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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Fountain Waters Dance Again in the Summer Sun on Tuesday

The City of White Plains will present a special mid-summer program tonight during its Dancing Under the Stars concert series.

On Wednesday,  from 7 pm to 9 pm, Desert Highway will perform a tribute to the Eagles. The concert will be complimented with a classic car show.

The concert and car show will be held on Court Street between Martine Avenue and Main Street, near the (suddenly revived over last weekend) “dancing waters” of the long dry Renaissance Square Fountain that the city has spent several months repairing. The fountain has been out of action for all of the spring and summer due to leaks and repairs conducted at a snail’s pace by the city, with no official explanation for the delay.

It will be good to see the fountain fonts frolicking again in the summer twilight, as they were yesterday in the summer sun.

For additional information call (914) 422-1339.

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WPCNR HEALTH NEWS. From The Westchester County Department of Health. July 26, 2014:

The county Health Department advises residents to take precautions against mosquito
bites after New York City reported that its first batches of mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile Virus.

So far this season, no mosquitoes in Westchester have been identified as carriers of West Nile Virus, but this is the time of year when the health department expects to find them.

“Given our proximity to New York City, it is safe to assume that mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus will soon be identified here in Westchester County,¨ said Sherlita Amler, MD, commissioner of health. “Our recent rainy weather also makes conditions ripe for mosquitoes capable of carrying the virus to breed. I urge all residents to remove standing water from their property and to take personal protective measures against mosquito bites when spending time outdoors.¨

Last year, there were seven positive mosquito batches found in Westchester County and two human cases of West Nile virus reported. Westchester County¡¦s first positive mosquito batch last year was reported in early August. So far this year, no positive mosquito batches have been found and there have been no reported human cases of West Nile Virus in Westchester County. 

The Health Department prepared for the summer mosquito season by applying larvicide briquettes to street catch basins that held standing water and by giving away free minnows to residents that have ponds on their property. The minnows reduce the mosquito population because they feed on mosquito larvae and pupae before they emerge into adult mosquitoes. Residents should continue to do their part by removing standing water around their homes where mosquitoes can breed and by taking personal protection measures against mosquito bites.

To help eliminate mosquito breeding grounds where you live: 

Survey your property for tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that should be discarded or turned over to prevent collecting water.

 Cover outdoor trash containers to keep rainwater from accumulating inside.

Turn over plastic wading pools, buckets and wheelbarrows when not in use.

 Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are left outdoors.

 Clean roof gutters and remove standing water from flat roofs.

Drain water in birdbaths, plant pots and drip trays twice a week.

Sweep driveways after it rains so that they are free of puddles.

Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. Keep them empty and covered if not in use; drain water that collects in pool covers.

To reduce your risk of mosquito bites:

 Avoid being outdoors in places and during times where and when mosquitoes are active and feeding.

Use insect repellents with no more than 10% DEET on children, sparingly and with care. Repellents should be effective for about two hours and should only be applied once a day. Read and follow package directions and wash treated skin after mosquito exposure has ended.

Select the lowest concentration effective for the amount of time spent outdoors. A concentration of 24% has been shown to provide an average of five hours of protection.

 Products containing DEET are not recommended for infants under two months of age.

 Wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks when outdoors in areas and at times where and when mosquitoes are active.

Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens and repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.

Residents who notice large areas of standing water on public property that could serve as potential mosquito breeding grounds should report this information to the Westchester County Department of Health by calling (914) 813-5000 or emailing the Health Department through its website, www.westchestergov.com/health.

For more health information, like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/wchealthdept, follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/wchealthdept or visit our website, www.westchestergov.com/health.

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WPCNR POWER NEWS. News and Comment By John F. Bailey. July 24, 2014:

As the thermometer hit the low 90s with humidity feeling like a wet cotton sock on your face in the lazy July sun yesterday, I could not help but wondering how high my kilowatt hour charge was going to be?

Remember in January when your kwh charge from Con Edison went up 136% in a month.

In January the New York Independent Systems Operator told WPCNR it was a shortage of natural gas due to the high demand for power during a prolonged cold snap.

Now, the thermometer is pushing the 90s. Now they know it’s hot in the summer. They should be prepared for it.

But, hold on on minute, Con Edison. You know it’s hot in the summer. How come my electric bill kilowatt hour charge went from 7.73  to 10.32 cents kwh hour increase in June….34%… ALMOST DOUBLING in two months…from 5.7 cents to 10.32 cents?

I asked Bob McGee of Con Edison Media Relations to explain it all, knowing it is hot  why aren’t electricity futures purchased at lower prices in advance to spare the comsumer this annual whacking in midsummer when it is hot and in January when it’s cold?

Bob McGee, spokesperson for Con Edison, says it is not demand that raised the rates

He issued this statement: the new Capacity charge dictated by FERC, the Federal Energy Regulation Commission was added to bills as “incentive” for energy companies to locate plants in the metro area capacity zone and existing companies to upgrade their capacity or build new sources of supply. As if we are going to build new power plants in the metropolitan area in a jiff. (Oh, those environmental reviews!)

McGee issued this statement to WPCNR:

“I’ve spoken to our folks in rate engineering.

Capacity costs are the main driver of increased costs so far this summer.

Energy prices have actually come down a bit because we’ve had a fairly mild summer to date.

Electricity cannot be stored like natural gas, so even if you were buying electricity futures in March or April for the summer, the price would still be higher projecting the summer price spike.  It’s not like buying natural gas that can be stored in a gas storage facilty to be delivered later.”

I asked Mr. McGee what are “capacity costs?”

He defined them:

“That’s what’s paid to ensure reliability, i.e., that there will be enough power to draw upon.”

New York State Independent Systems Operator explains the capacity costs this way:

“Bottlenecks in the electric transmission system located north of the Mid-Hudson Valley constrain electric supply to southeast New York and Greater New York City area; in addition several regional generating plants have been or may be retired. Federal regulations  mandate (d in the spring of 2014) that areas affected by transmission constraints are to create a “Capacity Zone,” which forces utilities serving the area to purchase virtually all their energy capacity within that zone only, rather than throughout the rest of the state. “

What is the objective of these capacity charges?

“By mandating that capacity be purchased within a limited zone, prices for electric supply will rise significantly.  The intent by federal regulators is to raise market prices for electricity locally to encourage development of new power generation by independent companies. The result is that existing generators will be paid a higher price for their electricity by Mid-Hudson residents, negatively impacting househoulds, businesses and economic development efforts.”

What is interesting about the Con Edison electric bill is the capacity charge impact is not clearly broken out on the bill. The consumer cannot readily see, (at least this reporter could not find something called “Capacity Charge” on the bill.

I think would be logical to have so Con Edison would not be blamed for these increases, and consumers would know they have the federal government to blame.

So your bill is higher because the government thinks it should be higher.

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PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

“Where People Who Have Something to Say, Have their Say.”

Westchester’s Most Relevant Interview Show

Talks with

Bob Funking, Bill Stutler and Von Ann Stutler

Founders of Westchester Broaway Theatre

Celebrating their 40th Year in Show Business

1974-2014

Bob Funking, Von Ann Stutler and Bill Stutler

The program may be seen on Verizon Channel 45 throughout Westchester County or in White Plains on Cablevision Channel 76  at  8 P.M. Thursday and instantly on the net now at

www.whiteplainsweek.com

How they got the idea.

Secrets of their Success

Why they are successeful in good times and bad.

Must viewing for would-be Lerner and Leowes, Merricks, and Rodgers and Hammersteins

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WPCNR BUMPER TO BUMPER. July 19, 2014:

Commuters who drive into White Plains, and White Plainsians  who commute to rail into New York City from the White Plains Metro North railroad station will find their passage to the station possibly  delayed by street repaving in the vicinity of the railroad station beginning Monday.

The disruption is expected to last throughout August

The Business Improvement District warns that the city will be repaving  Lexington Avenue North South from New Street to Main Street, putting more of a traffic overflow onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard and Bank Street in the vicinity of the White Plains railroad station.

South Lex will be repaved from Bank Street to Quarropas Street.

Main Street (the eastbound main artery into the city from Route 119  will be repaved from Bank  Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard.

Work will be executed from 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., and possibly on Main Street at night, but nightwork is not planned at this time.