Eastchester REVIEW THE
April 26, 2019 | Vol. 7, Number 17 | www.eastchesterreview.com
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County Health Department offers more free measles vaccines With the largest measles outbreak in the U.S. underway since 2000, Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler urged unvaccinated children who will be attending summer camp, along with camp counselors, staff and Westchester residents to register for a free MMR vaccine clinic, offered by the county Department of Health. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella, and is both very safe and effective. To reserve a spot to get a free MMR vaccine, go to health. ny.gov/gotoclinic/60. The MMR vaccination clinics are as follows: • Tuesday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 134 Court St., White Plains • Tuesday, May 14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 134 Court St., White Plains In addition to attending one of the Health Department’s vaccination clinics, the MMR vaccine is available through private health-
care providers and is covered by most insurers. Residents should call their health care provider as soon as possible to make arrangements to be vaccinated. “While I strongly encourage everyone to get fully vaccinated, I especially want to appeal to anyone working or attending a camp this summer to do so,” Amler said. “Lack of immunity can keep kids home from camp and camp staff home from work for 21 days if exposed to measles. Measles is highly contagious. People can spread measles before they even know they are sick. People without immunity can catch measles just by being in a room for up to two hours after a person with measles has left. Without immunity, nine out of 10 people who are exposed will become infected. If exposed and not immune, campers will miss out on summer fun while being isolated at home for three weeks.” Measles is a highly contagious
virus that causes fever, rash, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Measles spreads from person to person by coughing or sneezing. Tiny white spots may appear in the mouth and a rash may appear on the body two to four days after symptoms begin. Without knowing they are sick, an infected person can spread measles to others up to four days before the rash appears, and for up to four days afterwards. Complications from measles are common and can include hearing loss, pneumonia, swelling of the brain and death. About one in four people who get measles will be hospitalized. Those who get measles are also at risk for Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a very rare, but fatal disease of the central nervous system that results from a measles virus infection acquired earlier in life. SSPE generally develops 7 to 10 years after a person has measles, even though the person seems to
have fully recovered from the illness. Measles can also be more severe in young infants, pregnant women and people with a weak immune system. Anyone who believes they may have been exposed should contact their healthcare provider. The Health Department vaccinated 92 people at three MMR clinics held earlier in April. The County Health Department arranged these clinics, after publicly urging timely MMR vaccination, after eight unvaccinated children in northern Westchester were diagnosed with measles. The children do not attend public schools or daycare programs. Dr. Amler cautioned anyone who thinks they have measles to call their doctor and report their symptoms. They should not go to a health care facility unannounced, to avoid spreading measles to others. For more information, call the NYS Measles Hotline at 1-888-364-4837. (Submitted)
NPC highlights school board candidates The Bronxville Committee for the Non-Partisan Nomination and Election of School Trustees, NPC, has chosen to endorse three nominees, Jack Bierwirth, Tom Curran and Arleen Thomas, as its candidates to fill three vacant seats for the Bronxville Board of Education. Each of the nominees is currently a school board trustee and is seeking re-election to the position. The NPC is very enthusiastic about the candidates and the skills and abilities they bring to the School Board. The annual School Budget Vote and School Board Trustee Election will be held on Tuesday, May 14. To give the Bronxville community the opportunity to speak with the nominees, the NPC will host a special reception on Tuesday, May 8, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Bronxville Field Club. All Bronxville residents are welcome and urged to attend this informal gathering at which the three nominees will be available to answer questions from the community. We hope that community members will take advantage of this opportunity. Jack Bierwirth Jack Bierwirth has brought his lifelong experience as a teacher, district administrator and superintendent to his role as school board trustee. Now retired, Bierwirth is serving the second of two oneyear terms as a “Distinguished Educator” at the request of the New York State Commissioner of Education to help the Hempstead School District. From teaching sixth grade in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to district administrator in Hempstead and Port Washington, Bierwirth’s extensive education experience includes being a superintendent in Freeport; Sachem; Portland, Oregon; and Herricks (Long Island). During his career, he has served on numerous statewide boards and commissions predominantly in the areas of student assessment
and teacher licensure/training and evaluation. These associations have included the New York State Education Department, the New York State Council of School Superintendents, and the New York State Board of Regents Distinguished Educator Program. In addition to his service on the Bronxville school board for the last three years, Bierwirth has served in a variety of capacities in the not-for-profit arena. Currently, he serves on the board of The Bronxville Historical Conservancy. He has been a board member of the Bronxville Adult School and Cradle of Aviation (Long Island). Bierwirth and his wife, Jane, have been residents of Bronxville since 1998. They have three adult children, two of whom attended The Bronxville School. Bierwirth attended Yale, majoring in history. He received his doctorate of education from UMass Amherst. Tom Curran Tom Curran’s vast career in law has been in both the public and private realms. He served as assistant district attorney under Robert M. Morgenthau, the district attorney of New York County, where he experienced all aspects of investigation and trial while successfully prosecuting hundreds of serious felony cases. He coordinated special grand jury investigations into a variety of industries. Currently, he is a partner at Peckar and Abramson, P.C., where he is chair of the white collar/government regulatory group. He is involved in a variety of areas in the legal profession: commercial and securities litigation, construction, corporate compliance and integrity counsel, real estate law and labor law. In addition to his service as a school board trustee for the past three years, Curran has served on CarBOE continued on page 9