WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Westchester County Department of Health. July 28, 2008: The Westchester County Health Department reminds parents and guardians to schedule an appointment with their child’s healthcare provider now to ensure children will have the immunizations required by New York State to start school on time.

For children who have neither health insurance nor a primary care provider, the Westchester County Health Department will offer free immunizations by appointment during special back-to-school immunization clinics.

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. June 25, 2008:  The Common Council was asked last night to authorize $100,000 more in payment to Transcare ambulance services for the next year due to skyrocketing costs of diesel fuel.  Jim O’Connor of Transcare said diesel fuel three years ago cost $2.10 a gallon and this year it is up to $5.25  a gallon. The city pays the ambulance service roughly $280,000 a year for its services, said Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Daniel Jackson.  The request, which the council has not made up its mind upon, will be considering pending further information from “staff,” regarding what the cost price index would provide as opposed to actual increased costs.

The $100,000 increase would bring the contract for the next year to about $380,000, based on Mr. Jackson’s estimate of what the city pays now.

Currently, the contract calls for an increase each year based on the Cost Price Index. Neither the Mayor, nor Executive Officer could provide how that CPI percentage is defined, but they assured the council “it was in the contract.” 

WPCNR WEST SIDE STORY. June 16, 2008: City Hall reported Friday that the White Plains Kensington LLC senior assisted living complex planned for Maple Avenue adjacent to the White Plains Hospital Center Dickstein Cancer complex is expected to break ground July 2, "as soon as the parking garage is completed," according to city hall spokesperson Melissa Lopez. The parking garage is shown rising below. the assisted living complex is expected to be built in front of the garage.

White Plains Kensington LLC parking garage, approximately 700 spaces, which will be shared by White Plains  Hospital Medical Center nears completion on Maple Avenue.

WPCNR'S THE REAL DEAL By The Wedding Jeannie, Jeannie Uyanik of Cap and Gown Weddings. June 7, 2008: Given that we plan parties all the time, it’s rare when we see something completely new or totally out of the ordinary.  But today I learned you can make even the scariest events fun; I attended a Mammogram Party.  The idea sounded interesting to say the least, but it was proposed by my ObGyn, Dr. Claudia Holland (and a past client of our firm’s) and when it’s the woman who delivered your child, that’s an invitation that you don’t refuse. 

The Wedding Jeannie

Jeannie Uyanik

Wedding Planner to the World

WPCNR Columnista

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement and we will continue to work closely with SHN to support their ongoing mission to provide important services to our members and to the Westchester community,” said Mark Wagar, president and CEO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield.

“This agreement will provide Empire’s members with continued access to Westchester’s preeminent network of community hospitals. We look forward to our ongoing relationship with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield,” said Arthur A. Nizza, President and CEO of Stellaris. 

No action is required by Empire members to continue services at any Stellaris Hospital Network facility. Empire members who have additional questions should contact their member service representative at the number on their ID card.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From Abigail Adams, Director of Communications, White Plains American Red Cross. December 16, 2007: In covering the aftermath of the 208 West Post Road fire that left over 40 persons homeless, who are being housed by the city, Centro Hispano and the White Plains Red Cross, WPCNR interviewed Abigail Adams of the Red Cross. In view, she said, of the number of persons who could produce no identity because they left the home so quickly, she suggests every homeowner or apartment dweller create a Go Kit in case they have to leave their home in a hurry.

What is a Go Bag? Ms. Adams expains: 

You asked about a Go Bag and what should go in it .  A Go Bag should be readily accessible should you have to leave your home quickly.  It should be easy to carry , nothing heavy so you are able to move quickly unencumbered.

WPCNR THE DUMP TODAY. By John F. Bailey. July 2, 2007: For allowing TEC contamination to linger in the City Dump for 9 years as of this Friday, the City of White Plains was in line for a civil penalty of $316 Million payable to the state.  However, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation allowed the city to sign a consent order June 8 limiting the fine to $10,000.

THE CITY DUMP TODAY: A flatter, cleaner place. Who Knows What Lurks Beneath its benign surface? DEC will be supervising the city's efforts to quanitify the TEC contamination that exists. Remediation is called for in the Consent Order, but that has not been decided.

In the coming weeks, according to Department of Public Works Commissioner, Joseph Nicoletti, the city will be meeting with the DEC to implement the final testing specifications on the City Dump Site, to be conducted to prepare a Final Investigation Report that, according to Wendy Rosenbach, Regional Citizen Participation Specialist for the DEC, is due to be submitted December 1. At that time, determination will be made if the extent of the contamination needs remediation or is safe to allow to remain. The Consent Order by its language strongly suggests the DEC expects some sort of remediation to be required.

WPCNR THE DUMP REPORT. By John F. Bailey. June 18, 2007 UPDATED 6 PM E.D.T.: Fourteen months after the Department of Environmental Conservation ordered the White Plains City Dump composting operation capped and closed, due to TriEthylene Chloride contamination over 35 years, there is no timetable for a decision on when and if the city is going to have to remediate the soil and TEC contamination existing there, according to a DEC spokesperson.

The spokesperson confirmed this afternoon that the Consent Order with the City of White Plains on the total amount of fine the city owes the state had not been finalized, but that it will be soon. They said the DEC will be present when sediment samples are collected from the Mamaroneck River. The spokesperson advised that they expected the testing to be completed by the early part of the summer.

The  former compost operation beyond the baseball field at Our Lady of Sorrows in May, 2006, since removed.  The DEC after 35 years of knowing the TEC contamination existed there is orchestrating a series of tests by the City of White Plains as we write, to determine the extent of contamination that the agency has known of for 35 years. WPCNR Photo Archive.

WPCNR General Hospital. May 14, 2007: White Plains Hospital Center ceremonially broke ground for a new five-story expansion of their Emergency Department  and new services to be opened in autumn, 2009, in an effort to serve the surge of 50,000 patients  a year, now  being treated by an Emergency Department designed to handle 30,000 annually. The new $9.5 Million expansion will increase patient capacity to 60,000 patients a year, to the ability to serve 38 patients at any given time, mostly in private rooms with express-tracked triage procedures to cut waiting times, and separate areas for serious injuries and conditions, and a special emergency care area for children.

As a precaution, boaters and people who use the water for recreational purposes should avoid doing so this weekend.  An advisory is being issued to marinas located on the Hudson River as well as County and local police departments.        

It is estimated that the flow rate is approximately four million gallons per day and that this break may result in the release of two to three million gallons of sewage.  

WPCNR Environmental Epitaph. From Westchester County Department of Communications. March 12, 2007:  Westchester County has a new section on its website to focus attention on what people, governments and businesses can do to decrease greenhouse gases that cause global warming.

The new web pages are part of County Executive Andy Spano’s broad initiative, announced in October, to produce a countywide action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development in Westchester. Noting that the county has a long history of effective grassroots advocacy on the environment, Spano appointed the Climate Protection: Westchester Global Warming Task Force, which has begun work to develop this plan.

WPCNR PULSE. From White Plains Hospital Center. December 30, 2006 UPDATED 8:30 PM EST: Citizens holding Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield health care coverage will be accepted  at White Plains Hospital Center, Lawrence Hospital (Bronxville), Northern Westchester Hospital (Mount Kisco) and Phelps Memorial Hospital (Sleepy Hollow) Monday, ending their fears their Empire health coverage may not be accepted due to contract expiration.  Stellaris Hospital Network announced early Saturday afternoon they have reached agreement with Empire effective January 1.

In a statement, the Stellaris Network said, "We are pleased that the successful outcome (of Empire negotiations) is one which is in the best interest of all concerned. We thank you for your continued support and recognition of the value of Stellaris Hospitals to the citizens of Westchester that we take pride in serving."

In a news release this evening, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield stated:

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement and we will continue to work closely with SHN to support their ongoing mission to provide important services to our members and to the Westchester community,” said Mark Wagar, President, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield.

“This agreement will provide Empire’s members with continued access to Westchester’s preeminent network of community hospitals. We look forward to our ongoing relationship with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield,” said Arthur A. Nizza, President and CEO of Stellaris. 

No action is required by Empire members to continue services at any Stellaris Hospital Network hospital facility. Empire members who have additional questions should contact their member service representative at the number on their ID card.