THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

CBS Television Wizard, John Taddei. White Plains Public TV Pioneer.

Posted on May 6, 2013 by John Bailey

1925-2013

WPCNR MILESTONES. May 4, 2013:

John Taddei, the man whose natural instinct for solutions contributed to the Columbia Broadcasting System technical growth in television’s golden age of the 1950s and 1960s died this week in White Plains. The White Plains resident was 88 years old.

Mr. Taddei spent his professional career contributing to television innovations that are used to this day. After he retired in the mid-1980s, the City of White Plains chose him to be Chairman of the White Plains Public Access Cable station.

Taddei, working with Executive Director Fred Strauss, and Edward Wolf,and Gary Stukes supervised the design of the White Plains Public Television studios at 4 Martine Avenue in the Four Seasons Apartment complex in White Plains when it moved from the White Plains Library.

The compact studio design with its capacity to televise meetings from the White Plains City Hall became a national model for other communities across the country building community access television operations.

The reason the studio was effective, an acquaintance familiar with the creation of the studio said, was Mr. Taddei gave the committee responsible for designing the new studios access to CBS studios in New York. Taddei arranged for them to tour the CBS Broadcast center and see first-hand how to set up the studio, where they could save money, and bypass “the learning curve.” Taddei, the acquaintance said was revered at CBS, where he knew William S. Paley personally.

Thanks to Taddei’s entrée to CBS, representatives from White Plains television were treated with respect and received expertise on creating their studio, seeing how a premier television network studio was designed and run, that led to the creation of a studio that has served White Plains thirty years from the analog to the digital age.

According to a retrospective of his life distributed at his wake last week Mr. Taddei died in White Plains Hospital on April 26. He was born in Manhattan to Paulo and Rosa (Gherardi) Taddei. The family later moved to Brooklyn where Mr. Taddei attended public school.

The lure of boy-scouting took him out of the city for the first time and inspired him to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. He served as assistant scout master at the Ten Mile River Boy Scouts of America Camp in New York’s Catskill Mountains on the Delaware River.

He was a member of the St. Finbar’s CYO basketball team and a tennis player. He met his future wife, Anna Zaharek on the tennis court. They wed in 1952 and later made White Plains their home.

Mr. Taddei commuted to CBS in New York, where he was employed as a television broadcast technician until his retirement in 1986. His expertise led to his being named Chairman of the White Plains Public Access Cable station at the critical time when the present state-of-the-art studio (in the Four Seasons Condominium complex was being designed and equipped.

His love of classical music led to his devising a method to digitize rare pre-war selenophone recordings of Toscanini-conducted performances for the New York Public Library Branch at Lincoln Center.

A man of deep faith, he was very active in various organizations in his parish, Our Lady of Sorrows, and is remembered as the “go-to” person for microphones and television equipment for liturgical and school use.

He was an avid ham radio operator and in his last years relied on his network of ham radio friends to keep him connected.

His wife Anna predeceased him in 2007.

John is survived by his sister Mary (Lucian) DeBonis of Sag Harbor, NY; his children: Joanne Taddei of Cranston, Rhode Island; John (Patricia) Taddei of Somers, NY; Marianne (George) Wisker of Tolland, Connecticut; Robert (Mary) Taddei of Doylestown, Pennsylvania; grandsons John Patrick, Christopher, Nicholas and Benjamin Taddei and many nieces and nephews. He was cared for by his devoted home health aides CeCe and Mariama.

He was laid to rest in Gate of Heaven Cemetary.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester, 311 North Street, White Plains, www.hospiceofwestchester.com

Health: Noros STAY OUT 3 Days After Symptoms Gone. 1ST Hilton Horror April 7

Posted on May 2, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR Health News. By John F. Bailey. May 2, 2013:

Caren Halbfinger, spokesperson for the Westchester County Department of Health, responding to WPCNR routine questions about the norovirus outbreak at the Westchester Hilton, has issued a statement saying victims of the norovirus identified as the microbe culprit causing hundreds of Hilton guests the last four weeks, should stay home for three days after they have finished feeling the symptoms of the disease: vomiting and diarrhea.

Halbfinger confirmed the WPCNR report that the first norovirus incident actually happened the weekend of April 5,6,7, at the CSEA Women’s Conference, that the Hilton had reported that incident to the health department April 9.

WPCNR points out that the first time it was reported by the Health Department however was not until April 26.

Halbfinger also said in a statement to WPCNR that the Health Department did not have a total number for persons who have contracted the norovirus and that the actual source of the norovirus might never be found.

The statement from Ms. Halbfinger to WPCNR Thursday evening:

“We are not counting cases, we are focused on stopping the spread of the Norovirus.

As to origin: We honestly don’t know and probably never will. Norovirus is in the community at large — there are cases every year. We can speculate that it came in from the community to several staff members and spread from there.

How long has it been there: It is hard to say since it is circulating throughout our community.

As to the event you mentioned, the CSEA conference: Both the hotel and a participant reached out to us.

We were informed of it on or about April 9 and investigated it fully, conducting interviews, kitchen inspection and specimen collection.

And following our response, the hotel had a number of events without incident or illness, until April 20.

The incubation period is 12 to 48 hours. We were notified about Norovirus-type illness on April 9, which is typical, because it can take several days for symptoms to occur and another day or two until people with symptoms reach out and contact either us or the venue.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends that people who have experienced Norovirus remain at home for 72 hours after their symptoms resolve, which means for 72 hours after they are free of symptoms. That’s why the hotel put a 72-hour paid furlough into effect on Tuesday.

WP 2012 REPORT: HIGHER LEVELS UP. BLACKS,LATINOS STILL A GAP. ELEM TREADS WATER

Posted on May 2, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SUPERINTENDENT May 2, 2013:

The 2011-12 school year Report Card for White Plains was published today on the White Plains Schools website, the day after all report cards for public schools across the state were released by the New York State Education Department. The report can be reviewed at http://www.wpcsd.k12.ny.us

White students at all levels still score significantly higher last year than black and Latinos across all levels. The Black-African-American population has improved their performance drawing even with the Hispanic-Latino achievement levels.

Departing Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Clouet in an exclusive interview with WPCNR this morning said

“All districts in the state of New York that have diverse populations continue to face challenges with students who are English Language Learners, as well as students with disabilities. That’s where we have our biggest challenges.

“Clearly there is room for improvement, and it’s also true there is a lot of learning going on for all of our students, including ELL (English Language Learners) and students with disabilities that is not reflected in the test scores.”

Preliminary review of the report shows that White Plains schools played strong catch-up academic ball last year dramatically improving middle school performance with 59% of Eighth Graders passing the English 8^th Grade Assessments, and 74% 8^th Graders passing the 8^th Grade Math achievement (slightly up from last year in both test instances). 86% percent of 481 graduating 4-year high school seniors went on to secondary education, 284 (57%) to 4-year colleges and 122 (29%) to two-year colleges. 97% of graduating seniors passed the English Regents.

The Elementary Level continues to be a work in progress, with 52% of Fifth Graders passing the 5^th Grade English Language Achievement Test, the same percentages as 2010-11. In the 5^th Grade Math Achievement 64% of the Fifth Graders passed, slightly better than 2010-11.

In the 8^th Grade English Languare test last year, the significant test that shows high school readiness, 48% of Black students passed, and 46% of Hispanics passed. Passing is a grade of 65 or better. Of white students taking the English Test 79% passed.

At the fifth Grade Achievement test in English, 74% of the White students scored 65 or better, 41% of blacks and 41% of Hispanics did.

The gap between white and black and Hispanic-latinos continues.

This is significant to the school district continued performance, because the demographic breakdown last year shows of the largest student population is Hispanic-Latino at 51%, the white student population, 29%; the black population, 16%.

The School District last year had 3,775 students at the elementary level, a decline, 1,510 in the middle school (Grades 6 through 8) and 2,116 in the high school, and a total of 6,957 students overall.

A total of 2,722 students were eligible for free lunch, 469 were eligible for partial free lunch and 982 Limited English Proficient.

The district employed 547 certified teachers, 223 teaching assistants, 8 Principals and 10 assistant principals and 85 non-teaching personnel.

CLOUET’S REACTION

WPCNR asked Dr. Christopher Clouet his reaction the 2012 Report in an exclusive interview this morning. He said the report indicates that the district is tuning “the learning practices, needs and styles of our students.”

WPCNR asked how so?

“You see it in the classrooms. Kids that are reading, kids that are writing interesting reports, that are reading at a good level, but that when they take the test — the test is somewhat of an artificial way to measure learning – and so, though the test has value—I don’t want to say the test has no value—but it’s also true there’s a lot of learning going on that is not reflected in the tests.”

WPCNR asked about the Middle School test results that generated more than 5% improvement in the 8^th Grade ELA scores.

“There’s clearly evidence that things are going well in the district. But of course, the bottom line is the kids that graduate which is a very high level of graduation rate.

“We are in the middle of a huge transition, as we align our curricula and teaching strategies to the common core standards and the tests being recreated to align with the common core standards. This is a huge area of transition. I think we are well-poised and we’ve done some things over the last several years to be in a position to adapt to that. It’s still part of an evolutionary process.”

I asked his reaction to the results that show Black and African-American students appear to have drawn even in academic performance with the Hispanic students.

“Yeah, yeah. I tend to think that grouping – and I know the federal government does this — kids together as white, or African-American or Hispanic sometimes doesn’t capture the variability or individuality of the children we’re talking about.”

I asked if he agreed African – Americans were catching up with the Hispanic academic performance, because the group had been behind the Hispanic-Latino student population in the past.

“ Yes, again, I think we’re doing a better job in our instructional practices and that’s slowly, but surely paying off. One of the factors that is absolutely essential in measuring student outcomes is the issue of family income and resources. Did you read the article, “No Rich Kid Left Behind?” in last week’s New York Times?

It’s an interesting article because it confirms things. It looks at the growing disparity in income as a new challenge for our country. That brings me back to the issue that White Plains is a perfect laboratory for seeing how we can really adjust instruction so that kids from all backgroundsuncluding families without means can have an opportunity to become well-educated and successful.”

I asked him what has been the reaction to the new assessment tests this year have been from students:

“They’re more difficult. That’s been the reaction students have reported to us. It is unclear how the scoring will be done in terms of the cut scores – something the state holds close to the vest. “

I asked how the elementary schools are dealt with making adjustments to improve scores this year. Clouet pointed to a new math instructional technique and the new I Block sequence designed to have children read higher level books to improve comprehension and writing skills.

Health Department: Norovirus cause hundreds of Hilton Guest Stomach Sickness

Posted on May 1, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR HEALTH NEWS. From the Westchester County Health Department. May 1, 1013, 9:30 P.M. E.D.T,:

The Westchester County Department of Health has confirmed that Norovirus is the cause of the stomach bug that has affected some (Editor’s note actually over 300) people who attended several events at The Hilton Westchester in April. The health department anticipated that outcome and has worked cooperatively with the Hilton Westchester to take a series of aggressive steps to stop the spread of the infection, whose symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea.

Recognizing the importance of protecting the health and safety of the public, the Hilton Westchester is voluntarily following every recommendation that the health department has made, including:

Arranging for an outside contractor to provide an industrial cleaning of all hotel surfaces, with a special focus on the banquet halls;
Contracting for corporate health staff and corporate sanitarians to be present and to assist in assuring that all health department recommendations are being carried out by staffers;
Discontinuing service of uncooked foods that are prepared on site, and substituting commercially prepared salads and uncooked fruits; and
Providing a 72 hour paid furlough to all banquet service and kitchen staff who were scheduled to work, starting Tuesday evening through Friday night.
The hotel had previously required all kitchen, serving and housekeeping staff to wear gloves and had screened employees to assure they were healthy before starting each shift, had engaged a commercial cleaning company to clean the kitchen and common areas and had discontinued self-service buffets and had shut down any touch screens at the hotel and had made alcohol hand sanitizer available throughout the hotel.

Hotel management has been extremely cooperative throughout this investigation to work with the health department to protect the public’s health. They also have notified organizers of upcoming events about these recent illnesses.

The health department has increased its presence at the hotel this week and will have sanitarians present during every event as long as necessary. Inspectors are reviewing sanitary procedures throughout the hotel, as is our routine practice in these situations. Public health nurses are also reaching out to those who may be affected to help determine the source of the illness and to identify any new cases.

For more information about Norovirus, go to www.westchestergov.com/health.

Health Department Steps Up Efforts at Rye Hilton. Keeps It Open

Posted on April 30, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR HEALTH WATCH. From WPCNR and the Westchester County Department of Health. (EDITED) April 30, 2013 UPDATED MAY 1:

Tuesday afternoon the County Health Department issued this statement on the ongoing investigation of the April 20-21 outbreaks of severe gastrointestinal symptoms involving some 300 guests at three different banquets at the Rye Town Hilton in the last three weeks.

WPCNR learned Tuesday that a similar outbreak of intestinal sickness affected scores of people also occurred two weeks earlier on the weekend of April 7 at the Hilton involving a large union banquet for the CSEA Womens Conference.

News of the last two outbreaks the 20th and 21st was not known until last Friday the 26th, 7 days after the April 20th incident. Wednesday morning, it was reported by the Journal News that a fundraiser for The Carver Club held last Friday at the Hilton was also plagued by persons reporting becoming sick.

The health department did not respond to a WPCNR question Tuesday afternoon asking why the Health Department has not shut down the Hilton.

In the statement that follows the most recent Carver Club sicknesses are not mentioned.

Here is the Health Department statement as of Tuesday afternoon:

“The Westchester County Department of Health has an ongoing investigation underway to put a stop to a recent rash of illness in people who attended events at the Hilton Westchester. While we have not yet determined the cause, it appears to be Norovirus, an infection whose symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea.

Recognizing the importance of protecting the health and safety of the public, the Hilton Westchester is voluntarily following every recommendation that the health department has made, including:

Arranging for an outside contractor to provide an industrial cleaning of all hotel surfaces, with a special focus on the banquet halls;
Contracting for corporate health staff and corporate sanitarians to be present and to assist in assuring that all health department recommendations are being carried out by staffers;
Discontinuing service of uncooked foods that are prepared on site, and substituting commercially prepared salads and uncooked fruits; and
Providing a 72 hour paid furlough to all banquet service and kitchen staff starting now through Friday night.

The health department has increased its presence at the hotel this week and will have two sanitarians present during every event throughout the weekend. Inspectors are reviewing sanitary procedures throughout the hotel, as is our routine practice in these situations. Public health nurses are also reaching out to those who may be affected to help determine the source of the illness and to identify any new cases.

For more information about Norovirus, go to www.westchestergov.com/health.

How can I avoid getting ill?

To help prevent the spread of the infection, wash hands thoroughly after each toilet visit, between contact with others and before and after preparing your own food.

If you have symptoms, what should you do?

It is important for those who have symptoms to stay home from work and to limit their contact with others to avoid spreading the virus to family members and close contacts until 72 hours after all symptoms resolve. Anyone who experiences nausea, vomiting or diarrhea should not go to work and should not handle food for others while ill. You also may want to contact your physician.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment other than to make sure to drink plenty of fluids. The illness must just run its course. Most people usually recover in a couple of days.

What is Norovirus?

A common cause of vomiting and diarrhea in this kind of setting is Norovirus. Norovirus is a group of viruses that can cause acute gastrointestinal discomfort and illness.

Peekskill Social Studies Chair Charged with Altering Regents Answer Sheets by DA

Posted on April 30, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR WESTCHESTER LAW JOURNAL. From the Office of the Westchester County District Attorney. April 30. 2013:

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Allison Risoli DOB (04/24/60) of 1670 Westchester Avenue, Peekskill, was arraigned Monday on a Felony Complaint charging her with:

two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, class “E” Felonies.

Between January 24, 2013, and January 31, 2013, the defendant, the Chair of the Social Studies Department of Peekskill High School located at 1031 Elm Street in Peekskill, altered the answer sheets for two separate Regents examinations.

The answers altered were on the United States History and Government Regents Examination and the Global History and Geography Regents Examination.

The defendant, as the Chair of the Social Studies Department, is responsible for delivering completed Regents examinations to the Peekskill City School District Data Analyst. The Data Analyst, whose office is in the Peekskill City School District Administration Building, is responsible for scanning and submitting completed examinations to the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC), a subset of the Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services, for official scoring and filing with the State of New York.

Several days after defendant delivered to the Data Analyst the original answer sheets for the above-referenced Regents exams and after the Data Analyst scanned and submitted the examinations to LHRIC, defendant returned to the Data Analyst’s Office and indicated there was a problem with a few students’ answer sheets.

The defendant “reviewed” the original answer sheets while in the office. After “reviewing” the answer sheets in the Data Analyst’s office, defendant returned the answer sheets to the Data Analyst.

A subsequent check of the original answer sheets that previously had been scanned and submitted to LHRIC and the answer sheets that defendant “reviewed” and handed back to the Data Analyst show defendant altered two of the answer sheets.

Specifically on both answer sheets the defendant marked the incorrect answer with an “X” and filled in the correct answer.

The defendant’s alterations gave each of the students a passing score.

The defendant was releases on her own recognizance.

The defendant’s next court date is June 3rd, 2013.

She faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison on each count.

Assistant District Attorney Shara Abraham of the Public Integrity Bureau is prosecuting the case.

Playland Keeps $30 Admission Price Plus $7 Parking

Posted on April 29, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY-CLARION LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications.(EDITED) April 29, 2013:

Get ready to zoom, spin, splash, swing and soar your way through acres of amusement park rides from the cooling log flume to the famous Dragon Coaster and all your other favorites as Playland Amusement Park in Rye hosts its opening day, Saturday, May 11. Admission prices are reduced the first two weeks of the season, but revert to the admission levels of 2012 on May 24.

The Swimming Pool at the bathouse and the Rye Beach will not open until June 21. The Tiki Bar Boardwalk will be open and part of the fishing pier (damaged by Hurricane Sandy) will also be open by May 11. It is not clear how much, if any of the North Boardwalk between the pier and the wildlife sanctuary, destroyed by hurricane Sandy, will be repaired at this time.

The opening admission prices and regular admission price schedules are:

· $15 Weekends: May 11, 12, 18 and 19: $15 unlimited rides; $15 Junior (under 48”)

· Starting Friday, May 24: $30 unlimited rides; $20 Junior (under 48”) – Westchester residents with acceptable proof of residency are eligible for a $5 discount on these prices. Spectator admission (no rides) is free for Westchester County residents and $10 for non-residents.

The fun gets underway with a parade and entertainment beginning at 11 a.m. on the 11th of May and rides opening at noon.

Special opening day admission is $15, which is good for unlimited rides until the park closes at 7 p.m. Admissions go on sale at 10:30 a.m.

The opening celebration begins with strolling entertainment at the Fountain Plaza at 11 a.m., followed by the traditional parade with the Port Chester High School Marching Band accompanied by local dignitaries, staff and Playland’s mascot, Coaster the Dragon.

Grab a seat in front of the Music Tower Theater stage to hear the band Reunion perform hit sounds from the ‘50s,’60s and ‘70s. at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Unique, science-based entertainment will leave children and their families laughing and mesmerized at “Mad about Science,” the featured act in Kiddyland for two shows at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Playland’s Kiddyland DJ will also entertain with the “Play it DJ” show, in four performances at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Kids will move, groove and be smooth as our DJ plays their favorite dance tunes.

Admission Prices:

· $15 Weekends: May 11, 12, 18 and 19: $15 unlimited rides; $15 Junior (under 48”)

Season Passes:

· $95 for unlimited rides all season, with a $15 discount for Westchester residents.

· $35 for spectator admission all season (no rides), for non-residents of Westchester County.

Acceptable proof of Westchester residency is a Westchester County Park Pass; New York State driver’s license or non-driver I.D.; or a photo I.D. or report card from a Westchester County school.

Playland’s pre-season schedule is noon to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays until Memorial Day weekend, after which the spring schedule begins. For the season schedule go to ryeplayland.org or call the park at (914) 813-7000. Use the Website link to join the Playland E-Club and receive valuable discounts all season long.

Become a Facebook fan at Playland Facebook and follow Playland on Twitter.

Parking is $5 weekdays, $7 weekends and $10 on holidays.

Rain date for opening day is Saturday, May 18.

Playland is located at the end of Playland Parkway in Rye. For public bus transportation, visit westchestergov.com/beelinebus.

State of the County

Posted on April 28, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR NEWS AND COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. April 28, 2013:

Well, we heard the County Executive State of the County speech last Tuesday evening.

Well What kind of speech was it?

Exactly the kind of speech White Plains Week told you last week he would give. How do we know these things? Because White Plains Week has been observing politicians for the last twelve years. They are predictable. And uncreative. And pathologically believe everything will get better if we just hold on.

Last week’s show I said Mr. Astorino would tout the Astorino record of holding the line on taxes the last three years, and criticize the Democrats for not going along with his cuts…he did exactly that touting his three P’s: Protect taxpayers, Preserve essential services, promote economic growth, cutting the tax levy 2% and keeping it there for two years—obliquely challenging the legislator to set priorities, make hard choices and that partisanship must give way to partnership, rhetoric must yield to leadership Improving what is working, fixing what’s not and focusing on symptoms of problems…then proceeded to lapse into 40 minutes of rhetoric.

I said he’d say Westchester employment is coming back, he did mentioning businesses he helped keep: Pepsi, Captain Lawrence, Bake-A-Wish, and Regeneron saving 4,800 jobs and 4,600 new jobs. And pointing out he has $58 Million in capital projects awaiting legislature approval and $75 Million planned and creation of the Local Development Corporation providing access to low cost tax exempt financing for non-profits.

I said he’d lobby hard for Sustainable Playland and legislature approval of that Playland designated developer, but he added no new reasons to believe Sustainable Playland is going to get this done –no change in Sustainable’s capitalization was reported. The proposal continues to languish as does the disturbing lack of swift Playland repair.

This week in county committee we learned the north boardwalk was not going to be repaired and the casino would not be ready until winter. This dawdling on Playland repair is a dropped ball by both Astorino and the legislature. Together their lack of sense of urgency is going to kill this park in my opinion.

I said he’d defend his position of defiance of HUD, and he did that with a vengeance,and his opposition to zoning change creavity.

He predicted that if the county did not fight HUD EVENTUALLY HUD would have the county build 10,768 affordable units and cause a 200% tax hike. He was over the top on this, but I also said he would not offer an olive branch like vowing to develop zoning changes for each community, to fulfill the HUD demands.

He did not offer a counciliatory said, as I said he would not. A missed opportunity there since after the U.S. attorney threatened the county with a contempt of court, Astorinio released the source of income legislation to the legislature for their action the next. What a mistake.

I said he would say how great his administration performed during Hurricane Sandy…he did citing several anecdotes. But, if you recall Hurrincane Sandy, it was not until after communities started screaming that the county huffed and puffed about the outages.

I said Mr. Astorino would probably not talk Tappan Zee Bridge traffic flow and transit in Westchester County after the new bridge opens. I was wrong, he did say we should not have congestion after the bridge is built BUT HE MADE NO PROPOSALS….He has to start taking positions and taking recommendations to the people, not just be on commissions.

I said he probably would not back off seeking an injunction to stop HUD from withholding federal community development funds. He did not say he would not seek an injunction.

I said he would not introduce plans for cutting non-union staff to lower taxes farther and he — surprise — did not.

I said he would not say he would cut any county departments—and he did not suggest cutting or combining any – no new cost cutting initiatives.

I said he probably would not ask the legislature to undertake a study of county government and make their recommended cuts to county government to reduce spending, and he did not – another missed opportunity to fire a salvo at Westchester’s new great hope Noam Bramson.

Astorino lauded his improvements to the Department of Social Services –increasing spending by $17 Million to $559 Million…increasing slots for taxpayer subsidized day care to 600 (18%) raising the adoption rate 41%

And of course there are his green initiatives.

It was a speech that talked about the past and not the future. But this is his main selling point…holding the line on taxes.

Now the question is whether Noam Bramson can do all he says he wants to do without raising taxes…where have we heard this before…I think a guy running for office 4-1/2 years ago said that somewhere in this country.

The state of the county is a sorry state. No leader is looking at reality. No one in government has any interest in changing things. Leadership we have and would-be leaders tell us what we want to hear.

We as individuals want to believe what we hear, because believing the lies is much more comfortable than realizing the uncompromising truth.

The Greenway Extension Survey

Posted on April 27, 2013 by John Bailey

CITY PLANS TO OPEN 9-ACRE BRYANT PRESERVE TO PUBLIC AS PART OF GREENWAY EXTENSION.

Greenway (green line shown lower left) would be extended through Sam’s of Gedney Way Parking lot..up former Westchester Railway Bed to Bolton Avenue, requiring some take back of city right of way. It is unclear whether it would go from Bolton Ave up to Mamaroneck Avenue or end there. Walkers could then enter the soon-to-be-opened-to-the public Bryant Nature Preserve (city property)in upper right of the above map, where the Department of Public Works is planning a winding nature trail and footbridge for enjoyment of Greenway Walkers.

Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Nicoletti displays the path of the Bryant Nature Preserve Walkway (white line within the satellite map), at the Department of Public Works budget review Monday evening. It was the first public announcement of the plan that would add to the “necklace of green pearls” as the Greenway was once described

WPCNR MR. AND MRS. WHITE PLAINS SURVEY. April 27, 2013:

The city is planning on spending $50,000 to extend the Greenway trail from Gedney Way north to Mamaroneck Avenue and opening the Bryant Avenue preserve at the southeast corner of Bryant and Mamaroneck Avenue.

First, our survey seeks to get an understanding of how many citizens walk the greenway that exists south of Gedney Way, and second, whether citizens like the expansion.

The Bryant Preserve soon to be opened…target date July 1…as seen from Bryant Avenue looking to the Mamaroneck Avenue intersection.

Guests Affected by Norovirus at Rye Town Hilton

Posted on April 27, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR HEALTH WATCH. April 27, 2013 UPDATED 9:30 P.M. E.D.T.:

The County Health Department announced Friday the cause of an outbreak of nausea among guests attending a fund-raiser at the Rye Town Hilton last week to a norovirus. One hundred guests came down with vomiting and nausea within days of attending a benefit held for the Pelham Picture House .

Caren Halbfinger issued this statement to WPCNR from the Westchester County Board of Health:

The health department has received reports that some people have become sick after attending events last weekend at the Hilton Westchester. We are coordinating our response with both the Hilton and the organizers of these events. Hotel management and staff are being very cooperative and have notified organizers of upcoming events about these recent illnesses. We are working closely with hotel management and staff to ensure every precaution is taken to prevent illness.

We suspect it is caused by Norovirus, a stomach bug whose symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. We are reaching out to interview all those who may be affected to help determine the source of the illness and to identify any new cases. We don’t know how many are affected yet.

The health department has had inspectors on site daily this week and will continue to do so over the weekend. Inspectors are reviewing sanitary procedures throughout the hotel, as is our routine practice in these situations. Public health nurses are also reaching out to those who may be affected to help determine the source of the illness and to identify any new cases.

Noroviruses, (according to the Medical Terms dictionary) are a group of viruses that are a common cause of food poisening and acute gastroentroitis that can strike quickly with force and make a person feel very sick but which typically resolves within 2-3 days. The characteristic symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping. The diarrhea is not bloody. Fever, if present, is low-grade. Dehydration is the main complication, especially in infants and the elderly, and may need medical attention.

The clinical criteria for the diagnosis include:

an incubation period of 12-36 hours;
an illness characterized by acute onset of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and, in some cases, fever and malaise;
an illness of 12-60 hours duration.

The virus is spread primarily from one infected person to another (by the fecal-oral route). Infected kitchen workers can contaminate a salad or sandwich as they prepare it, if they have the virus on their hands. Infected fishermen have contaminated oysters as they harvested them. Norovirus infection has become a veritable “plague” on cruise ships.