Which public water supply has the best tasting water in the County?

You be the judge!

The Westchester County Department of Health will be holding its annual water tasting test on Wednesday May 5.

The reigning champion of last year's blind taste test is the City of Yonkers', whose drinking water won the hearts and taste buds of judges. This year's event, which is hosted as part of National Drinking Water Week, will be held in front of the Michaelian Office building at 148 Martine Avenue in White Plains. It'll be held Thursday May 6 in the event of rain.

Included in this year's taste test: water from the Ossining Water Department, the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, Elmsford Water Department, Goldens Bridge Community Association, the Westchester County Water District 3, United Water of New Rochelle and the City of Yonkers.
Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Archbald says "The annual drinking water contest is a great opportunity to promite the quality of our public water supply."

Health officials are reminding Westchester residents that with the advent of Spring and the inevitable Winter thaw, comes the return of ticks and the threat of Lyme disease.

According to health officials, most tick bites occur between April and October.

Dr. Jose Munoz, chief of infectious diseases at Children's and Women's Physicians of Westchester in Valhalla says residents who frequent areas where ticks are prevalent, such as woods or areas of tall grass, or areas populated by deer and other wild animals should check themselves frequently for ticks.

He says if you remove a tick, watch out for symptoms that include redness along the site, feeling feverish or having flu-like symptoms, headache, stiff neck and vision problems. Antibiotics are typically effective in curing early-stage Lyme disease. Preventive measures include wearing protective clothing, using tick repellants and checking your body frequently for ticks.

The Westchester County Department of Health has appointed Dr. Cheryl Archbald as Acting Health Commissioner. Archbald succeeds Patsy Yang, Dr. Public Health, who resigned as First Deputy Commissioner of Health on March 11 to become the Deputy Commissioner of Health for the New YOrk City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

The Westchester County Legislature's newly formed Special Committee on Health Insurance Savings has come up with an idea that could save the County and its employees thousands of dollars.