WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR—65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. December 17, 2005: As a father there is nothing more important to me than the safety of our families. With that, I am proud to say that the Assembly majority conference has unveiled a comprehensive plan to protect our communities from dangerous sexual predators. This package is easily the toughest and most effective thus far to be introduced and I intend to make sure it is passed by the Assembly as soon as we return to Albany after the New Year.

 

 

 The result of a series of public hearings, the “Child Safety and Sexual Predator Punishment and Confinement Strategy” imposes tougher sentences on sex offenders, keeps the most dangerous predators confined, and intensely monitors them if they are released.  This proposal also keeps in mind the victims of these horrific crimes and makes certain that they receive the necessary services to help carry on with their lives.

 

Tougher sentences for the worst sex crimes

 

The Assembly’s plan provides for up to life sentences for the most heinous sex crimes – those where the perpetrator harmed the victim, threatened the use of a weapon, committed the crime against multiple victims, or was previously convicted of a felony sex crime. Those convicted of serious sex crimes in which the victim is under the age of 13 could spend the rest of their lives in prison, regardless of any other aggravating circumstance.

 

Civil confinement for dangerous sexual predators

 

A key element of the plan provides for the potential lifetime civil confinement of sexual predators after they finish their sentences. Under the Assembly’s proposal, those who pose a serious risk to the general public will be civilly committed. This process would begin with the state Attorney General petitioning the courts after a psychiatric examination of the offender and input from mental health professionals.

 

Civil confinement would be ordered if a jury unanimously decided that an offender is a violent sexual predator who is prone to repeat a horrific crime again. And even if mental health experts determine that civil commitment is not necessary, the Attorney General would still have the ability to ensure a convicted sex offender remains under intense supervision. While the civilly committed could be housed in state mental health facilities, they would be barred from coming in contact with the general population of mentally disabled patients.  Importantly, this legislation follows the example of Texas, where there is lifetime supervised confinement for certain felony sex offenders released from prison.

 

Mandatory treatment for incarcerated sex offenders

 

This package also requires mandatory treatment for incarcerated sex offenders.  The state Department of Correctional Services currently operates a sex offender treatment program but it is not required by law and it lasts for only six months – one of the shortest prison-based programs in the nation.  Under the plan an expert panel would be formed to determine the best way to improve methods for the treatment of sex offenders.

 

 

Additional legislation

 

The Assembly’s plan also includes other significant legislation, including the Sexual Abuse Prevention Act (A.8294), which:

·        requires 12 hours of training for police officers in sexual assault cases;

·        develops a toll-free, statewide hotline to connect sexual assault victims with a rape crisis center in their area;

·        mandates that Internet service providers give subscribers written notice of the availability of filtering devices which screen out material harmful to minors; and

·        directs the Office of Children and Family Services to develop a training curriculum for child protective services workers to be used in investigating reports of sexual abuse.

 

I look forward to working with the governor and my colleagues in the Senate to make sure that we pass meaningful legislation which will protect our communities from sexual predators.

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WPCNR MAPLE AVENUE PARKER. By John F.Bailey. December 16, 2005. UPDATED 5:15 p.m. E.S.T. UPDATED DEC. 18, 8:30 A.M. E.S.T.: A news report trumpeting the coming of two new parking garages on Maple Avenue to begin as part of the 2006-07 capital projects budget, one involving a new parking garage at Longview and Maple Avenues, appear premature this evening.

 

Today, WPCNR learned from Dawn French, a Community Relations Spokesperson for the White Plains Hospital Center handling the Longview & Maple parking garage project in partnership with the city,  is still under consideration. She told WPCNR that the status of the proposed 600-space parking garage for the Longview and Maple site  is “uncertain” at this time, then after WPCNR reported this Ms. French  contacted us to say, “I know nothing about the status of it,” and that she hoped to have a person with the hospital clarify the situation on where the garage project is on Monday, but no one was available today.

 

Saturday, White Plains Councilperson Rita Malmud reports to WPCNR : “The senior citizen residential and garage project proposed for the corner of Maple and Longview has not yet received final City approval.”

 

The spokesperson could not confirm for WPCNR whether the financial arrangements of the project have been completed with the City of White Plains, or what the details were and how they presently relate the the Sunrise living facility planned for Maple & Cromwell Place.

 

 Al Moroni, Director of Parking for the city told WPCNR the original deal was for the city to build the garage, with the White Plains Hospital Center sharing approximately half the spaces, and the hospital reimbursing the city for the parking fees, and sharing the debt service. The garage is also scheduled to cede 70 parking spaces to the Sunrise Community, the adult assisted living facility planned for a lot on the corner of Maple and Cromwell Place.

 

The Director of Parking, Al Moroni, explained that the Longfield and Maple garage had not yet gone to the Common Council, because of questions on construction that had not yet been resolved. Moroni said there is a water table problem on the site and the garage would have to be built above ground. At present, Moroni said the project was put at $12 to $13 million.

 

Calls to the Mayor’s Office to ascertain where the Longview Garage project stood were not returned.

 

Commenting on report of a second garage project reported aimed for Maple Avenue, Al Moroni said the only other construction of a new parking garage on Maple was being looked at for Waller and Maple (behind Dooley Mac’s) which would hold spaces for 500 to 700 cars at a cost now of a projected $9 Million. Moroni  reports that project, though, is not on the horizon for 2006-2007. He said it has been pushed out to 2011.

 

Moroni told WPCNR that  only garage construction scheduled for 2006-07 is not on Maple Avenue, but instead will take place at The Galleria. It is an extensive refurbishing of the The Galleria—Macy’s garage for $2 Million. According to Moroni, the project would install new “more reflective” lighting throughout all levels of the garage, more security-conscious, and attractive aluminum and glass entrance to all levels of the mall, more secure stairways,  and the replacement of individual parking meters with a “multi-space meter system.” He said the Mills Corporation would be paying 50% of the cost for the renovation.

 

Moroni, in an expansive mood, noted to WPCNR that the city is also looking at building a multi-level garage in the open air parking lot adjacent to the present TransCenter, because there are presently 250 White Plains residents on the waiting list for parking permits at the current TransCenter. He said that is a ways off too.

 

The reality of what garages are or are not going to be built in 2006-2007 should be made clear Monday afternoon at 4 when the Capital Projects Board meets Monday, December 19 at 4 in the Mayor’s Conference Room.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. Review by John F. Bailey. December 15, 2005 UPDATED with ShowPix:  America’s Favorite Family Musical opened this morning at The Rochambeau School in White Plains, playing for this weekend only.  

 

Westco’s production  features perhaps the most distinguished canine actor since Lassie and Rin-Tin-Tin, Buster the Broadway Dog as Sandy.

 

This Annie brings us a new Annie, introducing  the endearing, lovable Kelsey Berro, a precocious feisty little belter of a diminutive songstress with a commedienne’s timing far beyond her years, who steals the show without upstaging.

Kelsey Berro as Annie Inspires FDR (Bill Curry) and Daddy Warbucks (John Anderson) at the White House with “Tommorrow”. Photo, WPCNR StageCam

 

 She’s complimented by her foil, John Anderson as the soft-shoed lovable billionaire with a heart  Daddy Warbucks,  and the bespectacled “presidential” Bill Corry (a member of the cast of the original production of  Inherit The Wind) who brings Franklin Delano Roosevelt back to life just when the country needs him most.  

Kelsey and John as Annie and Daddy Warbucks softshoe on I Don’t Need Anything But You. Photo, WPCNR StageCam

 

Annie charmed the audience of over 350 persons this morning at  the “Old Roch,”  bringing laughs from child and adult alike. She  will charm child, parent and all in a revival that turns Rochambeau Auditorium, for 2 hours and 40 minutes into the stuff Broadway is made of.

There’s the complex set ingeniously worked around the severe limitations of the Roch’s small stage. Set designer Eric Zoback used creative imagination evoking the grandeur of New York City with elegant  tall buildings that actually make this narrow short stage look bigger. Zoback shows us the Hooverville of the thirties, and the spaciousness of Daddy Warbucks mansion.  

Live, crisp music under the direction of  Cindy Moore sprightly segues scene changes and lays a bed for the tunes without overpowering the cast who are impeccably miked with no glitches as they bring back the tunes of Annie we love: Tomorrow (I love ya Tomorrow), It’s the Hard-knock-life, Easy Street,  and You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,  as this masterful book and libretto is brought back by a cast that works seamlessly.

 

Kelsey Berro and Buster the Dog as Sandy. Photo, WPCNR StageCam

 

I start with the “backup” first, because the professional ensemble featuring Kelsey Berro in her Westco debut in the star role delivers Annie with the just the right spunk, style and believability, belting out the kid-showstoppers, not overplaying, and not swallowing punchlines. A star is born right here, and you saw her first, Mr. and Mrs. White Plains.

 

 

 

Nancy Jane Blake as the conniving villainess, Miss Hannigan, recreates the Carol Burnett role here with a meanness that is funny, without being evil, and she and Stephen Sporer as Rooster Hannigan and Kaitlyn St. Pierre as Lily St. Regis, the conspirators who impersonate Annie’s parents conspire with compatibility and congeniality in the delightfully nasty boogie, Easy Street. Photo, WPCNR StageCam

 

Stephen Sporer as Rooster, Ms. Blake as Ms. Hannigan and Kaitlyn St. Pierre as Lily, singing Easy Street. Photo, WPCNR StageCam

 

The acting ensemble assembled romps and interchanges roles without flaw, switching from hobos in Hooverville (where they introduce the children of the audience to The Depression with their spirited, We’d Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover) to White House staff (where Marc Wager does a great comic turn as a diplomat attempting to sing Tomorrow), to changing into  Daddy Warbucks servants with ease. Michael Pasieka, Cynthia Topps, Marc Wager, Steven Sasso, B.J. Marcus Brenda Mileo, and if I’ve left any one out – they acted like they’d been doing this show for years.

 

Those Irrepressible Orphans:  Micaela Jen Silver, Barrie Tovar, Georgina Simon, Sophia Carpinello, Katie Ring, Sarah Beth Ackerman, Kristina Koller, Lindsey Pasieka, Olivia Rand, Kaylan Gersten, Danielle Winchester,  Kalina Lyn Teller. Photo, WPCNR StageCAM

 

The cast delivers entertaining choreography conceived by Director Jason Summers – choreography that by using all the stage, makes the use of the small stage – making it seem bigger. And they use all of it. When the  diminutive orphans, playing Annie’s comrades at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage, perform their mop number, It’s the Hard-Knock Life, they nearly tumble to the edge of the stage, watch out in the front row!

 

 

 Kelsey Berro’s Annie steals the evening with all of her solos from her first big solo on St. Mark’s Place  of Tomorrow to her reprise of  Tomorrow before Franklin Delenao Roosevelt and his cabinet, inspiring FDR to create “The New Deal.” I have to commend Bill Curry for his presidential performance. He uses an original FDR wheelchair donated for use by a member of the company, that FDR actually sat in.  

Bill Curry in an original “FDR” wheelchair, getting into character. Backstage Photo, WPCNR StageCAM

 

Few Americans today realize, that FDR was the first disabled American President, and he did a pretty good job! It’s this reviewer’s opinion that the spirit of  “That Man” was in Mr. Corry as he performed. His manner and decorum was presidential, entertaining, and compassionate. (But then, this is a musical.) Mr. Corry’s utter believability as FDR sold the preposterous premise of the scene so you really believe it.

 

The Ensemble performing NYC in “Times Square”. Photo, WPCNR StageCam

 

Ms. Berro’s foil, John Anderson, as Daddy Warbucks cuts a mean stage with his two stepwith his spunky co-star on I Don’t Need Anything But You. His tenor delivered the Daddy Warbucks signature songs with pathos and sensitivity on Something Was Missing and his duet with Annie on I Don’t Need Anything But You. These are such gosh darn happy songs that it puts even a nasty old reporter dog into the holiday spirit.  Mixing a little Kelsey Grammar with George Clooney and a trademark Daddy Warbucks dome, Mr. Anderson is the Warbucks of legend. He could be a tad more brusque in the part, but that is a minor quibble. He and Ms. Berro’s chemistry grows during the show.

 

The Boylan Sisters Performing with Bert Healey on The Oxydent Hour of Smiles. A sendup of 1930s radio. Photo,WPCNR StageCam

 

 

Katherine Brooks as Warbucks Secretary, Grace Farrell, is appropriately Fifth Avenue as a Girl Friday – who solves the mystery of Annie’s parents by her suspicions. Her sense of timing, expressions and body language deliver a lot of the messages in this show so the younger audiences can understand. Brooks is very attractive, classy, and virtuous a model of reason and repressed emotion.

 

Buster the Broadway Dog – the Spencer Tracy of canine actors – trained by Bill Berloni, of William Berloni Theatrical Animals, Inc., will steal your heart. Buster, recently interviewed on White Plains Week, has one incredible moment on the stage. At the close of the First Act, When Annie is taken back to the orphanage, the scene closes and on a dark desolate stage, Buster enters stage left alone, nose in the air. He walks slowly to center stage, and then ambles off the stage, unattended looking for Annie. He gets it absolutely right and the scene will delight the youngsters.

 

Buster the Broadway Dog, a show business icon who has played Sandy for ten years, relaxes prior to showtime in his private dressing room with trainer, Bill Berloni. Buster is the only actor in the show with his own private dressing room. Photo, WPCNR StageCAM

 

 

 

Annie has returned, and has been paid her homage by the Westco team. There are performances Friday morning at 10:30, Friday evening at 7:30, and Saturday evening at 7:30. Saturday Matinee is sold out. For information, call 914-761-7463.

 

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WPCNR Post Road Reporter. From White Plains Hospital Center. December 12, 2005:

White Plains Hospital Center (WPHC) has named its newest Emergency Department treatment facility in honor of benefactor Donald J. Trump, who made a personal contribution of $100,000 to the Hospital at the recent Grand Opening Benefit Gala for Trump Tower at City Center in September.

 

Jon B. Schandler, President & CEO, White Plains Hospital Center   presents the “Donald J. Trump Trauma and Critical Care Treatment Area”  naming certificate to Mr.Trump, at his Manhattan office. Photo, Courtesy. White Plains Hospital Center.

 

 

 

 

The new “Donald J. Trump Trauma and Critical Care Treatment Area” is part of the Hospital’s Health Care for Life Campaign, which is dedicated to the expansion of the Hospital’s Emergency Department, the busiest in Westchester County, as well as other critical areas of the Hospital.

 

“We are truly grateful to Mr. Trump for his generous contribution,” said Jon B. Schandler, President and CEO of White Plains Hospital Center.  “This new Trauma and Critical Care Treatment Area will help to make an enormous difference in the lives of our patients.”

 

White Plains Hospital Center is working diligently to enlarge its Emergency Department to meet the demands incurred by the closing of St. Agnes Hospital in White Plains and United Hospital in Port Chester.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. From Asseblywoman Amy Paulin, 88th Assembly District. (EDITED) December 12, 2005: Testifiers at a hearing in White Plains last week called for all unexplained child fatalities – not just children who are already in the system – to go through a fatality review.  Those testifying said law enforcement officers, public health officials and child protective caseworkers must thoroughly investigate every unexplained death in order to identify failures in a system that is designed to protect children.

 

State Assemblywoman Amy  Paulin noted at the hearing  that  few fatal reviews are submitted on-time within the six month period currently required. Also, most of the testifiers at the hearing at Pace University,  stated that the six month review period is too long. A faster turn around time is needed to enable officials to correct the system before another child is at risk. Lauren Perrotto, the Child Fatality Review Team Coordinator of Rensselaer County, agreed and also recommended that the state create a database of all reviews so that each county can learn from one another. 

 

 

The conclusions were reached a public hearing that Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and members of the Assembly Standing Committee on Children and Families held on the effectiveness of the child fatality review process in New York State.  The hearing was held at Pace University – White Plains Campus.  She was joined by Assemblymembers Adam Bradley, Michele Titus, William Scarborough, who is the Chair of the Children and Families Committee, and twelve expert testifiers. 

 

    Other issues that still need to be addressed are: the need for more Child Advocacy Centers around the state; developing uniform protocols in hospitals when a child fatality occurs; adding public health experts and domestic violence advocates to existing fatality review teams; and, what can be done about chronic child neglect.

 

The hearing’s schedule and location were intentional.   On July 29, 2005, two boys who were under the watch of Westchester’s Child Protective Services were scalded to death in their parents’ home.  The parents were immediately charged with the deaths and the caseworker was fired. “Tragedies like this compel us to review the current child protection system and make needed improvements,” Assemblywoman Amy Paulin replied when asked about the purpose of the hearing.

 

  Assemblywoman Paulin will be working on legislation to broaden the child fatality review process to include all children.   Paulin stated at the closing of the hearing, “With the recent deaths in Westchester County and New York City, it is apparent that current practices are insufficient, the status quo is not good enough.  This public hearing has been an enormous help in making me better understand what needs to be changed if we are serious about protecting children.”

 

     Assemblywoman Paulin said that the Assembly Standing Committee on Children and Families is continuing to accept written input into the effectiveness of New York’s child fatality review process and will hold additional hearings around the state.