City to Approve $414,784 in Certioraris to Sears & Ivy Equities on Wal-Mart Bldg

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. October 2, 2006: Another big-time ceritorari refund settlement scheduled to be approved by the Common Council as part of the consent agenda Tuesday evening will lower the city assessment roll $500,000 on the 275 Main Street building and parking scructure now home to Wal-Mart.


The tax refunds consist of $276,812.50 to Sears Roebuck and Co. for the tax years 1999-00 through the tax year 2003-2004, and a $137,971.50 refund to 275 Main Street Associates (a division of Ivy Equities — according to John Martin who sits on the City’s Board of Assessment Review) for the tax years 2004-05 and 2005/2006. The total cost of the two certioraris to the city is $458,750 (including “legal judgments:”), according to the council backup material. The assessment on the 275 Main Street building for tax purposes declines from $1.7 Million to $1.2 Million.


The refund sets in motion a future certiorari refund from the city school district, which WPCNR estimates to be in the range of a little less than  $1.6 Million.


Martin told WPCNR, speaking from his office at All New York Title Agency in White Plains,  that now that Wal-Mart is in the 275 Main Street building, the city may begin reassessment procedures on the property in January prepartory to preparing the new tax roll by April 1, 2007. Martin also said that according to the County Clerk records,  Sears transferred its lease of the building to Ivy Equities in May, 2003, but he did not know the details of what the arrangements were on the transfer of lease or the settlement. In effect, Ivy Equities is getting a tax refund for the two years they owned the structure when it was vacant and they were renovating the structure in preparation for Wal-Mart coming in. 


The Common Council is also on schedule to approve a Memorandum of Agreement between the City and the New York Presbyterian Hospital that would pave the way for the hospital to give White Plains a 5.5 acre park on the Bryant Avenue side of the property. The agenda:


COMMON COUNCIL AGENDA REGULAR STATED MEETING



October 3, 2006


7:30 P.M.



PLEDGE TO THE FLAG: Hon. Rita Malmud


 


INVOCATION: Rev. Frank Williams


Bethel Baptist Church


 


 


ROLL CALL: City Clerk


 


RECOGNITION: Service Awards


 


FIRST READING


ORDINANCES:




Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to the settlement of various tax review proceedings.


Ordinance authorizing the settlement of certain tax review proceedings.


 


Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5278, Miscellaneous Street Reconstruction FY 2006-07.


Communication from Environmental Officer


Environmental Findings Resolution


Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5278, Miscellaneous Street Reconstruction FY 2006/07.


 


Bond Ordinance authorizing the issuance of $1,260,000 bonds of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay part of the cost of the reconstruction of various City streets or street segments and related improvements, including Macy and Sherman Avenues.


 


Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. CW5277, Replace/Reconstruct Various Water Lines FY 2006-07.


Communication from Environmental Officer


Environmental Findings Resolution


Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. W5277, Replace/Reconstruct Various Water Lines FY 2006/07.


Bond Ordinance authorizing the issuance of $1,500,000 bonds of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay part of the cost of water system improvements throughout and in and for said City.


 


Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5279, Renovations to Fire Facilities FY 2006-07.


Communication from Environmental Officer


Environmental Findings Resolution


Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5279, Renovations to Fire Facilities FY 2006/07.


Bond Ordinance authorizing the issuance of $250,000 bonds of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay part of the cost of the rehabilitation of various fire station facilities in and for said City.


 


Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5276, Municipal Parking Lot Rehabilitation.


Communication from Environmental Officer


Environmental Findings Resolution


Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5276, Municipal Parking Lot Rehabilitation.


 


 


Communication from Commissioner of Public Works in relation to agreements with Shell Hydrogen LLC to construct and maintain a refueling station at the City Garage.


Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into various agreements with Shell Hydrogen LLC, to construct and maintain a hydrogen refueling station to be located at the City’s Garage at Kensico Avenue and Brockway Place.


 


Communication from Commissioner of Public Safety in relation to a donation in the amount of $1,000 from Target Corporation.


Ordinance authorizing the amendment of the FY 2006-2007 General Fund Budget in order to reflect a donation to the Department of Public Safety.


 


 


Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to the appropriation and re-allocation of Community Development fund balance.


Ordinance amending the Community Development fund balance by appropriating fund balance and allocating such increase to the Rehabilitation Revolving Fund Program.


 


Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to an amendment to the General Fund Budget to reflect an increase in receipts and expenses for the Summer Excel Summer Camp at Ridgeway School.


Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “An ordinance authorizing an amendment to the General Fund Budget to reflect receipt and expenditure of camp fees for the Summer Excel Summer Camp at Ridgeway School.”


 


Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the White Plains School District to operate and staff Club Excel.


Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a contract with the White Plains School District to operate and staff Club Excel After School Program Learning Centers.


 


Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a grant from the White Plains Downtown Business Improvement District in support of the Downtown Street Ambassador’s Program.


Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to accept the amount of $500 on behalf of the City of White Plains Youth Bureau, from the White Plains Downtown Bid.”


Communication from Deputy Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), to receive a grant in the amount of $100,000.


Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), to receive a grant in the amount of $100,000, to provide substance abuse prevention services to White Plains youth.


 


Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with Student Assistance Services Corporation (“SAS”) to train and provide a Project Success Counselor to work at White Plains Middle Schools.


Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a contract with Student Assistance Services Corporation (“SAS”) to train and provide a Project Success Counselor assigned to work at White Plains Middle Schools.


 


Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a grant in the amount of $58,242, from the Westchester Clubmen to operate the Higher Aims Program.


Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the Westchester Clubmen to receive funding in the amount of $58,242, to operate “The Clubmen Higher Aims Program” for the period of October 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.


 


Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to an award in the amount of $2,000 from the Association of New York State Youth Bureaus Board, to support the Youth Board Development II Training.


Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to accept an award in the amount of $2,000, on behalf of the City of White Plains, an award to the Youth Bureau, from the Association of New York State Youth Bureaus Board.


 


Communication from the Mayor in relation to the extension of Compensatory Benefits for City Officers and Employees who are members of the Armed Forces Reserves ordered to active military duty as a result of Executive Order 13223.




Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “An ordinance granting Compensatory Benefits for up to six months to City Officers and Employees who are members of the Armed Forces Reserves and who are ordered to active military duty pursuant to Executive Order 13223 signed by the President of the United States on September 14, 2001, or other duty compelled by Federal or State Law related to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.”


 


Communication from Chairman, Traffic Commission, in relation to proposed amendments to the Traffic Ordinance at various locations around the City.


Ordinance amending the Traffic Ordinance of the City of White Plains in relation to No Parking, One Hour Parking, Two Hour Parking Monday through Friday, and No Standing At Any Time.


 


RESOLUTIONS:




Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to the waiver of interest due on overdue taxes on the property known as 24 Fisher Lane and now owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.


 


Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains reducing or remitting in whole or in part interest and penalties associated with the accrual of past taxes against the premises known as 24 Fisher Lane and now owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.


Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of White Plains and Royal Charter Properties Westchester (aka New York Presbyterian Hospital), located at 120 Bloomingdale Road.


Communication from Environmental Officer


Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Mayor to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of White Plains and Royal Charter Properties Westchester, Inc. (aka New York Presbyterian Hospital).


 


Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to a Tax Abatement Agreement for the Armory Plaza Apartments.


Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains terminating the Tax Abatement Agreement with Armory Plaza Associates, authorizing a Tax Abatement Agreement with the new owner(s) of the Armory Plaza Apartments, and approving the formation of either a re-development company under Article V of the New York Private Housing Finance Law (“PHFL”), or a housing development fund company, under Article XI of PHFL, to own the Armory Plaza Apartments and maintain same as low income senior housing for a period of 30 years.


 


ITEM FOR REFERRAL:




Communication from the Deputy City Clerk in relation to an application submitted on behalf of Heyman Properties, LLC, White Plains Plaza Realty, 1 North Broadway, for an amendment to a previously approved site plan, and submitting a revised photo rendering of the proposed improvements to the lobby area.


Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to an application submitted on behalf of Heyman Properties, LLC , White Plains Plaza Realty, 1 North Broadway, for an amendment to a previously approved site plan, and defining the process to amend the Special “S” Zone approval on the property


Communication from the Deputy City Clerk in relation to a request submitted on behalf of Pinnacle-Westchester LLC, for a six-month extension with regard to the submission of a Guaranty Agreement and Posting of Financial Security, with respect to the proposed construction of fifty-two (52) units of affordable housing to be built at 260 Main Street.


 


Communication from the Deputy City Clerk in relation to a request submitted on behalf of Jefferson at White Plains, L.P., 300 Mamaroneck Avenue, for an amendment to a previously approved site plan to reallocate parking on the property as a result of changes in the City’s trash collection procedures, and authorizing the use of the model unit for residential use.


ITEM FOR INFORMATION:


Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to the requested submitted on behalf of Jefferson at White Plains, L.P., 300 Mamaroneck Avenue, for an amendment to a previously approved site plan to reallocate parking on the property as a result of changes in the City’s trash collection procedures, and authorizing the use of the model unit for residential use.

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Hits Keep on Coming from Westchester’s Super Producers – Katz & Katz

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. October 2, 2006: The Irvington Town Hall Theatre was filled to capacity two nights in a row over the weekend thanks to the uncanny sensitivity of what the public wants from a non-profit theatre-producing team that has been entertaining Westchester for 27 years. They’re “The Schuberts of White Plains”  The First Lady of Westchester Theatre, Susan Katz and the thorough and meticulous “phantom in the wings,” her husband, Peter Katz. Ms. Katz is the lady with the intuition for programs that pull in the audiences. Mr. Katz is the marketing genius who puts the customers in the seats. The pair of impresarios have been quietly running Westco Productions for 27 years.  Westco is Westchester’s first non-profit professional theatre group, and the Super Producers have never had to explain deficits to their Board of Directors – because Westco has never run a deficit.


 



That Old Smoothie, Livingston Taylor — the Victor Borge with a guitar — and fingers that make one guitar sound like a bunch of sidemen, and can make a keyboard sing entertained, charmed and inspired with his satire, wisecracks, and soulful songs of the human spirit Saturday night before another sellout for the Super Producers. Photo, Courtesy, Westco Productions.




Because The Katzes Know theatre. The hyper-enthusiastic Susan Katz chooses the programming for the public events, while her husband, Peter Katz handles the marketing. Though Westco is the beneficiary of some 22 public foundations, the public events have to work and draw patrons, because the proceeds of these performances like Livingston Taylor and Judy Collins pay for the staging of performances in hospitals for children, kids theatre workshops, Broadway Babes, and other Westco firsts.


 



Artist Livingston Taylor, with The First Lady of Westchester Theatre, Susan Katz after Mr. Taylor’s performance Saturday night. Photo, Courtesy Westco Productions.



 There was tangible evidence that Westchester’s “Super Producers” know what the Westchester audience wants in the Friday and Saturday evenings in one of Westchester County’s theatre masterpieces, The Irvington Town Hall Theatre.


 



 


When Livingston Taylor strode on stage in his Brooks Brothers blue shirt, preppy sweater, sharp-pressed slacks and bowtie, reminiscent in appearance of a Smothers Brother, I, not knowing the performer did not know what to expect. Warming up on chords he set the audience at ease in what seems to be the new style of concerteers today – building and working rapport with the audience – raconteuring and treating the theatre as if it was their living room – like the Playboy Mansion party.


 


The 400 patrons of the arts in the seats knew him. Mr. Taylor proceeded to win me, a brutal critic of folksingers, over with a combination of humor, virtuoso six-string guitar playing, and conversational quips and facial quirks and his sensitive songs – a little bit ballad, a little bit pop, a little bit satire – that connected with the well-heeled upper middle class base that the Katzs know how to please.


 


Mr. Taylor, a songwriter and musician on guitar and piano, brother of James Taylor, performed selections from his newest CD, There You Are Again, the title song of which he performed in the second half of the two hour show  seemed to fly by. There You Are Again is quintessential Livingston Taylor, a song deeply personal we can all identify with, speaking truth to our soul, when we least expect it when we’re down the memory of an old flame “on the wind” puts us back on course.


 


Taylor tapped deep into the roots of folk music accompanying himself on piano  and on guitar on two civil war songs that spoke to the cost of war in a truly personal way – the thoughts of a Confederate soldier of his family as he lay dying which Mr. Taylor dedicated to his older brother Alex – and later on a new Taylor song, Carolina he sung of the thoughts of a soldier in the field as he spared the life of another soldier whose gun had jammed. Yes, they were war songs, but they spoke to the humanness inside of us all that in the callousness of today still is there. Taylor songs come together with the intricacies of lyric that rival Cole Porter in their inventiveness.


 


Taylor got into some old-time gospel music playing a mean black bottom piano where he sang two jubilant gospel songs he has written. The second, Step-by-Step chronicled the departure from faith that many experience in life in a most unique way – mentioning those modern scourges: drugs and alcohol – and how Jesus can bring you back. This brought out “Oh yeahs” from the gospel aficionados in the audience.  Taylor just makes those ivories sing behind his voice while when he plays guitar his fingered picks make one guitar sound like three. His playing “guitar sound beds” on his guitar while talking over his guitar playing and joking with the audience I liken to a Victor Borge playing the guitar.


 


This was particularly evident in Taylor’s tour de force, I Can Fly, a tribute to the pioneers of flight, Wilbur and Orville Wright in which he rhymed and worked in no nonsense words: hubris, heavier, Lilienthal, Langley, Chanute, pitch, drag, and thrust, warping and rudder into a song that like the Wright Brothers plane – flies!


 


(Taylor is artist in residence at Harvard University and a professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He is an avid pilot with over 4,000 hours of flight time, hence his admiration of the Wright Brothers. He even flew his Cessna to Westchester County Airport for the concert.)


 


But I’ll say this, Mr. Taylor is the man who flies – rarely have I been at a concert particularly of the folk variety where some songs haven’t made me yawn with their simplicity of cliché and saccharine appeal to liberal bleeding hearts.


 


There are no simple Livingston Taylor songs. No Taylor songs that do not involve your heart, mind, feelings and mess with your head as all the great songs do. From I’m in My Pajamas to one of his spoofs of folk music “Railroad Bill” in which the songwriter and the main character argue in the song about what the main character will do in the song, every Taylor song makes you listen to each word to delve you deeper into the story of the music.


 


A song that connected with us old married couples was “Best Friends” that brought home the intangibles of marriage for some who perhaps had forgotten them. That’s why Taylor has been performing successfully for years on the concert circle, he sings about the truths of life.


 


Taylor even dueted on request of a young member of the audience on a request, “I wish I were a cowboy” that the young lady wanted to sing for her mother in the audience. Taylor made the most of this moment, getting maximum laughs without making fun of the young lady even sitting in the audience while she stood on stage with his guitar – and he got her to sing – dueted with her. Well, he was so much at ease it was all one big party Saturday night. Taylor had so much fun he sat on the stage signing autographs for 45 minutes after the show. At one point in the show Taylor said how much he was enjoying this (putting on the concert), it showed.


 


 


 



The previous evening on Friday night, the Westco Wizards drew another enthusiastic and attentive audience to see internationally acclaimed Russian artists, headlined by violinist Mela Tenenbaum in a chamber concert celebrating Mozart’s 250th birthday. Photo, Courtesy Westco Productions


 


An all-star phalanx of some of the world’s top symphony orchestras drew an entirely different and attentive audience. In addition to Mela Tenenbaum,, the resident solist with the Kiev Chamber Orchestra from 1979 to 1989, concertmaster of the Philharmonica Virtuosi from 1993. Before leaving the Soviet Union, she premiered numerous works written for her by Russian and Ukranian composers. She has soloed with the Seattle Chamber Music Festival, Arcady Music Festival and the Indian River Festival in Canada and Friday night she was brought to Irvington Town Hall Theatre by Westco. 


 


 




Ms. Tenenbaum, shown here,  was joined by her husband in the all-star ensemble, Alexandr Tenenbaum, who has toured the world and held down principal violin with the Kiev Chamber Orchestra and State Symphony Orchestra and Russia’s Perpetuum Mobile. Photo, Courtesy Westco Productions


 


Another star in the Westco “company” is the Irvington Town Hall Theatre. The acoustics were praised by Judy Collins who appeared last month brought in by Westco in Ms. Collins first Westchester appearance in years. She has even agreed to come back to do another concert for Westco in the spring.  The Irvington ambience was praised again by Mr. Taylor Saturday night.


 


The Tenenbaums had the best praise, being especially pleased with the aliveness of the sound. Considering their experience it was high praise indeed. The Irvington Town Hall Theatre is theatre nostalgia. Its balconies overlook the proscenium, much like Old Ford’s Theatre. Its unobstructed sweep of first level seats and graceful balcony rake and lacquered floors and comfortable antique seats make an theatre goer feel like they are in a theatre, and a performer feel an initimate connection with the audience and the performers past.


 


The secret to the Katz’s success: noting successful acts across the country, knowing the tastes of their audiences, pricing it right, and an easy-going intelligent negotiating technique.  They command a high degree of respect among artists, agents, stage organizations for the way in which they treat artists, performers, managers, technicians and theatrical suppliers before, during, and after the show.


 


Westco and its Super Producers are a non-profit theatre operation that is totally professional.

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White Plains Restaurants We’d Like to See

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WPCNR  FUNNY PAPERS By John F. Bailey. October 1, 2006: Unlike the legendary rumpled scotch drinking reporters of yore, the Runyans, Winchells, Sullivans, Kilgallens and Parkers this reporter does not have a Table 51 reserved for him, though the White Plains Week “News Amigos” have been known to frequent City Limits and Sam’s of Gedney Way.


 Now why is that? I suggest it is because City Limits and Sam’s of Gedney Way, The Sports Page (America’s original sports bar), and The Bengel Tiger, give you a White Plains experience. You have the chains: Legal Seafood and Applebee’s, and the quintessential high class places: Trotter’s and Mulino’s, Luna, Coughlins, and Cafe Blue and the solid pizza, neighborhood restaurant places: Magnotta’s, Francesco’s and Italian Pavilion. Then you have the sports bars.   Now, I got to thinking the other night that White Plains has potential niche audiences that can create restaurant “experiences” Dream along with me and get out your bankroll:


 


 


The Brief — The lawyer’s bar.


You can’t walk the sidewalks of  White Plains without bumping into a lawyer, so I would open a lawyer’s bar. Perhaps in Mr. Cappelli’s 189 Street address.  I’d call it The Brief — the wall covering would be  famous caselaw like Hockley-Delgado,  Concerned Citizens for Open Space vs. New York Presbyterian Hospital.  Barristers could brush up on their Shakespeare while waiting for those heavyweight developer clients to arrive. The maitre d’ would be behind a Judges Bench.


Tables would be separated by typical courtroom ballustrades with swinging ornate gates. Glaring down from the high ceiling domed interior would be portraits of White Plains Judges: JoAnn Friia, Kenneth Lange, get the picture, counselors?  


Serving personnel (Bailiffs) would be dressed in court officer uniform. The bar area would be a double-decked juror’s box.  And, of course an ornate chandelier. Television sets over the Jury Box bars would tune to Court TV. Court proceedings from the Westchester County Court House and City Court would be piped in on closed circuit TV (illegal — but generous rights fees in a bankrupt state should overturn that.)


The Rotunda — The City Hall Restaurant


Strolling down Main Street in the not too distant future after the White Plains city administration sells the municipal garage for a new Municipal Building, City Hall will be turned into a museum and restaurant for the City of White Plains and Westchester County (Westchester County does not have a museum for itself).


To support the museum there will be restaurant I call The Rotunda, with the Common Council Chambers transformed with white tablecloth elegance, the menus will be “Agendas,” each patron will have a name plate at miniature “Council desks” with portraits of past Councilpersons staring kindly down at them. Specials would be read-aloud as Additions to the Agenda. 


The Mayor’s Office, the Executive Officer’s office and Conference Room: “Where White Plains Deals are cut” can be reserved for special occasions where chinese food in paper containers, trays of deli sandwiches piled high, and pizza can be ordered to simulate real city hall meetings of the past. Meals would be prepared by “Consulting Chefs,” a different chef and meal cuisine every month, and the meals would be Lutece-expensive. Servers would be young men in white shirts and ties with long sleeves rolled up, ties slightly loose for nostalgia’s sake. Complimentary cellphones to consulting advisors would be at each table. Former city employees and commissioners (the list of “former Commissioners” has been growing lately) would enjoy a lifetime discount.  


Ritz Restaurants We’d Like to See


Lou’s Developer’s Den


Strolling down from City Hall and into the North Condominium tower of the completed Ritz Carlton, in a little side bar off the Ritz,  the movers and shakers of White Plains will enjoy themselves at Lou’s Developer’s Den, where the wall coverings are site plans, the tables drafting tables, slightly tilted, with light boxes to discuss slides of renderings over lunch. The servers would be outstanding young men and women, dressed in typical construction worker garb, bandanas, vests, boots utility jeans who will phone in your order on their walkee-talkees to the kitchen. Models of projects The Super Developer has built and has in progress would decorate the alcoves. The long bar would be four steel beams — the bartenders will wear hardhats. The televisions would be tuned to MSNBC, The Travel Channel, to stimulate ideas. A couple of small earth-moving machines in the corners. The ceilings low, of course, also steel beams.


White Plains Vegas World


Should the rough and tumble of The Developer’s Den not be to your taste, simply take the elevator up to the 50th Floor and avail yourself of one of two restaurants in the sky overlooking White Plains and Westchester — White Plains Vegas World— a casino in the sky, with games of chance every night for charity — a perpetual gala fundraiser where monies gambled and lost go directly to charity, and monies won purchase a meal. All the great games will be there: Black Jack, Poker, slots (where you play for meal chips), and the atmosphere of Las Vegas will prevail. Tjhe perfect entertainment. Sound like fun? You bet it is!


Dames & Divas


On the Main Street side of the Ritz — off the hotel lobby,  I envision Dames & Divas  the restaurant for women on their way, who’ve arrived and are at the top. Fashion shows at luncheon and dinner featuing men and women’s fashion. Salads and fish and vegetables only. Luxurious ladies lounges only, with no porcelain tile. Posh booths, elegant china with French Antique telephones at every table. The video screens tuned to Oprah, The View, The Katie Couric Evening News. The servers: only men.


Delfino’s


At the top of the 55 Story south tower — is the other restaurant in the sky: Delfino’s —  complete with its Renaissance Room a place dedicated to America’s Favorite Mayor — the projects he has built, pictures of the Mayor down through the years — as consummate salesman, public servant and leader. It’s decorated in the City Hall cherrywood paneling that evokes the atmosphere Delfino loves. The restaurant will rotate to show all views of Westchester County, and points North and South.


  The servers  in suits will say, “I can’t thank you enough for coming, welcome to Delfino’s” It’s a no-nonsense men’s place that cuts through and serves classic American food and Apple Pie.


Deadline USA


That not to your liking? You’re more the cynical journalist type? Then stroll down to the Old Reporter Dispatch building and duck into my fantasy reporter’s bar, Deadline USA.  Inside you’ll find teletype tickers clacking away the new of the world from the AP and UPI, plus television screens tuned to News 12, CNN, Fox News, the BBC,  — every news channel, plus every latest edition of the world’s great newspapers. Clocks on the wall will read out the times of the world: LONDON MOSCOW BAGHDAD ROME LOS ANGELES KANSAS CITY CHICAGO WHITE PLAINS. The tables, with newsprint table cloths will each have a portable typewriter and a complimentary pack of Luckys and ashtray, and green bankers lamps. The wallpaper will have famous frontpages of all time.  Servers will be cuties in 1940s suits, wearing pillbox hats with little “PRESS” tags on their lapels. The waiters also in suits will wear fedoras. The soundtrack — 1940s swing. Movies will play continuously of famous newspaper movies like His Girl Friday. The bar will be long and in cherry wood, with editor-types in eyeshades


Then of course, there’s other restaurants I’d like to see:  the Planners & Players Cafe — the short order restaurant that looks like the interior of the White Plains planning department; CCOS on the Green — the outdoor restaurant on Silver Lake, and the Public Safety restaurant, Badge & Hose for law enforcement and fire types — where the police scanner forms the soundtrack, menus are delivered in code. The restaurant is divided into divisions.


Just one of these establishments would brighten up the White Plains scene considerably.

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2 Arrested in Multiple Stabbing Attack Friday Night. WPHS Student a Victim.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. October 1, 2006: Two 19 year-olds from Yonkers have been charged with second degree gang assault stemming from the Friday night “ruckus” on Mitchell Place. Two younger teens, one a junior at White Plains High School were, according to police stabbed “multiple times” in the alternation. Both are at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla.


Sean Brooks, 16, of White Plains is described as being in fair condition. Frederick Harris, 17, was described as in critical condition by Westchester Medical Center


Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Daniel Jackson supplied the information on the arrests to The Journal News, which reported the developments Sunday morning. No details on what provoked the attacks were provided by police.


Nakia Garrnet, 19, of 80 School Street and Charles Dozier, 19 of 116 Woodworth Avenue, of Yonkers were charged. The gang assault charge does not mean the attacks were gang-related, but refers only to the number of persons involved in the attack.

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B3 + To Perform Free in Concert at Purchase College Thursday.

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WPCNR Symphony Hall. From Ann Brady, Purchase College. October 1, 2006: The brass trio B3+ will perform an exciting mix of Bartok, Pastorius, Schubert, Bach, early classical music, jazz standards, free jazz, original music, and interpretations of pop tunes and Welsh hymns Thursday, October 5 at 7:30 PM in the Recital Hall of the Music Building at Purchase College.  B3+, featuring Purchase College Music Professor John Clark, will play music for brass like you have never heard, seen or experienced before. The concert, “New Music for Brass Trio,” is free and open to the public.

 



 B3+ features Clark on French horn, Franz Hackl on trumpet and Dave Taylor on bass trombone.


Horn player and composer John Clark has performed all over the world with a diversity of musicians. He has worked with Frank Sinatra, Isaac Hayes, Billy Joel, B.B. King, the Paul Winter Consort, Linda Ronstadt, Joe Lovano, LL Cool J, the New York City Ballet Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Aspen Wind Quintet, McCoy Tyner, Gil Evans and Carla Bley, among others. He has appeared with both the Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center Jazz Bands. He also has extensive credits to his name in both television and commercial work.  


Trombonist Dave Taylor began his career as a member of Leopold Stokowski’s American Symphony Orchestra and appeared with the New York Philharmonic under Pierre Boulez. He also was a member of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Band, and recorded with Duke Ellington (The New Orleans Suite), the Rolling Stones, and Blood, Sweat and Tears. He has recorded four solo albums and presented recitals throughout the world. He has appeared and recorded with Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Wynton Marsalis, Barbara Streisand, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin. He has won the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Most Valuable Player Award for five consecutive years. In 1998, he performed on four Grammy-nominated recordings: The J.J. Johnson Big Band, Dave Grusin’s West Side Story, the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band and the Randy Brecker Band, the last two winning their category.


 


Austrian-born trumpeter Franz Hackl began touring internationally at the age of 11. After frequent collaborations with leading international jazz artists, he focused more on composition and leading his own projects. These have included works for full orchestra, diverse chamber groups, choral works and multi-media events. He wrote the original music for the launch of the United Nations event “Year of the Mountains” and the opening of the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York City. He has also created music for film and advertising.

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Tiger Mis-Snap Halts Tying Bid. Vernon Drives on for 18-6 Victory

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. September 30, 3006: The scoreboard said it was 3rd and 2 from the Mount Vernon 14, 12-6, Mount Vernon, deep into the third quarter, but the newly poised, surging Tigers were driving for the evener-upper.


 


 


 


Quarterback Paul LaBarbera was over the ball then horror! The Parker Stadium crowd looked on aghast as the football squirted out from the center snap off Paul’s hands. He dashed back for what was either an early snap or miscommunication and he fell on the ball, but the damage was done. White Plains had a 4th and 6 on the 16. On 4th down, Paul drifted back rolled slightly left and lofted a high pass to Shavaghn Greene at the coffin corner flag in triple coverage. Shavaughn turned for the ball at the 1, was poised to make the first down catch only to have it deftly swatted away by a Vernon defender, reaching awkardly back with a backhand swat. The bid was denied.


 


 


The Tiger drive was stopped after they had held the ball for 16 plays and 10 minutes and driven from their own 6 yard line to the Knight 12 – keyed by a 3rd down snd 10 pass in the right flat LaBarbera to Mike Howard at the Knight 22, where Howard deked and swiveled his way for a first down on the 22. Earlier a LaBarbera to Shavaughn Green pass for 28 yards got the Tigers out of trouble to keep the drive alive against the big, fast Knight line.


 


The Knights inherited the ball on the 16 and in turn bit off huge chunks of yardage, driving 84 yards in 13 plays for their third touchdown and the clincher on a 5 yard run by Gene Cooper with 3 minutes to go. There was no guarantee White Plains would have scored had it not been for the third down miscue, but it was the play of the game as far as the Tigers fate.


 


 



Mount Vernon scored on their first play from scrimmage when halfback Eugene Cooper got outside leftend in a hurry behind a perfect blocking sequence which seemed to sweep away the Tiger interfence. Cooper lit out DOWN the sideline for 52 yards and a touchdown, with no Tiger close. A try for 2 failed and it was 6-0 inside the 2 minute mark.


 


The Knights had their way with the Tiger defense until the final two minutes of the first half when a series of penalties on the Knights kept helping the Tigers to first downs. The key one being a pass interference giving White Plains an automatic first down on the Knight 12 yard line. LaBarbera’s  pass on first down fell incomplete over the middle. On second down, the Tigers gave Paul excellent protection while Shavaugh cut for deep into the endzone at the corner. LaBarbera lofted the pass. Shavaughn went up high and came down with it with both feet inbounds – TOUCHDOWN. The score was tied 6-6 with a minute to go in the first half. John Perez attempt for the point was wide left.


 


Then came a questionable play. The Tiger kickoff appeared to be an onside kick. Joe Petit just missed recovering it, but it handed the Knights the ball at their 46 with a minute to do something.


 


The Knights ran a running play to the Tiger 48 then another run gave them a first down on the 39 with 36 seconds to go. They had no timeouts. Shawn Cowans the Knight quarterback was almost sacked by Bobby Thompson at the 50 as he was looking left but he  faked him, Thompson falling to the grass. But this time it appeared that the Tiger secondary had thought the quarterback was sacked. They did not stick with their zone coverage and all alone at the 10 5 yards beyond the Tiger cornerback was Gene Cooper AGAIN. Cowans laid the ball in there and Cooper just got into the endzone by the flag for a 12-6 lead at the 30 second mark. An incredible, disheartening turn of events. Vernon went in at the half with a 12-6 lead.


 


The third quarter started with Mount Vernon possessing the ball for the first five minutes at which point White Plains held them on the Tiger 32 – thanks to an egregious double personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct penalty which stalled the Knight drive.


The Knights punted forcing the Tigers back to their 6, when the ill-fated drive to the tie began.


 


This was another one of those “character builders” for the Tigers. One uncoordinated procedural misque at the wrong time stopped what might have been. But that’s football.


 


The smaller White Plains interior line was pushed around the first 30 minutes of the game by the big fast Knights who cleared out huge holes for their backs. But, the Tigers held when they had to, then took back the real estate in the second half of the third quarter taking over  the battle of the line. The Knights reached back for that something extra after stopping the Tigers on 4th down and 6. Big harsh running bursts by Gene Cooper, Tyree Stevenson and four running plays by Jim McMillian  got them down into the Tiger red zone with Gene Cooper applying the final 5 yard touchdown run after  Cowans had run 13 yards to the Tiger 5.


 


The Tigers are 0-3. Mount Vernon moves to 3-1. White Plains travels to Roosevelt next Saturday.

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Kevin Burke, Con Edison CEO Statement on His Company Performance in Westchester

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WPCNR FOR THE RECORD. September 30, 2006: Con Edison CEO Kevin Burke appeared before the Westchester Legislator Assembly delegation this week and described Con Edison recovery efforts. Here is his statement given to legislators. WPCNR has eliminated two pages discussing the Long Island Queens situation.


Testimony of Kevin Burke
Chairman and CEO of Consolidated Edison Company of New York
Before
The Standing Committee on Energy
and
The Standing Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
New York State Assembly


September 28, 2006
Good morning Chairman Trniko, Chairman Brodsky, and other distinguished members of the New York State Assembly. My name is Kevin Burke. I am the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Con Edison. Thank you for the opportunity to address the committees today on the September power outage in Westchester County, which was caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto, and to update you on the power outage in Long Island City that occurred this past July.
First, I would like to thank the Westchester County Office of Emergency Management, the local fire departments, the police departments, and the utilities and contractors that assisted us in meeting the challenge of restoring service to our customers. I also would like to thank our customers for their patience.


(More)


 


WESTCHESTER COUNTY: TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO



At 11:00p.m. on August 31, Hurricane Ernesto made landfall in North Carolina. By
September 1, it had been downgraded to a tropical depression bringing with it significaiit
rainfall that covered much of the Mid-Atlantic region.



Based on reports from the National Weather Service and our own meteorological contractor, the storm was initially predicted to pass well west of our area into eastern Ohio. Sustained winds were forecast to be in the range of 15 to 25 miles per hour, with gusts along coastal Westchester predicted to be as high as 30 to 35 miles per hour. Based on the weather forecast, we expected approximately 7,000 customers to be affected by the storm.



Storm Preparation



In preparation for the predicted storm, the company undertook several important steps.
On Thursday, August 31, we began storm preparations with a premobilization conference call. We held a second call to update our planning efforts on the morning of Friday, September 1. It was at this time that Con Edison declared a category I event, based on weather forecasts and the company’s storm classification matrix. We use the storm classification matrix to estimate possible damage from a storm and determine staffing levels for the safe restoration


Electric Operations



On Friday, September 1, we scheduled the following crews for the 24-hour period on
Saturday, September 2: 35 troubleshooters, 58 overhead linemen, 18 ladderline
personnel, 54 line clearance personnel, and 8 damage assessors for a total of 173 people.
Our normal staffing for a Saturday is 27 people.



Customer Operations



Our Customer Operations Call Center also prepared for the storm. On a normal Saturday, our call center is staffed with eight customer service representatives between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., 67 customer service representatives between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., and 24 representatives between 5:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. During a typical Saturday 24-hour period, our call center experiences approximately 18,000 general customer calls and 900 emergency calls.



Because a category 1 storm was expected, customer operations anticipated the volume of emergency calls to increase. On Friday, in preparation for the storm, we scheduled for Saturday 84 customer service representatives to be on duty from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and 24 representatives to be on duty from 5:00 p.m. to midnight. We knew that if we needed additional customer service representatives after 5:00 p.m., we could ask the customer service representatives, who worked between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., to extend their shift.


Mutual Aid



In preparing for the storm, beginning on Thursday, August 31, Con Edison also participated in mutual aid calls with other utilities from the Mid-Atlantic region, other parts of New York State, and New England. These calls were conducted to determine the availability of utility and contractor mutual aid throughout the region and to monitor the progress of the storm. Mutual aid calls continued throughout the week and weekend, concluding on Monday, September 4.



Mobilization During the Storm


Weather


Rather than moving west, as forecasted, Emesto moved east and slowed down for approximately 18 to 20 hours over Westchester County, dropped nearly two inches of rain, and had sustained winds of approximately 30 miles per hour and gusts up to 48 miles per hour. By 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 29,700 of our customers in Westchester County had lost electric service.


Tree Damage



The storm’s sustained high winds and soaking rains over an 18 to 20 hour period toppled mature frees and tore off large free limbs throughout Westchester County. The fallen frees and free limbs resulted in massive damage to the Westchester overhead electric system. Ernesto caused more than 1,000 downed frees and large free limbs. This free damage caused more than 2,300 high-voltage primary and low-voltage secondary wires to come down, and more than 100 fallen or damaged utility poles. The fallen frees and limbs also damaged approximately 70 transformers. As a result of the downed trees and limbs and the resulting damage to our system, approximately 76,000 customers lost electric service in Westchester County.



Electric Operations



On Saturday, it became clear that the storm was causing more damage than we had anticipated. Therefore, additional personnel were called in to respond to the actual damage. Forthe 24-hour period on Saturday, September 2, we had increased our staffing to a total of 294 people. The crews included 35 troubleshooters, 78 overhead linemen, 44 ladderline personnel, 56 line clearance personnel, and 81 damage assessors and site safety personnel.


For the 24-hour period on Sunday, September 3, we more than doubled our staffing from the day before to 660 people. The crews included 35 troubleshooters, 130 overhead linemen, 68 ladderline personnel, 98 line clearance personnel, and 329 damage assessors and site safety personnel.



For the 24-hour period on Monday, September 4, we further increased our field staff to 779 people, consisting of 42 troubleshooters, 210 overhead linemen, 136 ladderline personnel, 112 line clearance personnel, and 279 damage assessors and site safety personnel.


For the 24-hour period on Tuesday, we had 1,151 field staff on duty. They were 42 troubleshooters, 362 overhead linemen, 180 ladderline personnel, 114 line clearance personnel, and 453 damage assessors and site safety personnel.


On Wednesday, September 6, for the 24-hour period we had staffed 1,098 people: 42 trouble shooters, 380 overhead linemen, 196 ladderline personnel, 116 line clearance personnel, and 364 damage assessors and site safety personnel.


For the 24-hour period on Thursday, September 7, Con Edison utilized a total of 839 people. This number included 38 trouble shooters, 360 overhead linemen, 184 ladderline personnel, 116 line clearance personnel, and 141 damage assessors and site safety personnel.



Customer Operations



On Saturday, September 2, the call volume increased during the storm and it became apparent that some customers were experiencing long wait times and busy signals. In response, we increased the number of customer service representatives on duty. From Saturday, September 2, through Monday, September 4, the call center focused exclusively on emergency calls from customers and stopped taking general calls.



On Saturday, September 2, 84 customer service representatives were on duty from 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., and 89 representatives were on duty from 5:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m.


On Sunday, September 3, we had 30 customer service representatives working between 12:00 am. and 9:00 a.m., 98 customer service representatives between 9:00 a-rn. and 5:00 p.m., and 108 representatives on duty between 5:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m.


On Monday, September 4, 33 customer service representatives were on duty from 12:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 133 customer service representatives were on duty between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 pm., and 55 representatives between 5:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m.


On Saturday, September 2, Customer Operations received more than 32,000 emergency calls, 36 times more than normal. The two periods in which customers received busy signals were Saturday, September 2, between 1:30 pm. and 9:00 p.m., and Sunday, September 3, between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 am. Seventy-three percent of those customers called back and got through.



Mutual Aid Requests



As I previously indicated, the company began planning for the storm, including the possibility for needing mutual aid, on Thursday, August 31. Our own crews and crews from other utilities, who assisted us through the mutual aid program, worked tirelessly throughout this storm. We sought assistance from Mid-Atlantic and New York State utilities, and received crews from Orange and Rockland Utilities, Allegheny Power, and National Grid. A number of utilities allowed contractor crews, who worked for them, to come to Westchester to assist us in restoring customers to service.


In addition to the daily conference calls we held with county and municipal officials, we staffed the Westchester County Emergency Operations Center and its “60 Control” emergency services dispatch center with Con Edison representatives 24 hours a day. These communication channels helped to establish restoration priorities and ensured that public safety and critical infrastructure concerns were addressed.



Customer Outreach and Restoration



We dispatched customer outreach advocates to various locations within the affected areas of the county to provide information to customers, answer questions, and distribute storm emergency brochures in both English and Spanish. We had customer outreach advocates assisting with the distribution of ice in White Plains, Rye, Yonkers, New Rochelle, and Armonk. We publicized information about dry-ice distribution locations and pick up times to customers through local media, municipal officials, and customer service representatives.



All customers were restored by Thursday at midnight. While some customers endured outages of five to six days, almost half of our customers were restored on Saturday and Sunday, and two-thirds were restored by Monday.



Con Edison Response Following the Storm



We are taking several steps to improve our storm preparedness and response by enhancing our customer service system, improving our outreach efforts to customers…


Outreach to Municipalities



By the end of this year, the company plans to meet with representatives from the municipal governments in Westchester County to enhance our coordination and communication with them during emergency situations.



Tree Trimming



The vast majority of the outages during this event was caused by downed trees and tree limbs. An effective way to reduce the number of customers affected by storms is to adopt an enhanced tree-trirmning program. Beginning in January, we plan to increase the tree- trimming clearances above and around our wires. We generally trim trees on a three-year cycle throughout the county. The current policy is to trim 10 feet above and six feet below and to the side of all primary wires. By increasing our tree-trimming clearances to 15 feet above and 10 feet below and to the sides of wires, we expect to reduce the number of customers who lose power in storm situations and help expedite restoration of customers that do lose power. While increasing clearances will not reduce the number of outages caused by downed trees, it will reduce the number of outages caused by falling limbs and wind.



(Long Island City  report excerpted)


….other things, examine the causes and identify measures to strengthen the reliability of our network system, including the Long Island City network.


Our report will include proposals for addressing the causes of the event, enhancing network reliability, improving secondary system monitoring, reviewing the network shut-down process, and aunenting the company’s processes for emergency preparation, response, and communication.



We also need to better identify an accurate count of our customers without service. We are actively pursuing this matter, and our fmdings and enhancements will also be addressed in the report.



We continue to look for ways to improve service to our customers. The recent outages in Long Island City and Westchester County underscore the importance of our current plans to strengthen the system. The men and women of Con Edison strive to provide New Yorkers with the most reliable energy infrastructure in the country.
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Two Stabbed on Mitchell Place and Mamaroneck Ave.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. September 30, 2006: The Journal News reports two men being stabbed at the corner of Mitchell Place and Mamaroneck in the downtown Friday evening. The paper reports a police sergeant placing the time of the incident as 11 P.M. Police are investigating the incident. The two men, whose ages were not reported in the account, were hospitalized at Westchester County Medical Center, the seriousness of injuries not reported.


An eyewitness, speaking on condition of anonymity, decribes the incident as a “big ruckus” on Mitchell Place between a number of young men with a large number of police cars responding. 

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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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