The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Inside Press

“Love Your Hair, Show You Care” Blow-Dry Fundraising Event to benefit Sunrise Day Camp

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Sunrise girls 2013On Monday, January 27th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a “blow-dry” fundraising event with all the proceeds to benefit Sunrise Day Camp at Pearl River will take place at Salon O, a high end salon in Greenwich, CT.

Sunrise Day Camp, located in Pearl River, NY, is a full summer day camp dedicated to children with cancer and their siblings and attendance at the camp is free of charge.   Located on 95 beautiful wooded acres in the Henry Kaufman Campgrounds in Pearl River, NY, Sunrise Day Camp at Pearl River and its partner camp, Sunrise Day Camp Long Island, located in Wheatley Heights, are the only full summer camps in the country dedicated to children with cancer.

“Love your hair, Show you care” captures the sentiments of the staff and owners of Salon O; ten of Salon O’s top hair stylists have dedicated their day off in order to ensure the success of this event.  And to make you feel truly pampered, Crush Wine Bar will be providing delicious hor d’oeuvres and beverages.

For more information about this event and to make an appointment contact Salon O at (203) 531-3000 or www.salono.net.   Space is limited so book your appointment as soon as possible and bring a friend!  Blow-dry appointments are $100 and only cash or checks will be accepted.

Sunrise Day Camp at Pearl River is a program of the Rosenthal JCC in collaboration with the Barry and Florence Friedberg JCC.   For more information about or to make a donation to Sunrise Day Camp at Pearl River please visit www.rosenthaljcc.org/sunrise or www.sunrisedaycamp.org.  Contact Alison Rubin at arubin@rosenthaljcc.org, 914-741-0333 x23 or Bonnie Gould at bgould@friedbergjcc.org or 516-634-4143.

ABOUT SUNRISE DAY CAMP AT PEARL RIVER

Sunrise Day Camp is the only full summer dedicated day camp in the nation for children with cancer and their siblings and is offered free of charge.   As a day camp, Sunrise safely meets our children’s needs for fun, friendship and adventure, while allowing them to enjoy the comforts and security of their own homes at night. It is open on a non-sectarian basis to all children ages 3 1/2 to 16 years who are coping with any type of cancer at any stage, provided their doctors clear them to participate. Siblings are also welcome to attend. Sunrise Day Camp at Pearl River serves children from Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester County, Southern Connecticut, and Northern New Jersey.

 

ABOUT THE ROSENTHAL JCC

The Rosenthal JCC is a place of belonging, caring and sharing – inspiring vibrant Jewish and community spirit, nurturing individual potential, respecting diversity and celebrating life. Across Northern Westchester, our exceptional social, recreational, educational and cultural programs and services promote experiential learning, teamwork, artistic and intellectual exploration, the love of Jewish tradition and Israel, and pure fun – while building enduring friendships and support networks. Programs include early childhood, summer camps, after-school programs, sport leagues, cultural events, Jewish learning opportunities, and services for special needs. The Rosenthal JCC is a proud beneficiary agency of the UJA-Federation of New York.

 

 

 

 

 

No Group Hug Yet, but Business Commences Smoothly with new Team Members

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town hall meetingBy Eileen Gallagher

A palpable excitement permeated Town Hall last evening, as the new board gathered for its first meeting of 2014. Supervisor Rob Greenstein and new board members Lisa Katz–appointed Deputy Supervisor by Greenstein–and Adam Brodsky joined returning members Elise Mottel and Jason Chapin in socializing with several dozen members of the New Castle community. Coffee, cookies and treats–either donated or homemade–were available for all to enjoy. New Year greetings were exchanged, and town officials and visitors were abuzz in conversation.

The evening had just begun.

Rules were loosened a bit as the new board felt its way around a meeting that was anything but typical. Supervisor Greenstein set the tone as he good-naturedly confessed that with three new persons serving on a town board for the first time, getting the hang of the meetings and learning the ropes are to be expected. When asked by one resident in the audience about the protocol for asking questions, he invited her to come right up and ask. Community participation, brainstorming, feeling welcomed, and being heard were key phrases heard and spoken during the evening.

Board member Mottel read a statement at the outset, stressing both her and Chapin’s intent to continue to be active participants on the board, striving to improve the town and serve the residents of New Castle. However, Chapin also expressed disappointment with the new team for making decisions regarding various town hall appointments without consulting the remaining two…a statement which was later rebutted by the new Supervisor as “a difference in communication methods.” Greenstein explained that he used email to announce the appointments; Mottel pointedly reminded that some communications remained more desirable in more traditional, in person forums. That being said, both she and Chapin also strongly emphasized that they would work very hard with the new members of the board to meet the needs of the town.

Agenda items were dealt with in a bullet point fashion, with Mottel and Chapin abstaining from voting on the six month appointments of Jill Shapiro as town administrator and Mary Deems as town clerk, among others. Items such as water fees, mileage rates, and bank accounts were brought to a vote one by one.

Just as the audience was lulled into a sense of the ordinary, however, a hot button issue arose. Bob Kirkwood was announced as the newest and fifth planning board member. In a move just as bold, he was announced as the Planning Board’s Chair. “Just as the town board is excited to start, so are other people,” said Greenstein, adding that the seat has been vacant for too long.

Greenstein also raised the appointment of a third town prosecutor, Stuart Miller, who will round out the team of two who were formerly in place. Having three prosecutors will help the town collect fines more effectively, and will not cost more than having two due to their agreement to split the current pay three ways, explained Greenstein. “When you have people willing to help the town, you want to put them to work” he went on to say.

Update on Code Red Alerts

Tweaks are being made to the town’s alert system, as Code Red capabilities are expecting upgrades. In addition to the police department’s Nixle alerts, Code Red alerts are the town’s vehicle for keeping residents informed in case of emergency. (Just last week during winter storm Hercules, Code Red was utilized twice regarding the hazardous road conditions.)

Beginning in the next couple of weeks, subscribers to the system can specify which alerts are sent and to which devices they are received (ie smart phone, e-mail, etc). Also, town officials can now tailor alerts to certain locations;  just recently, in fact, they notified only a few homeowners near whose homes there were water main breaks from the extreme cold.

Town Hall Communications Update

For those who have been reluctant to navigate the town’s website, residents might be curious about plans to make it more user friendly, with the option to have notifications sent to users as information is posted.

In a nod to those not on Facebook, the board spoke of using the website to access meeting minutes, contact appropriate officials to resolve issues, print forms, get road repair updates, etc.

As Greenstein stated, “Facebook and Chappaqua Moms [a group on Facebook] are tremendous resources, but you shouldn’t have to make a complaint on there, you should be able to get in touch with the appropriate department to get resolution of an issue.”

The meeting’s mildly contentious opening was bookended with a joking suggestion by Adam Brodsky for a group hug at its close–and the promise of better things to come. Stay tuned.

Eileen Gallagher, a Chappaqua resident for more than ten years, and whose involvement as Westorchard PTA chair led to an avid interest in town and local matters, will be reporting for Inside Chappaqua Magazine on town government.

 

Frigid Temps/Black Ice Yield Spike in ER Visits

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The combination of snow, rain and plummeting temperatures can create a nightmarish scenario for anyone walking, even if it is just a few feet. A simple walk to your car or along a sidewalk where there is “Black Ice” can result in serious problems including sprains, fractures, and brain injury.

White Plains Hospital, for example, experienced a roughly 50 percent spike in Emergency Room visits on Sunday that can be attributed to the yo-yo-like temperatures. In one hour, in particular, 41 patients were registered for treatment in the ER. Because temperatures are expected to free-fall today, Hospital staff members are expecting another busy evening.

In adults ages 65 and older these types of injuries can be serious: One out of three adults falls each year and they are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control. There were 2.3 million nonfatal injuries in 2010 that resulted in more than 662,000 hospitalizations and cost $30 billion in treatment. Common injuries include fractures of the hip, spine, arm, leg, ankle and hand while more serious spills can even cause traumatic brain injuries.

Info via White Plains Hospital and Dr. Erik Larsen, Director of Emergency Medicine.

Cuomo Declares State Wide Emergency; Urges Caution

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snowstormGovernor Andrew M. Cuomo today declared a statewide state of emergency as a major winter storm has already started to bring heavy snow, sub-zero temperatures and high winds across New York State. A state of emergency mobilizes resources to local governments that otherwise are restricted to state use only and allows the Governor to suspend laws and regulations that would impede rapid response.

The Governor urged New Yorkers to avoid traveling and stay inside their homes until the worst of the storm has passed.

“As this winter storm unfolds, bringing heavy snow and high winds to many parts of the state, I strongly urge all New Yorkers to exercise caution, avoid travel, and stay indoors,” Governor Cuomo said. “To ensure an effective and rapid response to this winter storm, I am declaring a statewide state of emergency, so resources can get to communities where they are needed as quickly as possible.”

Click here to view a copy of the Governor’s Executive Order. Click here to listen to audio from the Governor’s latest winter storm briefing conference call.

Steps taken to ensure readiness include:

Roads and Bridges
The following actions will allow plow operations on critical roadways to be maintained overnight while ensuring driver safety:

· Vehicular traffic will be banned on the following roads beginning at midnight tonight with an anticipated reopening at 5a.m. dependent upon weather conditions: Interstate 84 from the Pennsylvania state line to the Connecticut state line; Interstate 87 from exit 24 in Albany to the New York City border and the Long Island Expressway in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The ban will be enforced with a combination of entrance closures and police enforcement. Violators of the ban will be subject to a Class B misdemeanor.
· Interstate 84 from the Pennsylvania state line to the Connecticut state line will be closed to commercial truck traffic due to the winter weather conditions beginning at 5 p.m. All commercial vehicles including large trucks (over 26,000 pounds GCWR/GVWR), tractors, tractor trailers and buses will not be permitted on the 70-mile stretch of highway. Interstate 84 will be closed to all traffic beginning at midnight. The ban will remain in effect until further notice.
· Motorists using bridges should allow extra travel time and operate at reduced speeds due to wet roadways. As the storm intensifies, high winds and white out conditions may result in intermittent bridge or ramp closures. Certain vehicles, including motorcycles, tractor trailers, step vans, mini buses, trucks with open backs, cars pulling trailers, motorhomes, and vehicles carrying plate glass, may be temporarily barred from using crossings due to high winds and wet roadways.
· A 35 mph speed limit is in effect on the Tappan Zee Bridge.
· There are approximately 470,000 tons of salt on hand across the state to pre-treat roads as precipitation begins.
· All Thruway and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) maintenance headquarters will be fully staffed around the clock for the duration of the storm.
· The contractor building the New NY Bridge, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) will suspend all construction work on Friday due to the impending storm. TZC is currently securing all marine vessels at the project site. Crane booms and other equipment are being tied down, double checked and positioned to avoid any potential damage. TZC will maintain a small crew on site overnight to continuously monitor conditions and respond immediately to any problems.


The New York State Department of Transportation and New York State Thruway Authority have plows available statewide to clear snow and treat roads with salt and are sending additional plows to assist with snow operations in Long Island. NYSDOT crews in will be out before the storm pre-treating the roads with salt to help slow ice and snow buildup. In addition, NYSDOT has private contractors on standby with additional equipment and personnel to be deployed as necessary.

Public Transportation

· Trains will be parked on underground express tracks to keep them safe from the weather, which may curtail some express service on subways.
· The MTA advises customers that cold temperatures and blowing snow may require suspension of some portions of the region’s bus and commuter train operations, in order to protect customers and employees. Customers should avoid non-essential travel and should check service status at mta.info or calling 511 before beginning journeys.
· The MTA has prepped and deployed its fleet of snow- and ice-busting equipment to keep outdoor tracks, switches and the electrified third rail clear of snow and ice. The subway system has almost 220 miles of outdoor track, and vulnerable outdoor areas include the A train in the Rockaways, the N, B and Q trains in Brooklyn and the 5 line in the Bronx.
· Almost 500 people have been deployed to spread salt and clear snow and ice from subway stairways and platforms tonight, with 840 on the overnight tour.
· Personnel have been deployed to help keep bus stops clear of ice and snow. Employees and equipment have been strategically placed to respond to any problems buses may encounter on the road. Special attention is paid to hilly routes which could pose problems. All buses will have chains installed by 7 p.m. this evening, and most articulated buses will be replaced with standard buses, which are easier to maneuver in snow and ice.
· NYCT Buses will have 2,900 buses equipped with tire chains tonight, along with 25 snow-fighting trucks and 10 two trucks.
· MTA Bridges and Tunnels has nearly 100 snow-fighting vehicles staffed and ready and more than 7,000 tons of snow-melt available.
· Subways have six de-icers crewed and operating in rail yards.
· Long Island Rail Road has 16 large pieces of snow removal equipment on the rails, including a large spreader-ditcher known as “Darth Vader.” Metro-North Railroad has five cold air blowers and three snow jets – jet engines mounted on rail cars – to clear snow.
· The LIRR may suspend service for the sake of customers and personnel if snow accumulations reach between 10-13 inches. Crews will be out in force to clear tracks and the third rail used to power electric trains.
· LIRR may also run on modified schedule on Friday depending on overnight conditions.
· LIRR waiting rooms will remain open overnight and through the weekend to give customers shelter as they wait for trains.
· The predicted severity of the winter storm will likely require Metro-North to change its scheduled service. As the evening progresses, train service may be reduced or suspended, depending upon weather conditions, to prevent trains from becoming stranded during the storm. Details will be posted at mta.info and sent to MTA customers via email, text message and Twitter.
· The best way to stay informed about railroad, subway and bus status is to subscribe to up-to-the-minute service alerts right from the MTA. Sign up at mymtaalerts.com for email or text messages.
· Several major long-haul bus carriers will cease operations from the Port Authority Bus Terminal to points north of New York City. Travelers are strongly urged to check with their bus carriers before heading to the terminal this evening and tomorrow.
· PATH service is operating normally.


Power

· The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has extended its call center helpline hours beginning today, January 2 until 7:30 p.m., and continuing from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friday, January 3, and Saturday, January 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., if needed, to assist consumers in storm preparation and response efforts. The helpline number is 1-800-342-3377.
· PSC staff will continue to monitor the utilities’ efforts throughout the storm and during the restoration period.
· The electric utilities are prepared to respond to power disruptions throughout the event. In total, approximately 3,800 field workers are available to respond statewide. Additional crews are also available through mutual assistance, if needed.


Airports

· The four New York City airports are open, but airlines are operating on a significantly reduced schedule, with more than 412 flights cancelled as of mid-afternoon. Crews are applying anti-icing chemicals to runways and taxiways to keep them free of ice. In the event that some travelers become stranded, airport personnel are preparing cots, blankets and other essentials to assist customers. All air travelers should check with their carriers before traveling to the airport.


Public Safety

· All specialty vehicles in the State Police’s fleet including ATV’s, snowmobiles and four wheel drive vehicles have been prepared for emergency response use. All emergency power and communications equipment has been tested.
· State Police troopers normally assigned to Traffic Incident Management and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement troopers have been re-assigned to patrol duties for this storm.
· State Police will provide staff to any county emergency operations centers that may be activated to help coordinate responses with local agencies.
· The Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services has staff in Emergency Operation Centers to coordinate state and county responses in affected areas.


The National Weather Service has issued the following information based on the combined winter storms:

· Nassau and Suffolk Counties: a Blizzard Warning is in effect from Thursday at 6:00p.m. until Friday at 1:00p.m. Total snowfall accumulations of 6-10 inches are forecast. Sustained winds of 25 to 35mph with gusts to 45 mph are forecast.
· Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond Counties: a Winter Storm Warning in effect from Thursday at 6:00p.m. until Friday at 1:00p.m. Total snowfall accumulations of 6 to 8 inches are forecast. Sustained winds of 15 to 25mph with gusts to 35 mph are forecast.
· Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster and Westchester Counties: a Winter Storm Warning is also in effect from Thursday at 4:00a.m. until Friday at 10:00a.m. Total snowfall accumulations of 8 to 12 inches are forecast. Sustained winds of 10 to 15mph with gusts to 25mph are expected.
· Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Herkimer, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington Counties: a Winter Storm Warning in effect from tonight at 10:00p.m. until Friday at 10:00a.m. Total snowfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are forecast. Sustained winds of 10 to 15mph with gusts to 25mph are expected.
· Jefferson and Lewis Counties: a Wind Chill Warning has been issued until 12:00 p.m. on January 3rd. Winds are expected to be 10 to 20 mph. Wind chill temperatures are expected to be as low as 25 below zero tonight and as low as 35 below zero Thursday night.
· Oswego County: a Winter Storm Warning which is in effect until Friday at 10:00a.m. Total snowfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are forecast.
· Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming Counties: a Winter Storm Warning has been issued until January 3rd at 10:00 a.m. Total snowfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are forecast.

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Bill Requires Complaint Form at New York’s PCS

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             Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Westchester) announced that his bill (A.5556), which would help ensure that customers are better able to formally complain about power outages, has been signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo (Chapter 521 of 2013). This legislation would for the first time require that the Public Service Commission include a proper complaint form on its website, and explicitly allow the duration of a power outage to be a basis for filing a complaint with the Commission.

“I am very pleased for Westchester families that Governor Cuomo signed this important legislation,” said Assemblyman Buchwald. “Superstorm Sandy devastated our infrastructure, caused power outages throughout Westchester, and exposed a serious problem with the process of restoring utilities following a natural disaster. This legislation will help cut down on the length of service disruptions and better prepare us for future disasters.”

The Public Service Commission oversees New York’s utility companies, and by tracking complaints regarding utility response times, the Commission can better work to address reoccurring problems and improve communication, Assemblyman Buchwald noted.

Earlier this year in January, Assemblyman Buchwald testified at a hearing in Westchester of Governor Cuomo’s Moreland Commission on Utility Storm Preparation and Response. Buchwald recommended this legislation to improve oversight and communications between utility companies and costumers.

This bipartisan legislation was sponsored in the State Senate by Senator Jack Martins (R-Mineola), who represents a Long Island constituency that was also significantly impacted by Superstorm Sandy.

“The loss of gas and power is more than an inconvenience; it’s a stressful situation that can have potentially life threatening consequences, especially when it’s for an extended period of time,” said Senator Martins. “The need for this legislation is even more important during the winter months when families need to keep their homes heated to stay warm. On behalf of Long Island and Westchester families, I want to thank Assemblyman Buchwald for working alongside me to help make this bill become law.”