WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Fastpitch Johnny. August 25, 2007: The New York Times,  The Associated Press and ESPN won’t tell you about it, but WPCNR will. The National Pro Fastpitch Champions are being contested between the First Place Washington Glory, the Akron Racers, Rockford Thunder and defending Champion New England Riptide this weekend in a double-elimination format in Kimberly, Wisconsin. The first round was rained out Friday and a double round will be played today, weather permitting.

Action at the NPF Championships in 2006 in Stratford Connecticut.

Riptide 2006 Defending Champs: Jocelyn Forest, left and Lyndsey Angus after their 1-0 win over Chicago. “JFo” and Lyndsey teamed up again Monday night to takeout the Brakettes for the Cowles Cup, 2-0. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

To read about the NPF Tournament, go the Green Bay Press Gazette — a Gannett newspaper at  www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070821/APC02/708210626 –

Because of the amazing amount of stories in White Plains this summer, yours truly was unable to give NPF the coverage I usually do. And I regret that. Because it was another stalwart season of balanced competition and growth for the NPF league — despite USA Softball’s and the national media’s continued efforts to thwart the growth of the fastpitch game.

What do I mean by thwart?

It is unconscionable on telecasts of the World Cup softball championships in Oklahoma City, not for USA Softball to cross promote the National Pro Fastpitch League. USA Softball’s preoccupation with the collegiate game and the international success of its one team to the detriment of the thousands of girls who play fastpitch softball is a disgrace, in this reporter’s opinion.

One of the absolute media atrocities continued this season with the national sports media ignoring women’s pro fast pitch professional softball for the fourth straight year. How can the national media continue to tacitly refuse to cover pro fastpitch when they cover such nuanced sports as bicycling (how much drugs can one winner take? Anybody can be a star if you take enough), poker (what a wonderful thing to promote to youth, ESPN), and that force-fed sport, soccer (admittedly a lot of people play it), golf (which really is not a sport but a recreation), tennis (another recreation), neither of which require the all around athleticism of baseball and softball.

But hey, we know — the nation’s sports pages like promoting the NBA, the NFL, Major League Baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, — even curling — and the occasional mention of the NCAA Fastpitch Championships — very peripherally.

This is a sin.

I had someone write me recently, saying they are only interested in seeing sports and reading about sports on the highest level and that is football, baseball, nba, etc.

Highest level? Excuse me. The pitching in the major leagues is from hunger! Six innings is considered a good start these days. The fastpitch pitcher fires 120 pitches a game without wincing, five times in a week. That would have most major league pitchers’ arms falling off. 

Highest level? When some games are fixed? The NBA is being shown by the FBI, to have a serious game-altering problem by one official. Does anyone really believe that only one referee was calling more fouls on one team than another in a pattern-like manner? If other officials weren’t doing it too, don’t you think this might have been reported by other officials? If they did not report it they all should go.

Highest level? Has anyone noticed how the NFL officials just seem to toss flags at inopportune times in the last few minutes of a game that just conveniently meets the point spread? Perhaps the FBI should take a look at that league’s officiating, too, especially since NFL officials are not salaried full-time officials. I would.

Highest level? I think they should do a comparison to see how many NFL and NBA players have run afoul of the authorities compared to how many fastpitch pro softball players have been arrested and found to be drug users, dealers, and gun-toters (other than their great arms).

Highest level? The Texas Rangers defeated the Baltimore Orioles the other day 30-3, and funny, no one in the press referred to it as “a softball score,” which they used to do. Why? Because runaway games happen a lot in the major leagues now because of the lousy pitching, the short fences and the steroid abuse “by a handful of players.”

 “Softball scores” don’t happen often in the National Pro Fastpitch league. The games are tight, taut and tense in the NPF, and very serious.

Softball Organizations Ignore the NPF, too.

But, the media coverage aside, the attitude towards National Pro Fastpitch softball shown by USA Softball, the American Softball Association and the National Softball Association is the worst. They simply fear professional softball will interfere with their academic and amateur game.

They do not realize that helping the NPF will help them too.

The worst attitude is shown by USA Softball.

On the recent World Cup telecasts, not one NPF league official was interviewed. Not one mention was made of the NPF by name, although one commentator did mention “the professional league.” No NPF players were interviewed. I want to know why? 

Come on. USA Softball should wake up and smell the coffee: the Olympic committee has killed them by taking softball out of the Olympics. Why? Because the U.S. always wins. Simple as that. Until the world became competitive in basketball, the Olympics never cared about basketball, either.

Now USA and the International softball community is attempting to pump up an international competition, the World Cup of Softball. Forget about it. It is a pompous attempt by USA Softball to perpetuate its own existence for one set of games a year. It does not work.

The National Pro Fastpitch league is attempting to work within the USA Softball confines, releasing their best players to participate in boring world cup games during the NPF season – hurting the NPF fan base by taking away the NPF team drawing cards.

USA Softball is orientated toward the academic sporting year, where most high level softball players who participate in the NPF coach. All, well and good, the women have to make a living. But far too many name softball players are promoting themselves at the expense of growing the sport.

It is not up to major league baseball to make professional fastpitch softball successful. But if major league teams promoted an NPF team seriously, it would help. I had hopes when the Juggernaut were catching on in Maplewood New Jersey that George Steinbrenner and the Yankees…or even the Mets would take a serious financial interest in them. For what the Yankees were paying A-Rod and what they Roger the Prima Donna, they could have made the Juggernaut a rousing success. To their shame the Yankees and Mets did not take the lead for fast pitch softball when it was here. 

The NPF has to realize they are not being helped by USA Softball, and players, too, have to realize that USA Softball is all about USA Softball and not the players.  USA Softball makes an activity for about 36 players a year. The players are given a living allowance — but not paid a salary.

The NPF makes a season for  72 players on six teams, paying about minor league wages. Young players in the six NPF areas: Akron, Rockford, Ill, Chicago, Washington (in Loudoun Valley, Virginia), and Philadelphia (Allentown, Pa), and New England (Lowell, Mass), are inspired by these players in a wholesome environment. The young women who are playing on these six professional teams are like the players in the old Negro Leagues, they are playing their game because they love it and are pioneering it.

It is to the ever lasting shame of USA Softball, the ASA and the NSA – and Major League Baseball – and ultimately the national media that they are not supporting and reporting on this league.

The hope is the NPF can continue to carry on — and it is to their credit they do — despite all efforts by supposed friends of fastpitch softball  to kill it.

 

 

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WPCNR IN THE SPIRIT. From Memorial and Central Korean UMC. August 25, 2007: Civil rights activist  Rev. Dr. Mazie Ferguson will inspire the crowd when Memorial and Central Korean United Methodist Churches host an old-fashioned, soul-stirring summer tent revival called “Wake Up, Westchester!” running through Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007.

Acoustic/Folk Rock/Indie group Nannyhagen Creek will provide stirring music for the free event, which runs from 6-9 p.m. each night.

 

Rev. Dr. Ferguson founded Liberation Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC. Great-niece of Mary McLeod Bethune, a pioneering civil rights activist, Rev. Dr. Ferguson is herself a lifelong activist, preacher, teacher, theologian and writer who has served on numerous boards and commissions. She has also served as the North Carolina NAACP religious affairs director, and has a B.A. from South Carolina State University and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina.

Pleasantville-based Nannyhagen Creek has been entertaining Westchester County audiences for years with a riveting blend of toe-tapping musicianship and soulful harmony, drawing from the grassroots traditions of American folk song, to the working-class ballads of Ireland, to bouncy rock-tinged tunes. Nannyhagen Creek is Jodi Stokhammer, Jim Dirlam, Buddy Coughlin, Mark Orwoll, Jim Gilroy and Charlie Barone.

Sponsors of “Wake Up, Westchester” include Memorial UMC, Central Korean UMC (Rev. Kunsam Cho, Pastor), the United Methodist Church of Mt. Kisco (Rev. Matt Curry, Pastor) and the UMC of Pleasantville (Rev. Steve Phillips, Pastor). “Wake Up, Westchester!” is an ecumenical event. Christians and non-Christians of all persuasions are welcome. Admission is free.

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WPCNR THE DAILY BAILEY. News & Comment. By John Bailey. August 23, 2007: As thousands of college students head for campus this week for the first time, it occurred to me that, no matter how much parents talk about taking care of yourself, you cannot talk about personal security enough. WPCNR has prepared these thoughts on things any college student should keep in mind when living life on campus…anywhere.  Every college campus has a College Safety Handbook, and WPCNR urges students to read it over thoroughly, investigate security resources and how you can use them, before you have to. Here is one highly paranoid person’s thoughts on taking care of yourself on campus:

Protect yourself at all times on Campus.

SECURITY NOTES UPON PREPARING FOR DEPARTURE for College

1.       Never leave your dorm room or apartment  unlocked – even if just going down the hall. And, do not leave your door ajar when you are in the room.

2.       Never give your dorm room key card or room/apartment number or credit card number or social security number to anyone  in person, or over the phone or in an e-mail. Try not to leave important documents on display in your room. Keep belongings with you at all times when attending classes

3.       Always tell persons where you are going and where you will be and when you expect to be back.

4.       Do not hitch a ride. When riding public transit, move with crowds. Stay close to police officers on duty. The police officer is your friend at all times. I mean even if you are intoxicated, go to a police officer and say, “officer, I am not feeling well, can you  help me?”

5.       Always have your pocketbook/wallet/with personal information in your hand or on your person…do not lay it down.

6.       Addendum to 5, if at ice rinks, athletic venues…leave personal affects in skate bag in a very inaccessible place in the bag – or in a locked storage locker, if provided.  This may not always be possible.

7.       Consider leaving personal cards you need, i.e., social security card, credit card…i.d. card…driver’s license in dorm room…in safe place where you live…locked desk or something like that…nothing would be worse than losing the driver’s license because you took it with you. (Anyway this is something you need to work out and be aware of. If there is a safe in the dorm office…consider putting your  i.d. papers in there.) You should also memorize your social security number.

8.       If you are a woman, do not go up to a boy’s room alone with him, unless you are prepared to make out…and do not go up with a group of boys – that is a recipe for disaster. They will think you are consenting to their taking liberties with you sexually. That is the way most young men think. (Of course, no boy from White Plains would ever think that, right?)

9.       Do not go to an off campus function or even a campus function without thinking out an alternative means of returning to campus…and always make sure people know where you went and who you are with.

10.   If you are at a function where alcoholic beverages are being served, make sure you see the beer bottle being opened before it is poured for you – and mix your own drink. Stop at two drinks.

11.   Do not have unprotected sex. Both young men and women for their own protection should demand condoms. This reporter knows one young woman, a friend of my niece, a great athlete, not living in this area who had unprotected sex and from that one encounter became pregnant. 

Protected sex also prevents contracting sexually transmitted diseases  (AIDS, Herpies, etc.), which severely limits your personal choices later in life – and, simply  can kill you.

12.   Always take a cellphone with you, but keep it on your person at all times, in your hand even or on your wrist,  not in a pocketbook (this is directed towards women, more so than men.)

13.   Should you be attacked or mugged, or approached with an armed individual, I’d recommend surrendering the wallet, the money, whatever and do not fight back. If you are attacked sexually, you have to analyze rather quickly if it is a threat to your life. If you think they are going to kill you – defecating or urinating on the attacker or kicking them in their private parts may buy you sometime to escape. If you surrender to the attack, you must report it to protect yourself against Sexually Transmitted Diseases the sexual attacker might be carrying.  Nationally, statistics show that you a 50% chance of getting the attacker to break off his assault if you scream, and an 85% chance of stopping the attack if you resist quickly and forcibly by assault eyes, nose, face, stomach knees and groin. Seek the advice of the police or campus security personnel on how to deal with a robbery, mugging, sexual attack situation so you can have a reaction plan. Don’t just take WPCNR’s suggestions — just be aware, ask the authorities.

 

(The following comes from a 2006-07 college handbook detailing recommendations on dealing with sexual assault:)  

Sexual Assault Prevention

and Awareness

 

Recommended Actions Following

an Assault

• Take the survivor to a safe place. Find out if he/she has physical injuries.

• If the assault took place on campus, ask the survivor if he/she wants to report the assault to

the Department of Public Safety.

• If the assault occurred off campus, call the Police Department.

• Let the survivor know there are resources he/she can utilize. See section on “Safety Related

Counseling Resources.”

• Survivors and those assisting them are advised that it may be very important to promptly seek assistance

in preserving evidence which may be necessary to the proof of criminal sexual conduct.

• Be respectful of the survivor’s privacy. Let her/him decide who to tell and how much to tell them.

• Reinforce for the survivor that the assault was not their fault.

 

Acquaintance Rape

On college campuses, the most prevalent type of sexual assault is acquaintance rape. In acquaintance

rape, the attacker can be a friend, relative, spouse, lover, neighbor, co-worker, employer, employee, etc.

It is not unusual for acquaintance rape to include physical force, with or without a weapon.

Domestic Violence

According to the Domestic Violence Project, Inc., domestic violence is a pattern of coercive control

that one person exercises over another. Abusers use physical and sexual violence, threats, emotional and

psychological abuse, and economic deprivation to control their partners and get their way. People who are

living together, having sex, or dating can be in violent relationships, not just married people.

Domestic assault refers to the types of abuse which are crimes. Hitting, choking, shoving, slapping, biting, burning,

and kicking someone is a crime, as is forcing someone to have sex. Domestic assault is against the law.

Safety Tips

PROTECTION

AGAINST SEXUAL

ASSAULT

The keys to personal safety are awareness and assertiveness.

• Look assertive, confident, and aware of your surroundings.

• Trust your intuition. If a particular situation makes you

feel uncomfortable or unsafe, choose an alternative. Don’t

be afraid to ask for help.

• Keep keys accessible and wear comfortable clothing for added

safety and defense.

• Turn around and confront someone you think is following

you – the surprise of a hostile look will deter most assailants.

Remember, their greatest advantage is the element of

surprise.

• In attempted sexual assaults, approximately 50% of the

women escape if they yell, and up to 85% escape if they

physically resist quickly and vigorously.

• Know vulnerable targets of the assailant:

eyes, nose, throat, stomach, kneecaps,

and groin.

Safety Tips

PREVENTING

ACQUAINTANCE

RAPE

• Be honest; communicate what you want honestly and respectfully.

• Be aware of what is taking place around you.

• Trust your instincts, stand up for yourself, and be willing to “make a scene.”

• Support your friends, do not pressure them when they are unsure about a situation.

• It is never okay to force yourself on any individual.

• Be aware that “force” can be emotional coercion and

intimidation as well as physical force.

• Remember – “No” means NO!

Stalking

Some stalking behaviors include following a person, repeated and unwanted phone calls or e-mail contact and leaving

gifts for the victim.

Safety Tips

STALKING

• Report all incidents to police.

• Explain how you were frightened, terrorized, distressed, or threatened.

 

 Regarding sexual attacks by strangers or someone you know or on a date – as a woman you have to be aware of not putting yourself in environments that may be conducive to sneak attacks by sexual assaulters – like walking alone, leaving in a state of intoxication, accepting rides from persons you do not know even though they are part of a social milieau. The rule of thumb is trust no one to be absolutely good, trust – but do not trust them to be good too much.

 

14.    Report attempted date rape, and make it clear to the dreamboat turned U-Boat that if he proceeds you will report him for date rape.  WPCNR advises asking campus counselors and the police for advice on handling sexual attack situations so you might formulate a strategy to talk a person out of attacking you or blunting the attack. It’s reality and something that every young woman – and young man should be aware of and have a  response  sequence to work with.

15.   The same can be said for young men, who are obviously possible targets of muggings should they become incapacitated or walking alone in a honky tonk part of town. Witness the mugging on the White Plains street the other night when a person was helped from a bar because he was intoxicated then rolled for his wallet – as if he was on skid row. Even Rodeo Drive is not safe.

16.   When you are feeling sick, do not be afraid to call home for advice, and by all means check into your campus clinic.

 

17.   If you drive, always lock the car and avoid parking in isolated areas of a parking lot. Carry a spare tire and learn to change one and operate a jack.

 

18.   In attending sporting events in enemy towns, be discreet in wearing school colors and bragging about your school, you do not want to be a flashpoint for a fight in the stands. This goes for young men more than young women.  Do not drink too much in the stands, guys – you lose self-control and could get into a fracas.

 

19.   In fracases, always be aware persons you are hassling with, may have knives or guns on their persons. Flight is better than a fight.

 

20.   Keep an eye on what is going on around you at all times.

 

21.   Beware of perfect strangers offering you help, rides, or favors.

 

22.   Set two alarm clocks ten minutes apart.

 

23.   When doing laundry, avoid being in the laundry areas alone late at night. You become a target of opportunity.

 

24.   Call campus police for escorts late at night. It’s not being a baby. It’s smart.

 

25.   Call the police for assistance or advice on security matters in your new town.

 

26.   Avoid  sport drinking. And drinking games. Alcohol overdose is a common cause of death for young persons.

 

27.   When offered drugs – they should be refused number one because there is no upside – only cause for great personal destruction.  But, it is important to realize you have no idea of the quality of the drug, its potency, and well – a dirty drug/needle/whatever could kill you. Trying drugs because it is the thing to do is a sucker bet, not smart, not good for you. Look at Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan – persons who may be rich, but cannot manage their own behavior because of their social ineptitude and lack of street smarts. Being street smart is not trying everything and doing everything, it’s keeping your head and looking out for yourself.

 

28.   Watch out for the body enhancements – tattoos, body jewelry, piercings – if you must have them – make sure they are executed responsibly and sanitary,  not by Sloppy Louie’s Skid Row Tattoos.

 

29.   Eat a balanced meal once in awhile – starch, carbos, chicken tenders, burhers  while good will fatten you up fast when coupled with the sedentary lifestyle brought on by the academic grind, mixed with the nonstop party circuit of chips, cheetos, ice cream and Bud campus life (as my daughter says, every school’s a party school), it is important you do not pile on the excess carbos that can put on the weight fast. At least one salad a day, fish,  please?

 

30.   Avoid the eat out/midnight snack syndrome, you will run through that hard-earned summer bankroll real fast on the Applebee’s and Beer circuit.

 

31.   In accessing ATM machines do so in a very visible location and assure it is not occupied by a lurker. Never withdraw more than $60 at a time.

 

32.   Consult campus technical experts on preventing computer theft and unauthorized access to your personal computer.

 

33.   Have fun.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. August 23, 2007: The Hudson River Panthers 14andUnder, 16and Under and 18and Under Travel Fastpitch organization which now includes the White Plains Explosion organization will hold tryouts for their three teams this Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 1 PM at Ridgeway Field Field in White Plains on Saturday, and same times at Delfino Park on Sundays. The 14-Under players will tryout first at 9 AM both days with the 16-unders and 18 unders to follow. For more detailed information on Autumn play and summer scheduling  and when each age group tries out, contact 18-Under Coach Ray Frederick via e-mail at hrpanthers@aol.com, or 16-Under Coach Cyndi Carnigi at socwrkr312@gmail.com. 

The pioneer Explosions, Fall Ball, 2003.

What Is a Glove?

A glove is a beginning and an ending,

A girl’s first sure step to adulthood,

and an adult’s final, lingering hold on youth.

It is promise and memory.

A glove is the dusty badge of belonging:

the tanned and oiled mortar of team and camaraderie.

In its creases and scuffs lodge suburned afternoons freckled with thrills,

the excited hum of competition,

cheers that burst like skyrockets.

A glove is Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, Pete Rose, Jackie Robinson,

Cat Osterman, K.C. Clark, Jen Smith, Germaine Fairchild,

Carrie Leto, Maddy Coon, Kelsy Kulk, Dani Szabo,

Amanda Scott, Tarnyn Mowatt, Samantha Findlay, Jocelyn Forrest

a-thousand-and-one names and moments

strung  like white and crimson banners

in the vast stadium of memory.

A glove is the leather of adventure:

worthy answer to the cowboy’s holster,

the trooper’s saddle,

the buckskin laces of the frontier scout.

It is combat,

heroics and victory:

A place to smack a fist or snuff a rally.

Above all a glove is the union of

family recreation and togetherness:

a union beyond language, creed, or color.

(c) 1991, The Rawlings Sport Goods Co.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. August 22, 2007:  Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors pledged tonight to replant the forest ripped out of the White Plains High School property adjacent Havilands Lane on the morning and afternoon of August 3.  Michael Crino of 76 Havilands Lane told the CitizeNetReport tonight that the Superintendent said “At this point, there are no plans to put ball fields there,” and that the District was going to hire an environmental consultant to design a reforesting design to replace the natural buffer that protected the Havilands Lane residences from noise and views of the high school. No cost or budget for replacing the woods was available.

Aftermath, White Plains High School “woods” leveled to the ground. August 5, 2007

Crino said the district assured the residents they would get an opportunity to meet with the consultant, whom Crino said had not been hired yet, and give the consultant the residents’ ideas on what they would like to see in the gutted woods area.

Crino said the neighbors ideally would like to see an evergreen buffer and more “hardwoods” shown than was shown on a conceptual plan drawn up by Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson, the architects of the school district capital improvement projects that are ongoing.

Ostensibly, the woods were destroyed on the order of Michael Lynch, who had contracted with a firm to remove the woods to build a new softball field using fill from the excavations at the new Loucks Field. The School District said Lynch undertook this project on his own without authorization.