On Tuesday evening many White Plains residents came out for the “27th Annual National Night Out,” held as an “open house and public safety fair” outside the White Plains Public Safety Department building on South Lexington Avenue. There was live music, free popcorn and snacks, fun rides for kids, tours of public safety vehicles, public safety instruction and lots of information and some free items for people to take away.
National Night Out is observed in communities across America to promote awareness, safety and neighborhood unity. National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in the fight to build safer cities.  

 

 

David Chong commissioner of public safety Ann Mc Mahon Fitzsimons deputy police chief

Photo credit: Mary Ann Balco Berry

Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (D-Mamaroneck), chair of the Senate Education Committee, today, Aug. 3, expressed confidence that the sweeping education reforms she sponsored in the Senate have not only ensured New York’s inclusion as a finalist for federal Race to the Top funding, but will also make the state a strong contender in the final phase of the competition.  At stake is up to $700 million in federal education dollars.

 

Race to the Top (RTTT) is a $4.35 billion incentive program developed by the United States Department of Education to spur progressive reforms in state and local public school education.  Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia applied in the second round of RTTT.  In addition to New York, the finalists are:  Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Carolina.

 

In naming New York a finalist, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan saluted parents, educators, private sector leaders and elected officials for leading a “quiet revolution” of reform.  Indeed, it was the willingness of various stakeholders to compromise on critical issues that allowed New York to reach consensus on the sweeping reforms that were enacted.  Working closely with the State Education Commissioner and the Board of Regents, Senator Oppenheimer was instrumental in forging common ground between teachers unions, charter school advocates and other key stakeholders.  The absence of these reforms was a major factor in New York’s failure to win funding in the first round of the RTTT competition, which took place earlier this year.  

 

New York will now send a team to Washington, D.C. to make the state’s finalist presentation during the week of August 9^th.  This presentation will allow New York to clarify the materials provided with its application and to answer questions from the federal reviewers.  Winners of the competition will be announced in September.

 

Reflecting on Race to the Top, Senator Oppenheimer stated that while New York is “in it to win it,” the bold reforms already enacted “will have a transformational impact on our schools that will last long after the competition ends.  By adopting rigorous teacher evaluation standards, new rules for the financial oversight and expansion of charter schools and a new system for tracking individual student performance over time, we have put in place a framework that will spur innovation in education and prepare our students to compete in the global economy.”

 

“The critical objective is not simply a race to be won or lost, but an ongoing pursuit of the best practices that will convey the knowledge and skills our students need to succeed in life.  On that score, we are well on our way to victory.”    

 

While no mosquito pools have yet tested positive for West Nile virus in Westchester, the virus has been active already in mosquitoes this year in neighboring counties. With that in mind, the Westchester County Department of Health is reminding residents to protect themselves and their homes from mosquitoes.

 Mosquitoes have tested positive for the virus in Rockland County, and in Nassau, Suffolk and New York City. Nassau County also has reported one human case.  Given Westchester County’s proximity to these areas and the rainfall we have had lately, residents are advised to remove standing water to discourage breeding by mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus and to take personal protective measures such as using appropriate insect repellants.

The Westchester County Department of Health prepared for the summer mosquito season by applying larvicide briquettes to catch basins throughout the County in an effort to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as the West Nile virus.  Residents should do their part, too, by taking personal protection measures and removing standing water where mosquitoes can breed.

To help eliminate mosquito breeding grounds where you live:

·       Get rid of all water-holding containers, especially old tires, cans, buckets, drums, wheelbarrows and bottles.

·       Cover outdoor trash containers to keep rainwater from accumulating inside.

·       Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are left outdoors.

·       Clean roof gutters and remove standing water from flat roofs.

·       Drain water in birdbaths, plant pots and drip trays twice a week.

·       Sweep driveways after it rains so that they are free of puddles. 

To reduce your risk of mosquito bites:

·       Avoid being outdoors in places and during times where and when mosquitoes are active and feeding.

·       Use insect repellents with no more than 30% DEET, but use them sparingly and with care.

o      Select the lowest concentration effective for the amount of time spent outdoors.

o      Products with concentrations around 10% are effective for periods of approximately two hours.

o      A concentration of 24% has been shown to provide an average of five hours of protection. DEET should not be applied more than once a day.

o      Products containing DEET are not recommended for use on children under 2 months of age. Carefully read and follow directions on the container and wash treated skin when mosquito exposure has ended.

• Wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks when outdoors in areas and at times where and when mosquitoes are active.
• Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.
• Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes. 

For more information on the department’s larviciding and West Nile virus prevention activities, call the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000 or visit www.westchestergov.com/health.