Archive for October, 2011
Halloween ‘Rescheduled’ in Somers
No trick: Halloween is canceled this year in Somers. At least an Oct. 31 Halloween. Town Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy issued the decree in an email blast to residents. “Due to the continuing power outages, downed wires and downed trees the Town of Somers is rescheduling Halloween,” Murphy declared. The supervisor also said the town would assess [...]
Three Killed in White Plains Head-On Crash
Three Bronx residents were killed in a head-on collision on Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains Saturday night after an abnormally snowy October day. Public safety officials were called at approximately 11:18 p.m. on reports of a two-car crash in Mamaroneck Avenue’s northbound lane, according to a press release from Public Safety Commissioner David Chong. They [...]
MRI Over-Utilzation in Athletes … and *Us* Too! At what Cost?
Over-Testing and Over-Utilization of Healthcare Technology I have utilized my blog on multiple occasions to discuss the issue of overuse and over-utilization of technology in healthcare. In a very broad sense this has tremendous implications not only with regards to the obvious costs involved— but over-utilization and overuse will foster further overuse and over-utilization because an *abnormal* finding will frequently lead [...]
Red Cross Gives Safety Tips for Fire Prevention
The following is a press release from the American Red Cross: As extreme weather makes its way through our region today, the Red Cross is on stand-by to assist local communities in the event that humanitarian assistance is needed. As a precaution, the Red Cross urges residents to be prepared and safe. With the risk [...]
Putnam County Executive Candidates Debate
In their final debate before Election Day, the two candidates for Putnam County executive clashed over who had the necessary experience to lead the county. Republican MaryEllen Odell, 50, and Democrat Alan Schneider, 62, faced off for the final time during a debate sponsored by the Concerned Residents of Carmel and Mahopac at the Mahopac [...]
‘Snooki’ Brings Hundreds to White Plains Bookstore
Reality T.V. star Nicole Polizzi, better known as “Snooki” from “Jersey Shore,” was at the Barnes & Noble at City Center in White Plains to promote her new book, Confessions of a Guidette. Hundreds of fans, mostly teenage girls, packed the bookstore with some arriving as early as 2:30 p.m. for her 7 p.m. book [...]
Blythedale, Kohl’s Partner to Promote Healthy Eating
In an event aimed at battling Childhood Obesity, Blythedale Children’s Hospital celebrated National Food Day a week early last Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. Blythedale teamed up with Kohl’s Department Stores for the National Food Day Celebration, which looked to show kids and parents alike that a healthy lifestyle [...]
Pedestrian Killed Near County Center in White Plains
An elderly man was struck by a car and killed Tuesday evening on the northbound Bronx River Parkway at the County Center in White Plains, Westchester County Police reported. Stanley Brenner, an 81-year-old Hartsdale resident, was struck by a 2009 Saturn Vue driven by 56-year-old North Salem resident Deborah Mumford, police said. Police responded to [...]
White Plains Parking Commissioner Resigns
White Plains Parking and Recreation and Parks Commissioner Al Moroni resigned suddenly Tuesday, with no reason given for his departure. “The Mayor accepted Commissioner Moroni’s resignation yesterday,” Karen Pasquale, senior advisor to Mayor Tom Roach, said in an e-mail. “The resignation will officially take effect in 30 days. He will not be in the office [...]
Byram Hills Names New Superintendent
The Byram Hills Board of Education announced Tuesday night the appointment of Deputy Superintendent Dr. William Donohue to replace Dr. Jackie Taylor next year. Donohue is a 20-year veteran of the district, first joining as director of guidance in 1990, then becoming high school principal in 1997. He was appointed assistant superintendent–later identified as deputy superintendent–in 2008. [...]
Putnam Valley Candidates Face Off in Forum
Nearly 100 community members turned out for Monday evening’s candidate forum at Putnam Valley High School. Hosted by the Putnam Valley Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of Putnam County, the debate featured candidates vying for highway superintendent, town board, county legislator and town supervisor. Participants were allotted 20 minutes to make opening statements, [...]
Video of New Castle Candidate Forum
On Friday, Oct. 21, Examiner Editor-in-Chief Martin Wilbur joined New Castle Now Editor Christine Yeres and Chappaqua-Mount Kisco Patch Editor Tom Auchterlonie for interviews of the New Castle Town Board candidates in the upcoming election. One segment featured supervisor candidates Susan Carpenter, a Democrat, and Republican Robert Kirkwood. The second part included Democratic incumbent Councilwoman Elise Kesler Mottel, her running mate Jason [...]
Strengths-Based Parenting: Finding the Right Balance
There have been debates in past years regarding when and how much children should be praised. While schools are constantly ranking students, they have simultaneously adopted the notion that competitions are bad and every child should be praised and awarded. Parents too, often praise children to demonstrate support and to promote self-esteem. But what effect [...]
A New Dilemma for Westchester Communities: Which Came First, The Chicken or the Egg?
By Anne Corey What activity can you name that is fun, educational, inexpensive, can be done with your kids, teaches them important ideas, takes up very little space, provides local healthy food, gets rids of bug pests like ticks, contributes to compost for your garden and is part of a sustainable, green lifestyle here in [...]
White Plains Teenager, an International Chess Star, Continues to Make History
Early in his childhood, when Joshua Colas saw his dad, Guy, sitting in front of his chess board, he had little interest in the game he viewed as just for grownups. That changed when he was seven years old and went to watch his father play in the World Open Chess Tournament. “I saw a [...]
Business of the Week: Exciting Expressions
Tucked away in a small plaza located on Route 311 in Patterson lives a store that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary—where normal people can escape from their daily lives, with costumes, accessories and other gifts helping to dress up life. One of the few locally-owned gift stores in Putnam County, Exciting Expressions is filled [...]
Carmel Awards Bid for Photovoltaic Cell Installation
Carmel Town Hall will be getting a breathe of fresh air come the installation of photovoltaic cells to the building’s rooftop. This past Wednesday, the board unanimously passed a resolution to name Lighthouse Solar of New Paltz, N.Y. as the lowest responsible bidder in the installation of photovoltaic solar panels to town hall. The installation [...]
Martine Gourmet Deli
Most college graduates get their career experience working for a large firm or even a smaller company within their chosen field. Not so for Joe Sansotta, owner of Martine Gourmet Deli, located on Martine Avenue in downtown White Plains. Sansotta, who graduated from Iona College five years ago with a bachelor’s degree in business, didn’t [...]
Ball, Fox Screen Film in Peekskill
Continuing his effort in raising awareness about the affects of hydraulic fracturing, state Sen. Greg Ball joined Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Josh Fox for a screening of his film “GASLAND” at the Peekskill Neighborhood Center this past Saturday. Following a press conference outside Mount Kisco Village Hall last Monday, Ball made his second attempt in less [...]
Flower Power
At a recent tea party at my friend Margaret’s house I met Al, Manuel, Glenn and Angelo. They were discussing means of control of Chinch Bugs in their lawns while I was listening quietly. Not long after they discovered my occupation, an organic landscaper. Then I was showered with questions and requests for immediate remedy. [...]
Senior Issues Addressed at White Plains Hearing
While budget-cutting dominates the debates in the state and federal governments, many senior programs have avoided severe cutbacks, the acting director of the state Office for the Aging said on Oct. 18 in White Plains. Greg Olsen made his comments during a public hearing on the 2012-16 implementation plan for Westchester County’s use of the [...]
P’ville Teens Arrested for Anti-Semitic Calls; Clergy to Hold Sunday Forum
Two 16-year-old Pleasantville youths were arrested for making anti-Semitic phone calls to a Jewish family earlier this month. Mount Pleasant police arrested the pair of teens on Oct. 6 and charged them with aggravated harassment in the second degree, a Class E felony. The offense is being classified as a hate crime. Police did not [...]
Lowey Pushes for Obama’s Jobs Act
At a press conference in White Plains Thursday, Rep. Nita Lowey (D-Harrison) called on Congress to pass the American Jobs Act, President Obama’s proposal aimed at lowering unemployment. Lowey was joined on the steps of the White Plains Public Safety Headquarters by officials from White Plains and Yonkers, including White Plains Mayor Tom Roach. Obama’s [...]
Mahopac Resident Honors Dogs After Life
The Rainbow Bridge, a poem that has become infamous in the pet world, sets the scene of one’s pet finding eternal happiness in the afterlife. Like most pet lovers, the loss of a beloved cat or dog supplies us with a bounty of grief—a family member that doesn’t communicate through speech, but by love and [...]
Yorktown Candidates Debate Environmental Issues
The first debate of the political season was held in Yorktown on Sunday night. GreenYorktown hosted the forum at Temple Beth Am so the public could hear each candidate’s views on environmental policies and their vision for the Yorktown community. All of the candidates were against hydraulic fracturing for natural gases. They all also believed [...]
Katz Touts Funding Opportunity for Lake Improvements
Assemblyman Steve Katz announced that he has identified “outside of the box” funding opportunities for lake improvement projects and other proposals related to the municipal separate sewer stormwater systems (MS4) requirements for communities in the 99th Assembly District. Katz is encouraging use of an interest-free revolving loan program to help communities with up-front costs for [...]
Girl Scouts Kicks Off 100th Anniversary Celebration
Women and girls from throughout the Hudson Valley region gathered at Dutchess County Stadium in Wappingers Falls on Saturday. They came from White Plains to Middletown, in all shapes, sizes, color and ages. They were from all walks of life but they all had one thing in common—they were Girl Scouts. The Girl Scouts Heart [...]
Business Group Looks to Make a Difference
There are plenty of business and networking groups for professionals and service providers to choose from but the Northern Westchester Business Network has a different set of priorities than most organizations of its kind. Its 23 members, consisting of business owners from White Plains to Bedford, just don’t want their attendees and guests to hand [...]
Is it OK for my 13 Year Old to Watch Kid Shows?
Question: My daughter is a 13 year old, fairly high functioning kid with autism. She frequently watches TV shows that are well below her age, for ex, Telletubbies and Barney. We encourage her to watch more age-appropriate shows which she does mostly, but several times a week she wants to watch the other shows. I [...]
Two Women Stabbed in White Plains
Two 18-year-old White Plains women were stabbed with box-cutters Monday night during a fight at a bus stop near Mamaroneck and Martine Avenue in the city, police said. An 18-year-old Thornwood woman has been arrested, while one of the two victims remains hospitalized. Early Monday evening, Christina Hernandez was confronted by two women at the [...]
