White Plains Dept of Public Safety Hosts Emergency Coordination Conference

Posted on October 4, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From Inspector Daniel Jackson, White Plains Department of Public Safety. October 4, 2004 (EDITED): A first-in-the-nation public safety summit will convene Thursday, October 14, 2004 from 9 am to 5 pm in White Plains at the Pace University graduate center, 1 Martine Avenue. The conference will feature presentations by senior public safety officials from Phoenix, Charlotte-Mecklenburg and the White Plains Department of Public Safety on the issue of coordinating public safety efforts, followed by discussion.

Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains, (Left) with Deputy Public Safety Commissioner Charles Jennings intoducing the coordinated, newly commissioned Police and Fire emergency response vehicles in July, which respond as a team to fast-breaking emergency events. Photo WPCNR News Archive.

Federal homeland security and domestic preparedness officials, plus high-level police, fire, EMS and private sector executives from mid-sized cities with populations between 50,000 and 250,000 throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have been invited to attend by the cosponsors: the White Plains Department of Public Safety (which coordinates its police and fire bureaus under a Public Safety Commissioner); two leading national organizations, the Police Executive Research Forum and the International Association of Fire Chiefs; and Pace University, through its Edwin G. Michaelian Institute for Public Policy and Management. One hundred have signed up to attend the conference as of this date, which is free to officials who were invited. The conference is not open to the public.

Promising models of coordination already exist, notably in White Plains, New York, Phoenix, Arizona and Charlotte-Mecklenberg, North Carolina. To encourage officials to explore these and other models, deliberately postponing New York City’s unique issues for a later day, the organizers have invited a who’s who of public safety to share in a series of presentations.

From the recent report of the national 9/11 commission to the McKinsey and Co. examination of on New York City’s response to the disaster, 9/11 has spotlighted the importance of police, fire and EMS coordination for homeland security and emergencies — and on the difficulties of achieving it.

“Building blocks.”

Broader context will come from two nationally-recognized experts on emergency preparedness — Arnold Howitt, Ph.D., executive director of the Taubman Center for State & Local Government at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, and Jerome Hauer, former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and now director of the Response to Emergencies and Disasters Institute at George Washington University Medical Center.

White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Frank Straub at the Department of Public Safety at recent Promotion Ceremony for Fire Fighters.

Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

“We hope to help leaders in public safety identify collaborative models that police, fire, EMS, municipal governments and the private sector can use to prepare for and respond to critical incidents,” said White Plains Public Safety Commissioner Frank Straub, the former Deputy Commissioner of Training and Assistant Commissioner in the New York City Police Department’s Counter Terrorism Bureau. He holds a PhD. in criminal justice and is an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

“Police, fire and EMS leaders haven’t dropped the ball,” added Brian Nickerson, Director of Pace’s Michaelian Institute – “it’s that few institutional frameworks have been established to help them jointly identify the issues, get feedback from one another and coordinate their efforts into a plan.”

The conference will stress “building blocks” that can lead to opportunities for collaborative emergency preparedness such as routine police-fire problem solving, “Weed-and-Seed” initiatives, safe housing, and joint all-hazards planning.

New foundation created.

The conference is an early result of a three-way partnership created this spring between Pace, the White Plains Department of Public Safety and a new foundation, The Foundation for Emergency Preparedness, established with donations from members of the Fenway Charitable Foundation and other private benefactors.

Pace’s Michaelian Institute has been working with municipal governments to address these issues for the last three years, having presented a half-day conference on emergency preparedness in 2002. More recently it worked with Commissioner Straub and the new foundation to conduct a focus group of emergency responders to highlight issues in need of further attention.

“We hope this model, and variations of it, will set a pattern for and help to facilitate improved public safety coordination all across the country,” said Straub.

As of today, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety said “We are expecting around 100 attendees or so, and a schedule of speakers and topics will be forthcoming. The topics will be geared towards theory and policy rather than technical aspects.”

Officials attending from out of town will be accomodated at the Crowne Plaza. To register for the conference, contact Inspector Daniel Jackson or Detective Donnelly at (914) 422-6358. The summit is free to invited attendees, who are from the “executive levels” of the organizations the Department wanted to participate in the conference, and “a few select partners from the corporate world.”

The Summit is not open to the public, but is open to the media.

Date: Thursday, October 14, 2004

Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Location: Pace University Westchester Graduate Center

1 Martine Avenue

White Plains, New York 10601

Title: “Building Sound Homeland Security Foundations: Effective Models

for Mid-sized U.S. Cities”

Mayor Negotiates 19% Pay Hike over 5 Years with CSEA. Longevity Hikes at 15 & 20

Posted on October 4, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. October 4, 2004: The Common Council tonight will vote to approve a settlement of the Civil Service Employees Association contract dispute that has been on going for 2-1/2 years, and was settled the week of August 18. The agreement is for 5 years raising C.S.E.A. salaries across the board over the life of the contract by 19%. The contract begins retroactively back to July 1, 2002, and runs to July 1, 2007, and the accumulated raises due C.S.E.A. members will be paid in a lump sum.

They will also vote on the extension of the New York Presbyterian Hospital site plan permit to build a proton accelerator/biomedical research complex on the NYPH property in the City’s East End.

WPCNR had learned of this settlement August 20, through a report that Mayor Delfino had signed the agreement with the union prior to leaving on his trip to Israel. WPCNR had attempted to confirm that with the President of the C.S.E.A. union, Joseph Roche, and Janice Marra, the spokesperson for the C.S.E.A. in Beacon, N.Y., and Paul Wood, Acting Executive Officer of the Mayor’s Office, and members of the Common Council, but our calls were not returned at the time

According to the papers submitted with the Common Council Agenda, the contract is for five years, calling for a 3.75% raise for 2002-03, a 3.75% raise for 2003-04. Then the raise goes to 4% a year for the final three years of the contract as follows: 4% for the current year 2004-05. In July of 2005-06, CSEA members will receive another 4% raise, and again in July of 2006, a third raise of 4%, taking CSEA-ers out to July of 2007.

Longevity Rewards after 12, 15 and 20 years.

Another provision in the new Stipulation of Agreement signed by the Mayor is delivering of automatic longevity increases in salary, in addition to the normal raise increase, after 12, 15 and 20 years of service. According to the new Stipulation of agreement, there are minimal longevity increases going back the first two years of the contract of $25 for 2002-2003, and $25 again in 2003-04.

As of July 1, 2004, the automatic longevity reward sweetens.

The agreed-upon contract calls for an automatic raise of $800 for employees with 12 years of service with the city; a raise of $900 for employees of 15 years, and employees with 20 years of service receive a $1,000 increase.

On July 1, 2006, those previous upgrades of $800 for 12 years’ service, $900 for 15 years’ service, and $1,000 for 20 years, will be increased by $100, to $900 for 12 years, $1,000 for 15 years’ service, and $1,100 for 20 years’ service.

C.S.E.A. Dental/Optical Cost to city to Accelerate. Optical Payout Capped.

The city will pay for increased costs in the CSEA dental and optical plans. In the first two years of the contract the city-paid increase for persons in the dental is $3. However that is up sharply as of July 1, 2004 with the city paying $145 more per person. In 05-06, it will go up again by $53, and in July, 2006, it will go up another $50. The total dental plan increase over the next three years to the city per CSEA employee is $248.

On the optical plan, there is a catch-up increase, retroactive to July 1, 2002 of $33 per C.S.E.A. employee, followed by a $6 increase in the optical cost per worker in 2003-04, and another $5 effective in the 04-05 year, followed by a hike of $23 in July of 03-04

The Agreement also caps the amount the city is required to pay to any CSEA employee for an optical procedure at $269.

On both the opitical and dental structures, WPCNR does not know whether the increases apply across the board according to levels of dental and optical coverage, or whether they are increases in the individual coverage.

Tuition Reimbursement up.

The city has also agreed to double the amount of tuition reimbursement the city per C.S.E.A. employee from $500 to $1,000, contingent on the city funds available for such reimbursement. C.S.E.A. employees have to apparently compete with other union members and other city employees for this tuition assistance, based on funds available.

City to Inform C.S.E.A. Before Disciplining an Employee.

In non-monetary matters, the union has negotiated an agreement where the city is obligated to inform the union before they take disciplinary action against a C.S.E.A. member.

The actual language reads, “The employer will, where possible, and where, in the Employer’s sole, non-reviewable discretion, consistent with its business interests, attempt to notify the Union President or designee prior to serving a union member with formal disciplinary charges.”

The statement perhaps arose about of the same-day firing and escorting out of city hall of an employee, earlier this year by the Mayor’s office.

Credit Union Access.

C.S.E.A. members also gain access to the credit union currently available to city hall management personnel.

Approximate cost to City: $1,000,000 a year.

There are approximately 400 C.S.E.A. employees out of a workforce of 900 in the city. Using rough figures from the 2004-05 budget, the negotiated settlement will cost the city about $5,000,000 over the life of the contract. The impact of the retroactive pay increases has reportedly already been incorporated into the 04-05 budget.

However the approximate cost of the contract in wages alone, over the next two budget years, according to WPCNR’s rough calculations amount to approximately $1,100,000 more in wages for C.S.E.A. employees in 05-06 and an additional $1,100,000 in 2006-07.

As a rough rule, for every $1,000,000 you increase the city budget, you have to inact 3.3% in property taxes. So, will downtown redevelopment success take care of these increases? Or will this cost the city about a 3.3 percent property tax increase in the budget next year and another 3.3 percent property tax increase in 2006-07.

The $1,000,000 a year estimate, is just that, based on very rough calculations by WPCNR.

There were a number of job status changes included in this contract.

WPCNR contacted the Personnel Department, for an explanation from Elizabeth Wallace, the Personnel Director, on what the words ADD due to the status of several key positions. Ms. Wallace contacted WPCNR to clarify that the ADD status was to simply bring the positions into the wording of the contract, but the positions were not now CSEA positions.

Union Pres Gets About 60 days Work Time for Union Business.

When Mr. Roche was contacted in late August to get details on these longevity raises, (whether this is precedent-setting, a first, or whatever,) and other information on the contract, Mr. Roche told WPCNR, “I’m not going to give you any information on it.” Asked why, Mr. Roche told WPCNR, “ Because I don’t want to.”

Another interesting section of the agreement grants the CSEA local Union President an additional ½ day a week he is allowed while on city time for tending to union business, in effect giving the union president a 3-1/2 day work week for the city if he or she uses all the time allowed him. If the union president enjoys 2 weeks vacation, this would mean they already have 50 days per week at their disposal for union business, and now will get an extra ½ day, in effect giving him 25 days more, a total of approximately (depending on his actual vacation time) 75 days of paid city time to do union business.

When WPCNR attempted to contact Mr. Roche, the current union president, for clarification of whether he now spends a day and a half on union business each week he is employed, when contacted this morning, was said to be “in the field,” by a Department of Public Works spokesperson.

Freeway Flyers in Black-and-Golds Write You Up on 684.

Posted on October 3, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE By John F. Bailey. October 3, 2004: The New York State Police staged a relentless display of speeding enforcement Saturday on Interstate 684 between White Plains and Brewster. A dozen Trooper cars picked off speeders at the rate of 16 an hour all Saturday morning and were still at it at 12:30 P.M. It was the most aggressive, relentless and effective enforcement this reporter who rolls up and down 684 with alarming frequency all summer long has seen.

The Man In Gray Writes Up a “Hotches” Driving Too Fast in 684 Sweep Saturday 12:15 P.M.. Photo by WPCNR News

At 10:30 A.M., WPCNR rolling North noted four pull-overs Ticket Awards in session simultaneously with 4 troopers writing up four different cars between Westchester Avenue at the “Jackknife alley” and the Westchester County Airport exit on Southbound 684. Two other Black & Golds were posed at a crossover to pickoff any more “hotches driving too fast.” WPCNR could not help but thinking that if the New York State Police targeted 684 and the Sprain Brook Parkway regularly like this, New York State Budget problems would be solved.

FREEWAY FLYERS IN THEIR BIG BLACK AND GOLDS “GOT YOU” on 684, Saturday, 12:30 P.M. near Exit 3 Photo by WPCNR News

Returning from the Brewster area at 12 noon, WPCNR noted the Freeway Flyers were still in action, spotting a task force resting their right arms at the rest stop near Katonah gearing up for more action.

Shepard Watches Over His Flock on Ferris Avenue. Mayor Unveils His Sign

Posted on October 2, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR STREETS OF WHITE PLAINS. By John F. Bailey. October 3, 2004: On a melancholy overcast day at noon, long about the time Jerome Robinson used to hold basketball practices in the neighborhood, Mayor Joseph Delfino, community leaders, ministers, activists and several hundred well-wishers gathered together for the official renaming of Ferris Avenue to Jerome “Bump” Robinson Boulevard.

“Bump Street” Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains, Charlie Booth, Germaine Robinson clap as JEROME “BUMP” ROBINSON BLV sign is officially unvieled Saturday. Photo by WPCNR News

Mayor Joseph Delfino called Mr. Robinson a “Shepard” in his closing remarks after tugging on a cloaked sign at the corner of Park and Ferris Avenues, to reveal the blue sign with Mr. Robinson’s name. He then presented Mr. Robinson’s widow, Germaine, and her youngest son, Dane with an official blue and white sign as a momento of the occasion. Photo by WPCNR NEWS

Mayor Delfino, who should hire himself out as a master of Public Ceremonies, should he ever stop being Mayor of White Plains, always manages to lend an air of dignity and solemnity to these occasions, saying the right things and sounding sincere and meaningful. Today was no exception.

THE SCENE ON “BUMP STREET:” Reverend Lester Cousin enthralls crowd with Amazing Grace. Photo by WPCNR News

After the speeches extolling Mr. Robinson, tinged with a sense of loss of this community leader who preferred to listen and speak little, but with meaningful content, Reverend Lester Cousin sang a powerful version of Amazing Grace that drifted mightily over the throng. This was one of Reverend Cousin’s most touching performances as his voice seemed to drift up to “Bump” in that place where great leaders go.

It was a ceremony of remembrance, of leave-taking and commemorating in hopes that Mr. Robinson’s all too short life would be an inspiration to others. As this reporter is fond of saying, “It’s not what you say, it’s what you do.”

The Unveiling. Photo by WPCNR News

Mr. Robinson was a person who worked to get things done, not for himself, but for others.

Much of the credit for making this commemoration of Mr. Robinson possible was given to Ron Jackson, “The Last Activist,” who lobbied the Common Council and persuaded the Mayor to rename the street, according to Councilman Tom Roach.

Mr. Jackson told WPCNR Saturday night, he was very happy, and felt a sense of “closure.”

It was a good thing.

Now, if only the White Plains Hall of Fame Committee would make Mr. Robinson the fifth inductee in the White Plains High School Hall of Fame, that would be a fitting completion of his legacy. Why the nominating committee did not automatically put Mr. Robinson in the Hall is a mystery. This year it would have been a final triumph and celebration of his life, and a sentimental, appropriate thing to do. And they could still do it, if they wanted to do so.

Knights OT Tigers, 38-32 After Zebras Are Out of Position in Key PAT Call

Posted on October 2, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. October 2, 2004, Updated with Second Photo, UPDATED with More Coverage 9:45 A.M. E.D.T.: Brian Mix fooled the Tigers on a trap play that had been killing the Orange and Black all second half, and romped untouched for the winning touchdown in the second Overtime Exchange Saturday afternoon to end a thriller for the ages with a 38-32 victory. Tiger Fans thought the Tigers had won in regulation on a Point After Touchdown that was called good by the Referee standing behind the kicker, but was ruled no-good by another official positioned to the left on an angle. That sent the game to Overtime, tied 26-26.

RACING FOR THE WINNING TD: Brian Mix leaves the Tigers behind, breaking out of the backfield on a trap, uses speed to get outside and is about to head into the endzone for the Winning 6 to end the second overtime Saturday afternoon. Photo by WPCNR Sports

CONOR’S CATCH TIES SCORE IN FIRST OT EXCHANGE: Kevin Avery threaded the needle to Conor Lantier (running to camera being congratualted by Tommie Lee (21)in the back of the endzone in traffic on 4th Down from the 4 to tie the Knights 32-32. Pablo Siaba’s try for the winner went left, and they went to a second overtime exchange to decide the contest. Photo by WPCNR Sports

EVERYONE THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD BUT ONE REF WHO RULED IT WIDE: The Winner that wasn’t. White Plains tied the game 26-26 in regulation on a 3 yard TD by Ike Nduka. Pablo Siaba’s extra point was signalled “good” by the Referee behind the kicker, Siaba. There were no other officials behind the goal post. An official onthe line by the red shirted spectator on the far sideline ruled the kick was “wide left.” A technician video-taping the game said his tape showed the Referee signaling “good,” and the kick going through. Mount Vernon players were dejected walking off, thinking they had lost. But, NO! The line positioned official rules the kick no good and the Referee changes his call. The lower photo clearly shows no officials stationed underneath the goal post. An official speaking to WPCNR said on a point-after-touchdown one official should be stationed under and slightly behind the goal post to back up the Referee behind the kicker. In the fateful PAT in the photo, two officials are on either side of the line of scrimmage and a third is by the far sideline. The referee is standing on the 7. Photos by WPCNR Sports

This contest which ended so improbably, began as a trim, tight defensive, disciplined contest, very similar in tone to the 1958 Giants-Colts “Greatest Football Game Ever Played,” which also began the same way. The first quarter ended scoreless, and the Tigers had to punt way from the Tiger 40. The Tigers stopped Mount Vernon on three series. The Tigers drove to the Knight 39 in their first series but were forced to punt away.

In the Second Stanza, a Tiger drive stalled on their own 40, and the Knights took over after a short punt on their own 40. After a long run by Greg Harris was called back on one of the first of many illegal procedure penalties on the Knights, Harris fumbled on his own 30 yard line and Gerard Bryant recovered it at the MV 33 for the Tigers.

After Jaime Logan tipped away what looked like a sure TD pass from Mike Lane who had gotten behind Logan, Ike Nduka took matters into his own hands. The Tiger line outmuscled the Knights with “Nuke” running for 7 to the 26, 5 to the 21. On 3^rd and 5 from the 18, Nduka dragged tacklers to the 12, and on 4^th and inches from the 12, Nduka went off-tackle to the 6 for first and goal. He surged again to the 1 and jammed it in on 2^nd and goal for a 6-0 lead, White Plains at 7:10 to go in the half. Pablo Siaba added the Extra Point.

The Trap is Set

Then the complexion of the game turned around on the very next series. On second and 10 from the MV 30, Greg Harris took a stealth handoff from QB Rodney Mack described as a trap play by one of the Tigers, and sliced off tackle into a vacant Tiger secondary and the race was on. Diagonally to the far side he ran finally being pulled down by a trio of Tigers in pursuit at the Tiger 23. After a 5-yard penalty, Harris turned the corner and loped 28 yards into the end zone to make it 7-6, added the point to tie the score at 7-7. The Purple Knights had gone 70 yards in four plays. This was to set a disturbing pattern. The Tigers grinding it out with the Knights explosive running game creating big plays.

Harris Electrifies Crowd

The Tigers went three and out and Mount Vernon got the ball back and moved to the Tiger 45 where they had to punt. Only the Tigers caught a break. A bad snap was muffed by the punter, Brian Mix and the Tigers took over, but could not move it and punted. Greg Harris caught Siaba’s punt at the 10, and lit to the near sideline, cut back, and headed back across the pursuit to the far sideline breaking clear at the Tiger 40 and DOWN the sideline he flew…35-30-25-20…put on a blaze of speed outdistancing a desperate Mike Lane, and into the end zone for a 90-yard touchdown run to give the Knights a 13-7 lead at the half.

Tigers Tie in Third Quarter

Mount Vernon took the second half kickoff and the Tigers stopped them on downs, and once again a low snap to the punter deep in Knight country, turned over the ball the Tigers on the Knights’ 23 yard line. Coach Santa-Donato called Number 28’s number and Ike Nduka, having a great rushing day, (he carried for we estimate over 150 yards on about 35 carries), responded again. It was Nuke for 3 to the 18; Nuke for 6 around right end to the 12; Nuke straight ahead to the Knight 8; and Nuke dragging tacklers on his back into the end zone for the equalizer with 7:38 to go in the Third Quarter. With the score tied, Pablo Siaba’s Point After Touchdown was blocked. (This would haunt the Tigers later when the long shadows of autumn started to descend on the stadium.)

Tiger Trap Moves That Ball

After the tying touchdown, the Tigers tried a squib bouncing kick to keep the ball away from the deep threat and Mount Vernon began their series on their own 23. A 16 yard yard pickup on the pesky trap play by Jaime Logan followed by a personal foul from the point of the indiscretion put the Knights immediately on the White Plains 39 yard line.

Two plays saw the Tigers looking at a 3^rd and 5 situation. Again the trap play was called. A Tiger explained to WPCNR what was happening. A fake hand off would lure the Tigers into a rush to the wrong ball carrier. He said that the quickness of the Knights backs actually getting the handoff enabled them, Logan, Mix, or Harris to slip into the linebacker area, causing the Tiger linebackers to run into each other attempting to counter pursue. The speed of the Knight back enabled them to blow by the linerbackers trying to reverse direction to grab the interloper, springing the Knights for the big gainers.

It happened again on that 3^rd and 5. Rodney Mack faked a handoff to Harris this time, and scampered 12 yards to the White Plains 22. Harris took the ball to the 14 next. And on 2^nd and 2 on the 14, Rodney Mack led Greg Harris beautifully on a pretty floating pass to the far left, Harris behind the defender, turned to his left drew the pass in and loped gracefully into paydirt to give the Knights a 20-13 lead, lead with their extra point with 4:14 to go in the Third Stanza. The Knights had gone 80 yards in 6 plays, and it did not look good.

Connor to the Rescue with Key Pick

This was such a great game. White Plains was stopped on its next series. Mount Vernon drove to the White Plains 25 but was forced to punt. The Tigers deep in their own territory punted to Mount Vernon who took over at the Tiger 47 when a 15 yard penalty pushed the Knights back to their own 43. Penalties at in opportune times hurt Mount Vernon all afternoon. WPCNR estimates they were called for 100 yards in penalties between illegal procedures, offsides, clips and personal fouls.

Attempting to get the penalty back, Rodney Mack threw a pass out to the flat, on the far side and Connor Lantier climbed the ladder snared the missile two handed high over his head, coming down with it and getting to the Knights 40. First and 10, White Plains on the third key Knight turnover.

White Plains had only one sustained drive all day for a touchdown.

After first down gained nothing, Mike Lane swept left end to the the 32. Ike Nduka carried to the 27 as the third quarter ended, 20-13, Mount Vernon.

Nuke clear Holocaust.

Nduka reminiscent of Walter Payton in this game, blew around left end to the 19, then jigging and jogging ran to the 12. The Knights knew what was coming and it was Nduka but they could not stop him. You know he’s good when the other team knows he’s coming and they still can’t stop him.

It was Nduka again to the 6, up the middle. He failed on 3^rd and 1, then Kevin Avery took it on a keeper for a first and goal on the 5. Then gave it back to Nduka for 2, and then Ike lugged it in from the four moving a PILE of Knights with him to make it 20-19. Pablo kicked the point to tie the score 20-20.

Along about this time, you felt this game was something special. Like the Twentieth Century Limited racing the Broadway Limited to Chicago. In the sweep of the old concrete Parker bowl it had a Yale-Harvard feel to it. What was to unfold in the fourth quarter and two Overtime Exchanges to come will be remembered for a long time.

The Purple Knights Strike Back!

Having had success keeping the ball away from the Knight deep return threats, the Tigers kicked off with a squib down the middle. It was picked up by Jaime Logan at the Knights 30.

Uh-oh! Logan slipped behind 5 or six Knights and found an alley on the near sideline, he sidestepped two Tiger tacklers at the Knight 40 and DOWN the sideline he went! 50 – 45-40-35-30…25-20-15-10-5 TOUCH DOWN…still on his feet. The Tigers could not penetrate the pursuit and Logan had run 70 yards to put the Knights on top 26-20. But their try for a 2-pointer was stopped as Connor Lantier turned aside the ball carrier. There were 8 minutes and 21 seconds to go in the game and you thought the Tigers were done.

But, hey, this is White Plains.

Mount Vernon stopped the orange and black on three and out, and took over at their 48, moved the ball in fits and starts to the White Plains 43 but no farther, and Brian Mix punted to the White Plains 6 yard line.

The Tigers had 2 minutes and 53 seconds to go. They were 94 yards from a touchdown, and three time outs left. No problem.

The Tigers began a 94 yard drive for the equalizer. Two running plays produced a face mask penalty and a first down on the 15. A run to the 18 and one time out was taken. Nduka ran to the 31 around the end and out of bounds, stopping the clock.

A run pickup up four. A pass was incomplete, stopping the clock. Avery completed a pass to Mike Lane for a first down on the 42, and Mike stepped out, stopping the clock with 1:20 left.

Avery threw across the middle to Connor Lantier, who turned caught it at his belly and was downed at the Mount Vernon 42. White Plains took their second time out.

Ike Nduka scampered out of bounds to the Knight 32 with 1:12 to go. A pass to Lantier got them to the 29 and a third down. Avery nonchalantly faded back as if to pass, looking right and casually handed off to Nduka who rumbled around left end. The Knights had shifted right. And incredibly Nduka was headed to the end zone hauled down at the 5.

There were 34 seconds to go in the game. Nudka took one shot and did not get it. Mount Vernon was called for delaying the game, not unpiling quickly enough. A huge break it moved the ball to the 2.

Nduka tried again to get it in. No way. White Plains quickly lined up and tried again…and IN he went. Touchdown! TouchDOWN. It was tied 26-26 and the stage was set for Pablo Siaba to win it with a true-blue kick for the PAT.

The Good PAT that was “No Good.”

After much delay as Mount Vernon tried to freeze Pablo. They finally lined up for the PAT. The snap was back, the kick was up headed to the left upright and to this eye, it looked good. It looked good to the Referee standing behind Siaba. It looked good to the White Plains players. It looked good to the Mount Vernon players who trudged off the line of scrimmage, obviously feeling they were beaten. Not one Mount Vernon player jumped up and down indicating they thought the point was missed.

But suddenly a linesman coming in from the far side of the field was signaling with hands down. No good. There was a discussion and Mount Vernon players, presented with a gift started leaping up and down in joy.

This was an unbelievable call, because a video tape of the sequence taken by a parent who videos all the games appeared to show the Referee signaling good, and the ball inside the left upright.

It was also an unbelievable call because there was no second official standing behind the goal post to back up the ref ‘s call. That is not the way the officials are supposed to line up according to the rule book. But the call stood. The teams went to overtime.

The Tigers tied it it up after Mount Vernon scored on their first overtime possession on a 4th pass from Avery to Lantier. This time for the PAT for the win, Pablo Siaba drilled it left and truly missed it. Pablo was holding his head in his hands in misery. But Mr. Siaba has hit many a clutch kick for the Tigers, and he will always be remembered by all who saw this game as the man who kicked the winning extra point that the ref called good and an official from the side called “no good.”

On the second exchange, Nduka could not get a first down to the 10 in the second overtime exchange, and Mount Vernon scored on theirs to win the Second Greatest Football Game Ever Played

$160 Million is Minimum Price Tag for NYPH Proton Accelerator Complex

Posted on October 2, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR EAST ENDER. By John F. Bailey. October 3, 2004: The 18-months it has taken New York Presbyterian Hospital from the time the New York Department of Environmental Conservation finalized its regulations in March 2003, to prepare and finalize plans for storm water retention pools, landscaping and environmental treatments and landscaping of its accelerator site (demanded by the city and the DEC) may have cost the hospital the competitive edge in establishing a world-class proton therapy center in White Plains.

In the time it has taken the hospital to design storm water rentention pools and get the environmental treatment of its site right in the eyes of the city, the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the number 1 cancer treatment center in the United States, ranked by U.S. News and World Report, has been building its own 85,000 square foot proton accelerator facility. The facility, being constructed by Hitachi America, Ltd, is expected to be completed in Spring, 2006, when it is expected to open.

Groundbreaking for the M.D. Anderson facility took place in May, 2003 in The University of Texas Research Park. An M.D. Anderson news release reports it will take 12 months to construct the proton-therapy only facility building to house the proton accelerator, and an additional two years to “install, commission, integrate, and test equipment and safety systems to ensure that clinical specifications are met.” The cost of the project has not been reported.

Selected Hitachi Over Optivus – Hitachi, G.E. Bring Jing to the Table.

Hitachi America was selected over Optivus, of Los Angeles, the candidate reported by the New York Presbyterian Hospital as the firm they will be using to build the NYPH proton accelerator. Optivus, in 2001, had reported it was one of two finalists for the prestigious M.D.Anderson proton accelerator project.

Hitachi appears to be a likely attractive candidate that NYPH might consider over Optivus as the proton accelerator moves forward because Hitachi is investing its own money in the M.D. Anderson facitlity. (NYPH has declined to mention how its facility will be financed.) Hitachi describes its proton accelerator mission as creating and managing profit-making centers.

Hitachi is listed as being a member of a “ private partnership” which includes Sanders Morris Harris, a Houston investment bank; The Styles Company, a holding company formed by the partners to manage construction of the center; Varian Medical Systems, world’s leading radiotherapy supplier, which will provide software and hardware; the Houston Firefighters Relief & Retirement Fund, investing capital; IMPAC Medical Systems, a world leading health management consulting firm; the Houston Police Officers’ Pension System, capital investment; and the General Electric Company.

General Electric is described as a “financial investor,” and Hitachi is described as providing “a state-of-the-art proton therapy treatment delivery system, debt financing, and equity investment in the Proton Therapy Center.”

Earlier this week, New York Presbyterian Hospital, through a spokesperson, declined to comment on financing sources for their accelerator. It is also not known whether Optivus has been contracted for any other proton accelerator projects or considered for them since 2001.

$160 Million is About Right.

In a previous article, WPCNR reported that Hans-Udo Klein, the Managing Director of ACCEL Instruments GmbH in Gladbach, Germany, had estimated the cost of creating a cyclotron-generated proton accelerator beam as 120 Million Eurodollars, or $160 Million U.S. Dollars.

This appears right on the money, because Hitachi is reported selected by the New South Wales government of Australia to develop the Aussies’ first proton therapy center at a projected cost of $160 Million.

The Hitachi project in Houston is a synchrotron-based proton accelerator, which they tout as state-of-the art. Thedifferent from the ACCEL system which is a cyclotron-based system scheduled to be installed at the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center in Munich, Germany. Mr. Klein and the developers of the cyclotron “compact proton accelerator” inform WPCNR that the cyclotron provides a direct beam, and is technically the state of the art. WPCNR continues the development of this on-going story.

NYPH Facility at Least 5 years away.

Considering the three year construction time frame for the Houston facility, it would appear the NYPH has put itself in a competitive hole with the M.D. Anderson facility, due to its lack of efficiency in getting designs for a couple of retention pools completed.

Should the Hospital break ground Tuesday, after its anticipated site plan renewal, it still has to construction the retention pools first. Then it will most likely take three years at the least, and most likely four years to construct the proton accelerator/biomedical lab research building of 384,000 square feet. This projects, using first grade math, a completion date of 2010, if the project gets going in the middle of 2005. Construction of retention pools and access road in 2005; building start in 2006, plus 4 years.

It would appear, based on the Houston proton accerlator process now in place, that New York Presbyterian Hospital is looking at that kind of time frame: 2010 before their proton accelerator starts picking off cancer tumours.

Construction Plans of Building to Come?

Susan Habel, Commissioner of Planning, told WPCNR that she did not think any preliminary construction plans of the actual building had been submitted to the Building Department yet.

Building Commissioner Mike Gismondi did not return WPCNR calls (made twice) to confirm whether or not the hospital had submitted preliminary interior design construction plans for the project.

Habel, in an interview with Paul Wood, Acting Executive Officer in on the call, said the Department of Environmental Conservation had finalized its storm water retention regulations in March 2003. She rejected the suggestion that the hospital had “dragged its feet,” since that time, saying they had been working very hard in design of the retention pools. Asked if she had seen construction plans she said she had not, and did not know if they had been filed with the Building Department.

WPCNR asked Ms. Habel if the grounds design had changed that significantly that the interior design of the building could not be started. Habel said the question was unintelligent, because if a building was designed with one land contour, and it was changed, the plans would have to change.

For more detail about the M.D. Anderson proton accelerator, WPCNR refers CNR newsbuffs to www.mdanderson.org/featured_sites/protontherapy/display.cfm/?id=397522327-9AEE-450 and Hitachi at http://www.hitachi.us/Apps/hitachicom/content.jsp?page=PressReleases/details/Hitachi%20to%20

White Plains Airport Impact on County Economy

Posted on October 1, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR Economist. From Westchester County Association. October 2, 2004: William M. Mooney, Jr., President of the Westchester County Association, Inc (WCA), said the Westchester County Airport made a “very significant and positive impact on the local and regional economy, calculated at more than $600 million annually and accounting for about 10,000 jobs stretching from Westchester and Rockland to Connecticut.” Mr. Mooney made this and other observations about the Airport’s role in the area’s growth during his keynote address at the Westchester Aviation Association’s annual Business Aviation Luncheon held recently in the Westchester County Airport’s General Electric Hangar.

Noting that the Airport had originally been built during World War II to operate as a defense satellite base for New York City, Mr.

Mr. Mooney cited the following facts about the 700-acre Airport:

· 46% of the Airport’s 180,000 flights last year were corporate flights, 25% were commercial and 29% were general aviation.

· In addition to some 300 general aviation aircraft, there are 85 jet aircraft and 15 turbo prop aircraft belonging to such corporations as IBM, PepsiCo, Altria, Verizon, Xerox, International Paper, General Electric, Citigroup, JP Morgan, Bristo-Byders Squibb and others.

· The Airport employs more than 1,200 employees with a direct payroll of some $60 million.

· Seven major commercial airlines including Continental, American, Northwest, United, US Airways, Air Canada and Independence fly non-stop to such major destinations as Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and Toronto.

Mr. Mooney also related that in a survey conducted several years ago by the WCA and the Westchester County government, the responding firms indicated “overwhelmingly by 77% that the Airport was either very important or somewhat important to their organization.”

“Unquestionably, the Airport serves as an economic development catalyst for Westchester to attract new businesses and retain existing businesses,” Mr. Mooney emphasized.

Mr. Mooney singled out the significant contributions of Airport Manager John Russell for overseeing the airport’s modernization and its operations for the past 18 years and of Jeff Lee for leading the Westchester Aviation Association (WAA) as its President. “The WAA and the rest of the aviation community have been major contributors in improving our environment and in helping to develop a comprehensive and effective security program for the Airport,” Mr. Mooney concluded.

The Westchester County Association (www/Westchester.org) is the preeminent business membership organization in Westchester County. The Association is committed to business advocacy, economic vitality and to providing a strong and clear voice for the interests of businesses on the regional, national and international levels. Its key objectives are: promoting positive economic development in the region; fostering business development; and providing its members with access and interaction with key public and private sector individuals, agencies and organizations.

Ladder 49 and Shark Tale Open at City Center De Lux

Posted on October 1, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCREEN GEMS. October 1, 2004. From National Amusements: The City Center 15 Cinema de Lux will showcase Ladder 49 and Shark Tale this weekend. The Schedules for the week at White Plains own movie theatre:

LADDER 49 — Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta star in this exciting and powerful film about firefighters and the remarkable loyalty that bonds them together. PG-13

SHARK TALE — A computer-animated comedy from the creators of SHREK about a small fish who is mistakenly believed to have killed a member of the undersea shark mafia. With voices by Will Smith, Renee Zellweger and Robert DeNiro. PG

Friday, October 01, 2004
Shaun of the Dead (R) –12:10;2:35;5:05;7:35;10:05 pm;12:25 am. ;
Mr. 3000 (PG-13) –12:10;2:40;5:10;7:40;10:15 pm;12:30 am. ;
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (PG) –1:50;4:25;7:20;9:50 pm;12:20 am. ;
The Motorcycle Diaries (R) –1:25;4:20;7:10;10:00 pm;12:35 am. ;
Ladder 49 **(PG-13) –12:45;3:45;7:00;9:55 pm;12:25 am. ;
Shark Tale **(PG) –12:00;2:15;4:30;6:45;9:10;11:30 pm. ;
First Daughter (PG) –1:40;4:10;6:55;9:35 pm;12:05 am. ;
Wimbledon (PG-13) –1:30;4:00;6:30;9:00;11:35 pm. ;
The Forgotten (PG-13) –12:05;2:20;4:35;6:50;9:20;10:10;11:40 pm;12:20 am. ;
Cellular (PG-13) –5:50;8:10;10:25 pm;12:30 am. ;
The Last Shot (R) –12:15;2:50;5:20;7:55;10:30 pm;12:40 am. ;
Shark Tale (PG) –12:30;1:00;1:20;2:45;3:15;3:35;5:00;5:30;7:15;7:45;9:40 pm;12:00 am. ;
Ladder 49 (PG-13) –1:15;4:15;7:30;10:20 pm;12:45 am. ;

Saturday, October 02, 2004
Ladder 49 (PG-13) –1:15;4:15;7:30;10:20 pm;12:45 am. ;
Shark Tale (PG) –12:30;1:00;1:20;2:45;3:15;3:35;5:00;5:30;7:15;7:45;9:40 pm;12:00 am. ;
Mr. 3000 (PG-13) –12:10;2:40;5:10;7:40;10:15 pm;12:30 am. ;
Shaun of the Dead (R) –12:10;2:35;5:05;7:35;10:05 pm;12:25 am. ;
The Forgotten (PG-13) –12:05;2:20;4:35;6:50;9:20;10:10;11:40 pm;12:20 am. ;
Wimbledon (PG-13) –1:30;4:00;6:30;9:00;11:35 pm. ;
Cellular (PG-13) –5:50;8:10;10:25 pm;12:30 am. ;
The Last Shot (R) –12:15;2:50;5:20;9:50 pm;12:00 am. ;
First Daughter (PG) –1:40;4:10;6:55;9:35 pm;12:05 am. ;
Shark Tale **(PG) –12:00;2:15;4:30;6:45;9:10;11:30 pm. ;
Ladder 49 **(PG-13) –12:45;3:45;7:00;9:55 pm;12:25 am. ;
The Motorcycle Diaries (R) –1:25;4:20;7:10;10:00 pm;12:35 am. ;
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (PG) –1:50;4:25;7:20;9:50 pm;12:20 am. ;
Shall We Dance? (PG-13) –7:40 pm. ;

Sunday, October 03, 2004
The Motorcycle Diaries (R) –1:25;4:20;7:10;10:00 pm. ;
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (PG) –1:50;4:25;7:20;9:50 pm. ;
Shaun of the Dead (R) –12:10;2:35;5:05;7:35;10:05 pm. ;
Shark Tale **(PG) –12:00;2:15;4:30;6:45;9:10 pm. ;
Ladder 49 **(PG-13) –12:45;3:45;7:00;9:55 pm. ;
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (PG) –1:00;7:00 pm. ;
The Forgotten (PG-13) –12:05;2:20;4:35;6:50;9:20;10:10 pm. ;
Wimbledon (PG-13) –4:00;9:35 pm. ;
The Last Shot (R) –12:15;2:50;5:20;7:55;10:30 pm. ;
Cellular (PG-13) –5:50;8:10;10:25 pm. ;
First Daughter (PG) –1:40;4:10;6:55;9:35 pm. ;
Ladder 49 (PG-13) –1:15;4:15;7:30;10:20 pm. ;
Mr. 3000 (PG-13) –12:10;2:40;5:10;7:40;10:15 pm. ;
Shark Tale (PG) –12:30;1:00;1:20;2:45;

NYPH Proton Accelerator Not Easily Upgraded to New Proton Accelerator

Posted on September 30, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR East Ender. By John F. Bailey. September 30, 2004: WPCNR has received correspondence from Udo Klein, Managing Director of ACCEL Instruments GmbH of Gladbach, Germany, the creators of the new compact superconducting medical proton therapy system for the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center in Munich, being built by Pro Health AG also of Munich, now under construction, scheduled to be commissioned in 2006.

Mr. Klein tells WPCNR the New York Presbyterian Hosptal proton accelerator under consideration, manufactured by Optivus systems is not easily adaptable to the cyclotron stable beam technology developed for the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland, as New York Presbyterian Hospital apparently assumes from today’s statement issued by Geoff Thompson, the NYPH spokesperson.

FIRST IN A SERIES OF GERMAN CENTERS

WPCNR has also learned that the ACCEL system “stable beam technology” is the type of proton accelerator system, a compact accelerator (cyclotron) with a direct beam capability, is expected to replace all of Germany’s 400 linear accelerators as well as the gamma knive systems, with 10 to 20 proton centers similar to the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center, which will be operated a private commercial center.

There is also a new study out this year, providing more evidence that proton therapy works to stop cancer tumours cold, without side effects, making it, apparently a more valuable asset to New York Presbyterian Hospital if they select the correct technology. The University of Pennyslvania Health System in Philadelphia is, according to Mr. Klein, “are in touch with us and others.” WPCNR has placed a call to the University of Pennyslvania Health System for confirmation of the seriousness of these explorations by that 2.7 Billion Dollar institution.

Beam Me, Scotty.

New released research appearing in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics in 2004 report the proton therapy as practiced at the Loma Linda University Medical Center in California is effective in curing cancer even among patients with high P.S.A. counts, the blood count indicating presence of cancer in the body.

From 1992 to 1997, the Loma Linda beamed cured 90% of persons diagnosed with tumour cancers with a low P.S.I. rate of less than 4.0, and 82% of those patients with a P.S.I. rate of 4 to 10. Patients with P.S.A.s between 10 and 20, were cured at the rate of 62%, and patients with PSA’s of more than 20, experienced a 45% cure rate. The study evaluated 1,255 patients treated at Loma Linda between October 1991 and December 1997. All were treated with protons and X-rays; none had prior surgery or hormonal therapy. Three consecutive rises of PSA were used to indicate biochemical failure.

Curiously, according to statistics provided by Pro Health Ag, the owner-developers of the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center, 50% of all U.S. Cancer malignancies are surgically removed. The remaining 50% treated with radiotherapy. In Europe, 50% of cases are also treated surgically, 40% by radiotherapy (X-Rays), and 27% of those by radiotherapy alone, and 13% combined treatment.

The results are that only 45% of cases are cured. The radiotherapy cure rate varies form 0% to 96%.

Loma Linda Pioneering Device has a Second Generation Model

WPCNR (from first reports last week by SwissInfo note previous story), learned that the compact proton accelerator which ACCEL manufactures requires less space, less power, and delivers a more effective, accurate proton punch to cancer tumours than the Loma Linda accelerator manufactured by Optivus, previously planned by the New York Presbyterian Hospital. The new cyclotron with the fixed beam was developed by the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland.

Mr. Klein explains the difference between the new compact accelerator and the Loma Linda pioneer device: “The Loma Linda type accelerator is a synchrotron, which has a discontinuous beam by nature and needs a higher controlling effort to get it stable. Cyloctrons (the Accel accelerator) instead deliver a continuous and stable flow of protons. Upgrading (a synchrotron) is a very costly and time consuming thing, interrupting operations.”

WPCNR asked if the new ACCEL device was U.S. F.D.A.-approved, and Mr. Klein advised “FDA approval for proton therapy systems is a process ALONG with engineering design and manufacturing according to our discussions with them.”

Less Costly?

WPCNR inquired about the cost of the ACCEL cyclotron being installed in Munich? Klein explained Munich has ONE cyclotraon and FIVE treatment rooms, four with a gantry and one fixed beam room. Total project costs including the whole facility are on the order of 120 Million Euro, (or $144 Million ).

When the proton accelerator Optivus, Loma Linda model was originally proposed by the New York Presbyterian Hospital in 2002, it was estimated to cost $100 Million. The price tag of the actual facility now being asked to have its site plan renewed Monday at the October 4 Common Council meeting have never been accounted for by New York Presbyterian Hospital. It may cost the NYPH considerably more for that unit when they finally sign the contract, whenever that may be. Mr. Thompson did not say when the NYPH actually would start building.

Doctor Reaction?

Mr. Klein said doctors like the more versatile beam on the new ACCEL compact cyclotron: “Doctors are more interested in the treatment modalities, beam characteristics, patient environment, planning systems, integrated software, etc. They don’t care so much about the accelerator although this is the heart of the system defining beam quality, scanning speeds to a large extent.”

Power Use of New Accelerator Slightly More Efficent.

Klein said the Munich cyclotron used “several hundred kilowatts less” than the Loma Linda accelerator model. A thousand kilowatts equals one megawatt. The NYPH Environmental Impact Statement prepared in December 2001 for this project said that the peak power demand for the Center’s equipment would be approximately 9.25 Megawatts. The new Accelerator in Munich would cut that demand and cost by approximately 300 KW, (if “several” means 2 to 300 kilowatts), bringing the peak power demand slightly under 9 Megawatts, just by rough guestimate.

To put this into perspective, 9.25 Megawatts the peak power demand (the EIS appears not to mention the average power demand), is enough power to light 92,500 100 watt light bulbs, and to light 4 light bulbs in every one of the 25,000 households in White Plains.

The Treatment Difference.

WPCNR wanted a layman’s definition of the main difference between the Loma Linda accelerator and the ACCEL accelerator in Munich, Klein writes, “The basic difference is SCANNNG versus SCATTERIN. For scattering, like in Loma Linda, you need to shape and collimate the beam with heavy and patient-specific material to match the shape of the tumor. With scanning, you control the irradiated field with the software.”

Klein whose company which is creating the proton accelerator for the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center, said regarding the treatment: “We believe and we can demonstrate that ACCEL delivers the most compact and most innovative system worldwide. The Loma Linda system uses a synchrotron which we do not consider the appropriate choice for today’s fast scanning proton therapy. It cannot be expected that protons can be produced, accelerated and precisely guided for radiation therapy pruposes in considerably smaller systems in the future.”

Building Does Not Have to Be As Large.

WPCNR asked if the ACCEL accelerator could fit into an existing building. Klein said this was not possible but did allow that it was “compact” as its description implies:

“The requirements of the footprint of a proton therapy system plus the radiation shielding necessities usually require a tailor-made building. There are only a few cases worldwide where parts of existing buildings could be used for proton therapy systems brought in. Those buildings however had been used for housing other accelerator equipment before.”

For extensive coverage of the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center, WPCNR suggests a trip through cyberspace to www.rptc.de, the Center’s website.

A Parent on the Scarano Scenario.

Posted on September 30, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VOICE. From a WPHS Sports Parent. September 30, 2004: In response to a post placed by a coach at White Plains High School in support of dismissed Athletic Director, Mario Scarano, a parent posts a comment alleging that Mr. Scarano did not go far enough in addressing parent issues with coaches:

I need to reply to the coach who supports Scarano. The guy was a jerk. Last year he hired some 19 year old boy to coach the JV lacrosse team . . . not a bright idea. As my wife and I noticed the inappropriate behaviour of this boy and the younger girls, we brought this to his attention.

He poo pood us, and insisted that there could be no indiscretion (without even looking into it). It wasn’t until the end of the season that the boy mysteriously disappeared.

Did Scarano tell anyone? No, he just whitewashed it, and avoided all inquiries. Typical for a school burocrat. Did you hear about it? Of course not, because all of the dirt in White Plains Schools is effectively swept under a rug . . . as usual. I say, good riddence to bad rubbish.

Parent (Name Withheld on Request)