State of the Arts in Westchester

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WPCNR GALLERIA. From Westchester Arts Council. January 21, 2007: As the government in Albany transitions, Westchester’s New York State Legislators will have the opportunity to discuss their views on the arts with our County’s leading arts administrators during The State of the Arts in New York, a conversation with Dean of the Westchester Legislative Delegation Assemblyman Richard Brodsky and members of the Westchester Delegation.   An awards ceremony during which the Westchester Arts Council will announce the recipients of its Arts Alive Grants for 2007 will follow the discussion. The event will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 25, in the Grand Banking Room at the Arts Exchange, 31 Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains. For more information, please contact Catherine Bruno at (914) 428-4220 x238.

 “Edward Hopper once said that ‘Great art is the outward expression of an inner life of an artist,’” remarks Assemblyman Richard L. Brodsky, D-Greenburgh and Dean of the Westchester Legislative Delegation. “In the same way, ample government funding for the arts is often the outward expression of the interior mechanics and priorities of a legislature. Hopefully, our discussion on January 25th will give local arts leaders a better appreciation of the dynamics of the budget process and better sense of the prospects for arts funding as Albany moves through a transitional period.”



 


The event will kick off with introductory comments by New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Chairman Richard Schwartz and Assemblyman Brodsky, and will be followed by a Q & A, during which audience members will have the opportunity to hear what their legislators have to say about the state of the arts in Westchester County. Participants include Adam Bradley, Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Suzi Oppenheimer, Gary Pretlow, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Mike Spano. The public is encouraged to come and listen and to ask questions.   The Q&A will be followed by a brief awards ceremony in honor of the thirty three Arts Alive grantees, who represent a wide cross-section of Westchester’s cultural community.


Arts Alive Grants are awarded in two categories. Arts Alive Project Grants, which are funded by the Decentralization Program of the New York State Council on the Arts, provide financial and technical support for Westchester-based organizations and artists at the grassroots level. As the name indicates, these grants offer project support rather than general operating funds. Priority is given to emerging cultural groups, ethnically based cultural activities, and services to areas where the need is greatest. In Y2006, funds totaling $50,000 will be awarded to groups located throughout the county. Arts Alive Artist Grants are funded by the Artist Tier of the Decentralization Program of the New York State Council on the Arts and provide direct support to artists to create original new work related to the community. The variety of projects that received funding – from outdoor heritage festivals and concerts in parks, to painting workshops for seniors, to community theater productions and fully staged operas- truly show that the arts are thriving in Westchester County.  (Complete listing of grantees and their projects follows the press release).


 


“Arts Alive Grants support cultural activities in communities throughout Westchester, a county with over 1 million residents from various cultures and ethnicities,” says Richard Schwartz, Chairman of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). “Grants also support the creation of new work, related to the community, by local artists. This past year alone, almost $60,000 has been allocated to the Westchester Arts Council through NYSCA’s Decentralization program.  I would like to commend the Westchester Arts Council for their dedication and service in working in partnership with NYSCA. Together we hope to continue the tradition of a healthy arts environment for Westchester County.”


 


“I am gratified that the Westchester Arts Council strongly supports the work of community-based, grassroots cultural organizations,” says Judy Matson, Chair of the Arts Council’s Grant Committee and Director of Corporate and Community Relations for Fujifilm U.S.A., Inc. “By promoting partnerships between Westchester artists and their communities, while encouraging the participation of people of diverse backgrounds, Arts Alive Grants help make the arts accessible and meaningful to every sector of our community.”


 


Westchester Arts Council, founded in 1965, is the largest, private, not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support, to ensure the availability, accessibility, and diversity of the arts. In 1998, the Arts Council purchased 31 Mamaroneck Avenue, now known as the Arts Exchange, and has since developed the building as a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community.


 


Y2007 Awardees: Project Grants


1.      Western Hemisphere: The African Diaspora. New Rochelle, with African American Art & Cultural Appreciation Council.


2.      Soiree Musicale Concert Series. White Plains, with Soiree Society of the Arts with Alliance Francais de Westchester.


3.      Westchester Music of the Month Series. Yonkers, with the Artemis Chamber Ensemble.


4.      Facing Life. Yonkers, with artist Lily Schor with Blue Door Art Association.


5.      Concerts for 2007. Ossining, with Collegium Westchester.


6.      Seen and Heard.  Croton-n-Hudson, with Croton Teen Theatre with Croton Council on the Arts.


7.      Three Philharmonic Matinee Concerts w/ an Original Composition, & the Annual Concerto Winners’ Concert. Bronxville, with Fine Arts Orchestral Society of Yonkers.


8.      Free Summer Theater in the Parks. White Plains, with the Fort Hill Players.


9.      Times of Our Lives.  Greenburgh, with Greenburgh Arts and Culture Committee.


10.  Kid’s Short Story Connection. Greenburgh, with the Greenburgh Arts and Culture Committee.


11.  A New Play on the Theme of Cultural Identity. Yonkers, with Hamm & Clov Stage Company.


12.  Four Daytime Chamber Music Concerts. Irvington, with Hudson Valley Music Club.


13.  Advocacy Theatre. Tarrytown, with Jewish Community Center on the Hudson.


14.  Spring Community Outreach Concert. Yorktown Heights, with Kol Rinah.


15.  Singing Harp at St. Mark’s. Elmsford, with Singin Harp with Lagond Music School. 


16.  Mainstage Concert Series.  Yorktown Heights, with Mainstage Coffeehouse Foundation Corp.


17.  Mohegan Colony Storytelling Festival.  Crompound, with Mohegan Colony Association Storytelling Festival.


18.  The Songs of Praise: Settings of the Te Deum by Dvorak, Haydn and More. Scarsdale, with New Choral Society.


19.  Production of Rigoletto. New Rochelle, with New Rochelle Opera.


20.  The Drum Call African Drum and Dance Program Mount Vernon with O’bey Foundation.


21.  Asian American Heritage Festival 2007. Millwood, with Organization of Chinese Americans.


22.  Peekskill Artist District Open Studios. Peekskill, with Peekskill Arts Council.


23.  Original Dramatic Adaptation of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Dobbs Ferry, with Red Monkey Theater Group.


24.  The Liar Show. Pleasantville, with Deep End Productions with Richard G. Rosenthal Jewish Community Center.


25.  Three Saint Thomas Orchestra 2007 Concerts. Mamaroneck, with Saint Thomas Orchestra.


26.  American Renaissance and Holiday Series. Ossining, with Sing We Enchanted.


27.  Composers of the Future VI. New Rochelle, with Songcatchers, Inc.


28.  2007 Two-Concert Series. Yorktown Heights, with Taghkanic Chorale.


29.  Community Concert Series. White Plains, with Westchester Symphonic Winds.


30.  Poetry Slam Coffee House-Live @ The White Plains Public Library. White Plains, with White Plains Public Library Foundation.


 


 


Y2007 Awardees: Artist Grants



  1. Jessica DeMauro of Mount Kisco for the com*mu*ni*ty; a ten part evening length dance performance that explores the fundamental aspects that make up the Westchester community
  2. Hilda Green-Demsky of Larchmont for Creating an Exhibition of the Bronx River as a Great Community Resource in Westchester
  3. HEARING SPACE: What Our Ears Can Tell Us about Living Right Here, Right Now; a room-sized sound installation designed to make the residents of Westchester more aware and curious about the local auditory environment by artist Bruce Odland of Croton-on-Hudson.

 


 

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Devices Banned from WP Mid-Terms Named in Letter. No Evidence of Cheating

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. January 20, 2007 UPDATED January 21, 2007 4:30 PM EDT: The White Plains City School District, in a letter received in most homes of parents this morning, has listed the devices banned in  mid-term examination rooms beginning Tuesday and clarified their communication device policy on exams that begin Tuesday with high school midterms — in examination rooms or on supervised “breaks.”


Today Monday, the District reported the ban extends only to high school exams, and that the ban on cellphones and other devices listed below does not apply yet in the two White Plains Middle Schools, Highlands and Eastview or the Elementary Schools.


The District also said no evidence of cheating using electronic devices has been uncovered at the high school.


The letter from White Plains High School Ivan Toper reads:


“Your child may not use any communication device while taking a State examination (or local school exam), either in the room where the test is being administered or while on a supervised break (such as a bathroom visit).


Such devices include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones, pagers, CD and audiocassette players, radios, MP3 players, Personal Digital Assistants, video devices, and associated headphones, headset, microphones or earplugs.”


The letter states the following protocol should the student take a cell phone in with them,


” They may not answer it if it rings or vibrates.  If the child’s pager beeps or vibrates, they may not look at it. These and other devices (within the examination room) must be turned off and put away.”


Penalty: Exams invalidated


The penalty for answering a device or using it in an examination room is, “your child’s exmaination will be invalidated and no score will be calculated if they use any such device or related communications technology or if they wear headphones while in the testing room.”


The letter recommends students not bring communication devices of any kind to the exam room. The letter states — “if they do the aforementioned procedure will be followed. Violation of this policy during a state exam requires notification to the Office of State Assessment. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken following procedural due process.”

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High School Bans Student use of Cellphones, Hi-Tech Gizmos in Mid-terms

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. January 19, 2007:  WPHS students may not use cellphones and similar electronic gadgets inside an active examination room when WPHS midterms are administered next week. The ban is historic.


 


 


Parents of White Plains High School students received a recorded telephone message Friday from WPHS Principal Ivan Toper alerting them that their students will not be allowed to use cellphones, I-pods, earphones, video devices, mp3 devices, and similar hi-tech devices when they take the school mid-term exams.


 


It could not be determined from the message whether the ban extended down to the White Plains Middle School and Elementary levels.


 


 


Mr. Toper’s message in English only, delivered by the district’s automated call-out system, said New York State has banned use of such devices by students in exam rooms and that students caught answering cellphones, using them for whatever purpose in exam rooms, wearing earphones during a test, among other tech-related “use-modes” will be stopped from taking the test and subject to discipline.


 


Toper’s message said students could have cellphones on their persons in the examination room, but that had to be turned off and could not answered by a student. (WPCNR advises students not to take any electronic devices to school that day if they’re taking an exam, this being the first-time the ban is going to be in effect during exams. You do not want to make a false move.)


 


HI-TECH CHEATS


 


The unprecedented ban comes after a series of news reports detailing how students across the country are using cellphone text messaging, cellphone cameras, and mp3 devices to send questions to classmates outside of an exam room, who then text-message back the answers.


 


The announcement today is the first public news that the high school was even considering such a ban.


 


The New York Times reported in May of 2006 a variety of ways students use electronic devices to cheat on the college level: via Sidekick e-mail devices, with camera and text message exchanges, recording notes on Ipods and playing them back in an exam (a reason for the WPHS “earphone-in-action” ban). The Boston Globe reported on this phenomena as early as 2004.


 


 

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County Declares 85 Court St. as Temporary. Relocation Possible. Timetable ?????

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WPCNR THE HOMELESS NEWS. By John F. Bailey. January 19, 2007: Councilperson Rita Malmud, asked by Mayor Delfino to negotiate a removal of the 85 Court Street homeless shelter with Westchester County reports progress to WPCNR, revealing that the county is considering the shelter “temporary” — her words. Reporting to WPCNR on the results of her meetings with the county so far, Malmud issued this statement:


Mayor Delfino and I spoke about 85 Court Street a few weeks ago when I updated him on talks with County Executive Spano.   These talks were characterized as positive and productive.  I expressed confidence that the status quo would not remain.  Although I forget the specific and exact words used, it was clearly implied that this shelter was not permanent.


Ms. Malmud was asked by WPCNR Thursday in two separate telephone calls whether a new location in White Plains was being considered, whether a location outside White Plains was being looked at, whether better monitoring of the homeless during day was being developed, or even job and employment opportunities were being developed for the 85 Court Street population, but she did not respond to those questions.


Today, WPCNR has asked her for clarification on what the terms “positive and productive” mean, and when she thought it would be resolved.


This is the first time Westchester County has stated publicly that the 85 Court Street shelter is temporary. Previously when asked to remove the shelter by Mayor Joseph Delfino,due to its proximity to the downtown, and documented related incidents,  the county has balked — never indicating they were seeking alternate locations.


Donna Green spokesperson for the Westchester County Department of Communications, when asked if the county was viewing the 85 Court Street Shelter as “temporary” and was seeking to relocate it — something the county has refused to do in the political standoff between the County and the City — Green said “I have no answers for you at this time.”

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Firefighters Coat Drive

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. From the Mayor’s Office. January 19, 2007: The White Plains Firefighters want to help those in need. Please help them by dropping off your coats, hats, gloves, sweaters, scarves, and
other winter wear now!

They have made it easy. Just drop off any of the items listed above to any of our five White Plains firehouses – all winter long.

Thank you for your support!

White Plains Fire Stations:

Station 1 – Old Mamaroneck Rd./ Gedney Way
422-6305

Station 2 – 20 Ferris Avenue
422-6319

Station 3 – Warren Street & Terrace Avenue
422-6307

Station 7 – 665 North Street
422-6315

Fire HQ – 219 Mamaroneck Avenue
422-6322

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Traffic Commission Takes Up Double Jeopardy Parking

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WPCNR THE PARKING NEWS. Interview with Al Moroni, Commissioner of Parking with John F. Bailey. January 18, 2007: In response to citizen complaints, The City of White Plains is reviewing its on-street parking policies  that limit parking at downtown on-street meters and on unmetered streets in certain parts of town to the 1 or 2 hour time limits noticed on the meter or by signs,  regardless of whether you “feed the meter” when you park in or move your car to another spot on the same street.


 



Commissioner of Parking, Al Moroni.


 



Present White Plains Meters Do Not Advise Motorists Specifically they can only park for the limit imposed on a specific street once a day.


 


According to Mr. Moroni speaking to WPCNR today, the Traffic Commission has asked the Department of Parking, the Traffic Department and the Law Depart to meet and “to take a look at the ordinance and see what can be done to come up with an ordinance that is enforceable and understandable (to the public).”  Deputy Commissioner of Parking, John Larson said a date for that meeting has not been set.


 





An unspecified number of residents have gotten tickets when they have returned to the downtown, “fed a new meter” and still got a ticket when they parked on the same street they had parked on during their first trip to the downtown, according  to Commissioner of Parking, Al Moroni.


 


He said there have not been many persons this has happened to, but when it does, “it seems so unfair to them, they get pretty upset about it.” If, they return to the downtown and park on a different street at a meter, they would not get a ticket, Moroni said.


 


 


Moroni remarked that there are several issues the Commission is examining in addition to the controversial “Double Jeopardy” parking ordinance.  one  is parking beyond the limit in a parking lot beyond the 1 or 2 hour limit, regardless of whether you come back and feed the meter at the end of the two hours,  you receive a “Beyond the Limit” Ticket. After time has expired, you have to move your car to a garage or another parking lot, and cannot “feed the meter” to stay in the lot if if you move to a different space.


 


The second issue involves streets around the city which are not metered where signs say parking is limited to 1 or 2 hours. Neighborhoods don’t want people working in an adjacent area using their streets for parking for their business, Moroni said.


 


Double Jeopardy Clarification under review by “Task Force”


 


Moroni, whose Deputy Commissioner of Parking, John Larson, attended the Traffic Commission meeting Wednesday morning when the decision reexamine the “Double Jeopardy” issue was made, said “We are wrestling with how do we come up with a more fair way of treating this problem.”


 


The Traffic Commission, WPNCR had learned from a member of the commission, speaking to WPCNR under condition of anonymity, took up the “Double Jeopardy” problem and our original source reports that the commission members all agree it should be changed and it is “under review” as to how the meters can be “resigned” to cut down the possibilities of getting a second ticket even when you’ve fed the meter.


 


It has not been decided whether one of those options is eliminating Double Jeopardy.  Our source said, the talk is to make the meter instructions more explicit to enlighten motorists they can only park once on the same metered street during the meter enforcement times. 


 


White Plains Week First


 


The “Double Jeopardy Ticket” was first exposed by White Plains Week, the controversial Public Access Television news roundup show (cablecast to Mr. and Mrs. White Plains, Fridays at 7 and Mondays at 7:30 on Channel 76) last year.


 


 


Moroni explained how the White Plains street meter parker exposes himself to the “Double Jeopardy” Ticket:


 


“You park on Mamaroneck between Main & Post Road in the A.M . An officer scans your license into his computer at 9:30. You leave. You come back at 1:30 P.M., and park on the same street (Mamaroneck Avenue) but not in the same spot. The parking officer will give you a ticket (even if you have put money in the meter) because you have parked in violation of the beyond the limit of the area.” Moroni said “same area” means “same street.” “That’s how we’re interpreting and enforcing it,” Moroni confirmed.


 


 


The parking meters do not specifically warn you that you cannot park in another meter on the same street.


 


Moroni defended the Double Jeopardy system because he said, that without limiting parking on the same street, people who work in the stores in the downtown will be jockeying  their cars along the street their business is on, taking away space from legitimate shoppers.


 


$15 Fine Signs Placed in The Galleria


 


New signs warning motorists that after the Parking Office is closed in The Galleria, motorists are subject to a $15 fine, instead of the $2 overtime notice, have posted. Mr. Moroni said that $15 has always been in effect, and is not new, just that the signs are.

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Rat Cozies Up to Transformer. Short Circuits Gannett Complex for 16 Hours

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WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. January 17, 2007: Con Edison spokesperson Mike Clendenin reports that power has been restored as of 5: 50 P.M. this evening to office buildings 2, 3, and 4 in the Gannett office complex in Harrison on Westchester Avenue which have been without power since 1:45 A.M. Wednesday morning.


 



The common black rat. A similar rodent blacked out Gannett Wednesday.


Con Edison reports that a large rat had intruded into a ground level transformer, causing a short-circuit to a feeder line early Wednesday morning cutting power to three office buildings. The Journal News, reporting on their website lohud.com said the three buildings closed and employees were sent home. Alex Philippidis of the Westchester County Business Journal said he worked from his home all day and his company has been delayed publishing one day as a result of the outage.  Mr. Clendenin of Con Edison reports Con Edison had to replace the equipment.


The Journal News, according to Clendenin had backup power and was not affected. Clendenin said the rat was found dead in the equipment box when crews arrived.

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City Announces Fire Fighter Exam June 2. Hiring to Fill Budgeted Vacancies.

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WPCNR Public Safety Gazette. January 17, 2007: The City of White Plains is actively seeking a diverse pool of candidates for the June 2nd Fire fighter written exam.  The salary range is $48,982 – $76,836 and the exam is open to Westchester County residents. According to Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Daniel Jackson, number of fire fighters in the Department is not being increased: “Any hires are strictly to fill vacancies.”



White Plains Fire Fighters in Action, September 2003. The Department ability to get to scenes quickly within four minutes has resulted in “saves”


of three apartment building fires and the Temple shown here. Its safety inspections have resulted in safer buildings, less fires. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.


Interested applicants must submit an application no later than Thursday, March 15, 2007 to be eligible. Application materials and announcements can be obtained by logging onto www.cityofwhiteplains.com or by calling the City of White Plains Personnel Department between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM at (914) 422-1258. 


 


Free training is offered to help candidates prepare for the written exam.


 


For more information please contact the Personnel Department at 914-422-1258.

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School District Asks Residents to Give Opinions on State of Schools On Line

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. January 16, 2007 COPY OF SURVEY INCLUDED: White Plains residents were called to give their opinion today — literally — on the state of White Plains schools. A recorded message from  Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors was delivered on home telephones via the School Community Calling System, advising homes receiving the call that as part of the school district Strategic Planning Process, residents are being asked to complete a survey which appears to be designed to determine residents’ present satisfaction with the school district.


Residents may take the survey, starting today, January 16 and continuing through Friday, January 26 at 5 P.M. by going to www.whiteplainspublicschools.org., clicking on “Strategic Planning”.


The survey is the first step in the “Strategic Planning Process” that will include a community-wide meeting, “TheWorld Cafe'” that takes place Wednesday evening, January 24, 7 PM at White Plains High School.


Participants will participate in a lightning round of discussions, moving from table to table to offer their reactions on key district issues, under the leadership of facilitators provided by Transformation Systems, Ltd.– the worldwide consulting firm hired by the district to lead them in the preparation of a Strategic Plan for the next decade.  The Survey consists of the following questions:


Looking to the Future


 


INDICATE YOUR LEVEL OF AGREEMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS


 


1. Classes are small and allow individual attention to students.


Strongly agree


Agree


Disagree


Strongly disagree


2. School facilities are an asset.


Strongly agree


Agree


Disagree


Strongly disagree


3. Our curriculum encourages critical thinking and provides a solid academic program


Strongly agree


Agree


Disagree


Stongly disagree


4. Our extra-curricular an atheltic programs provide enrichment opportunities for students.


Strongly agree


Agree


Disagree


Strongly disagree


5. Overall, White Plains Schools’ services and programs are high quality and well managed


Strongly agree


Agree


Disagree


Strongly disagree


 


6. For any statement with which you disagreed, please give specific reasons so we can work to improve.


 


 

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Adam on Albany: The Governor’s First Two Weeks

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. January 16, 2007: In his first week Governor Spitzer issued four Executive Orders and continued his call for broader reforms.  I am pleased that the Assembly now has a partner in the executive branch who will work with us to push forward reforms that I have fought for.  Actions, not words, are needed, and the Orders announced on Day One are just the beginning.

 


The Executive Orders provided a snapshot of what the governor wants to accomplish statewide – increase transparency of government operations and ensure that the public’s interest comes ahead of special interests.  Briefly, the Orders prohibit employees of state agencies and public authorities from:


 


·        Accepting gifts when the intent of the offer is to influence government business;


·        Being involved in hiring decisions of family members;


·        Lobbying former state employees within two years of exiting state employment; and


·        Asking for party affiliation during the interview process for state employment applicants.


 


    Last summer, the Assembly passed legislation (A.11900-B) I supported that:


 


·        Banned gifts from lobbyists;


·        Prohibited elected officials from getting paid for speaking engagements;


·        Put teeth into the “revolving door” ban for legislative employees; and


·        Instructed the State Board of Elections to spell out to candidates for elected office that they cannot use their campaign funds for personal use. 


 


The Executive Orders and A.11900-B are actions needed to put teeth into the reform rhetoric.  Governor Spitzer is advocating for fundamental changes and I stand ready to work with him to continue improving the way Albany operates.


 

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