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

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. February 23, 2005: The Comprehensive Plan Review Committee has notified the city’s neighborhood associations and community organizations of the subject matters of its upcoming meetings to take community comment on the City Comprehensive Plan.

The first meeting will be held March 1 in the Common Council Chambers and will focus on the Core area: Main Street and Mamaroneck Avenue down to Post Road,  Hamilton Avenue, Quorropas, Church Street, South Lex, Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard,  better known as the downtown. It will be the only meeting that will call for citizen opinion and comment on the future development of the downtown.

According to the letter from Mary CAvallero and John Martin, Co-Chairs of the committee, the committee purpose is to “determine whether, and to what extent, any elements of the 1997 Comprehensive Plan should be amended to ensure that it remains an effective guide for the community now and into the future.”

The letter reports that each of the four meetings scheduled, beginning with the March 1 discussion of the downtown will begin with “a presentation about what the 1997 Comprehensive Plan states as goals, and what actions ahve been taken toweard achieving those goals. Then there will be a discussion about whether the stated goals are still appropriate or should be amended.

The letter also states that next week every Neighborhood Association will be mailed a copy of the portions of the 1997 Comprehensive Plan which deal with their neighborhood.

The next meeting will be held March 22 and deal with the Close-In Areas, Gateways/Major Corridors within them. On March 29, discussion will center on the Outer Areas, Major Properties and Gateways/Major Corridors within them.  On April 5, 2005 discussion will concern Community Resources and Implementation.

The letter said that after these meetings are held, the Committee will “prepare a report of its findings and recommendations for the Mayor and Common Council.”

The Citizens Plan Committee, the ad hoc group of citizens, who spearheaded the formation of the Mayor’s committee welcomed these opportunities for public comment with a statement sent to committee members this week:

 

February 23, 2005

 

Dear Fellow-White Plains Resident,

 

We wrote to you on February 15^th describing the February 9 th initial meeting of the city’s Comprehensive Plan Review Committee.  At  that meeting the members made clear their commitment to public participation as an important part of the review process which, it is anticipated, will set the goals for the city’s planning program for some years to come.

 

The Citizens’ Plan Committee is delighted that members of the public will be able to share their interest, concerns and suggestions at these public meetings. For our part, we have shared our November 22, 2004 report and numerous suggestions with the Mayor, Common Council and the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee to consider in the review process.  

 

A public review meeting will be held on March 1, 2005 at 7:30 pm at City Hall in the Common Council Chambers. These are critical times in White Plains.  It is vital that your voice be heard!

 

We hope to see you on the 1st.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Robert H. Levine

(for the)  Citizens’ Plan Committee

 

   

 

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WPCNR Miller Hill Citizen Patriot. By John F. Bailey. February 21, 2005: The White Plains Historical Society staged its 273^rd Birthday Party for George Washington Sunday afternoon at the Jacob Purdy House (where George Washington Headquartered in White Plains) on Miller Hill. The ceremony honoring the nation’s first Forefather, General of the American Revolution, and First President, and perhaps arguably its best, was made all the more poignant by the remembrances of a young friend of Michael Arciola, the resident of Elmsford, killed in action in Iraq last week.

 

The 23rd Regiment of Foot, Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Colonel Pawling’s Independent Corps of Levies, strike Old Glory, and the Continental Army Flag Sunday at Jacob Purdy House overlooking White Plains. British troops attempted to take George Washington’s well fortified positions on Miller Hill, but were stopped, withdrawing to New York ending the Battle of White Plains.  The flag was raised and lowered to half-mast in honor and membory of Michael Arciola of Elmsford. A Citizen-Soldier like George Washington himself. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

The young man spoke of Mr. Arciola, who was his friend, saying that being in the army was something Mr. Arciola always wanted to do. He spoke of him being in several gunfights, was shot in the neck, and how he died 24 hours later. Overcome with emotion, the young man spoke haltingly, fighting back tears, said his friend died doing what he loved to do.

Jacob Purdy House Yesterday during the ceremonies. John Vorperian is at the podium. Photo by WPCNR News.

The regret expressed Sunday over the sacrifice of Mr. Arciola,  brought to the mind of this reporter the sacrifices made by the “Citizen-Soldiers” at the Battle of White Plains in 1776 who stopped the advance of British General Howe’s army on this very hill. Arguably, the Battle of White Plains was the turning point of the American revolution.

 

 

Arms at Rest: The Fusiliers and the Independent Corps of Levies rest arms in honor of the fallen Citizen-Solider, Michael Arciola. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

Robert Hoch, after being introduced by John Vorperian read this tribute to George Wahington whose author is unknown. It speaks of all the “Citizen-Soldiers” who fight for what American stands for today wherever they are stationed. It lauds the kind of man George Washington was, and we reprint Mr. Hoch’s reading here:

 

Cider and a birthday cake greeted some 60 citizens who came out for the Sunday observance. The  forthright bust of George Washington, looks on. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

A prized possession of the White Plains Historical Society is a white marble bust of George Washington – sculptor unknown – that graces a pedestal or prominence here in the Jacob Purdy house.

 

It casts an aura over this historic house and is an ever-present reminder of the man who, both during and after the Revolutionary War, was the living symbol of a great nation.

 

There were many heroes during the Revolution, and not a few villains. But, the American victory, so improbable in 1776 was more than anything the personal achievement of George Washington that made final victory possible.

 

He held the army together when the cause was darkest; he declined dictatorship when it could have been his for the asking. He treat Congress with respect even when its actions and pronouncements merited only scorn.

 

His greatness manifested itself at the end of the Revolution when, after eight long years of service, the resigned his powers and commission as head of the Continental Army to the Continental Congress assembled at Annapolis. His overriding desire was to be “Citizen Washington:” to seen no personal aggrandizement.

 

A true hero of the Revolution, Washington road home to Mount Vernon in the fall of 1783 happy to lay down his burden. It is interesting to note that in his study at Mount Vernon there is not a sign of his military career.

 

Jeff Reiner entertained with patriotic songs on the  organ, including Yankee Doodle Dandy, Battle Hymn of the Republic. Mr. Reiner’s organ stylings filled the little house with stirring tunes that lifted sombre hearts with the ideals of George Washington’s heritage. Photo by WPCNR News

 

Jacob Purdy House opens three times a year: In October to recognize the Battle of White Plains; In February in recognition of President’s Week, and on the Fourth of July. The Historical Society does not have the funds to keep the home open on a regular schedule. The Purdy House stands on hallowed ground and stands sentinel for those first citizen-soldiers who died on this hill.

 

There is revolutionary history in White Plains, almost as rich as Boston in sites which forged America. Perhaps in the future, the trails and the paths, the charges and the burnings that took place here will be recognized more than just four times a year.

 

 

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. February 19, 2005: One week after 11 White Plains High School underage students (reported to be juniors, 10 boys, 1 girl) were arrested by Greenburgh Police at the scene of a private drinking party at the Marriott hotel in Tarrytown after their Junior prom, the Principal of White Plains High School has sent letters today to high school parents on the matter.

WPHS PRINCIPAL RESPONDS TO JUNIOR PROM UNDERAGE DRINKING INCIDENT IN GREENBURGH. Photo by WPNCR News.

Greenburgh Town Supervision Paul Feiner has not returned WPCNR telephone calls to respond to the question of whether the Marriott Hotel will be charged in the matter.

 

Mr. Toper personally addressed the White Plains High School student body over the WPHS public address system Tuesday morning on the arrests. He angrily told the student body how ashamed he was of the arrested students for their bad judgment. He said they had embarrassed their school, embarrassed themselves and embarrassed the city. He assured there would be reprisals and suspensions forthcoming for those students.

 

Here is Mr. Toper’s message to parents that they received in Saturday’s mail:

 

Dear Parents:

 

As some of you may be aware, several students from White Plains High School were arrested last Friday night while attending a  private, unsupervised party at a hotel in Tarrytown. This occurred after a very successful Junior Semi-Formal which was held at a different hotel in White Plains.

 

I’m writing to inform you that we have been notified of those (students) arrested and to reassure you that we will be taking appropriate steps to respond to this situation. Underage alcohol abuse is a nationwide problem and we are very disappointed that some of our students chose to celebrate in this manner.

 

As parents and educators, we must work together to address this problem. I would like to ask you to talk with your child about this incident and impress upon him/her the serious consequences of participating in parties where alcohol is available to underage students. Fortunately, in this case, no one was injured and the (Greenburgh) police were able to intervene early. The consequences, however, could have been much more serious.

 

Than you for your continued support as we look for ways to prevent these types of situations in the future. We are truly grateful for any help you can provide.

 

Sincerely,

 

Ivan Toper

Principal

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. February 18, 2005: WPCNR has learned that the city review of the 1997 Comprehensive Plan will resume with a meeting on March 1 in the Common Council chamber at 7:30 P.M. It is open to the public. In addition the Review Committee will hold neighborhood meetings to discuss and vocalize their opinions on how the city should be shaped in three sectors of White Plains on March 22, March 29 and April 5. The sites and times will be announced, format and approach to analyzing the plan have not been detailed.

The Mayor’s Comprehensive Plan Review Committee consists of Chairs John Martin and Mary Cavallero, Patrick Austin, Steve Brown Guy D’Antona, Ann Edwards, Virginia Falzarano, Vito Fragala, Ronald Goldstein, Ron Jackson, Carlos Roskell, Eli Schoenberg,  Louis Trippet, Isabelle Villar, and John Vorperian. No official announcement has been made by the Mayor’s Office, but the information comes from a source who was told these dates by one of the Committee Co-Chairs.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. February 18, 2005. Now with Production Stills: Mr. and Mrs. Westchester and the most honorable press traveled back in time Thursday evening in a most delightful way with Westchester Broadway Theatre. The longest running theatre in New York State staged its new production of Bye Bye Birdie, the Edward Padula beginner’s luck musical of 1960 that launched Dick Van Dyke as a star, and created the model for the Dick Van Dyke Show.

 

 

Conrad Birdie (Todd DuBail) in Gold Lame, and cast wave good bye at Bye Bye Birdie revival at Westchester Broadway Theatre Thursday evening. The show returns you to that once and forlornly innocent time, the 1950s, when secretaries fell in love with their bosses, when going steady was “forever,” and when you were a teenage girl you couldn’t wait to be 15, because it meant you could stay out past 10 P.M., and you spent hours on the telephone instead of the cellphone. Photo by WPCNR StageCam.

WBT’s  Choreographer Peggy Taphorn revives the Tony-winning Gower Champion innovative (at-the-time) choreography with flare and energy on WBT’s theatre in the square. Donald Birely’s direction spoofs the teens of that once and glorious time, and revives the icons: The Father Knows Best Dad and Mom and Little Brother, with great timing, smooth gag delivery, and guffaw-producing slapstick, showing a fine tuning finesse for the attitudes in this shall-we-say-classic?

 

Theatre Goers Enjoy the Event Flavor of the WBT created by personable emcee Steve Calleran. Photo by WPCNR StageCam

 

 

 Organizing the traffic masterfully, Birely executes Birdie brightly with earnest, engaging funny performances of Shelley Fabares/Elinor Donohue  act-alike Julie Craig as the lucky Conrad Birdie Fan Club member selected to give Conrad – the teen idol of the age his “last kiss;” a nervous agent/adman Jim Walton in the Van Dyke role as Birdie’s mother-conscious agent, Albert Peterson.  The dead solid perfect sendup of Elvis Presley by the sullen, husky heart-throb Todd DuBail, who has 1957 attitude down having played Danny Zuko(Grease)  and Chuck Cranston (Footloose) at WBT.

 

 

 

 

Jim Walton as Albert Pearson with Deborah Leamy as Rose Alvarez performing Rosie. Photo by John Vecchiolla, Courtesy, Westchester Broadway Theatre.

 

But the show is stolen by Deborah Leamy’s portrayal of the sophisticated “career woman” of the 1950s. You know the one who runs the office suggests the solutions to the boss’s problems and will do anything for him?  My father had one, probably your father did too, if you grew up in the 1950s.

 

Deborah Leamy  gives the short course on the career woman personna 1950s young ladies “who went to business” faced:  They never dreamed of a managerial job, but they helped the man they work for become a success and kept him going, going, going with their ideas, hoping for marriage.

 

The leggy Leamy  (who has the moves to handle the Roxie role in Chicago which she performed at the Macau International Music Festival recently),  spends the entire 2 hour show in 4 inch black high heels, belts the  role Chita Rivera created, giving it flare, spunk, drive and an Kay Ballard comic punch. 

 

She is no-nonsense, delivers commanding competence and sexy appeal to fiesty Rose Alverez, while appearing endearing, sympathetic and believable, sexy and a lady all at once. (Did I write sexy in the same paragraph three times? I did. Where is an editor when you need one.)

 

Ms. Leamy really shakes a tail feather in her sequence at Maude’s Roadside Bar, entertaining The Shriners after deciding she is through with Mr. Peterson.  

 

Peterson is distracted by Gloria Rasputin, a gum-smacking broad played by the show’s choreographer, Ms. Taphorn (what a name for a choreographer) who shows the cast how the split is done. Ms. Leamy’s strutting, posturing and vamping is done with confidence, perfect timing and elegance.

 

 

Leamy’s Rose is Peterson’s long-suffering secretary who has waited eight years for him to break the news to his mother that he is in love with his Spanish secretary. The show has Ms. Leamy sending up a great number of Spanish stereotypes that may be offensive in this day of political correctness, but in the 1950s was not even thought about twice. A word: Birdie is a dated show but it is great sociology on stage.

 

The musical’s other running joke is the stereotypical Jewish mother-in-law who hounds her son Peterson with her feel-sorry-for-herself laments, which despite being old, still draw the laughs.

 

It’s Highlight Time.

 

The Westchester Broadway Theatre always stages a complete show. There are no poor actors, no-undelivered parts. Birdie proves that again with the flawless demeanor of Jim Madden as Kim Macaffee’s father, who has some of the great lines. Mr. Madden and Roxie Lucas as Mrs. MacAffee hoof it the light impressive singing the classic, “Kids.”(What’s the matter with kids today.)  Mr. Madden has another moment of zen in this show with his rendition of the hysterical hymn to Ed Sullivan. (You have to be there.)

 

The Sweet Apple, Ohio Kids performing The Telephone Hour. Photo by John Vecchiolla. Courtesy, Westchester Broadway Theatre.

 

When Gower Champion staged the “Telephone Hour,” (in Scene 2 of Act I, according to the liner notes for this show), it was a total innovation that Laugh-In  would steal short years later for their Joke Wall. To see all the teenage girls talking on phones is still an entertaining bit and those  50-year old teenage girls out there will remember those days. This is one of the bright WBT “ensembles,” who gossip the way girls did back then and still do today only they do it on cellphones.

 

Julie Craig charms us in the “no navel piercing era” portrayal of teenage girlhood, as Kim MacAfee, singing How Lovely to be a Woman, and follows that up with a contrapuntal duet with Ms. Leamy, What Did I Ever See in Him? at the front of Act II.  

 

When the show begins, Kim MacAffee has just gotten pinned to her high school sweetheart as the show begins and is feeling very grown up.

 

Meanwhile, back in New York, with Peterson facing bankruptcy because Conrad has just been drafted, Rose dreams up the promotion of Conrad making a hit record called The Last Kiss to bail her boss out of debt. Albert calls teenager Kim MacAfee at random  to be the fan club member to receive Conrad Birdie’s last kiss on The Ed Sullivan Show, to be televised live from Sweet Apple, Ohio’s own theatre. Kim is thrilled and torn between her steady and her loyalty to Conrad.

 

 

Julie Craig as Kim MacAffee with Todd DuBail as Conrad Birdie & Company performing A Lot of Livin’ To Do. Photo by John Vecchiolla. Courtesy, Westchester Broadway Theatre.

 

In a scene right out of any Mayor Delfino White Plains opening, Bill Bateman as the Mayor of Sweet Apple welcomes Conrad Birdie on a reviewing stand. When Birdie sings “Honestly Sincere,” the show stages its funniest scene with sequenced swoons that make the same gag, score laughs again and again.

 

Todd DuBail saunters the Elvis saunter, (originally played by Dick Shawn)  slicks back the slick pompadour, points the hand gestures and with each hysterical faint he causes, the audience laughs, remembers and digs themselves. Musically, the  DuBail Honestly Sincere number is a clever satire of the Presley style, reminiscent of Playing for Keeps, and I Want You, I Need You I Love You. DuBail delivers plenty of sullen phrasings and that voice we remember well – the Voice of “The King.”

 

DuBail’s second smash number is his singing of The Last Kiss on The Ed Sullivan Show towards the close of the last act. DuBail’s uptempo version of this rock ‘n’ roll satire, emulates the style of Don’t Be Cruel, Treat Me Nice, and All Shook Up. In both Conrad Birdie numbers the live orchestra under the direction of Cherie Rosen captures the base and beat and rhythm of the cliché Elvis sound way cool.

 

However, Mr. Peterson’s mother, played with comic acidity by Ruth Gottschall, arrives to derail the Rose and Albert Peterson romance with a redhead Ms. Gottschall meets on the train.

 

A Really Big Shew

 

The excitement of the old Sullivan show is recreated at the end of the first act in a thoroughly enjoyable sequence that goes array. (It’s even complete with flashing APPLAUSE sign, and camera crews and stage directors who act completely in character.) I love the way WBT pays attention to these details and on-stage interaction of peripheral characters.

 

Act II solves the denouements of the teenager’s romance and the romance on the rocks of Rose and Albert. Ms. Leamy is a virtuoso  as comic actress, dancer and singer  with the entertainingly bumbling Mr. Madden as Peterson. They duet cutely on An English Teacher and the showender, Rosie. Their voices blend well together and they are an attractive couple together delivering the chaste formal affection so in vogue in 1950s romance (no feverish embraces).

 

The show’s ending comes rather suddenly, and seems to end rather awkwardly with the final duet.

 

The Little Brothers at the Press Party: Christopher Jumper, right, and Evan Bernardin, left, alternate nights as Kim MacAffee’s little brother. Bernardin, a former actor with Westco Productions (one of his credits was Winnie The Pooh) boomed out Kids in Act II with confidence, clarity and resonance and patterned the little brother roles so typical of 50s sitcoms excellently with just the right delivery of procociousness. Bernardin said the boys auditioned with 60 other child actors for the part. That there were three rounds in which  the boys had to sing, dance and read the parts. Twenty were eliminated with each round. Asked why he thought he got the part, Mr. Jumper said, without hesitation, “Because I’m good.” Jumper added “It’s very good, I like it. It’s very fun. I enjoy it.” Mr. Jumper said of his solo in Act II, “It gives me a part in the show, and makes me feel like I’m standing out.” Photo by WPCNR SchmoozeCam.

 

Bye Bye Birdie was best musical of 1960. It is a simple show, but never bores. Like most Westchester Broadway Theatre productions it flawlessly creates a wholesome, thoroughly professional and enthusiastic production down to the last detail, cutting no corners with topflight Broadway professionals who keep coming back,  they like performing here so much. Judging from the 2 minutes of applause the paying customers and the freeloading press both had a great time as did Mayor Joseph Delfino who stayed until the final applause was over.

 

Press and Well-Wishers Mingle at Press Party in the spacious WBT Lobby. Photo by WPCNR SchmoozeCam

 

You get to choose from Boneless Prime Rib of Beef, Chicken Royale, Chicken Parmigiana, Birdie’s Cheeseburger Deluxe,” Roast Pork Loin, Fillet of Sole Chef Dinis, or with Lemon Butter. Vegetarians may even choose Penne Provencal. There’s never a sweat to get the check like on Broadway, because you dine and the stage is right there in front of you.

 

SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE AUDIENCE: Mayor Joseph Delfino, center, with his right hand man, Paul Wood, City Executive Officer. Photo by WPCNR StageCam.

 

 

 

Bye Bye Birdie plays the WBT in Elmsford to April 24, to be followed by one great hit after another (WBT’s formula for success that has worked for 30 years in Westchester.) Following BBB is Cole Porter’s Anything Goes, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Those who would learn the history of Broadway need only see the WBT programs year-in, year-out, everybody does.

 

Elvis is not living incognito in Vegas, he’s in Elmsford every night, and his real name is Todd DuBail.

 

 

 

WBT Serves Coke Floats in Birdie’s Honor. Photo by WPCNR TableCam.