Medics were called to Alexa Ray Joel's Bethune St. apartment in the West Village at approximately 12:21 p.m. this afternoon, sources told The Post. A female caller told a 911 operator that Joel had taken several pills and wanted to die, sources said. A family spokeswoman issued a brief statement later this afternoon confirming Joel was in the hospital.

"Alexa is stable. Her doctors are assessing her needs and that's all we can say at this moment," said Claire Mercuri, Alexa's and Billy's personal publicist. Joel was conscious at St. Vincent's Hospital, and is expected to survive, said other sources.

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A prolific songwriter since her young teens, Alexa Joel is also a talented pianist and singer. She's among several celebrities scheduled to appear in a tree-lighting ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange this Thursday.

For the shops, aligning with a premium brand is a way to differentiate themselves from chains and other independent shops--and to charge higher prices. At Caffe Greco in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood, owner Hanna Suleiman says sales have increased by 10% and profits by 3% since the shop signed up with Illy a year ago.

Illy began signing up independent shops, mostly in Italy, three years ago in a program called "Artisti del Gusto," or Artists of Taste. It brought the program to the U.S. last year. Illy supplies shops with Italian espresso machines, coffee cups, artwork, drink recipes and intensive training, after which the cafe becomes a certified Illy purveyor. In return, the shop must agree to serve only Illy coffee for at least three years.

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There are currently 28 U.S. shops operating under Artisti del Gusto certification and Illy plans to add 100 more in the next three years. The company also is moving the program into Canada and Mexico.

Illy staffers in North America visit certified shops to check quality standards. The stores are routinely scored on how well they steam milk and clean the espresso machines. If cafes aren't performing up to par, Illy provides additional training while reserving the right to yank their certification, says Gregory Fea, chief executive of Illy's North American business.

Tampa police said Mays was found unresponsive by his wife Sunday morning. A fire rescue crew pronounced him dead at 7:45 a.m. It was not immediately clear how he died. He said he was hit on the head when an airplane he was on made a rough landing Saturday, and Mays' wife told investigators the TV personality didn't feel well before he went to bed that night.

There were no signs of a break-in at the home, and investigators do not suspect foul play, said Lt. Brian Dugan of the Tampa Police Department, who wouldn't answer any more questions about how Mays' body was found because of the ongoing investigation. The coroner's office expects to have an autopsy done by Monday afternoon.