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 TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE NEWS. From the Governor’s Office. October 16, 2013:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the beginning of formal construction of the New NY Bridge to replace the Tappan Zee with installation of the first permanent piles that will comprise the foundation of the new bridge.

The bridge is scheduled to be completed in just under five years from the start of formal construction making it one of the nation’s largest construction projects to be completed in such a short time.
“This week, we are putting shovels in the ground and starting formal construction on a new bridge to replace the Tappan Zee, the largest infrastructure project New York State has undertaken in decades,” Governor Cuomo said. “After more than a decade of delay, New York State has moved this project forward at a dramatic pace while working with the community, involving the public and protecting the local environment. Once completed, drivers in Rockland, Westchester and surrounding areas will finally have a safer, less congested bridge that will include a walkway for pedestrians and bikers and accommodates future mass transit.”
The first of several highly sophisticated construction cameras has been installed and can be accessed on the project website, NewNYbridge.com, under the ‘Construction Cameras’ icon. The public can stay up-to-date on the progress of the New NY Bridge with views from this construction camera and the interactive archive calendar.
Construction Timeline

· Dredging to prepare for bridge construction is ongoing until November 1, and will also take place during August, September and October, 2014.

· October 2013: Main span permanent pile installation begins

· November 2013: Permanent pile installation begins for approaches

· March 2014: Work begins on approach substructure

· June 2014: Work begins on main span substructure

· September 2014: Work begins for erection of superstructure

· Late 2014 / early 2015: Work begins on cable stay installation

· Late 2016: Complete north span

· December 2016: Relocate westbound traffic to new north span

· February 2017: Relocate existing eastbound traffic to new north span

· February 2017: Start demolition of existing bridge

· Late 2017: Both spans complete

· November 2017: Relocate eastbound traffic from new north span to new south span

· April 2018: Physical completion of project

· July 2018: Final acceptance of project

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WPCNR BACK STAGE. Interview with Jeannie Shubitz, the Lead in WBT’S Kiss Me Kate. October 13, 2013:

Forever to be remembered as the  “Peggy Sawyer” of Westchester Broadway Theatre, Jeannie Shubitz, turned the plot of the famous musical 42^nd Street into  theatre magic for real  two weeks ago when she took over the lead in the Westchester Broadway Theatre production of Kiss Me Kate, on three days of rehearsal.

For those of you who do not know 42^nd Street, in that show the leading lady is injured, and just before opening night, they need a replacement. Peggy Sawyer is a  character who auditioned for the chorus and is about to go back to Allentown, because she didn’t make the show, is playing opposite Jerry Ohrbach the producer (loosely modeled on David Merrick). Sawyer  is asked by Orbach will she take over the lead, and she says “I’ll do it.”

That’s the situation Ms. Shubitz faced 3 weeks ago in mid-September when WBT’s director, James Brennan contacted her and asked her “to do it.”

Ms. Shubitz  said, “I’ll do it!” too!

After last Wednesday’s matinee of Kiss Me, Kate at WBT, The CitizeNetReporter  talked with Ms. Shubitz about her miracle on stage

WPCNR: When did it begin?

Jeannie: “I got the call around the 16^th or 17^th of September and they told me at that point I was going to be going on September 29, and my put-in would be on the 28^th, put-in  meaning a rehearsal where we all get together and I get to run it from the stage with costumes and all that. That was late that night (16^th). Then a couple of days later I came up here and saw the show for the first time. Then after that I was able to rehearse with the stage manager(Victor Lukas) who gave me all the blocking

“Blocking is the precise movement and positioning of actors in all the scenes of the show. I came here and stayed after the show and went over all the blocking with him. It was quite the process, it was very very quick but everybody in the cast was really wonderful, and very present for me and very available to help me to learn the show as quickly as possible.

WPCNR:You were familiar with the show, right?

Jeannie: I had seen Kiss Me Kate before, I had not done it before.

WPCNR: How were you on that first night  you went on?

Jeannie: It felt a little like being shot out of a cannon. It was a little scary. You almost can’t stop to think about it. You just go through it and trust that the work you’ve done is going to serve you and follow your actors you’re sharing the stage with who are wonderfully supportive and they’ll help you out  if you go up on a line or not in the right place on stage. You don’t think about it. Then you get to the end of the line and complete exhaustion sets in.

You  kind of look back on what you did and think Oh God I can’t believe I just did that whole show, I don’t remember it at all (laughs).

WPCNR: Did you study your lines overnight?

Jeannie: I spent pretty much every day  once I got the blocking. Until I got the script, I spent all my time listening to the music and learning that. Once I got the script I spent all my time working on the script.

Once I got the blocking, I spent hours in my living room,  just walking the blocking, setting the stage trying to learn that for myself. There were days I spent a solid 12 hours working on the show.

Probably not a whole lot more than that because you kind of reach critical mass . Your brain can only hold so much. You just  get to that point  where you  kind of need to take a break, and walk and  do something else, then I’ll come back to this a half hour later and run my show again.

WPCNR: What was the connection that the Director  James Brennan thought of you, just like the 42^nd Street  script?

Jeannie: I had actually auditioned for them  in the city when they were holding the initial auditions for the show.

I auditioned, went through the callback process (a second audition for a part) and they knew me from that, and I and the director, James Brennan had worked together before.

They could not get me ready fast enough and get my costumes ready so the show had to be covered for three days.

It’s been an adventure. Never a dull moment here.

WPCNR: What was the toughest process of the show you had to master?

Jeannie: The most difficult thing, it was kind of a toss-up between the  fight choreography, so getting all of that, making sure that everything is safe and controlled, while still creating a believable fight (Critic note: Ms. Shubitz is very believable! Just ask Mr. Michals, her male lead in the show) , so all the hits, and the lifts, and the carries and the kicks, making sure those look real, while still being safe for the actors

WPCNR: Have you ever acted fight scenes on stage before?

Jeannie: No, I haven’t. This is my first. It’s really fun!

WPCNR: You’re not a kick boxer as a hobby?

Jeannie (laughing): I’m not. I’m not. I go to the gym. That’s all I do.

WPCNR: Where to from here?

Jeannie: That’s a good question. Back to the auditioning process and all of that. Nothing specific lined up on the docket. A couple of things kind of off in the distance next spring. Until then just  back to the (audition) grind.

WPCNR: Where do you want to go in show business?

Jeannie: Goodness. Like every single one of us  here: getting that crown jewel :the Broadway contract or production contract would be brilliant. If someone else offered that to me, I sure wouldn’t say no.

WPCNR: Was there any thought that you wouldn’t take the Kate Role here?

Jeannie: No. When they called me for it, it’s a role I haven’t done before that I’ve wanted to do for awhile, so I decided really quick.

WPCNR: This is 42^nd Street!

Jeannie: It is.  It is. A similar thing.It’s been a wonderful experience and a lot of fun. Once all that initial first couple of shows got out of the way

WPCNR: Talk about your leading man (William Michals , below with Ms. Shubitz ), he was a big help?

Jeannie: He was a lot of fun. He really was. He was very supportive and very patient in the learning process. I was learning my choreography and all of that. Our energies are very well matched on staged.

I was very fortunate that I did get to work with the director for a couple of days. That was a huge help . It has been a really fun thing to build. The challenge was a little bit intimidating, stepping into an existing show. But everybody has been wonderful and I am having such a good time with it now and I’m really starting to feel much more comfortable in the role and really be able to play with it, and William Michals is able to play with it.  So there’s always this back and forth crackle going on.

WPCNR: How did you work things out with the orchestra on such short notice, given your voice is deeper than your predecessor’s?

Jeannie: I think actually it was pretty seamless. I was a little bit concerned, but the first time I worked with the full band  was my first night on in the show. I didn’t know what to expect. I had worked with Leo (Carusone) the Musical Director and we had  gone through the score a couple of times together, so I knew what to expect of him and he knew what I was going to do,  so we had already  created a good working relationship. The orchestra here is fantastic. The band is really wonderful, and Leo is really very sensitive . This afternoon (Wednesday’s matinee performance), I did something that was a little bit of a change, and he stepped right in and followed me. I was endlessly grateful.

WPCNR: What’s your back story? Always wanted to go into show business?

JEANNIE: I’ve always loved performing.  I wasn’t quite sure where it would lead me. I kind of left myself open, usually it ends up being  some place more interesting and better than I thought it would be. I’ve always loved performing and started taking piano when I was five. Even after my recitals I would be so jazzed after performing in front of a live audience that I started doing theatre and choir concerts and things like that.

WPCNR: What was your first role ever?

Jeannie: It was in a church Christmas pageant, The Littlest Elf. It was the lead and I was very excited. (Laughs)

WPCNR: First professional role?

JEANNIE:In the musical theatre realm: Magnolia  Hawkes ( in Showboat, Editor’s Note: also The Lead). It was a very pivotal show for me. At the time  I was pursuing the more classical end of things and I wasn’t  entirely sure how I felt about it and I wasn’t committed to classical singing and opera and everything and I did my first musical, Showboat, and I was sold.

That was it.  It was a hundred percent, oh this is where I  am supposed to be is doing musical theatre as opposed to classical music.

Incidentally, I met some of my nearest and dearest friends there, and I also met my husband in that show. (Laughs)  I will carry it (Showboat) with me always.

Ms. Shubitz is from Tucson Arizona. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Arizona, and Masters at Arizona State. Right at the end of the Masters,  she was cast in Showboat and moved to New York City.

WPCNR: Do you like New York?

Jeannie: I love it.  I love it. My husband and I moved back to Arizona for a period of time, thinking we were ready to move back. But it just didn’t take. We figured nope, we’ve given it (Arizona) a fair shot and we sold the house and moved back here.

Ms. Shubitz stepped on stage and did it. She’s running through November 3 as Lily Vanessi and Kate behind the footlights.  The CitizeNetReporter recommends you check her out now because with heart and talent like hers, her name will be on a big marquee before she can say “I’ll do it!”

Need I say the box office is at 914-592-2222 or go to www.BroadwayTheatre.com

Tell them John Bailey sent you.

And Casting Directors,  she does leads.

If I can speak for Cole Porter, the composer of Kiss Me, Kate, if Cole saw her last week, he’d say, “You’re the top!”

 

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2013. October 12:

The charisma of President Bill Clinton is being brought in by the Bramson campaign for County Executive Monday night October 21.

Bramson who has not fared well in  fundraisers around White Plains compared to County Executive Incumbent, Robert P. Astorino, announced the special event to his list of supporters Friday evening.

This is a big ticket: Individuals are being asked to pay $100 a person. If you want a picture with President Clinton, you have to pay $2,500 to $10,000.

The event is at the Rye Town Hilton Monday evening, October 21.

The Rye Town Hilton  had to be closed  twice in April of this year due to a highly contagious norovirus traced to the kitchen by the County Department of Health that sickened several hundred persons at two different events within a month.. The unpleasantness was originally not reported by the County Department of Health, until a second outbreak necessitated a closing of the hotel for several days.

 

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From the Business Council of Westchester with reporting by WPCNR. October 12, 2013:

Individuals are jumping into Affordable Health Care and bravely exploring and signing up through the state’s new affordable health care portal: www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov.

Businesses, though are dragging their feet says the Director of the new State Marketplace.

According to Kelly Smith, (ABOVE) Director of Small Business Marketplace of the State Department of Health, more than 40,000 individual New York residents have registered online  for Affordable Health Care in the first week alone (it began October 1).

She said they thought the state’s website would get about 3,000 hits per day on the site, but in reality were receiving 3,000 hits per second. She also said about 5,000 insurance brokers have already completed training to be certified by the state for the Exchange. Individuals may also call for a real live person to guide them through at

She  told WPCNR small businesses appear to waiting until closer to the deadline (March 31, 2014) to adapt a health plan for their employees. So much so, she expects a siege of business inquiries at that time who have not done their homework on the state health care plan options, reserving decision on plan until the last minute.

Asked by WPCNR afterwards if  small businesses across the state are ready to make a smooth transition to the Affordable Health Care System,  Smith shook her head no, with no doubt,  saying, she expected a rush of  business inquiries from businesses who are delaying decision  until it is closer to by the deadline to enroll their employees arrives March 31 (five months away).

She expects the rush she sees from businesses at the deadline  may create another service crisis similar to last week’s when New York state had to quadrupel their website capacity on Sunday to handle the unexpected volume.

Smith’s presentation took the audience of about 50 persons (by WPCNR count) at the Crown Plaza Hotel in White Plains, through the  impressive, overwhelming information available on new health care options on the state website, where individuals and businesses can explore options and sign up for affordable health care options:

www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov

Smith said most businesses appear to be waiting until their health care plans they have now renew to examine their options under the Affordable Health Care Act. She feels businesses have to familiarize now with options, and are not doing so.  She said accountants who have to implement the nuts and bolts of enrollment and compliance are doing their homework and appear up-to-speed to execute enrollment and compliance.

Calling the first week of the new Exchange “an incredible ride,” John Ravitz, Executive Vice President of the Business Council said the BCW’s Navigator has received over 75 phone calls for appointments.

For businesses to schedule an appointment with the Business Council’s Navigator who can familiarize  executives with what is required and when, and options and tax credits available, they may call John Ravitz at (914) 948-2110 ext 311.

In addition to Smith (right, above), the other panelists at the forum included Elisabeth Benjamin, (Center) Senior Vice President of the Community Service Society of New York; and Mike Bodack,(left) President of York International Agency who warned of the extra expenses businesses face from new reporting rules under the Affordable Health Care Act.

Benjamin took businessmen in attendance on a selling tour of the benefits of tax credits they receive under the Affordable Care Act. Above is an example she presented.

Bodack presented surveys showing that premium costs for New York health care plan providers and purchases are predicted to go up 12% next year. New York is the highest column (Above)

Keynote speaker Shannon Pettypiece,(above) national healthcare reporter for Bloomberg News, provided an overview of how New York and other states that are implementing their own health benefit exchanges are faring compared to those states that are letting the federal government set up their exchanges.

She said the states have done a better job of getting their websites up and running than the federal government. She also said the federal website was averaging about 2.8 million unique visits per hour, which ranks it among the nation’s busiest websites.

Among other topics discussed by the panel were: key mandates of importance to employees; timeline of when the mandates will start in 2014 and 2015; tax credits available to employers that offer health insurance to their employees; new programs that employees without health insurance will have to enter in 2014 and the Navigator Program that the Business Council started.

“The implementation of the new Health Benefit Exchange is one of the most important issues facing businesses today. This very timely and important forum featured an outstanding panel of experts who provided the information every business needs to know about the new law,” said Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of the Business Council.

Under requirements of the Affordable Care Act, states must set up a health insurance exchange where individuals and businesses can shop for qualified health plans in the private market.

The Business Council was recently selected by the Community Service Society of New York to serve as a “Navigator” to assist Westchester businesses in complying with the nation’s new healthcare policy. The October 10^th Healthcare Forum was sponsored by Simone Healthcare Real Estate, Verizon, York International and Webster Bank.

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. October 9, 2013:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today sent a letter to the Public Service Commission (PSC) opposing Con Edison’s proposal to raise
utility rates in 2014.

“With the anniversary of Superstorm Sandy approaching and the recent power outage on the Metro-North’s New Haven line that inconvenienced tens of thousands of commuters, it’s clear that now is not the time for Con Edison to demand that its customers pay more,” Governor Cuomo said. “This year we strengthened the Public Service Commission in order to create a more aggressive watchdog entity that could hold utilities across New York accountable to  ratepayers.”

The letter from
the Governor is below:

To the PSC Commissioners:

Since taking office, my administration has pushed to keep utility rates as low as  possible while maintaining a highly reliable electric system. Superstorm Sandy, and more recently the disruption of service to Metro-North, reinforced the importance of a reliable electric system and the need to hold utilities accountable for their preparedness and response, especially when considering potential rate hikes. For the past several months, the Department of Public Service staff and other parties have been reviewing Con Edison’s request to increase electric delivery rates by 8 percent, gas delivery rates by 2.5  percent, and steam delivery rates by 2.3 percent.

Based on the submissions of staff and others, it is clear that such rate increases are not warranted, and I urge the Commission to reject the utility’s request to increase rates.

As you know, this year’s Enacted Budget included new provisions in the Public Service Law to strengthen the oversight and enforcement mechanisms of the Public Service Commission to ensure that major electric and gas utility companies are held accountable and responsive to regulators and customers. Giving real consideration to performance and service to ratepayers is consistent with our goal to make the Commission and Department effective regulators under our strengthened Public Service Law.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Con Edison customers already pay among the highest electricity rates in the nation, making it essential that the Commission scrutinize any request for further rate increases. New Yorkers need to get more value for the price they pay for utility service, and as part of this case the Commission and staff must also carefully evaluate proposed investments in the system to ensure such investments will benefit consumers. Given the historically low interest rates and the economic and income growth forecasts, such
investments can be made without the rate increase requested by the utility.

Maintaining stable rates and indeed, lowering rates whenever feasible, is
critical to supporting our economic recovery and creating jobs in the region.

I commend the staff at the Department of Public Service for their efforts to fully review and analyze Con Edison’s rate request and to find opportunities to stabilize rates for the businesses and residents of New York.