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 SOUTH END TIMES. September 28, 2011 UPDATED 2:20 P.M. E.D.T. With Pictures of the Parking Plans available by pressing “READ On”:

The maximum traffic increase expected if the French American School of New York is opened on the former grounds of the former Ridgeway Country Club is 2,504, a figure based totally on expected traffic in the peak morning and afternoon hours, a FASNY spokesperson wrote today in a statement.

Geoff Thompson released this statement from the school to WPCNR:

“Previous estimates of peak hour traffic as shown in the Environmental Assessment Form were 1,170 trips. This would account for all students and staff and includes trips into the school and out of the school (for the parents and buses that would leave the students).

Under this conservative analysis, there would not be additional trips during off-peak hours.

FASNY’s consultants have updated the peak hour estimate to 1,252 trips in the peak hour, but are seeking to refine that number further with additional data from FASNY. Complete details will be provided in the Environmental Impact Statement.

Over the course of the entire day, FASNY would add approximately 2,504 trips total to Ridgeway – a road that currently carries approximately 5,000 vehicles on an average day. The total of 7,500 vehicles on Ridgeway would be only 40% of the design capacity of the road.”

(Editor’s Note: WPCNR estimates the capacity of Ridgeway to be 19,000 vehicles a day. Previously it was unclear from the Monday evening presentation whether the original figure of 1,170 trips was total peak traffic, with 1,334 additional off-peak vehicles making up the 2,504 estimated maximum increased traffic stated in the accompanying chart below. The chart was shown Monday evening in the untelevised, uninterneted, unbroadcast Common Council work session Monday evening.)

THE INCREASED TRAFFIC STORY ACCORDING TO THE FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK. Photo, the CitizeNetReporter.

The Plan as Presented Monday evening at the Common Council “Work Session.” Arrows indicate the types of buildings. Ridgeway is the road running on the right of the overview.

Exiting Vehicles depart via Hathaway Lane (road between large elementary parking lot) back onto Ridgeway. No exiting traffic will be allowed to turn North on Hathaway towards Bryant Avenue.

Cars, School Buses at Peak Hours AM & PM will be contained within the drive in entrance (“Main Entrance Driveway”) winding deep behind the site to two three main parking areas.

A CLOSER LOOK: cars wend their way in past Gymnasium/Performing arts around the Middle School(upper right of picture) (located in former Ridgeway clubhouse (not shown) across the courtyard at bottom of picture, or the Middle School located upper right.

First Parking and Dropoff area serves High School accessable from the courtyard and the Middle School.(Check overview of the Buildings below:)

Parent cars and buses bound for the Elementary School then cross Hathaway Lane, shown in the left third of the picture below to enter parking area in front of elementary school to drop off children. The parking area below is located roughly where the former golf cart storage was at the former club.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. September 28,2011:

 The general public watching next Monday evening’s Common Council meeting will have the opportunity to see the French American School of New York presentation given last Monday evening at the Common Council worksession.

According to the Senior Advisor to the Mayor, Karen Pasquale, the school will present a “shorter” performance of their 1 hour and 30 minute presentation Monday, prior to the first scopping session to gather questions and concerns of interested parties and citizens that the French American School of New York should address in their preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

The city did not televise the Monday FASNY presentation either on Government Access Channel  or on the internet in simulcast on the city website which they could have done because the work session was held in the Common Council chambers. The Mayor’s Office said it was not televised because it was a work session and work sessions traditionally are not televised.

Carl Albanese, a local videographer did tape record the Monday session and the complete FASNY presentation.

As a public service he has offered his tape of the meeting to the city for telecast in its entirety if they wish to present its extensive content to the public. He offered the tape at no charge, as a citizen public service. As of this morning, the city has not responded to Mr. Albanese’s offer, Mr. Albanese told WPCNR this morning.

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office.(EDITED) September 27, 2011:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York State has entered into agreements providing for investments valued at a total of $4.4 billion over the next five years from five leading international companies to create the next generation of computer chip technology. IBM fascilities in Westchester County at East Fishkill and Yorktown Heights in Westchester will see 900 new jobs and 2,500 positions retained as part of the program.

The five companies involved are Intel, IBM, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, TSMC and Samsung. New York State secured the investments in competition with countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The agreements mark an historic level of private investment in the nanotechnology sector in New York. Research and development facilities will be located in Albany, Canandaigua, Utica, East Fishkill and Yorktown Heights. In addition, Intel separately agreed to establish its 450mm East Coast Headquarters to support the overall project management in Albany.

“This unprecedented private investment in New York’s economy will create thousands of jobs and make the state the epicenter for the next generation of computer chip technology,” Governor Cuomo said.

“IBM, which is celebrating 100 years in New York, Intel, which is making its most significant investment in New York, as well as TSMC, Global Foundries and Samsung now recognize that the state is on its way to becoming a premier location for jobs, which is why these companies are making this major investment. In the last nine months, my administration has worked to create a more confident environment for doing business in New York, and major deals like this one prove that the state is truly open for business.”

The investment in these two efforts will result in the creation and retention of approximately 6,900 jobs. That number includes 2,500 additional high-technology positions comprising of:

• 800 at CNSE Albany NanoTech Complex


• 950 at IBM – Yorktown Heights and IBM – East Fishkill,


• 450 at SUNY Institute of Technology (SUNYIT) in Utica


• 300 at CNSE’s Smart System Technology & Commercialization Center in Canandaigua

In addition, approximately 1,500 construction jobs will be created in Albany and 400 in Utica. As a result of the investment 2,500 existing jobs in Albany, Canandaigua and East Fishkill will be retained.

No private company will receive any state funds as part of the agreement.

To support the project, New York State will invest $400 million in the SUNY College for Nanoscale and Science Engineering (CNSE) in Albany, including $100 million for energy efficiency and low cost energy allowances. The state investment in CNSE will be made over a five year period. The state investment will be directed entirely to CNSE, and all tools and equipment acquired through the investment will be owned by CSNE.

Paul Otellini, Intel Corporation President and CEO said, “The Global 450 Consortium is a critical element to moving the semiconductor industry to next generation wafer size. This new technology will reduce the cost of production, increase productivity for manufacturers and reduce our environmental footprint on a per chip basis. The involvement of the College for Nanoscale and Science Engineering and the State of New York will enable the industry to meet its goals.”

The investment in the state is made up of two projects.

 The first project, which will be led by IBM and its partners, will focus on making the next two generations of computer chips. These new chips will power advanced systems of all sizes, including, among other things computers and national security applications. This new commitment by IBM brings its total investment in chip technology in New York to more than $10 billion in the last decade.

The second project, which is a joint effort by Intel, IBM, TSMC, Global Foundries and Samsung, will focus on transforming existing 300mm technology into the new 450mm technology. The new technology will produce more than twice the number of chips processed on today’s 300 mm wafers thus lowering costs to deliver future generations of technology with greater value and lower environmental impact.

This investment will have other beneficial economic impacts in New York. The project will include a private “Made in NY” initiative to support the potential purchase of $400 million in certain tools and equipment from companies around New York State to create, attract, and retain manufacturers and suppliers across the state.

In addition, the companies will support a $15 million fund to increase the role of minority and women owned businesses. These technology developments may facilitate the possibility of building a 450mm plant in New York state. These plants are projected to cost in excess of $10 billion each.

Semiconductors are central to modern devices from computers and cell phones to automobiles and airplanes and the industry is the cornerstone of the “innovation economy.” Semiconductors are the nation’s largest export industry and generate billions of dollars in revenue. New York State’s investments in the semiconductor industry began in 1988 with the establishment of the advanced semiconductor program at SUNY Albany under the SUNY Graduate Research Initiative created by Governor Mario Cuomo and was cemented in 1993 with the establishment of the Center for Advanced Technology at SUNY Albany by Governor Mario Cuomo, which later became the basis for the College of Nanoscale Engineering.

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WPCNR EVENTS. From the Mayor’s Office. September 26, 2011:

A little bit of Italy and more comes to the campus of White Plains High School this fall with the 2nd annual Columbusb Day Festival, a fun-filled, three-day celebration held as part of the October Italian Heritage and Culture Month festivities. Organized by The White Plains Columbus Day Parade Committee Inc. in cooperation with The City of White Plains, the event promises to offer something for all ages.

“We’re very excited to do this for the community because it’s family-oriented,” said Committee Chairperson Frank Tarone. “We’re expecting lots of families, lots of grandparents with grandkids who are excited because they can all do things together,” he added.

“We also want to keep up our Italian Heritage,” remarked Committee Chairman Tarone, noting that this year’s Italian heritage theme, the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy, is a time to reflect on the country’s rich heritage. It’s a heritage that fostered the “spirit of exploration and courage that inspired Christopher Columbus’s 1492 expedition that we commemorate with the Festival.” White Plains Mayor Thomas M. Roach is set to officiate at Friday’s opening night ceremonies to officially proclaim October as Italian Heritage and Culture Month in the City,and acknowledge the many contributions Italian Americans have made to the city.

Another highlight of the Festival will be the presentation of the 2011 Miss Columbus by David bPope of the Generoso Pope Foundation. White Plains High School senior Daniela Mangano is the recipient of this year’s scholarship award made possible by the Pope Foundation, one of the event’s primary sponsors. Wells Fargo and the Journal News are additional sponsors, as are Cappelli Enterprises, Inc., Community Mutual Savings Bank and Tony Casale, Inc. among others.

A full schedule of events and performance times is listed on the event website at

www.columbusdayparade.com with pertinent information as follows:

WHEN Friday, September 30: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Saturday, October 1: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Sunday, October 2: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM

WHERE On the Campus of White Plains High School

550 North Street, White Plains, NY

Enter on the North Street Entrance. Admission and Parking are Free.

MUSIC Host DJ Ken is the MC throughout the entire Festival

Friday: Linc Band, Alfio

Saturday: Salvo Randazzo, Don Felice, Gianni (Organetto)

Sunday: Primavera

PERFORMANCES Saturday: La Piazza di Carolina, City Center Dance Troup,

NY Performing Arts Dancers, Bushido School of Karate

Sunday: WP Taiko/Sakura Drum Team, WPHS Marching Band,

The Flynn School Irish Dancers

For more information or to participate in the Festival, contact Committee Co-Chair Mario

Cermele at (914) 325-1239.

The White Plains Columbus Day Parade Committee, Inc., (WPCDPC) is a branch of the

Antonio Meucci Lodge #213, Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), in White Plains, NY. A

501(c)(3), all-volunteer organization, the WPCDPC works to preserve and promote Italian

heritage and promote education and study of the Italian language through its scholarship

programs. All proceeds of the Festival go towards its scholarship programs and help fund other

charitable endeavors. The Antonio Meucci Lodge is a subordinate Lodge of the Order Sons of

Italy in America, the oldest and largest national organization in the US of Italian American men

and women. For more information about the Lodge, visit www.antoniomeuccilodge.com.

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WPCNR  THE DEVELOPER NEWS. From The Mayor’s Office. September 26, 2011 UPDATED SEPTEMBER 27, 2011:

Mayor Tom Roach and White Plains Housing Authority Executive Director Mack Carter  announced Friday that the Housing Authority has secured a $3.5 million grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grant will come through HUD’s Capital Fund Education and Training Community (CFCF) Facilities Program and will be used by the Housing Authority to jump start the transformation of the Winbrook neighborhood in the City. The City of White Plains has also committed to contributing $1.5 million toward the cost of the project.

In a statement from Karen Pasquale, Senior Advisor to the Mayor, Wednesday, the project is explained as the first part of the first tower to be built at Winbrook:

“The Community Education Facility is planned for the area of Winbrook near the intersection of South Lexington and Quarropas. No existing structure will need to be knocked down in order to build it. The new structure, which will house the community education center on the lower floors and have residential units on the upper floors, is the first step in the revitalization of the Winbrook neighborhood. The Slater Center is not a part of this HUD grant.”

Calls have been put in to Mack Carter, Executive Director of the White Plains Housing Authority, for more details on how this decision to build a base floOr community center to start a building will affect design and marketing of the project,H mixed income residential project.

John Callahan, the Mayor’s Chief of Staff told WPCNR  Monday evening the city commitment to $1.5 Million was approved at a Common Council Special meeting several months ago when the community center was discussed. Callahan told WPCNR the life of the grant requires design within two years and completion within four years.

Specifically, the grant’s capital funding will be used for the construction of a Community Education Facility that will offer comprehensive, integrated services to help residents of public housing as well as the surrounding community achieve better educational and economic outcomes resulting in long-term economic self-sufficiency. The Winbrook Community Education Facility will provide additional and improved space for the provision of adult education, job/skills training, youth-at-risk and entrepreneurship programs, as well as community-based services through a cadre of strong partners that include City of White Plains Youth Bureau, the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Investment Board, the White Plains School District, the Business Council of Westchester, and Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Education Services.

There will be flexible meeting rooms that can also be used as classrooms. A computer lab as well as a culinary arts training space, greenhouse, gallery/exhibit space and administrative offices will be housed in the facility. Design development is expected to begin in 2012 and the building will be in operation by 2015.