTEFIORE PARTNERSHIP:
ITS AFFECT ON YOUR MEDICAL CARE
SEE BOTH PROGRAMS NOW…DOWNLOAD THEM at
www.whiteplainsweek.com
Eyewitness to Forum: Latimer, Hunt-Robinson Showcase well.
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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2014. From a White Plains CitizeNetReporter Observer. October 23, 2014:
The following are the impressions of a person familiar with White Plains issues who observed the Candidate’s Forum at the White Plains Library sponsored by the League of Women Voters and gave WPCNR their impressions, first his take on the statements of Joe Dillon and George Latimer running for the 37th District State Senate seat:
Joe Dillon was good, but George Latimer was even better.
Latimer accused Dillon of lying about/ distorting his (Latimer’s) record. He challenged the audience to read up on his record.
Latimer made one mistake, he said that Mamaroneck Ave, was thriving with the help of state iniatives, which, as we know, is not true. Many businesses are closing along the Mamroneck Ave/ Post Road Corrider. Nevertheless, I felt Latimer won hands down.
In the Hunt-Robinson-Guerriere contest, the moderator could not pronounce Terrence’s name correctly much of the time. Although both candidates did a good job, I felt that Nadine showed better than Terrence. She showed a lot of passion, had the insider’s edge, and was obviously well coached by the Democratic Party.
Both candidates were in favor of following the City’s Master Plan, up-dating the Plan with a new one and following all zoning laws.
Terrence felt parking in WP was a big issue and proposed free parking for residents, as one way to improve retail business in downtown.
Nadine wanted more residential apartment building downtown, thus generating more people to shop along Mamaroneck Ave. She touted the new Lyons Place garage, as a place to park. She favored walking over cars. Both candidates were good, but I have to give the edge to Hunt-Robinson.
Deadline is Monday for Applying for Somers Affordable Housing Availabilities
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WPCNR HOUSING NEWS. From the Housing Action Council. October 23, 2014:Housing Action Council is accepting applications for the Mews II at Baldwin Place, a fair andaffordable senior housing development at 32-34 Clayton Boulevard in the Town of Somers through Monday, October 27.
To apply, contact the Housing Action Council, 914-332-4144, or visit the Housing Action Council website at www.affordablehomes.org
When completed, the Mews II will provide affordable apartments for seniors who cannot afford rental housing in the private marketplace. Rents range from $858 to $1244 depending on household income and income. The development is designed to reach households whose incomes areno greater than 60% of the median income of Westchester County.
The median income for a single person is $72,600. Eligible applicants are singles whose income is no greater than $43,560; 2 persons, $48,800 and 3 persons, $56,040.The one bedroom apartments range in size from 710 sq.ft to 734 sq.ft. and 910 sq.ft to 1050 sq. ft for the two bedrooms apartments. All apartments have a patio or deck. Heat and air conditioning arconditioning are individually controlled. It is within walking distance to Somers Commons ShoppingCenter, with a supermarket, restaurant and other retails stores. It is also located on a bus line.
The developers are Kearney Realty & Development Group, a major builder of affordable andaffordable housing These 75 apartments contribute to the 750 homes that the County must facilitate under its 2009 Housing Settlement with HUD.
Applications will be accepted through October 27, 2014. A lottery will be held on October 29,to determine the order in which applicants will be qualified. Occupancy is planned for January and February, 2015.
Food Bank Asks for Donations to Furnish Thanksgiving Turkeys for 5,000 Families
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The Food Bank for Westchester announced that this year’s goal is to raise the funds necessary to provide 5,000 Thanksgiving turkeys for families in need. Pictured from left, Westchester Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett; Arlene Putterman, Manager, Public & Community Relations at Stop & Shop; Greg W; Ellen Lynch, Executive Director at Food Bank for Westchester; Jeanne Blum, Executive Director at Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless; Food Bank board chairman Rick Rakow ; and Westchester County Legislator Michael Smith.
WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Food Bank for Westchester. October 23, 2014:
The Food Bank for Westchester, which operates the county’s largest food collection and emergency distribution network, kicked-off its annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive yesterday. At the kick-off held at the Food Bank’s Elmsford distribution warehouse it was announced that this year’s goal is to raise the funds necessary to provide 5,000 turkeys for families in need.
In 2013 the Food Bank served 6,204,101 meals to Westchester County residents. Based in Elmsford, NY, the Food Bank is located in a 37,000sf warehouse and is home to Westchester’s largest refrigerator and freezer.
To donate to the Food Bank for Westchester’s Turkey Drive, please visit www.foodbankforwestchester.org or text FB4W to 88500.
A donation of just $25 provides turkeys for two families. With approximately 200,000 Westchester residents hungry or at risk of being hungry, there is a significant need for meals this holiday season. Last year the Food Bank exceeded its fund raising goal and was able to provide more than 4,000 turkeys.
“As a community, it is important that we collect as many donations as possible to help out local families and to ensure a memorable Thanksgiving for those who would otherwise go without,” said Ellen Lynch, Food Bank Executive Director. “Thanks to everyone who supports our holiday turkey drive, a huge burden is lifted off these families’ shoulders.”
She said the Food Bank is experiencing an unprecedented demand for its services. “The need is real. However, even though the campaign just started, it’s off to a good start. We have already brought in three truckloads of turkeys this year which is approximately 120,000 lbs.”
The need for more turkeys in part is a result of an increase in the number of Food Bank member agencies over the last year, and that more community and faith-based organizations are responding to the increased needs of their local communities. At the same time, the Food bank is servicing non-member agencies with its Kraft Mobile Food Pantry. The Mobile Pantry is a specialized 36-foot beverage-style truck that functions as a “market on wheels” for communities where residents do not have easy access to fresh vegetables, meat and dairy products.
“On Thanksgiving, most families sit down for a family feast. But there are thousands of people in our county who face a daily struggle to put just a little food on the table,” said Food Bank board chairman Rick Rakow. “The contributions we receive enable us to provide turkeys and all other ingredients for a nutritious holiday meal to help make it a happy Thanksgiving for all.”
Anne Frank’s Stepsister to Speak October 28
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. October 28, 2014:
On Tuesday, October 28, Mrs. Eva Schloss will share her experiences as the childhood friend and step sister of Anne Frank, including accounts of the publishing of Anne’s famed diary. The presentation will take place at the Double Tree in Tarrytown at 7:30pm and will be suitable for teenagers. Families of all faiths are invited to attend.
This is a special opportunity to hear a first-hand account from someone whose life intersected with one of the most compelling figures in our history and comes at a time when religious extremism has re-emerged as a major threat to world peace. Holocaust survivors from all over Westchester have been invited and will be recognized in what is expected to be one of the largest events of its kind and most significant, as the passage of time claims the remaining witnesses to one of the worst crimes of the 20th century.
The Westchester Jewish Council has joined with Chabad Houses of Westchester as sponsors of the event. Tickets are available at www.annefrankevent.com.
In 1938, Germany invaded Austria, causing many Jewish families to flee Austria to avoid persecution. Among the emigrants was 8-year old Eva Geiringer, who with her mother, brother, and father moved first to Belgium and then to Holland, where one of her neighbors was a German Jewish girl of the same age.
The two girls became friends and playmates (though, as Eva would say many years later, the girl was “much more grown-up and mature than me”). They passed the time by skipping, playing hopscotch and marbles, and drinking lemonade that the girl’s mother prepared.
Ultimately, both girls and their families were deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Later they would become step sisters.
Eva survived her concentration camp experience and made her way to England, where sheMarried Zvi Schloss and raised three daughters. She worked as a studio photographer and ran an antique shop.
Her step sister did not survive Auschwitz, but kept a diary that did. Her name was Anne Frank. It became one of the most recognizable accounts of the holocaust, taught in schools all over the world.
Since 1985, Eva Schloss has devoted herself to holocaust education and global peace. She has recounted her wartime experiences in more than one thousand speaking engagements. She has written two books and has had a play written about her life. In 1999 Eva signed the Anne Frank Peace Declaration along with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and the niece of Raul Wallenberg, a legendary figure who rescued thousands of Jews in Budapest.
Eva joins many courageous individuals who work tirelessly to end the violence and bigotry that continue to plague our world. Eva’s story is sensational and difficult to imagine, yet her insightful message reminds us that life is precious and fragile, that the creative spirit is stronger than fear, that the power of good is immeasurable, and that love makes a difference.
Ticket prices are $36 at the door, $30 in advance and $15 for students. A VIP package featuring a private reception with Eva Schloss prior to the event is also available.
Reasons Why White Plains Sales Tax Receipts Continue Soft
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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. October 22, 2014:
Alex Philippidis, former Co-Host of White Plains Week and national internet reporter, expert on Westchester County business trends, reacts to First Quarter Sales Tax Receipts Results in White Plains
“Howdy from White Plains, NY, where all those summer street festivals didn’t raise sales tax collections; indeed they were down 1.14% from a year ago, while NY’s Westchester County as a whole rose 2.49% year-over-year, FB follower (& former TV co-host) John Bailey reports. See if your guesses/reasons why match up with mine:
* Continuing reputation of WP parking fee$ and fine$, esp. among my out-of-town friends & colleagues.
* More downtown store & restaurant closings since the winter.
* “The new normal” — too many people making le$$, spending le$$ in stores, eating out le$$
* “Westchester’s Ridge Hill” in Yonkers — That retail project is comparable to The Westchester mall, down to the pricey parking, but shoppers like to visit what’s new, & it does lots of advertising on regional radio to boot.
http://whiteplainscnr.com/…/city-sales-tax-receipts-stagna…/
Real Estate Sales Continue Sluggish in third Quarter of 2014
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WPCNR REALTY REALITY. From the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. October 20, 2014:
Westchester, the largest county in the MLS region, posted a sales decrease of 2.7%, to 2,863 units. Rockland followed closely with a 2.4% decrease. In Orange County there was barely any change at all, a decrease of only 0.3%. Putnam’s sales actually increased by 3.1%, although that was measured against a small base of a few hundred units
Generally, this slightly diminished but still very strong level of closed real estate transactions followed upon listing and marketing activity that took place during the spring and early summer months. The external conditions for real estate were good then. For example, mortgage interest rates remained consistently low and affordable; the average rate for a 30-year conventional loan ranged mostly between 4.4% and 4.2% throughout the period.
Unemployment – a low rate of which is a confidence builder, especially for first-time buyers – continued its downward path in the lower Hudson region, with all four counties lower by nearly a percentage point or more from 2013.
Rockland and Putnam, with August unemployment rates of 5.1% and 4.8% respectively, are at a level that many economists deem to be full employment. The performance of the stock market is another contributor to buyer confidence, even if the buyers are not invested in same. During the spring and summer months the Dow Jones Industrial Average steadliy increased from 16,000 to 17,000.
Year to date (Jan.-Sep.) sales in all categories amounted to 10,180 units, a decrease of 3.5% from the same period in 2013. If fourth quarter activity mirrors the prior three quarters, 2014 sales will amount to about 13,300 units and rank 2014 as the second best year since 2008.
Prices are pulling out of recession, too, with three of the four counties posting increases in most categories. For the third quarter, the median1 sale price of a single family house in Westchester was $682,500, up by 4.7% over 2013. The median for condominiums, $375,000, was 5.5% higher. In Rockland, the median house was $415,000, up by 2.0%, whereas condominium prices decreased by11.8% to a $222,500 median; the decrease was against a small base of 127 sales, however.
City Sales Tax Receipts Stagnant after First Quarter. County up 2.49% After 9 Months
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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. October 19, 2014:
Despite a series of promotional events in September, a jazz week, back to school sales, early halloween sales, and even Christmas displays already up (in Sears) and the usual business back to normal routine, White Plains sales tax receipts are down 1.14% from the last year fiscal pace.
The city received $143,741.47 less in sales tax receipts in September, for a total of $12,505,970.91 the first three months of the city fiscal year compared to $12,649,712.38 the first quarter of last year. White Plains has a fiscal year that beings in July of each year.
Westchester County, by contrast has increased its sales tax receipts by 2.49% in the first 9 months of its fiscal year that began in January.
Geoffrey Gloak of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance notes,
The distributions for the first two months of every calendar-year-quarter are equivalent to estimates. The reconciliation takes place in the 3rd month of each quarter. As a result, quarterly numbers are likely more appropriate for reporting purposes.