WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. May 25, 2006: On Decision Night Thursday evening, the Common Council approved a $147.6 Million budget, (it could not be determined if that included the salary increases of administration personnel),  the $147.6 figure means a 6.1% spending increase, and a 7.8 % tax increase. Salaries of the Mayor’s Commissioners were increased 4% across the board, according to Paul Wood, the Mayor’s Executive Officer.

It was agreed water rates to residents and commercial users would be raised 20% to make up the water fund deficit. The council also was reported by Mr. Wood, as being accepting of the one-floor structural change on the podium of the Cappelli hotel, and supportive of the rooftop restaurant and additon of 54,000 square feet of floor space.

The council, according to Mr. Wood, passed the budget 7-0. He also said the council had no problem with the minor amendment to the 221 Main site plan that would allow an extra floor on the podium, that Building Commissioner Mike Gismondi did not “overstep” his authorityppelli to build a restaurant on the roof of the Main Street condominium tower surrounding  the building mechanicals. Wood also told WPCNR the council listened to Mr. Gismondi’s explanation for the extra floor on the podium, and also had no problem with it.

Wood, speaking to WPCNR after the Work Sesson that WPCNR did not attend, added that in December of 2005, Mr. Cappelli had spoken about a reinforcement change that would add an extra floor to the hotel podium and give him construction flexibility. Wood then said Mr. Cappelli informed the Common Council May 15, he  had built the structure to add the extra floor, and three days later, May 18,  he asked to add 54,000 square feet to the structure to provide amenities for Ritz-Carlton within the podium, in the Main Street tower, and also on the pool deck of the podium, and on the mechancals level of the Main Street tower. Wood said there was a letter from an engineer noting the need for seismic reinforcement as part of new New York State code, that was received about three days prior to May 15 of this month, supporting the developer’s requested change, which WPCNR (at the time), had already been executed.

In Mr. Gismondi’s written analysis, of the “Minor Amendment” approving structural modifications, dated May 22, 2006, the Building Commissioner writes: “it can be concluded that there is no significant alteration of the essential charactersitics of the design, layout or arrangement of “buildings,” parking, circulation, landscaping, or relationships of the project to the “street,” adjacent properties and the area.”

Rita Malmud, addressing an angry Democratic City Committee throng disturbed at what they described was a “bad precident,”  Wednesday evening said that she had been told by the Mayor in a meeting Tuesday of this week that the structural reinforcement had been asked for and approved in December for Ritz-Carlton, but that Monday, May 15, was the first time she had heard of it. However, Mr. Wood said Ms. Malmud was favorably disposed to the structural change (the one floor addition to the podium– which actually makes two floors)  after Mr. Gismondi spoke Thursday night.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. May 23, 2006: Police today charged one person with possession of a weapon, as a result of their investigation of Monday’s shooting-murder of Kevin Chambliss, 30, on Ferris Avenue, and the police are presently conducting ballistic tests on that weapon, White Plains Police Chief James Bradley reported today.

Chief James Bradley speaking to WPCNR moments ago provided the latest police findings in their investigation of the Monday afternoon shooting-murder on Ferris Avenue:

“As of 3:46 PM Monday, shots had been fired in the area of 73 Ferris Avenue. We got up there, we found the victim, Kevin Chambliss, 30. He was provided emergency care on the scene, taken directly to Westchester Medical Center. He unfortunately passed away at about 10 of 6. Based on some information we developed early in the investigation, we identified a car, a person that we wished to speak to. That person was stopped on the Bronx River Parkway (by Westchester County Police and Yonkers Police at Scarsdale Road), and brought back here to headquarters. He has not been charged in connection with the shooting, however he was charged with possession of a weapon. We have since continued the investigation. We are developing other leads. There are other people, witnesses we’ve been interviewing today, and this is ongoing as we speak.”

WPCNR asked based on a televised interview cablecast last night in which a person interviewed gave the opinion the killing was a “Crip-Bloods” thing, if the police felt the killing was gang-related. Chief Bradley said, “We have no information that says that.”

WPCNR asked Bradley if  Mr. Chambliss, the victim,  had gang markings on his body. Chief Bradley said he did not.

Asked if a person taken into custody late this afternoon was related Bradley said, “We have taken another person to headquarters about an hour ago who is a person we want to speak to about this, and no charges have been filed on that one at all yet.”

Bradley confirmed the police brought a search dog in, related to the second person being questioned, but would not reveal why the search dog was brought in. “I can’t do that right now. The investigation is still going on full speed as we speak.”

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey May 22, 2006: New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi today accused 17 Schools, described as an auditor-selected “representative sampling” of schools across the state of deliberately repressing violent incidents in their reports to the State Education Department.

Specifically, Hevesi’s news release states White Plains High School reporting on 2003-2004 incidents, repressed 289 incidents the comptroller’s office reports should have been included in the White Plains report to the New York State Education Department, “ncluding 35 assaults with physical injury, 23 incidents of intimidation, harassament, menacing or bullying, one sexual offense and 181 distruptive incidents.”

The release ranks White Plains 3rd highest in repression rates of the 17 schools, allegedly repressing 92.9% of incidents. White Plains reported 22 violent incidents, had 311 documented in school records, and did not report 289 according to what Hevesi’s study says should have been reported according to State Education Department Guidelines. Hevesi’s news release makes a point that the SED needed to make clearer the types and character of incidents that the schools need to report.

The Comptroller’s Press Officer, Dan Weiller, told WPCNR that the Comptroller auditor examining White Plains High School records did not work with the police in analyzing the incident reports the school provided. (White Plains has a Police Officer assigned to White Plains High School, who could have perhaps supplied insight into how violent incidents are handled by the school.) Weiller said the auditors were very experienced at analyzing incident reports, but did not say what that experience was. Asked why the state singled out White Plains High School, Ardsley High School in Westchester, he said they (the 17 schools statewide)  were selected based on auditor criteria upon population, racial mix, and other factors.  Weiller also noted to WPCNR that the auditors did not consult police in analyzing any of the records of any of the seventeen schools

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors explained the White Plains alleged discrepency. He told WPCNR, the school district reported only those incidents resulting in a Superintendent’s hearing. He said he thought that was what the State Education Department wanted. He said the district reported every serious incident to the police.

WPCNR contacted the New York State Department of Education Press Office to ascertain what the guidelines were. The Press Officer taking the call did not know if only incidents resulting in “hearings” as Connors said, were the criteria for the report. Connors, being told this said, most of the violations not reported were what Connors described as “violations of the code of conduct.”

The State Education Department issued a news release reacting to the Comptroller News Release by detailing the steps the SED was taking to make clear what the SED wanted schools to report to determine which state schools are on the “dangerous schools list.” The list of “dangerous schools” is not available on the State Education Department website.  The press officer said they would call WPCNR back.

In 2002-2003, the State Education Department reports White Plains School District had  223 violent or disruptive incidents, and according to today’s report, the 2003-2004 school year showed 311 violent or disruptive incidents. Superintendent Timothy Connors told WPCNR he would be forwarding the incident figures for the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 school years to date tomorrow.

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WPCNR Legacies of White Plains. May 22, 2006 Supplemented 4:47 P.M. E.D.T. Supplemented 11:27 P.M. E.D.T.: Frank McMahon has died.  Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains in being notified of Mr. McMahon’s death observed, “The passing of Frank McMahon is a true loss to the City of White Plains. Whether it was through his community service, his work at McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett Funeral Home, or his years of public service as a Councilman, Frank will always be remembered as man who cared about our community. He will be missed by those that had the honor of calling him a friend. I have asked that the flag at City Hall be flown at half mast for the remainder of the week in honor of Frank McMahon’s passing.”

Mr. McMahon, a lifelong resident of White Plains who lived for years  on Mamaroneck Avenue just south of Rose Cleaners, a graduate of White Plains High School in 1933, a member of the football team, and the hockey team, member of the High school Hall of Fame,  founded the funeral home to the White Plains community, Tracy-McMahon in 1942, which grew into the McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett Funeral Home of today.

Mr. McMahon died Sunday evening at his home. He was 91 years of age. Characterized by his grand-daughter as a man who loved White Plains, she recalled how he and Mike Savarella, of the old Burk & McGowan Hardware Store would drive around White Plains evenings and take down numbers of street lights that were out and phone them in to City Hall the next day.

Mr. McMahon was the first Secretary and later Treasurer of the White Plains Urban Renewal Agency, and a member of the Traffic Commission.

Mr. McMahon was born June 25, 1914 in North Tarrytown only because, his granddaughter said, his mother was visiting North Tarrytown that day. His granddaughter recalled today for WPCNR that Mr. McMahon was a member of the White Plains Common Council for two terms in the 1960s, 1962 through 1969 being first elected in 1961, she said, because that was the first election she ever voted in. A civic leader, volunteer fireman for 60 years, and involved citizen, Mr. McMahon was a Legacy of White Plains, and was named Citizen Extraordinaire by the White Plains Historical Society, among many honors.

Visiting Hours are Wednesday, 7 to 9 PM and Thursday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 at McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett Funeral Home, 491 Mamaroneck Avenue. Mass will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows 10 A.M. Friday in his honor.

“He just loved White Plains,” his granddaughter said.

Frank McMahon, a lifelong White Plains resident, passed away on May 21, 2006.  He was born in Tarrytown on June 25, 1914 to the late Joseph C. & Lucy (Smith) McMahon.

Frank graduated St. John’s Parochial School and White Plains High School class of 1933.  He was a member of the Football team 1930 – 1931 and a manager in 1932.  In 1930 he played on the first White Plains High School Hockey Team.  He was the first Parish Council President for St. John the Evangelist Church.

After graduation, Frank worked for the local Ford dealership and the Dwyer Funeral Home in Tarrytown performing miscellaneous duties.  He then attended and graduated The Collier School of Funeral Directors & Embalming in NYC.  In 1942 he founded the funeral home known as Tracy & McMahon, with his father in law, Councilman T. George Tracy.  In 1964 he acquired the 100 year old funeral home known as Lyon & Hartnett- Now known as McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett Funeral Home, Inc.

Frank has been an active and dedicated life member of the White Plains/ Ardsley Elks, a member of the Moose Lodge, and a member of, and past president of the White Plains Lion’s Club.  He was awarded the Melvin Jones award which is the highest honor from Lion’s International.  He was a charter member of Hibernans Division 17.   He belonged to the Knights of Columbus Council # 450 & the John G. Coyle 4^th degree.

  In 1996 Frank served as the Grand Marshall for the first White Plains St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  He was also the proud recipient of the Monsignor Edward O’Brien Common Service Award.  In 2002 Frank was inducted into the White Plains High School Hall of Fame.  In 2003 he was the proud recipient of the White Plains High School Tiger Fan Club “Sportsman of the Year” award.  He was active in the White Plains High School- Class of 1933 – reunion group.  Frank served as a Boy Scout Commissioner of the former Fenimore Cooper Council & is a lifelong member of the White Plains Historical Society an was made a “Citizen Extraordinaire”.  He was also an accomplished drummer playing in many school, and later professional groups.

He was an active member and supporter of the White Plains Fire Department/ Volunteer Division and a member of the Hope Engine Co. #1, where he served as president and later Captain.  He was elected Chief of the Volunteer Fire Department and served 2 years.  He was a member of the Exempt Fireman’s Association , where he served as president for 21 years.  He was also a member of the Westchester County Chief’s Association and the NYS Fire Chief’s Association.

Frank was a member of the Westchester County Metropolitan Funeral Directors Assoc., the NYS Funeral Director’s Assoc., and the National Funeral Director’s Association.   He was a former member of the White Plains Traffic & Public Safety Commission and served 2 years on the WP Parking Authority.  He served the WP Common Council for 8 years.  He was also the Treasurer for 8 years and the Secretary of the WP Urban Renewal Agency for 2 years.  

Frank was a parishioner and daily communicant of Our Lady of Sorrows Church and a past parishioner of St. Bernard’s and St. John the Evangelist Church.

He was a member of the Westchester Country Club and the Westchester Hills Golf Club for many years.

Frank is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marie (Tracy) McMahon. He is also survived by 3 beloved daughters; Marie F. McMahon, Anne Meltzer & her husband John and Jean Amodio & her husband Frank.  Dear grandchildren:  Tracy Harnaga and her husband Bob, Kathy & Sarah Meltzer, Carly, Kevin & Katie Amodio.  He was the dear great grandfather of Megan, Molly & Ryan Harnaga.  He is the beloved brother Leo & Edmund McMahon and the late Agatha McCabe and Harold McMahon.  Survived by many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Wednesday 7 – 9 PM and Thursday 2-4  & 7-9 PM.  A mass of Christian burial will be at Our Lady of Sorrows Church on Friday at 10AM.  Interment at Mount Calvary Cemetery.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR from the Explosion Organization. May 22, 2006: The White Plains Explosion 14u girls travel team took first place in the ” Kittatinny Spring Blast” Tournament in Newton, NJ over the weekend, beating the Newton Bears 11-1 in the Championship game.  A total of twelve teams competed in the age bracket.

Explosion went 6-0 over two days beating the Staten Island Lighting, Lanape Rebels, Sparta Blue Diamonds, Kittantinny Flames, and Pequannock Twisters (Derek Jeter’s birthplace) to reach the championship game. The Explosion girls scored 63 runs and gave up only 7  for the tournament behind the strong pitching of Sara McKenna and Lauren Sputo. The “big orange run scoring machine” was supplied by  Amanda Bellantoni, Chloe Giordano, Becky Sewitch, Christy Riena, Hayley Bingham, Kelly Linehan, Suzanne Ward, Julia Esposito and Grete Flack.

Team Explosion will be traveling to Union ,NJ to play over the memorial Day Weekend to play in the “Union Memorial Day Madness” tournament that will have 17 teams competing for the grand prize.