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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From The Mayor’s Office. June 23, 2008: Mayor Joseph Delfino is pleased to announce that the City of
Ryan’s Bypass Surgery Completed. Doctor is “Pleased”
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Board of Legislators Communications. June 23, 2008: Betsy DeSoye, Director of Communications for the County Board of Legislators told WPCNR this afternoon that County Legislator Chair Bill Ryan, scheduled for bypass surgery today had gotten out of surgery and that his doctor was “pleased” with how it went. Asked how long Mr. Ryan’s convalescence would take, DeSoye said that was not clear how long it would be before Mr. Ryan returned to legislative action.
Chair of County Board of Legislators Bill Ryan at the Juneteenth Parade.
Con Ed Hikes Lectric rate 93% in 6 Months. June Juice up 56%. Supply Cost Blamed
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WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. By John F. Bailey. June 23, 2008: Con Edison reported to WPCNR last week that White Plains and area electric customers rates per kilowatt hour would increase 56.4% in customers’ June bills arriving in mailboxes shortly.
The cost per kilowatt hour in May was 18.08 cents per kilowatt hour, made up of 11.06 cents for Con Edison purchase of electricity for us, and 7.02 cents for the infrastructure delivery charge. Con Edison spokesperson Joe Petta reported that in June bills the cost of electricity would rise to 16.2 cents and the cost of delivery to 12.1 cents, totaling 28.3 cents per kilowatt hour.
58% In January. Another 58% in June for Electric Supply.
Six months ago, the December KWH charge was 8.34 cents and the delivery charge was 7.1 cents for a total of 15.4 cents. In January 2008, one month later, you paid 13.2 cents per kwh for Supply and 5.2 cents for delivery, an increase of 20% overall – but a 58% increase in the cost of electricity.
In June you will pay 16.2 cents per kwh hour for Supply and 12.1 cents for delivery, Your total charge per kilowatt hour has gone from 18.4 cents to 28.3 cents. Your charge per Kilowatt hour is up 54%.
In terms of dollars it is startling. In December, just six months ago, using 906 Kwh hours, an acquaintance in White Plains was charged $76.32 for Supply and $64.05 for $139.61. In June if that person uses the same amount, 905 hours, they will pay $256 – a $116.88 increase in dollars – an 84% increase in real dollars.
Rates up 73% in One Year
In contrast, last May 2007, when the KWH Charge was about 16.4 cents per kilowatt hour, a person we know used 1,107 KWH Hours and paid $207.79. ($183 when you take away sales tax and adjustment) Had they used 906 hours, they would have paid $148. This year they will roughly pay $256 – the electric bill in dollars has gone up 73%.
Beware the Summer Demand Facing a 96% Rate increase. 10 Cents More Per KWH
However, in June the heat comes in, and this year’s rates are going to kill the average citizen cooling their home. A person I know, used 1,504 KWH last June, about 400 more KWH than in May. The June bill last year soared to $310, $100 more than last May’s $208.
If Mr. and Mrs. White Plains do not conserve, their bill will go commensurately higher. Should that person use 1,504 KWH hours this June they will pay about $425 for the same amount of electricity (and don’t forget to add the sales tax!). That is a year to year increase of 37% in dollar outlay. Last June the cost per KWH was about 17.5 cents this year it is 28.3 cents, and increase of 61%.
The Delivery charge is the cost of “maintaining” the system, with recent delivery increases approved by the Public Service Commission.
Mr. Petta, the Con Edison spokesperson told WPCNR when asked if this was a direct result of the runup in the price of crude oil, gas and other fuels, last week, he said the increase is “a blend of long and short term contracts suppliers purchase” that Con Ed enters into to buy electricity. Asked if the kwh rates would continue to rise sharply due to the increase in the price of crude oil recently, or stablilize continuing into the fall and winter months, Petta said the company could not at this time answer that question.
Buying Homes in White Plains Today From The Man Who Makes the Mortgages
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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. John Bailey Interviews Bob Meyerson.
Asked how the
He said larger real estate firms in the
In the
He said that lowering the price on a higher-end home does not necessarily mean it will sell faster. Upper end mortgages are harder to come by. The right buyer is out there but there are fewer qualified.
The Jumbo Problem
Meyerson explained that mortgages on homes priced at $400,000 to $800,000 range are routinely sold to the secondary market while most larger banks continue to service them. However, mortgages (jumbo mortgages) over $729,000 and up are not as attractive to the secondary market as the loans sold to Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac
He said banks are not eager to make mortgages for a million to $2 million any more. He said this is a factor that keeps homes priced over a million dollars from selling quickly. He noted that a client of his had gone to contract on a property, but could not sell his present house in time for the close of his new residence. Fortunately, Meyerson said, other buyers were interested in purchasing the new property for more money, and his client was let out of the contract. Liers Loans (State Income) for Jumbo Loans, if they exist are more expensive.
Timing is Everything.
Meyerson warned a homeowner cannot expect a quick turnaround and needs to have a strategy for the transition period from the time of sale to the time of purchase. This could take many months of being homeless. He recommended selling a home first, then looking for a home to buy, and be prepared to be homeless for a number of months after you sell, living with relatives, at a hotel, or renting another home. He warned that finding a house you want first and going to contract can lead to “financial suicide” in today’s market because you may end up carrying two mortgages.
Gone are the sell-in-the-morning, buy-in-the afternoon days, Meyerson said.
He said the first-time buyer of a home has to have good credit, but better ‘good credit’ than previously. He noted that the first-time buyer needed to keep his credit card debt below 50% of the credit card maximum credit lines. Bills have to have a history of being paid promptly. He is looking for credit scores of 660. Some loans can be written as low as 580.
The DEBT Ratio: PITI
Another factor in landing a mortgage, is the Debt to Income ratio: PITI is the total of Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance. When you compare PITI to Income. the ratio should be no higher than 33%. When you add in the existing borrowers debt into the ratio Meyerson said ideally lenders want this ratio to be under 45% of total income.
First Home Seekers
Meyerson advised those seeking a first home in
He pointed out that a decent house in
Preparing for that First Buy
Meyerson said his firm Wachovia is making loans but as noted previously, credit standards are higher. He encouraged paying down debt before taking on a first mortgage, and to pay as much down on a first home as possible. He did not advise a commitment that placed too great a burden on the owner, and not to overextend themselves.
Foreclosures and White Plains
Meyerson said in his experience in
He said the financial problem occurs (foreclosure) when a borrower is in the subprime level of mortgages. Normally in a variable-rate mortgage that the homeowner can no longer afford. These loans become unaffordable when they start to adjust past the initial fixed rate period of 2 to 3 years. Many of these mortgages start out when a borrower comes to a mortgage broker and wants to purchase a home with no money down and has to finance the closing costs into the mortgage.
From day one they are 6% under water.
The borrowers are normally put into a 2 or 3 year adjustable mortgage with the instructions to fix or keep their credit scores in good shape. The borrower also hopes that home prices will continue to appreciate.
The perfect storm hits when the adjustable mortgage starts to adjust to levels the borrower can no longer afford. In today’s real estate market many home prices have dropped 10 to 30% and if the lending institution could find another mortgage for the borrower they would not have the capital to make up for the new lending values on the home.
Most people also have not heeded the credit warnings and have not kept their credit scores up to the new requirements. In the end the borrower with no equity in the home becomes a victim of foreclosure.
Meyerson does not see this as likely to happen in
White Plains Property Taxes and the Market
Asked if property taxes in White Plains were a problem for persons who own in White Plains, Meyerson offered the opinion that the city, county and school taxes were high, (about $13,000 for a median home — $700,000, WPCNR notes), but relative to other communities, taxes are not as high and that White Plains is a “stable market,” that is attractive with good schools.
Meyerson has suggested to the City of
Selling
He said that persons wanting to sell their home have to first present their homes well: sprucing up the exterior, removing “clutter decorating” from the interior, and repainting the interiors if needed, and executing repairs. (WPCNR is taking notes.)
Talking with Mr. Meyerson, it seems as if nothing has really changed in 40 years. Houses were always impossible to afford for the starting out couple.
If you have a good house to sell you can sell it. If you want to buy a home, condo or coop for the first time on a mortgage, you have to make a sacrifice: get your debt down, save money, and show good or better credit history and management. You simply have to make your numbers better to the lender. There is no shortcut to your dreams. It is hard work. Hard choices. Sacrifice.
And as far as overly attractive mortgages are concerned, Alicia Nugent’s song says, “If it sounds too good to be true. It probably is.”
Con Edison: 665 Without Power in-Hartsdale Avenue Area. Restored by 9:30 P.M.
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WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. June 22, 2008 UPDATED 10:30 P.M. EDT: A total of 629 customers are without power in the Hartsdale Avenue, Old Mamaroneck Road area, according to Con Edison spokesperson, Bob McGhee, due to a downed power wire. He estimates power will be back on at about 9:30 P.M. Power was lost to 129 homes at 7:40 P.M. and more homes had “to be taken out” in order to repair the wire.
At 9:30, WPCNR received word power had returned to the effected area. As of 10:30 P.M., Con Edison was reporting 50 to 150 customers out throughout the Westchester County area, but no power outages in White Plains. Outages can be viewed at www.conedison.com/stormcenter/
DOT Sequel to Exit 8 Atrocity is North Street Nightmare
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WPCNR BUMPER TO BUMPER. Traffic News & Comment By John F. Bailey. June 22, 2008: At a recent meeting of the Old Oak Ridge Neighborhood Association, that “Oak Ridge Boys” got to hear City Traffic Commissioner Tom Soyk and Mayor Joseph Delfino on what the future holds in store for White Plains. What they learned according a citizen present at the meeting was there’s more diabolic construction to come. The flollowing does not represent either Mr. Soyk’s nor Mayor Delfino’s views of the project. They simply showed the plans. Has the DOT got plans for us? You bet they have.
Department of Transportation plans for finishing their scorched earth twisted concrete construction at the always-fun Exit 8 interchange from Dr. DOT Demento – a gas-wasting, aggravation levitating approaching proportions of the old Bruckner Traffic Circle in The Bronx (remember?) – were showcased by Mr. Soyk and they do not look good, gasoline-mindful drivers! At lower right is the 333 Westchester Ave former Kraft Foods property. At lower center is the North Street interchange, planned to go under a new Westchester Avenue Superramp. For Southenders coming up North Street they have to cross the Expressway and take a left into White Plains to access I-287 Eastbound via the SuperRamp upper left of picture.
After all the construction is finally done on Exit 8 Westbound, traffic exiting westbound on the Cross Westchester Expressway will still cross with traffic entering the Expressway to go eastbound. You will still have 4 lanes of traffic merging into one long narrow one. Are they kidding?
Pardon me, I thought the whole point of this construction was to eliminate the X flow of traffic crossing exiting traffic. That “Playland bumper cars” situation will continue on a slightly lesser scale. Never mind that the new lowert, more slanted road levels being created on the expressway there are creating severe flooding every time it rains already.
But whenever they complete that – sometime in 2010 – if anybody can still afford to drive cars in 2010, Mr. Soyk showed the Oak Ridge “boys” what they and every other resident of the east side of White Plains what they can look forward to: perhaps five years of not being able to get on I-287 eastbound without circling into the Bloomingdale Road area. What a concept!
Gee, we thought taking out every tree around Grant Street and along the Central Westchester Parkway entrance, perching homes on the north and south sides of the Cross Westchester Expressway canyon on the edge of a cliff and creating the narrowest traffic lanes this driver has seen in sometime during the construction was enough – not to mention the flooding problems they have created by removing the trees and making the roadbed deeper. (Long sentence, hey? Try driving through it!)
But, there’s more DOT construction torture in store starting in 2010 – if the state’s money holds out.
Exit 8: X’s in picture show elimination of present Westchester Avenue. North Street is planned to continue UNDER a ramp allowing eastbound exiting I-287 traffic to continue up to the new Westchester Avenue to enter the southend of town via Bryant Avenue, it appears. Traffic exiting White Plains crosses over I-287 on Superramp that splits into two lanes Westbound, and two lanes to enter I-287 eastbound. North Street traffic going for eastbound I-287 would have to cross over I-287, make left onto the Superramp and enter it at mid upper left to enter I-287 eastbound in a series of overhead ramps to be created.
The DOT is suggesting closing Westchester Avenue east bound so if you want to get on the Cross Westchester Expressway eastbound from North Street, you have to cross over the Expressway, circle into the Westchester Avenue fork into downtown White Plains, take a left onto Bloomingdale Road and enter the flow onto to Westchester Avenue to shoo through to I-287.
The plan essentially takes all eastbound I-287 traffic from North Street and funnels into the eastbound traffic to I-287 coming out of the city downtown. Are they kidding me? If they do this, I venture to say the bottle neck of an extra lane of I-287 eastbounders will create an honking, jamming mess at the Bloomingdale Road entrances.
Bottom line – if you’re coming North on North Street, you cannot simply turn off onto Westchester Avenue and ease onto Anderson Hill Road or enter I-287 slightly ahead anymore if the DOT does this. You’re going to have to cross over I-287, make a left and circle back into White Plains to get onto the super flyover ramp that takes all the eastbound traffic out of White Plains.
See what you think.
This is an overview of the proposed construction for Phase II of the Exit 8 Interchange makeover. The parking lot of 333 Westchester Avenue is at the bottom of your picture. You will note in the bottom left of the picture, there are xxxxx’s showing the proposed closure of Westchester Avenue as it exists now. That will be fun when they do this prior to constructing this nightmare.
You will see a flyover elevated roadway leading you to Anderson Hill Road over to Purchase, being planned to the right of your picture, and you will see that the new improved Westchester Avenue leads into I-287 with 2 lanes entering for eastbound and 2 lanes for Westbound, creating a cross- pattern merge on the ramp out of White Plains. How does this improve what has existed before? This superramp flies over North Street now. Won’t traffic trying to go eastbound snarl up traffic attempting to go Westbound? Does this make sense? Won’t this create backup on North Street northbound?
Area to the Right of North Street — 333 Parking Lot is at bottom of your picture.
Not only that but the lane taking westbound traffic from the super Westchester Avenue ramp and Eastbound I-287 traffic from North Street is two lanes! Are you kidding me? There are two lanes for Westbound traffic off the Super Ramp coming up off Bloomingdale Road and two lanes of East-Westbound I-287 coming off North Street. That my friends recreates what we have now every evening in White Plains – four lanes of traffic going into one narrow merge and you will have cross flow! Eastbounders from North Street crossing in front of Westbounders from the Superramp who are trying to ramp onto I-287 westbound. At least now, if you’re going to I-287 eastbound from North Street, you avoid the Exit 8 mess altogether. With this DOT preliminary plan you go into it!
But, traffic route planning aside, what is wrong with the present setup. According to Mr. Rudikoff, the plan is to remove the traffic light jamup at North Street and Westchester Avenue, which creates a backup on the present Westchester Avenue . However this seems to be an awful lot of expensive elevated construction that will create a nightmare on the city’s eastern gateway for the next seven years.
But, it does keep the DOT engineers at their drawing boards for another seven years, doesn’t it?
Is that what they were thinking when they came up with this plan? Employment for another decade?
They certainly could not have been thinking of the people of White Plains and those who drive in White Plains.
What’s the Best Diner Hangout in White Plains?
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WPCNR MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. June 22, 2008: As food prices and restaurant prices start to rise, and when it’s late at night and you’re ready to go out, what’s a hungry teenager gonna do? You go to a diner? Preferably an economical one. So what’s the best diner for that late night snack? Tell us your favorite diner in the poll on the right!
The Corner Nook Is Gone — But White Plains Diners Serve On Where the hamburghers sizzle on an open grill night and day — what’s your favorite?
White Plains High School Awards
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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. June 22, 2008: Over 200 students received awards at the annual White Plains High School Underclass Awards
College book awards: Lorena Hoyos received the Barnard Book Award; Petergayle Patterson, Bryn Mawr College President’s Book Award; Danielle Solinski, Colgate Book Award; Max Chapnick,
In other presentations, Melissa Hidalgo received the Rensselaer Medal; Fernando Luo received the
Sonny Katz $1,000 Scholarships Awarded to WPHS -PCHS Scholar-Artists
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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. June 21, 2008: Deborah Villalba, aspiring lyrico-spinto soprano and 2008 Honor Student at White Plains High School and Michelle Altmann dancer, 2008 graduate of Port Chester High School each received the second annual $1,000 Sonny Katz Scholarships today at a brunch ceremony at The North End Restaurant in White Plains.
Last year’s Sonny Katz Scholarship honorees, Kirsten Smayda (far left) and Helen Hess (far right) of White Plains presented the awards to Ms. Deborah Villalba of WPHS 2008 , second from left, and Ms. Michelle Altmann, of Port Chester High School 2008 (second from right). “The First Lady of White Plains Theatre,” Susan Katz, center, presides.
Kirsten Smayda presents White Plains’ Deborah Villalba with her “Sonny,” as Helen Hess background observes.
Ms. Villalba, 2008 soon-to-be graduate of White Plains High thrilled the audience with an a cappella aria, Pucini’s O Mio Babbino Caro delivered with dazzling clarity and amazing grace.
Applause! Applause! Enthralled, the gathering burst into applause after Ms. Villalba’s aria.
Ms. Villalba will, from a Mercy College transfer, attend Westminster Choir College next year.
White Plains Helen Hess, right, presents Michelle Altmann of Port Chester High School with her “Sonny,” as Westco Founder, Susan Katz left, and Ms. Villalba look on. Ms. Altmann, dancing from the age of 5, concentrating on ballet and modern dance, plans a career in choreography, and will attend Goucher College in Baltimore this fall, where she will study sociology and choreography.
It was the second year of the Sonny Katz Scholarships, which were established in 2007 by Westco’s founder, Susan Katz in honor of her father, Sonny Katz, longtime city marshal of the City of White Plains and patron and promoter of the arts. Ms. Katz, introducing the ceremony said how much establishment of the scholarships meant to her father, because he had long wished to be an entertainer, and could not, and felt that the scholarships would enable young persons of today to “follow their dreams.”
Kirsten Smayda in presenting the awards told how she used her $1,000 to pay for her voice lessons this year while attending college.
Peter Katz, speaking for Westco said the Sonny Katz Scholarships are already funded for the 2009 season and are supported by contributions to Westco and Westco’s various productions throughout the year. The Scholarships each year are presented to a graduate wishing to pursue the arts as a career in the senior classes of White Plains High School and Port Chester High School, Sonny Katz’s alma mater. For information on how to nominate a Port Chester or White Plains graduate for a Sonny Katz Scholarship in 2009, contact Westco at 914-761-7462.
Legislators Laud the Arts — New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (88th District), White Plains Assemblyman Adam Bradley and daughter Fiona (89th District, and White Plains Common Councilman Glen Hockley congratulated the Scholar-Artists and Ms. Katz
Assemblyman Adam Bradley invited to address the group, said how important Westco was as a resource for the community that “could alert young people to all that is good about the arts,” and the need to keep funding Westco programs, and that is “why these scholarships are so important.”.
White Plains Councilman Glen Hockley expressed great admiration for Ms. Katz’s father, Sonny Katz, and said it was important for these scholarships to continue. Hockley lamented that in tough economic times, “the arts always seemed to be cut.”
Assemblywoman Amy Paulin said she had long been a fan of Westco Productions, with both of her daughters participating in many Westco activities. She said the theatre experiences were good for both of her daughters, giving them chances to do some “really exciting things, get inhibitions out, and get their creative juices flowing.”
And, of course, we cannot forget the moms who drove their daughters to years of lessons, recitals, performances, and always said “when are you going to practice?”
Michelle Altmann and her Mom with Susan Katz
Deborah Villalba WPHS 2008 with her Mom, and Susan Katz
The Real Deal: Should You Insure Your Public Event?
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WPCNR’S THE REAL DEAL By The Wedding Jeannie, Jeannie Uyanik, of Cap and Gown Weddings. June 21, 2008: To insure or not to insure, a common question in this day of $100,000 plus events. But even at $20,000 dollars, families and couples are spending more and more of their relative income on large affairs and with that comes the fear of losing it if the unexpected happens. Common concerns include weather related disasters, illness of an important family member or cancellation of the event for any reason.
The Wedding Jeannie
Jeannie Uyanik
Wedding Planner to the World
WPCNR Columnista
The primary question is whether or not to insure yourself against any of these things from happening. Depending on the range of insurance that you choose to buy, costs can range from $200-$1200, but the average tends to be between $400-500. A popular company from which to purchase wedding specific insurance is www.wedsafe.com.
It’s important to note that “change of heart” cancellations are NOT covered by this company or any other wedding insurance firm. There are of course exclusions as to what will be covered; pre-existing conditions being among the most common. If you are worried about the health of an elderly immediate (this word is important; clarify with each company what immediate means) family member, who has a known condition at the time of insurance purchase, this will not be covered. As with anything, read the fine print carefully.
Wed Safe makes it easy to navigate the site and determine both what the best policy for you might be, as well as the actual wording in each – there is a sample policy available right on the site. Wed Safe also offers Liability Insurance, which some locations and venues will require of the couple; especially for events at private residence. This can also be obtained directly through or as a result of the home owner’s insurance company that might be in place for a private residence already, but if you are hosting an event at a new location, or a rental property, then Liability Insurance from Wed Safe is easy and provides necessary coverage.
Wed Safe also runs www.privateeventinsurance.com, which as its home page indicates, protects against loss for anything from holiday parties and Bat Mitzvahs to family reunions and house warming events. Often, for 1% of the cost of the event (if we assume a $500 policy for a $50,000 event) families take great comfort and piece of mind from knowing that they are covered in case of an unforeseen event. In the aftermath of both 9/11 and the north east blackout in August 2003, we found that insurance, which was not remotely common then, would have been useful, but the damage to the bottom line was still inevitable. In both cases, the weddings with which we were participating went ahead as planned, but with major alternations and a great deal of sensitivity and understanding.
So, to finally put the age old question of whether to insure or not to insure to rest, it comes down to nerves. If you are a type A, control everything and have back plans for anything type of person, then event insurance is definitely the way to go because it provides priceless piece of mind at a reasonable level. Would I get insurance you might ask? Absolutely. If however you are pretty relaxed and more of the “whatever happens we will deal with it”, then keep the $400 and go to a nice dinner. Much of what happens when insurance is a necessity cannot be covered or replaced, so more important than insurance is good planning and being prepared for any thing that happens.