“Birdie’s” Back Going Steady and Honestly Sin-CERE…Thank You Very Much!

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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.

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Julie Smith Who Knows Her Softball Brings Natasha Watley to New York.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR. (EDITED) UPDATED WITH PIX February 17, 2005, 1 P.M. E.S.T.: If the excitement WPCNR encountered among fastpitch fans when we told them about Natasha Watley’s signing with the National Pro Fastpitch Champions, is any indication,  the NY-NJ Juggernaut, the champs are on their way.  Natasha Watley may do for the NPF what Joe Namath did for the American Football League forty years ago: bring the fans out, embarrass the prejudiced big time media who will not and do not cover the professional softball league —  just as they ignored the AFL in the 1960s.  


 



Natasha Watley loves New York:  “I am very excited to continue my softball career with the New York/New Jersey Juggernaut. Coming off such a high at the Olympics, I’m glad that there is an opportunity to expand the sport of softball on a professional level and hopefully make the country more aware of what this sport has to offer. I hope to open the doors to the future generations of fastpitch athletes, providing them with the professional venue that I am fortunate enough to have.” Photo, Courtesy, NY-NJ Juggernaut


 


 


Whackin’ Watley, WPCNR’s instant nickname for the power-hitting peskiest lead-off hitter ever who goes to first in an eyelash, and hits with power drove international teams crazy in the Olympics.


Now she’ll be showcasing how the world’s fastest ball is played. She is the fourth big time free agent ballplayer to choose New York to play for in 2005. The others: Pedro Martinez, Carlos Beltran, Carl Pavano and Randy Johnson. The Juggernaut released Ms. Watley’s first reactions yesterday to coming to New York.  NY-NJ Juggernaut General Manger and Coach Julie Smith has scored a coup in bringing perhaps the most spectacular Olympic Star to play in the Big Apple.


 



 Julie Smith, 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist, General Manager and Head Coach of the 2005 Juggernaut squad, is very excited to have Watley leading the infield.  “We are thrilled to have such a phenomenal athlete and woman added to our roster.  What she brings to the team with her Olympic Gold Medal experience, as well as her outstanding collegiate career at UCLA, will only raise the level of play of her teammates.  The Juggernaut has begun a tradition of winning championships and Natasha epitomizes the world champion.”  Photo, Courtesy, Nick Leto.


 


“Most importantly, what attracted me the most about Natasha is her modest demeanor and respect for the game, as well as her uncanny ability to dictate the direction of any given game.  When Natasha gets on base, she will score. When a ball is hit in the vicinity of her position, she will get to it and make the out.  She is any coach’s dream player and I expect great things from her.” 


 


Watley feels this same utmost respect for manager Smith and is anticipating the start of the 2005 season.  “Getting the chance to play for Julie Smith is incredible.  She is truly a pioneer of the sport, having played on the 1996 Olympic team, and I am extremely excited to hear her insights on the game. I am thrilled to start training alongside her and to bring back another NPF Championship to the Juggernaut organization.”


 


Brings Olympic Cache to the Juggernaut.



Watley helped lead USA Softball’s Dream Team to a 9-0 record at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, as the team outscored its competition 51-1 en route to clinching its third consecutive Olympic gold medal. 


 


USA National Team coach, Mike Candrea, who had the pleasure of coaching Watley at the 2004 Olympic Games, is very excited and expects great things from Natasha in the NPF.  “If Natasha was a man, she would be making millions of dollars playing her sport, she’s just that good.  She has all the tools; the short game, great power at the plate, excellent speed, and I think she’s the best shortstop in the world.  She is going to bring great excitement to the New York metropolitan area. I think her best softball is ahead of her, and that’s a scary thought for all of her opponents.” 


 


The former four-time first team All-American shortstop from UCLA, arguably the best leadoff hitter in the game, will bring great depth to the Juggernaut roster.  WPCNR expects her to anchor the infield at short, team with the dirtiest (uniform) player in the league at second, Carri Leto and Jaclyn Pasquerella at third. With Watley leading off and Leto batting second the Juggernaut should always have two on for Alicia Smith and Ryan Realmuto to drive in.


 


UCLA Coach supportive.


 


Her collegiate coach, Sue Enquist, is very enthusiastic for Natasha’s rookie year in the fast pitch big leagues.  Enquist congratulated the Juggernaut Wednesday and gave her thoughts on the newly acquired Watley. 


 


  “In my opinion they have acquired one of the most exciting players in the game of fastpitch softball. Natasha can do it all. She plays solid defense. She is exciting on the base paths. She has a short game and a power game offensively. But most importantly, she is a team player and a great role model.” 



 


 


Watley by the Books.


 


Watley’s accolades as a collegiate athlete and a USA National Team member are extremely impressive.  In her senior year, the UCLA captain was crowned the Honda Award Winner for Top Collegiate Female Athlete, as well as the PAC-10 Player of the Year award.  Watley’s name is also listed quite frequently in the all-time NCAA record books.  In her four year campaign as a starter for the Bruins, she finished top three in career hits (395), top five in career runs (252), top ten in career batting average (.450) and top ten in career stolen bases (158).  Watley is also listed seventh on the all-time NCAA record books with 121 hits in a single season (as a junior in 2002).



Watley is currently finishing her last semester at UCLA and will graduate in April with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in African American Studies.  Her future goal is a career in sports broadcasting. 


 


Juggernaut to Announce Home Field Shortly.


 


The Juggernaut are still in negotiations with various facilities and will announce a home field in the near future.  For more information on the NY/NJ franchise of NPF, please call 212-907-6561 or visit the Juggernaut online at www.nynjjuggernaut.com. The Juggernaut anticipate their games with the Chicago Bandits to be broadcast on Radio Disney in New York, and are considering extensive advertising on New York rado, a departure from last year. They are currently doing clinics about the metropolitan area.


 


THE ROSTER GROWS: Jody Cox, Peaches James Anchor Rotation.


 


Watley is the first “killer move” of the new team owner to rebuild the champions, decimated by loss of seven playerS . Watley is expected to anchor the infield at short with champ Carrie Leto at second, and Jaclyn Pasquerella at third. The team is expected to announce a home field shortly.



JODIE COX: Sunbird Southpaw Comes East with Peaces James. Photo, Courtesy, Nick Leto



Cox Swings to the windup… Photo, Courtesy, Nick Leto.


 



Around comes the arm andthe pitch.  Photo, Courtesy by Nick Leto


 



Catcher with Pop: Ryan Realmuto. Takes Over Catching Duties for the Juggernaut. Photo, WPCNR Sports.



THE KID FROM KATONAH COMES BACK:  Alicia Smith, former Katonah fastpitch star,  fleet, rangy, freckle-faced flychaser returns to the diamonds of the U.S.A. with the Juggernaut. Photo by WPCNR Sports.


The team is expected to have a pitching rotation at this time, featuring the second best pitcher in the league last year, Peaches James, formerly of the Texas Thunder, and Jodie Cox, the hardluck pitcher of the California Sunbirds. Kim Ogee and Alicia Smith are looked at as possible outfielders, Ryan Realmuto (Peaches’ battering batterymate in Texas) will catch.


The Juggernaut have drafted college players Heather Scaglione, Catcher from the University of Oklahoma; Jessica Sallinger, Pitcher, of Georgia Tech; Kaleo Eldgrige, outfielder with Cal Berkley, and shortstop Chelsea Spencer, also of Cal Berkley.


Old WPCNR buddy, Jen Carlo, the Juggernaut  Assistant General Manager reports: We are doing clinics, training sessions and camps – all over NJ and starting to hit up Long Island too. Let me know if you have any big softball contacts in Westchester that may be interested!

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Winn-Dixie Barks at City Center De Lux this weekend.

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WPCNR SCREEN GEMS. From National Amusements. February 17, 2005: New flicks flickering by at the White Plains City Center Cinema de Lux this weekend are Son of the Mask, Constantine, a supernatural detective thriller, Son of the Mask, and a long-awaited dog flick — (have not had a good one since Old Yeller) — Because of Winn-Dixie. The dog is named Winn-Dixie. Here are the rundowns and the times:

CONSTANTINE — Keanu Reeves stars as a hard-drinking, hard-living man with the power to recognize the half-breed angels and demons that walk the earth in human skin. A skeptical police detective (Rachel Weisz) enlists his help to try and solve the tragic death of her beloved twin sister, which may have been caused by otherworldly demonic forces. Rated R

SON OF THE MASK — The long-awaited sequel to the comedy smash “The Mask,” this film stars Jamie Kennedy, Alan Cumming and the bright green mask that turns the wearer’s face into a rubbery green cartoon thrill-ride. Rated PG

BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE — Based on the best selling book about a lonely young girl who adopts an orphaned dog she names “Winn-Dixie” (for the supermarket where she found him.) The bond between the girl and her four-legged friend brings together the people in her small Florida town. Stars Jeff Daniels. Rated PG. Check out our GROUP SALES Program offering Special Showings for large groups.


Thursday, February 17, 2005  
Boogeyman (PG-13) –12:00; 2:10; 4:20; 7:35; 9:45; 10:15 pm. ;
The Wedding Date (PG-13) –10:00 am; 12:10; 2:25; 4:40; 6:55; 9:10 pm. ;
IMAX – Aliens of the Deep (G) –10:00; 11:30 am; 1:00; 2:30; 4:00; 5:30; 7:00; 8:30 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:15; 3:10; 6:30; 9:35 pm. ;
Uncle Nino (PG) –12:25; 2:55; 5:20; 7:45; 10:10 pm. ;
In Good Company (PG-13) –4:10; 6:50; 9:25 pm. ;
Coach Carter (PG-13) –1:10; 4:10; 7:15; 10:20 pm. ;
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (G) –12:30; 2:30; 4:30; 6:30; 8:30; 10:15 pm. ;
Sideways (R) –12:10; 3:10; 6:25; 9:20 pm. ;
Racing Stripes (PG) –12:00; 2:05 pm. ;
Hide and Seek (R) –12:30; 3:00; 5:30; 8:00; 10:30 pm. ;
Are We There Yet? (PG) –12:20; 2:40; 4:55; 7:20; 9:50 pm. ;
Hitch **(PG-13) –1:00; 3:50; 6:40; 9:30 pm. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:20; 7:10; 10:00 pm. ;
Meet the Fockers (PG-13) –1:30; 4:15; 7:05; 9:40 pm. ;
The Aviator (PG-13) –1:00; 4:30; 8:00 pm. ;

Friday, February 18, 2005  
Meet the Fockers (PG-13) –8:30; 11:00 pm. ;
The Aviator (PG-13) –12:00; 3:30; 6:55; 10:35 pm. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:15; 7:10; 10:10 pm; 12:40 am. ;
Constantine (R) –1:20; 3:50; 4:20; 6:30; 7:05; 7:30; 9:20; 10:00; 10:30 pm; 12:10; 12:35 am. ;
Hitch **(PG-13) –1:00; 3:50; 6:50; 9:40 pm; 12:10 am. ;
Are We There Yet? (PG) –11:35 am; 1:50; 4:10; 6:35; 9:10; 11:30 pm. ;
Son of the Mask (PG) –11:40 am; 2:15; 4:50; 7:20; 9:50 pm; 12:00 am. ;
Hide and Seek (R) –12:30; 3:00; 5:35; 8:00; 10:30 pm; 12:45 am. ;
Sideways (R) –12:20; 3:10; 6:20; 9:05; 11:50 pm. ;
Because of Winn-Dixie (PG) –11:50 am; 2:20; 5:00; 7:35; 10:05 pm; 12:25 am. ;
Racing Stripes (PG) –11:30 am; 1:40 pm. ;
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (G) –12:05; 1:40; 3:20; 5:05; 7:00 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:35; 3:35; 6:45; 9:45 pm; 12:30 am. ;
IMAX – Aliens of the Deep (G) –11:30 am; 1:00; 2:30; 4:00; 5:30 pm. ;
The Wedding Date (PG-13) –12:10; 2:25; 4:40; 7:15; 9:35; 11:40 pm. ;
Boogeyman (PG-13) –12:45; 3:05; 5:20; 7:45; 10:15 pm; 12:25 am. ;

Saturday, February 19, 2005  
Boogeyman (PG-13) –12:45; 3:05; 5:20; 7:45; 10:15 pm; 12:25 am. ;
The Wedding Date (PG-13) –12:10; 2:25; 4:40; 7:15; 9:35; 11:40 pm. ;
IMAX – Aliens of the Deep (G) –11:30 am; 1:00; 2:30; 4:00; 5:30 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:35; 3:35; 6:45; 9:45 pm; 12:30 am. ;
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (G) –12:05; 1:40; 3:20; 5:05; 7:00 pm. ;
Racing Stripes (PG) –11:30 am; 1:40 pm. ;
Because of Winn-Dixie (PG) –11:50 am; 2:20; 5:00; 7:35; 10:05 pm; 12:25 am. ;
Hide and Seek (R) –12:30; 3:00; 5:35; 8:00; 10:30 pm; 12:45 am. ;
Sideways (R) –12:20; 3:10; 6:20; 9:05; 11:50 pm. ;
Son of the Mask (PG) –11:40 am; 2:15; 4:50; 7:20; 9:50 pm; 12:00 am. ;
Are We There Yet? (PG) –11:35 am;

Bradley’s Budget Reform Bill Passes Assembly — Up to Senate Now.

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By NYS Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. 89th District. February 16, 2005: Today the Assembly passed a proposed constitutional amendment and legislation I sponsored to ensure that responsible state budgets are adopted on-time every year (A.1, A.2). If the amendment is passed by the Senate, it will go before the voters in November. The budget reform plan also includes a second constitutional amendment and legislation to restore the balance of power in the budget process that was undermined by a recent court decision (A.4630, A.4631).

 


 


It’s no secret that the state’s budget-crafting system needs to be improved for every New Yorker. This plan will bring transparency, accountability and efficiency to the process, and above all, will help ensure on-time budgets in the years to come.


 


A decision by the state’s highest court has dramatically altered the checks and balances of state government – giving the governor a near stranglehold over the budget process. The Court of Appeals decision makes it much harder for the Legislature to restore the governor’s cuts or prevent him from altering or sidestepping existing law.


 


Now, the governor is exploiting his newfound power by releasing a contingency budget only three days after he finished unveiling his budget proposal. The fine print in the contingency budget gives the governor total power to suspend, alter or modify any law, rule or regulation relating to state funding.


 


The governor’s budget language would give the governor nearly unlimited budget power. It states that “…the governor, in addition to all other powers conferred upon him by the state constitution and state law, shall have the power to suspend, alter or modify the operation of any law, rule or regulation relating to the apportionment, allocation, or expenditure of appropriated funds.”


 


The governor is attempting to steal the budget process and render the elected representatives in the legislature meaningless. It is vital that a constitutional amendment be passed ensuring that New York has the proper checks and balances that are expected and necessary in our democratic form of government.


 


Restoring the balance of power in the budget process


 


The Assembly’s new legislation and constitutional amendment to restore the balance of budget powers will:


 


·        require proposed spending to be consistent with existing law or proposed legislation, and when a consistency question arises, a fast-track review process will be triggered;


·        allow the Legislature to do more than simply reduce, strike or accept proposals in the governor’s budget that aren’t consistent with state law;


·        permit the Legislature to add items of appropriation to the governor’s budget based on proposed legislation introduced by the governor but modified or rejected by the Legislature; and


·        require the Legislature to explain the fiscal impact of any legislative additions to the governor’s budget proposal and identify its funding.


 


Implementing the reforms that are necessary for on-time budgets


 


·        move the start of New York’s fiscal year from April 1 to May 1 to allow for better revenue and spending projections and institute provisions to instill greater accountability in the process;


·        implement a contingency budget as a last resort if no spending plan is passed by May 1;


·        require a two-year appropriation for education aid that will help schools stay a step ahead by finally giving them the information they need, when they need it;


·        create a reserve fund in the state constitution to ensure sufficient funds exist for the payment of education aid in May and June of each year; and


·        establishes an independent nonpartisan budget office


 


The Senate passed the Assembly’s budget reform plan – it now awaits the governor’s signature – but the Senate has not passed the constitutional amendment legislation for a second time. I strongly urge the Senate to re-pass this vital constitutional amendment so it will be sure to go before the voters on Election Day, November 8th.

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Cold Stone Creamery fills out City Center Ground Floor.

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WPCNR MAMARONECK AVENUE AMBLER. From Cappelli Enterprises. February 16, 2005: Cold Stone Creamery, a highly successful Arizona-based ice cream retailer, opened its latest store at City Center in downtown White Plains.  Located at 25 Mamaroneck Avenue, Cold Stone Creamery features homemade ice creams that are custom blended on a frozen granite stone.

Founded in 1988 by Donald and Susan Sutherland, Cold Stone Creamery offers consumers a unique ice cream experience.  After creating a style of ice cream that was smooth and creamy, rather than the traditional hard-packed or soft-serve varieties, the Sutherlands eventually opened the first Cold Stone Creamery in Tempe, Arizona.  Using only the finest ingredients, they produced the highest quality ice cream available, making it fresh each day at their store on the “cold stone” which enabled them to create what they considered to be the perfect ice cream.


 


Word-of-mouth quickly spread about their unique ice cream and their start-up venture blossomed.  In 1995, the first franchise store opened in Tucson, Arizona, followed by the first out-of-state store in Camarillo, California.  Today, Cold Stone Creamery, which is privately held, has more than 900 stores across the country, with more than 1,000 additional stores now under consideration.  The company has two other Westchester locations, Rye and Scarsdale, and plans to open in Mount Kisco and Mamaroneck, as well as at two Rockland County locations, Nyack and West Nyack, and locations in Greenwich, Stamford and Norwalk, CT.


 


Cold Stone Creamery joins numerous other retailers and restaurateurs at City Center, a


1.1 million-square-foot retail, entertainment and residential complex.  Among the tenants are: a 150,000-square-foot Target; an 88,000-square-foot National Amusements Cinema de Lux with 15 screens, including an IMAX; a 38,000-square-foot Circuit City; a 27,000-square-foot Barnes and Noble; a 56,000-square foot New York Sports Club facility, opening this summer; a 16,000-square-foot Fountain Spa due to open in the fall; a 22,000-square-foot Office Max; a 17,000-square-foot Performing Arts Theater; an 8,000-square-foot Legal Sea Foods; an 8,000-square-foot Zanaro’s Italian Restaurant, a 6,500-square-foot Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar; a 6,600-square-foot Fleet Bank, a 5,300-square-foot Atlanta Bread Company; and a 3,700-square-foot Greenpoint Bank.


 


City Center also includes two 35-story luxury residential towers and an 11-story loft building


offering panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline, Long Island Sound, Westchester County


and the Hudson Valley, as well as a loft-style condominium.


 


One City Place, which opened in May 2004, contains 311 studio, one, two and three-


bedroom luxury rental apartments.  Trump Tower at City Center will feature 212 luxury


condominium residences and The Lofts at City Center will offer 27 distinctive, high-ceiling,


So-Ho loft-style condominium apartments and two luxury townhouses.  Both Trump Tower


and The Lofts are scheduled to be occupied beginning next fall.


 


Cappelli Enterprises Inc., the City Center developer, is a leading real estate developer and general contractor in the Northeast.  Headquartered in Valhalla, NY, the company has built more than five million square feet of mixed use, retail, waterfront, residential, office building, laboratory and parking facilities.

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Certiorari Coronary: Westchester One Gets $2,775,521 city tax refund Covers 4 Yr

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WPCNR School Days. By John F. Bailey. February 16, 2005: The White Plains Board of Education followed the recommendation of their counsel and approved the granting of a tax certiorari refund  of $2,775,521 to the owners of Westchester One, White Plains first modern office tower at 44 South Broadway at the regular Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening. The announcement exclusively to WPCNR brings the certiorari hemorrhages announced in the last two months to $3,794,015 to be paid out of the School District certiorari reserves.


 



The certiorari, according to Terrance Schruers, Assistant Superintendent for Business, was negotiated by the City of White Plains with Westchester One, after the findings of an appraisal done by the city through an independent appraiser.


 


The amount of the tax refund based on reassessment by the city is $2,775,521 and covers the last four years. WPCNR believes this settlement covers the years 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, and the current fiscal year, (2004-05). The figure was not announced at the televised portion of the Board of Education meeting. No School Board member saw fit to mention the figure to the viewing audience.


 


More to Come.


 


Schruers said in the televised portion of the meeting that the certiorari would be funded out of the school reserve for certioraris without further details. Scheurs added he expected more certiorari surprises to come.


 


 Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors asked by WPCNR what affect this would have on the School Budget proposal (now sitting at about $157,494,830, a 12.7% school tax increase,  Connors said he could not comment at this time. He said  he awaited City Assessor Eyde McCarthy’s appearance at the School Board February 28 for a clear picture of what the School District could expect from the city in increased PILOT payments.


 


Connors said he was optimistic.


 


As sale receipts increase. Certiorari red ink raises to $3.8 Million.


 


The certiorari news comes one week after WPCNR reported the city six month financial report showed the city is on track for a 12% increase in sales tax receipts. It is unclear whether the city took into account these latest rounds of certioraris in their budgeting calculations in their presentation to Moody’s Investors Service in mid-January when Moody’s held the line on their negative rating for city bonds and refused to lift it pending the city balancing its budget.


 


The blockbuster tax refund brings the total certiorari settlements agreed to be the city within the last two months (after the city chose not to contest the suits in court) to $3,794,015 and change.


 


The uncontested giveback consists of three refunds: a $613,469 refund to Nordstrom’s in The Westchester, followed by a $405,494.80 refund to Gateway 1 Group, owners of the Centrex office building on Main Street. The new assessment of Westchester One was not available at presstime.


 


The Renaissance Starter Sues and Gets a Tax Refund.


 


Westchester One is the business that started the White Plains Renaissance and the Mayor Delfino “boom,” five years ago.  Westchester One’s owner Bianco & Pep’e arranged to swap his land he owned on Brockway Place in exchange for land on which the former City Department of Public Works garage stood.


 


Mayor Delfino at that time pushed for the Shoprite proposal, favored by Nick Pep’e  because Mr. Pep’e, of the firm Bianco & Pep’e a long time “good corporate citizen” reported he was having problems leasing up his Westchester One office site due to lack of adequate parking at Westchester One 44 South Broadway’s own garage.


 


Mr. Pep’e at the time had suggested bringing a Shoprite Supermarket and building a garage for his Westchester One building.


 


Stop N Shop which owned the Post Road Bowling Alley and Bank of New York sites also proposed a supermarket on that site, with parking underneath the store and a new public works garage in the back. It was Shoprite vs. Stop N Shop in a battle of supermarket titans for the White Plains shopper’s soul.


 


 Eventually, the Common Council selected the Stop N Shop proposal.


 


The WPCNR News Archive story on this reporting the last marathon council meeting of August 5-6, 2001, reported:


 


At the time there was much talk from the Common Council members about Nicholas Pep’e and Stop N Shop combining their proposals. According to WPCNR observations, Councilpersons Rita Malmud, Pauline Oliva and Robert Greer suggested that Mr. Pep’e and Stop N Shop might explore how the two organizations could marry their two proposals.


 


Mr. Pep’e and Stop N Shop did meet after Stop N Shop was selected and came to a compromise plan which involved a swap of Stop N Shop land, the City DPW, and a new garage in exchange for the Pep’e property on Brockway Place for the new city DPW garage.


 


Seeking a compromise because he did not like the concept of a supermarket operating in front of garbage trucks (parked and cleaned at the old DPW garage behind the Bowling Alley and Bank, which was infested by rats), Mayor Joseph Delfino arranged a deal with Mr. Pep’e (a long Delfino supporter) to help Mr. Pep’e out with the  alleged Westchester One parking need and create what the Mayor described as a more workable project without “rats” living near a supermarket.


 


Mr. Pep’e gave the city land he owned off Brockway Place and built the city a new public works garage on it. In exchange the city tore  down its old bus depot turned Department of Public Works garage on the site behind where the new Stop N Shop stands today. Mr. Pep’e built a new three level parking garage.


 


The new Pep’e garage was built by Bianco & Pep’e of Scarsdale, which  uses the top floors for their tenants at Westchester One, while allowing Stop N Shop to use the ground floor of the garage for their supermarket.


 


Mayor Delfino noted at the time it was a great compromise for the city that helped the outstanding corporate citizen, Westchester One. Bianco & Pep’e agreed to give his land to the city in  a straightup exchange for the former DPW property in essentially a barter deal worth $6.4 Million.


 


The Nicoletti Surprise


 


The deal for the new garage eventually cost the city $1.2 Million in cold cash more because of cost overruns on the new Department of Public Works garage, brought about by Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti’s insistence on constructing the building with concrete pilings that he said would make the new public works garage last twenty years longer.


 


Of the $1.2 Million cost overrun,  $400,000 was spent for the pilings and $200,000 to move the Department of Purchasing  to 202 Westchester Avenue (housed in the former DPW Garage) and $600,000 to move the Youth Bureau (also housed in the old DPW garage)  to Eastview School, and renovate Eastview for the Youth Bureau according to New York State Education Department specifications.


 


Pep’e, as part of the agreement did not pay for the Nicoletti-inspired cost overruns or the move of the Youth Bureau and the Purchasing Department.


 


The council at 3:15 A.M., August 6, 2001, was miffed at Mr. Nicoletti and dressed him down on television. The $1.2 Million surprise then was bemoaned in this exchange between former Councilperson Pauline Oliva and Mayor Delfino, as reported August 6, 2001 on WPCNR:


 


Pauline Oliva said “I’m not as disturbed about the fact these things are going to be costing more. It’s just the way I feel we went about approving the contracts with the Pep’e and Stop N Shop people without a clause specifying either they would pay or we would share in the costs if an overrun occurs. We did a bad job there. All members of the council were under the impression it was an even exchange.”


 


Mayor Joseph Delfino questioned this logic: “It was always an understanding (with Pep’e) that we were getting equal value, the value was $6.4 million. Anything we added on, we would pay for. What would you have them do, give us a blank check? Would you do this (agree to pay cost overruns if you were the contractor)?”


 


Oliva rejoined: “To end up taking it out of the pockets of the people of the City of White Plains…well when a reporter called me about it (the cost overrun) and I heard your discussion, it was a big surprise to me. It just shocked me.”


 


Garage does not get heavy traffic today. Cars Stored There.


 


As it has turned out,  Mr. Pep’e may not have needed the new garage floors anyway, according to some observers. Observers have reported that the Pep’e upper floors are not being used for parking for Westchester One because new model cars belonging to a car dealership on Westchester Avenue are being stored on the second level. But, this has not been confirmed.


 


The city could not be reached for comment on the private appraiser’s reasons for lowering the Westchester One assessment, nor the actual figures on the assessment reduction.

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City Traffic Lane Lines Invisible on Rainy Nights. Clear Nights Too.

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WPCNR CITIZENS SAFETY ADVISORY NUMBER 4. February 15, 2005: Has the city been buying very cheap highway line paint? Because the lane dividing markers demonstrate little, if any demarcation in the evening in vehicle headlights. When it rains steadily, the white hash marks dividing lanes are virtually invisible on main streets. Citizens driving on our rainy streets have to concentrate especially hard visually to find where their traffic lanes are and stay lined up correctly. The highway lines we have are not dividing the streets safely. They are not all that visible in daylight, either.



Main Street Monday Night. Demarcation lines of traffic lanes virtually invisible. Photo by WPCNR News.


 

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WPCNR PHOTO OF THE DAY

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WPCNR PHOTO OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. February 15, 2005: Today’s snap is a soon-to-be-razed parking lot: the municipal parking lot between Bar Building and 189 Main Street. Cappelli Enterprises has not announced when the lot will be officially closed to demolition the Bar Building annex, but it could be any day now. Citizens scout out your casual parking now. The city has not announced alternative parking areas to replace the approximate 75-100 spaces.



Parking Squeeze Play By the White Plains CNR Roving Photographer.

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Bradley: Governor’s Contingency Budget Further Assails Education.

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WPCNR Aisles of Albany. February 14, 2005: Assemblyman Adam Bradley of the 89th District released a statement Monday sharply criticising Governor’s George Pataki’s contingency budget. Mr. Bradley states:


 


The governor’s release of a contingency budget is further evidence of his effort to become a virtual budget czar, dictating state spending and laws without input from citizens and their representatives in the Legislature. Among other things, the governor’s contingency budget further underfunds education – leaving school districts and property-taxpayers to foot the bill for his wrong choices. For schools in my district, the contingency budget would mean a cut of $3.5 million compared to what the governor proposed just a month ago in his Executive budget.  This proposal is unacceptable since it does not deal with any of the structural problems which need real reform.”

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Walking Club to Launch at The Westchester

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WPCNR EAST SIDER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. February 11, 2005: Westchester County and The Westchester are launching a new walking club called “Be Fit” at The Westchester in White Plains Feb. 15 at 12 noon. (Meet at horse fountain retail level 2.) County Executive Andy Spano will lead the walk that day.



The club will officially begin Friday, Feb. 18 and will hold walks Tuesdays and Fridays from 8-10 a.m. The walks are led by a county parks department employee who is a registered nurse and nutritionist. Club members get free pedometers and log books to track the number of miles they have walked. The mall is offering prizes to walkers who complete 25, 50 and 100 miles at the mall. The first 25 people to sign up will also get free t-shirts, and free parking is available to registered walkers between 8 a.m. and 12 noon on club days.

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