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 PENALTY BOX. November 27, 2005: Mahopac High shut out the White Plains Ice Tigers 5-0 with two power play goals behind the immaculate netminding of  Chris Mammano who robbed Tiger snipers five times mano a mano on Ebersole Ice. In a game filled with  23 penalties, evenly divided between the two hockey clubs, the penalties were costly to the Tigers. When White Plains had the advantage, Mammano was equal to the task.

Kick Save and a Beauty! Chris Mammano in Goal for Mahopac (Or is it Ken Dryden?)  stops Charlie Pavarini’s breakaway in the first period. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

After 12 minutes of scoreless hockey, a back-of-the-head hit Tiger penalty with 3 minutes to go in the first period, lead to the first goal of the game ffor the PAC on the ensuing power play.   Nicky Alosco took a pass behind the Tiger goal and wrapped the puck around and in from behind the goal past Jake Weinstein between knee and post on the short side for a 1-0 lead. Earlier Mahopac’s Mammano had shown it was going to be a tough night when he robbed Charlie Pavarini on short-handed breakway point blank. 

Tiger Power Plays Thwarted

At the close of the first period, Mahopac took two penalties, giving White Plains a two-man advantage for 23 seconds and a man advantage for the next 52 seconds but could not capitalize with Chris Flynn the only Tiger to get a shot on goal during this 2 then 1 man advantage, and Chris’s was from the blueline. The disciplined Mahopac penalty killers cut off the passing lanes and when the Tigers managed to hit a Tiger blade, the puck would not stick. The teams traded penalties through the second period, two apiece, with The PAC getting off the better power plays. Jake Weinstein in goal for the Tigers made three spectacular saves, gloving one, kicking aside another and plucking off another. The scruffy penalties the Tigers took prevented any offense from getting going.

It’s a Power Play Goal! Jake Weinstein in goal for the Tigers has just  kicked out a shot by Alex Stevenson (26). Dom Varrone in blue jersey, center of picture is about to go for the puck between the legs of the Tiger defender for the goal that will give Mahopac a 2-0 lead.  Varrone shot past Jake on his left side.Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Turning Point

With 3:53 to go in the second period, still 1-0, PAC, a double penalty to White Plains Joe DeFreitas for a trip and hit to the back of the head, meant the Tigers would be down a Tiger for the rest of the period. A minute later after the Tigers had held off the Pack for a minute, Tim Conroy was sent off for a trip at 2:24, leaving the Tigers 2 men short. Less than 35 seconds later, the double penalties cost a goal. With the Pack camped around Jake Weinstein, firing away, Weinstein stopped a 6-footer dead and it bounced out free in front, and Dom Vorrone whipped in the rebound for a 2-0 lead at the close of the second period.  Mahopac with White Plains shorthanded out shot WP 11-7 in the second period.

Tigers Rage at the Net, but Mahopac’s Mammano turns them aside.

In the third period, trailing 2-0 the Tigers gave up a third goal just after failing to capitalize on a Power Play, when Nicky Alosco took the puck coming out of his defensive zone on passes fromVarrone and Rob Fitchett and cleared the blue line at center ice for the Tiger goal. He walked right in on a full head of steam and poked the puck past Jake in a terrific individual effort, to make it 3-0 at 12:20. After that the Tigers threw everything they had at Mahopac’s goaltender, but he was equal to the task stopping four more breakaways.

Third PAC Goal: Alosco (21 in blue) celebrating after skating down Broadway for the third goal. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Chris Flynn Robbed, Third period. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Glove Save and a honey! Tim Conroy robbed! Third Period. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Mahopac scored two more goals with less than five minutes to go to close out the scoring. Chris Mammano had 28 saves in the shutout, five of them of the spectacular variety. Asked how he handles a breakaway, Mammano said, “I just follow the puck.” Even when the Tigers had him beaten the puck would just miss open net wide, which happened twice.

The Tigers were hurt by 12 penalties which hampered their offense from getting going. Even when they were at full-strength, the Mahopac strategy of playing the center at their blue line and the defensivemen at the face off hashmarks cut off the passing lanes and reduced the Tigers to long shots in.  Mahopac plays a virtual power play box defense at full-strength that disrupted the high speed Tigers. Less penalties taken by the Tigers would have helped.

The Tigers of the Future: Plainsmen Peewees (9 year olds) skated inbetween First and Second Periods. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

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WPCNR PENALTY BOX. November 27, 2005: Tim Conroy’s roundhouse one-handed sweep shot after an end-to-end ice, curled around Harvey’s goaltender to make the score 4-0, his  second goal of the evening to start the second period proved the game winning goal, as the White Plains Ice Tigers Mach One speed, furious forechecking, backchecking and superior conditioning overwhelmed Harvey School in the semi-final of the Tigers own Invitational Tournament Saturday evening. Mahopac defeated Harrison-Rye to meet White Plains in Sunday evenings Tournament Final. Stepinac defeated Horace Greeley.

First Goal! Matt Altieri, in white jersey, (6), has just skated between Calvaliers’ goaltender Jason O’Brien and Kyle Miller(6) off a faceoff in the near circle to score the first Tiger goal at 8:19 of the First Period, Ethan Bruno’s stickwork behind the goal knocked the puck in front and Matt jammed it home.  (14) is  Charlie Pavarini.Photo, WPCNR Sports.

BREAKAWAY! 23 seconds later, (looking like Jean Beliveau), Tigers’ Tim Conroy corralled a loose puck at the red line outskated Dane Rasmussen (17) breaking in on the Harvey goal, his jersey flying and poked it between the goal tender’s legs to make it 2-0 at  7:56 of the First Period. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Lucas Cornfield poked in a rebound on a shot by Ethan Bruno to stretch the Tiger lead to 3-0 at the close of the opening stanza. The Tigers outshot the Cavs, 14-4 in the first period, intercepting clearing passes at the boards, forechecking like demons, and when the Cavs were able to skate the puck into the Tiger end, the Tigers beat them back into the defense zone, with thundering board work, checks that could be heard in Katonah, and pesky poke checks, the Cavs could not get anything going.

Conroy took a cross rink pass from Matt Goldstein at the start of the second period and carried it into the Cav end, angling to the side boards around a defender and with one hand on his stick swept the puck around the goalie for a 4-0 lead 1 minute into the second period.

Rasmusson fired a 20 footer from the top of the circle on a power play to put Harvey on the board at 4-1, at 9:06,  but Ethan Bruno flicked in a rebound with 3 minutes to go to put the game in the safety zone, 5-1.

Then came the deluge: Chris Flynn scored at  1:57;  andJeff Sommer at 55 seconds to make it 7-1. Harvey scored to make it 7-2 after two periods.  Alex Longfield notched the final Tiger goal in the third period. The Tigers outshot Harvey 33-19.

Like the Montreal Canadians of the 1950s

The Tigers at ice level were awesome tonight. They have great skate speed, forwards and backwards and in the two games in this tournament they clearly outskated the opposition. They are lean and tough playing music on the sideboards using opposition bodies as “keys.” Stickwork is deft, clever and highly athletic. They stay on their blades and their work around the enemy net is dedicated, annoying, and pesky. They never give up on a puck and there is no easy clear against these guys. Defensemen stationed at the bluelines pinch in and have great reactions when a defender clears around the boards. You have to carry it out against White Plains. They keep it in your end for a long time.

In their own defensive zone, they have not been caught out of position and usually have five skaters in front of the attackers.

The matchup with Mahopac should be an interesting contest. Faceoff is at 6:15 P.M. Sunday.

Hockey Night in White Plains at Ebersole Rink. Photo, WPCNR Sports

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WPCNR PENALTY BOX. November 25, 2005: The White Plains High Ice Tigers came out flying against North Rockland this afternoon, Matt Gelston blasting a 70 footer past the Raiders’ goaltender to open the rain of rubber that found net the rest of the game in the opening day of the 2005 Thanksgiving Invitational Hockey Tournament. Tim Conroy lead the onslaught with a Hat Trick and two assists. Chris Flynn netted two goals and an assist.

In other action, Harrison stunned Stepinac in overtime, Mahopac shutout Lakeland/Panas and Harvey School defeated Horace Greeley. The Tigers play Harvey Saturday evening at 6:15 P.M. at Ebersole Rink The Schedule:

GOAL! Rui Encarnacao in the white jersey right, backends a blast past the outstretched pads of Rockland’s netminder and catches the far corner for the last White Plains goal Saturday afternoon. The Tigers showed relentless forechecking causing numerous loose pucks in the North Rockland end throughout the game.  After North Rockland closed the gap to 6-3 with 10 minutes to go in the Third stanza, the Tigers scored three unanswered goals to put the comeback on ice. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

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WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. Thanksgiving Portfolio. November 24-25, 2005; Updated with more Views of America’s Hometown: On this Thanksgiving, let us remember that band of hardy intrepid souls who crossed an ocean in a boat no more bigger than a large Chris Craft and settled in an unforgiving landscape and started a country in the cold landscape of New England. They were helped by Indians who welcomed them, without whom they would not have survived. A salute to this brave band. They sailed into a bay, dropped anchor and just carved out a living after living in incredible conditions in a ship’s hold for weeks, crossing the storm-tossed North Atlantic. Here are some views of America’s first hometown captured by the WPCNR Roving Photographer. Click on “Read More” for all the pictures.

Plymouth Rock Landing. Plymouth, Massachusetts. Photo, WPCNR News

The Mayflower II. Plymouth Harbor. Photo, WPCNR News

Governor William Bradford Statue on the Shores of Plymouth Harbor, Plymouth Massachusetts. Photo, WPCNR News.

Indian Statue welcoming the Pilgrim Settlers. Plymouth, Massachusetts. Photo, WPCNR News.

“Plymouth Rock,” The landing place of the pilgrims. Photo, WPCNR News

Settlers Home, left, circa 1690. Photo, WPCNR News

Church, Plymouth, Massachusetts, late 1700s. Photo, WPCNR News.

The Jury: Old Burial Ground, Plymouth Massachusetts. Last resting place of the pilgrims overlooking Plymouth Harbor. The sacrifices, bravery and perseverence of these persons stand as examples to Americans today. Photo, WPCNR News

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. November 23, 2005: Producing Director of the White Plains Performing Arts Center, Tony Stimac, highlighted the first two years of the WPPAC’s operation for the Common Council last night, his performance easily winning an additional $100,000 in funding from the city and $200,000 more from Louis Cappelli. He promised more community talent-based productions and pointed with pride to the student’s Tony Awards presentations, his fund-raisers, and community productions as having taken hold as the WPPAC’s most successful moneymakers. He promised more grassroots theater spadework involving local schools.

Tony Stimac concluded his Presentation to the Common Council last night. Photo, WPCNR News.

Stimac’s presentation ran down the numbers on the theater’s two years of activity since opening in November 2003.. He said the theater had staged 119 total live entertainment performances, consisting  of 28 family events, 31 special events, 28 children’s theater events,  12 community events, 14 live theater performances, and 6 comedy performances.

The Producing Director reported the theater had 147 rentals, including 63 children’s theater performances, 10 children’s concerts, 14 concerts, 7 benefit events, 15 theatrical productions, 8 dance performances,  16 organization meetings,  and 14 film/video presentations. He showed a highlight video of the WPPAC’s two years to date, a copy of which was requested but not supplied last night.

In going forward, Stimac said he would cut down on the number of openings productions would play the theater, running shows no more than three or 4 performances.

He said, “Artistically, I think we’ve done a good job.” He attributed the first year $197,000 loss in 2003-2004 to losing a full quarter of productions, since he opened in November two years ago.  (The theater opened in November of 2003, depriving it of revenues in July, August, September, and October of that year.)

Pointing to the White Plains Performing Arts Center mission statement, he said “We’re doing what we said we were going to do,” but said building an audience “does take time.” He referred to the city’s theatrical consultant, Duncan Webb’s analysis which noted that the operation should approach breakeven status in its third year of operation. To do that, (breakeven in 2005-06), Stimac said, he would need the $300,000 combined resources of the city’s new $100,000, Mr. Cappelli’s $100,000, and a $100,000 in new  contributions Mr. Cappelli has promised to raise personally.

Stimac said he had raised $450,000 in donations to the theater in each of the  first two years of operation, and included the city’s $100,000, for each of the first two years. Stimac said the theater budget was $1 Million the first year, and “$800,450 we reached,” and 528,000 of that was in contributions, the rest ticket sales. These numbers appear to be on the mark, for in the first year financial statements filed with the state, actual figures listed show the WPPAC expenses in 2003-04 as being $1,032,224 with total support and revenue of $834,613.

Stimac supplied no figures for year two, only to say, the theater lost $107,000.

Grant Eligibility a Hope in 2006-07.

Asked by Councilman Tom Roach about applying for  government grants, Stimac said he would begin applying for those in March, 2006 for next year, (the first year –the WPPAC’s fourth – when the WPPAC is eligible to apply). He emphasized that non profit performing arts centers were hurting, citing the failure of the John Haymes Performing Arts Center in Englewood, N.J., the failure of the Northern Westchester Center for the Arts a month ago, even with substantial support, and even noted the Stamford Rich Theater is “hurting.” “It’s a battle today,” he said.

The Tony Stimac Show. Tuesday evening, Mayor’s Conference Room. The Producing Director tells the story of the first two years of the theater. Photo, WPCNR News

He said the WPPAC has made inroads in gaining support from area corporations, showing a slide of corporate logos. He mentioned that Jeffrey Rosenstock  of Queens Theater in the Park, continues as “pro bono” Executive Director of WPPAC in a fundraising capacity. Stimac reported Rosenstock was instrumental in obtaining a new $25,000 grant from Verizon, and $25,000 from Bank of North America. He said he talks with Rosenstock three or four times a day.

Box Office Scorecard

Stimac examined some hits and flops. He said A Christmas Carol, produced last December had sold $88,000 worth of tickets and that Swango had sold $175,000 in a two week run.

On the other hand, Saving Aimee the October Kathie Lee Gifford musical  last month, he said, was staged at a cost of  $375,000 ($275,000 of which, Stimac said, was invested by  Ms. Gifford).  The production which WPCNR reviewed and found wanting, sold $45,000 worth of tickets (many at half price), in a two week run losing roughly $330,000. That loss is approximately the deficit the WPPAC is running for 2005-2006 at this time, and $30,000 more than the sum being furnished by the city ($100,000) and Mr. Cappelli ($200,000) to balance the third year budget.   

Stimac said Saving Aimee at the box office was “very disappointing,” and indicated he would no longer invest in such lavish new and original productions, saying, “It’s the wrong path. The path is Playgroup.”  Stimac said Playgroup Theatre productions sell out because of their built-in audience of family members who come to see their children perform.

In contrast, Stimac said he wished he had a part of local attorney Henry Miller’s premiere play last week, All Too Human, which played for six performances and grossed $40,000 . Mr. Miller self-produced and self-promoted his play, and starred in it himself, renting the theatre for approximately $3,000.

More Local Involvement His New Direction

Larry Delgado suggested bringing in the local theatrer group, the Fort Hill Players. Stimac said the WPPAC rental prices “were out of their range.” He defended the $400 one night rental charge in effect at WPPAC, pointing out that the SUNY Purchase center charges $2,000 to $3,000.

For the balance of the year, Stimac’s WPPAC will show Phyllis Newman in Girls Room March 3-12, 2006 and Charlie’s Place April 28-May 7, in addition to its fare of PlayGroup Theatre Productions, Conservatory of Music events,  individual events and private rentals. Stimac was not asked by any member of the council  what next year’s programming might feature. He did say he wanted to bring Shakespeare and Moliere plays in, and producing them with education groups following his school and family strategy.  The Power Point presentation to the council was not made available to this reporter as yet.