Watertown, Mass. (November 16, 2010) —Ken Schwartz, AICP, the corporate planning practice leader for Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB), has relocated from the firm’s Watertown, Mass. headquarters to its newest office in White Plains, N.Y. to build upon the firm’s growing planning practice in the region.

Schwartz, an award-winning NCI Charrette Planner®, brings 25 years of experience to the White Plains team, which recently joined VHB as a result of the acquisition of the well-respected planning and development firm, Saccardi & Schiff, in October 2010. VHB will provide clients throughout greater N.Y. with a deeper pool of planning talent and broader service offerings.

“I’m excited to join our talented team in White Plains as we continue to grow our planning practice in N.Y.,” said Schwartz. “Our White Plains team brings more than 30 years of experience throughout Long Island and Westchester and Fairfield counties. Their intimate knowledge of the region, combined with our integrated planning, design and engineering services, will position VHB to better serve our clients.”

The White Plains office marks VHB’s third N.Y. office. VHB also has offices in Hauppauge and Albany.
Schwartz specializes in assisting clients with comprehensive planning studies, economic revitalization programs, and creating redevelopment strategies and initiatives through the visioning processes. He has worked with dozens of cities and towns, public agencies, institutions, and private developers, to lead projects through the community process while building a shared vision and consensus for large and complex redevelopment areas.

Prior to joining Vanasse Hangen Brustlin 10 years ago, Schwartz served as the director of environmental planning and permitting for the Massachusetts Port Authority. His work has been recognized by organizations including the American Society of Landscape Architects, the American Planning Association, and most recently, Vision Long Island for his work on the Ronkonkoma Station Transit-Oriented Development Plan in Brookhaven, N.Y.

Schwartz holds a master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Policy from Tufts University and a bachelor’s degree in Geography from Clark University.

About Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Watertown, Massachusetts-based Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. is a 900-person firm that provides integrated transportation, land development and environmental services from 20 offices along the east coast. Engineering News-Record ranks VHB 82nd of the Top 500 U.S. Design Firms and among the Top 50 Transportation Firms in the Nation. CE News magazine consistently ranks VHB among the Best Civil Engineering Firms to Work For in the U.S. For more information, visit www.vhb.com.

Promising Lab Research Focuses on Chemical Compounds Found in Curry Spice, Wine and Apple Skins   Iona Chemistry Students Will Participate in Further Research  NEW ROCHELLE , NY (December 2010) Do curry spice, wine and apple skins hold the answer for finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders? The results of a laboratory research project, recently published in the Journal of Neurochemistry, show that a chemical compound derived from these natural products may be used in neutralizing the toxic effects of chemicals associated with some debilitating and life-threatening neurological diseases. The findings are the result of a four-year study undertaken by Terrence Gavin , Ph.D., a chemistry professor at Iona College and Richard M. LoPachin, Ph.D, a neurochemist and director of research in the Department of Anesthesiology at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In lab experiments it was found that the compound, called 2-ACP, completely protects nerve cells from the harmful effects of type-2 alkenes. There is growing evidence that exposure to type 2-alkenes, which are found in the smoke inhaled from cigarettes, the exhaust of automobiles and even in French fried potatoes, can increase the chances of developing Alzheimer’s and other neurological conditions. In addition, studies have shown type-2 alkenes are being produced within the nerve endings during the disease process that presumably initiates Alzheimer’s. Dr. Gavin said: “The research Dr. LoPachin and I undertook is promising because chemical compounds extracted from curry spice, red wine and apple skins, which are widely used natural products,have already been clinically demonstrated to have neuroprotective properties. This suggests it would be safe and effective to treat humans with the 2-ACP compound.” He added: “But, these molecular findings worked in laboratory cultures. We now need to confirm the effects of 2-ACP in animal studies. That will be the focus of our efforts in the coming months.” In addition, Dr. Gavin and some of his students at Iona will be looking for new compounds that will be as good or better than 2-ACP in combating the effects of type 2-alkenes. “Our goal is to have new compounds ready for testing in six months. This is a very exciting scientific exploration,” Dr. Gavin stated. Dr. Gavin has been a chemistry professor at Iona since 1982. He holds a doctoral degree in chemistry from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and attended the State University of New York at New Paltz where he earned a B.A. degree. He and his family live in New Paltz.

SCHENECTADY, NY (10/04/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York Lottery today announced the name of a White Plains Take Five player who won $38,178 in the drawing held on September 28th. The winner, Dennis D'Addario, purchased the winning ticket at the Stop & Shop at 670 North Broadway (Rt22) in North White Plains.

Lottery prizes up to $600 may be cashed at any of the Lottery's 16,000 licensed retailers statewide. Lottery prizes valued at $601 to $999,999 may be claimed at any of the Lottery's seven stand-alone Customer Service Centers located in Buffalo; Rochester; Syracuse; Schenectady; Fishkill; Manhattan; and Garden City, and within any of the Lottery's eight gaming facilities including Saratoga Gaming & Raceway; Monticello Gaming & Raceway; Tioga Downs Casino; Batavia Downs Casino; Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway; Fairgrounds Gaming & Raceway; Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack; and Vernon Downs Casino & Hotel. Prizes of $1,000,000 or more must be claimed at one of the Lottery's seven stand-alone offices listed above.

SONNY KATZ SCHOLARSHIP FUND AWARDS TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS FOR 2010 ANNOUNCED

A White Plains High School senior and a senior from Port Chester High School are recipients of the 2010 Sonny Katz Scholarship Fund Awards from the White Plains-based non-profit theater company Westco Productions. The awards are from a scholarship fund named in honor of the late Seymour “Sonny” Katz, who had been a founding member of Westco’s Board of Directors. Sonny was best known as the White Plains City Marshall for more than 35 years. He attended Port Chester High School.

Recipients of this year’s scholarship awards are Rachel Benjamin from White Plains and Taylor Quinn from Port Chester. The awards will be presented at Westco’s Annual Scholarship Awards Reception to be held this year on Sunday, June 13, 2010, at 11:00 a.m., in Westco’s rehearsal studio at the Arts Exchange Building, 31 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains.

Rachel Benjamin appeared in numerous school plays, including the White Plains High School productions of “Damn Yankees” in which she portrayed Meg, and “Guys and Dolls” in which she had the part of Adelaide. She has been active in the Brewster Theater Company, appearing in “Ravenscroft” and “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.” She attended the New York State Summer School of the Arts Theater Arts Conservatory at SUNY New Paltz. Rachel plans to major in theater in college.

Taylor Quinn plans to study music and theater in college. She has been active in the Port Chester High School Drama Club, performing such shows as “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “Cabaret,” and “Little Shop of Horrors.” She was in Pennywise Productions’ “Pippin” which was choreographed by previous Sonny Katz Scholarship Fund award recipient Sergio Marroquin. Taylor also performed in a number of the Port Chester Council for The Arts’ summer productions, including “The Wiz,” and “Grease.”

The Sonny Katz Scholarship Fund was established by Westco to benefit students who will be majoring in the performing arts in college. Westco is celebrating its 30 th season of providing quality entertainment for families and children.

For information on the scholarship fund, call Westco at (914) 761-7463. (www.westcoproductions.org).

White Plains Hospital Wellness Month Kicks Off

Mayor Adam Bradley joins WPH president Jon Shandler
and a host of staff and dignitaries in kicking off Wellness Week.