Stockard Channing Hosts Top Hat & Tails Ball for Unfortunate Dogs and Cats, Oct.

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WPCNR DOINGS. From SPCA. September 30, 2006:  The SPCA of Westchester has announced  that Stockard Channing, movie, television and stage actress, will act as the host of its fourth annual Top Hat & Tails fundraiser on Saturday, October 14, 2006 at historic Lyndhurst mansion in Tarrytown, NY.  Channing will emcee the evening’s program, reinforcing to attendees the urgency of the prevention of abuse to animals.


“Stockard Channing is not only an incredible actress and personality, she is a friend to animals and she believes in our mission,” said Deborah Mehne, Chairman of the Board of Directors.  “We are honored and privileged to have her help in raising awareness about animal cruelty in Westchester.”


Like other guests at the event, Channing will attend with her dogs Bishop and Louie. 


Channing has a celebrated acting career, spanning many genres. In  2006, she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in “Out of Practice.” Channing was nominated for the 1994 Academy Award  Best Actress for her role as Ouisa Kittredge in “Six Degrees of Separation” (a reprisal of her role in the Broadway show).  Her movie roles include Rizzo in the movie musical “Grease” and a free-spirited woman who falls in love on the Internet in the film “Must Love Dogs.”


Channing’s television career includes an award-winning performance in the television movie “The Matthew Shepard Story,” in which she played Shepard’s mother, and playing First Lady Abigail Bartlett on the popular series “The West Wing.”  Her stage career includes starring roles in “The Lion in Winter,” “Joe Egg,” “House of Blue Leaves,” and “Four Baboons Adoring the Sun,” among others.


The event (black-tie optional) will include dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions and an awards ceremony. There will also be a fashion show where furry, four-legged friends will work the “dogwalk”, and music will be provided by “Furry Murray and the Bow Wow Band”.


A not-for-profit humane organization, the SPCA of Westchester serves as the sole animal cruelty prevention and intervention agency for Westchester County.  Each year our agents investigate over 1,000 cases of suspected animal abuse resulting in steps to correct the problem if evidence of cruelty is found.  Through our Simpson Spay/Neuter Clinic, the SPCA offers to the public low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations in an effort to help people keep their pets healthy.  Each year our animal shelter adopts more than 800 homeless companion animals into loving new homes and reunites another 300 lost pets with their families.  Recognized as a “no-kill” shelter, the SPCA never euthanizes an adoptable animal unless it is terminally ill and suffering or exhibits extreme aggression.  The SPCA of Westchester was voted Best Animal Shelter of 2005 by Westchester Magazine.   For more information, visit www.spca914.org.


 

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Minor Food Smoke Alarm Evacuates Wal Mart.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. September 29, 2006: The White Plains Police report this evening that about forty minutes ago the fire department was called to respond to a food smoke alarm at Wal-Mart. The officer on duty said there was no fire. Witnesses noted that shoppers were evacuated from Wal-Mart while White Plains Firemen explored the situation.

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Defining Neighborhood Businesses tightly

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THE WPCNR WEEKLY POLL. September 29, 2006: This week one hundred persons filled the public meeting area at Education House to protest Walgreen’s planned takeover of the former Sports Page site on Mamaroneck Avenue at the Rosedale Avenue intersection. On White Plains Week, the Dean of White Plains Journalism, Jim Benerofe, in discussing the subject suggested that the Walgreen’s move is just the beginning and could lead to a second downtown. Mr. Benerofe raised the issue that the city might wish to define in very clear terms what a “neighborhood business” is. WPCNR has devised this week’s poll to see what Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains think. Vote by clicking your choice at the right.

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Custodians Reach Accord Reap 7.4% Raise Over 4 Years. $14.4M in New Benees

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WPCNR LABOR LETTER. From Kate Feranti, SEIU. (EDITED) September 29, 2006: The Local 32BJ Westchester Bargaining Committee tonight announced a tentative four-year agreement on a $247 million contract for 1,250 residential building service workers that maintains fully employer-paid health care coverage and pension security, provides a 7.4%  (1.9% per year) pay increase over the life of the contract and creates a wage standard for all workers.


The contract is top-weighted with new health benefits. The tentative agreement will provide an additional $14.4 million in health care coverage – a 65% increase from the previous contract.  By the end of the contract in 2010, workers will earn an additional $50 per week in wages.



“At a time when employers are pushing health care costs onto employees, we successfully maintained fully employer paid family health insurance,” said Héctor Figueroa, Local 32BJ Secretary-Treasurer.  “Further, we secured a fair wage increase and established a first ever wage floor to ensure higher standards for all members.”


“This contract is a major victory for Local 32BJ members, who were stronger and more united than ever,” said Mike Duffy, Local 32BJ Westchester District Supervisor.  “It not only provides current workers with the wages and benefits they need to support their families, it raises the bar for future wages.”

The tentative agreement is subject to ratification by the union membership next Thursday.  It was reached at 6 pm on Friday night, one day before the expiration date, and averted a strike that would have affected more than 450 buildings across Westchester County.

Earlier this year, Local 32BJ negotiated a contract for 28,000 New York City residential workers that maintained employer-paid health care, secured pensions and provided a wage increase.

With more than 85,000 members in six states and Washington, DC, including 4,500 in Westchester, Local 32BJ is the largest property services union in the U.S.

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Cibelli-Power to Debate on Cable TV for Council Seat

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WPCNR THE VOTING BOOTH. From The League of Women Voters. September 29, 2006:


The White Plains League of Women Voters will hold a televised debate on White Plains Cable Access on Wednesday, October 18 at 7pm, featuring Dennis Power and Cass Cibelli, the two candidates for the open seat on the White Plains Common Council. This will be a live call-in program to be shown on Cable 75. You may submit your question by calling 422-1419 or 422-1420 at the time of the program.


 



 


Dennis POWER —


Cass CIBELLI


10 ROUNDS ON WPGA-TV, OCT. 18 7 PM CHANNEL 75


                                                                  


Cable 75 will rebroadcast the program on the following Wednesdays at 7:30 pm (Oct.25 and Nov 1) and Saturdays (Oct. 28 and Nov.4) at 3:00 pm.


 


 

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Ms. “For The Record,” Janice Minieri to Retire as City Clerk After 35 years

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. September 29, 2006: An indispensable and loyal public servant in the ideal sense has announced her retirement. Janice Minieri is leaving the post of City Clerk after thirty-five years of service to the city. Ms. Minieri who is responsible for city records, such as marriage licenses, birth certificates, and the City Charter, and dispenses the mysterious Rossetta Stone of city government: the monthly Common Council Agenda and booby-trapped “backup material” while recording faithfully the Common Council proceedings through the years of  Urban Renewal, the building of the Galleria, the Westchester, right through to the Renaissance of today.


 She has sworn in the legends of City Hall, Alfred Del Vecchio, Mary Ann Keenan, Michael Keating, Mike Coffey, Robert Ruger, Jo Falcone, Rita Malmud, Joseph Delfino, Robert Greer. Ms. Minieri has run an office that has always been polite and efficient in the way it treats the public, and has always treated the distinguished members of the press with the dignity and respect they deserve. 



Janice Minieri, City Clerk, Retiring. She is seen at her post at the Common Council, 2001.  



A Minieri Moment, consulting with then private citizen, Adam Bradley, prior to swearing Glen Hockley (in background) on March 15, 2002 after the Court of Appeals decided the historic Hockley-Delgado jammed voting machine case.



Janice Minieri, swearing in Councilman Glen Hockley, March 15, 2002.


Photos WPCNR News Archive.


 

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WPCNR Photograph of the Day

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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Flying Photographer. September 29, 2006: This morning’s photograph is a view of the legendary Hudson River Valley looking South from Poughkeepsie.



The Meandering Hudson River Valley, viewed South from Poughkeepsie, NY. Croton Point is in the top of the pictorial.


Photo by the WPCNR Flying Photographer

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Feiner Reports Con Edison to Study Underground Conversion.

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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. September 28, 2006: A few weeks ago, after the Con Ed power outage, I started a lobbying effort urging Con Ed to conduct a study to determine whether it’s feasible to place lines underground. I am pleased that Con Ed has agreed to conduct the study. This is a very positive step – that will enable ratepayers to determine if it makes sense to be proactive. Some residents of Greenburgh have been out of power 5…6…or 7 times this year alone! Many of the power outages happened because of downed trees. If power lines are placed underground we will reduce the potential for severe power outages –like the outages we experienced in 2006.



If Con Ed can’t place wires on every street – all at once—they should consider placing the wires below ground near schools, hospitals, municipal buildings, nursing homes, major business locations.


I have written to Con Ed and am requesting that Greenburgh be one of the areas that are included in the study.

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Chess Wars at the Fountain Saturday 10 to 1

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WPCNR PRESS BOX From David Maloney. The Mayor’s Office. September 28, 2006:  The City of White Plains Youth Bureau, Recreation and Parks Department, White Plains Downtown Business Improvement District along with Universal Goju Way of Life is sponsoring a Chess Festival at Renaissance Plaza, Downtown White Plains on Saturday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to 1:00 P.M.

White Plains has become a Chess City for youth and adults  with nearly 300 students playing chess in youth programs and chess offered throughout the White Plains School District.  White Plains is also home to America’s number one youth Chess Player – Hikaru Nakamura.

The public is invited to attend.

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Feiner: Con Edision Missed Just a Few Downed Wires.

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WPCNR’S THE FEINER REPORT. By Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. September 29, 2006: As the Chairman of Con Edison, Kevin Burk, initiated his appearance at a county sponsored hearing on what Con Edison is planning to improve its future responses and reporting and correcting of power outages, Supervisor Feiner has discovered from his constituents that Con Edison has not gotten Greenburgh all cleaned up of wire conditions:



THIS E MAIL WAS SENT TO CON ED OFFICIALS.


I am writing to report that Con Ed still has downed wires around town from the last storm. Last night, at a Greenburgh Town Board meeting we received complaints about downed wires on Old Army Road. These downed wires could pose a danger to young children who might be attracted to the wires.
I have been advised that there may be other downed wires around town –and around the county. I request that Con Ed address this problem immediately and also request that you consider taking other  appropriate measures to protect children from these downed wires.


PAUL FEINER


Greenburgh Town Supervisor

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