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 SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. November 29, 2005: In the course of setting a discussion date to evaluate and set priorities for possible renovation of school facilities based on the recent study of a five year facilities plan prepared by Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson, the topic of renovation of the high school football stadium came up.

 

The Loucks Dream. Not Committed to, yet. Photo, WPCNR News

 

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors made a statement to the Board of Education Monday evening to correct an impression created by a letter from the White Plains High School Athletic Fund, Inc., distributed to attendees of last week’s White Plains-Stepinanc Turkey Bowl Game. The letter, Connors pointed out to the Board, was distributed without his knowledge or the school district permission. He said no prior commitments had been made on going ahead with any suggestions and improvements to any schools or facilities at this time. He said those priorties, choices, and timetables, if any,  would be discussed at a meeting on December 19, 7:30 at Education House.

 

Connors, toward the end of the biweekly Board of Education meeting Monday night said, “There is no commitment to build anything. We have only committed to a Study.”

A False Start?

 

The Athletic Fund letter was actively distributed to some 1,000 fans and was included with a reply envelope (for a contribution) in the football program for the Thanksgiving Day Game. The letter contained language that could be construed to indicate the School District was already actively committed to execute  the Fund’s renovation program for Loucks Field. (Athletic facilities had been included in the K. G. & D. study as part of general consideration of athletic facilities.)

 

The language in the Athletic Fund letter read: “Earlier this fall, the White Plains Board of Education was presented with an architect’s report that outlined a comprehensive upgrade at all the schools in the district, including the high school, two middle schools and five elementary schools. Renovations and construction would include physical building and athletic facilities at all locations. The costs estimated for all projects would range from $50 million to $90 million, and would be submitted as a bond authorization to voters in spring 2006. In the meantime the School Board is stydying the proposal to determine the specifics and priority of proposed items it would wish to recommend to the voters.”

 

Upon Further Review.

 

Connors told the Board of Education he had no prior knowledge of the  WPHS Athletic Fund intent to distribute the letter, no one on the Athletic Fund board had spoken to him about it  and he wanted to make it clear that no commitments to execute any projects detailed in the study prepared by Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson Architects, included a $5 Million renovation to Loucks Field, and $3 Million renovations of Parker Stadium and Eastview Fields, had been made, contrary to what the letter conveyed.

 

The letter from Daniel Woodard, the Chairman of the Athletic Fund, said, “If  (Loucks Field renovations were) adopted, renovations would include a new, synthetic field, a new eight-lane track; lighting; home/away seating with a capacity of 3,250; shrubbery and landscaping. The new field would accommodate such sports as field hockey, football, lacrosse, soccer and track & field, as well as other events.”

 

Official Measurement.

 

Woodard’s letter seemed to imply the School District had enthusiastically assumed responsibility for renovating the stadium (by including it in the study), and by the White Plains High School Athletic Fund calling for additional contributions from the public for amenities to the Loucks high school athletic complex in addition to the stadium infrastructure (that the School District would execute) in this statement:

 

“However, more is needed to be done. To help develop and create a truly multipurpose, first-class facility capable of hosting a wide range of quality activities and events, the WPHS Athletic Fund is seeking donations to augment the School Board proposal.

 

Among the projects still needed: a wholly new field house with lockers, meeting and class rooms, and coaches’ offices; a main entrance plaza; state-of-the-art press box, concession stands and sound system. All told, these projects would range $2-3 million in cost.” (Editor’s Note: This is in addition to the $5 million called for in the  Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson study).

 

Connors emphasized that the Board would consider what the district had to do and needed to do for buildings and athletic facilieis at the December 19 meeting.

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WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE.  November 27, 2005: Peter Bassano, a member of the White Plains Board of Education writes on the $50 Million to $95 Million price tag placed on school building and grounds renovation by the school district architects:

 Dear John,

We have not yet gotten to the point that we can say what, if anything, we need.   There are really 2 categories of work identified by the architect; Infrastructure work and capital improvements.  From hereon, we should be talking about these two categories separately. 

(More)

Having said that, I can honestly say that we havent progressed to the point that we would recommend spending anything yet.  The Board is still in the preliminary stages.  All this talk of $50 and $65 million is purely illustrative. 

The administration is working on their recommendations and priorities but the Board and community need to carefully look at long and short term plans, projected needs and alternatives before we begin looking at the dollars.  

The discussion about the SEQRA work is out of sequence but that is a factor of the length of time the SEQRA process would take and the fact that the much of the cost of the SEQRA work would not be passed on to the WP taxpayers. 

I dont think there are any surprises in the enrollment figures.  Generally steady with a few bubbles.  Im sure you can have a copy once the numbers are real.

Peter Bassano

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WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. November 25, 2005: Silver Lake now that the cold weather is coming in is back to its former beauty, the raw sewage algae and pollution being finally chased by colder temperatures. In fact the neighborhood is so cleaned up that some high class tenants have replaced the Canadian Geese. A family of distinguished swans have taken up residence, along with the hoi poloi in Trump Tower, seen overlooking Silver Lake today:

Distinguished Clientele Move Into Silver Lake Acquaminiums, obviously attracted by Trump Tower at City Center cache which can be seen overlooking the Lake in upper right of this photograph. Photo by the WPCNR Roving Photographer.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. November 25, 2005: White Plains won the Battle of White Plains Thursday morning with a third quarter touchdown pass on a rollout left, spin and throw TD pass from quarterback Conor Gilmartin-Donohue to “Old Reliable # 21” Tommy Lee to cap a 6 minute touchdown drive. The Tigers held Archbishop Stepinac to just 11 plays in the second half to win their fourth straight Turkey Bowl at Parker Stadium before the traditional good-natured throng of about a 1,000 fans. 

Tiger kicker Ian Jackson saved a touchdown with another patented open field tackle intercepting the Crusader’s  Rashaad Slowley  at the 50 yard line on the ensuing kickoff to save the tying touchdown.

Tigers Bleeding the Clock late in the Fourth Quarter. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

White Plains began its victory drive, when Justin Lee, the Tiger upman took a short Crusader second half kickoff at the Tiger 30 and returned it 15 yards to the Orange and Black 47. The Tigers then chewed up 6 and a half minutes of the Third Quarter with a 53 yard march in 8 plays, highlighted by a key 2^nd and 10 pass play at the Crusader 30, Gilmartin-Donohue to Mickey Morello.

 

Conor dropped gracefully back, looked to his left in the flat and found Mickey wide open at the 20, and the Mick rumbled on a slanting run all the way to the Crusader 7 for a first and goal. Jamaine Hewitt lost two yards to the 9. Then the Tigers struck for the gamer.

 

Gilmartin-Donohue dropped back, rolled to his left and winged a pass to an uncovered “Mr. Lee”  to the left of the goal post who turned, said “Come to Pappa” and gathered it in clean at his belly. TouchDOWN!  Ivan Gayton kicked the PAT and it was 7-0 nothing, Orange and Black, and they had melted almost 7 minutes out of the third quarter on the drive. White Plains will miss Tommy Lee’s special ability to rise to the occasion when the chips are down next year.

 

Ian Stops the Equalizer.

 

On the kickoff, Ian Jackson booted mightily to inside the 10, but an offside on the kickoff cost the Tigers a do-over from the 35.

 

Rashaad Slowley took Ian’s second kick at the 20, slanted left, gathered blockers and was funneled to the far side, but he did not wait for a blocker, and Ian Jackson was the last Tiger standing.

 

Angling on  Mr. Slowley in full stride, Jackson got the angle exactly right and  bearhugged him from the side and bulldogged him down out of bounds at the 50 yard line saving the equalizer. By WPCNR count, this is the third time Ian has saved a touchdown on a kickoff this year. He is fearless mano a mano.

 

A Costly Bobble stalls Stepinac March.

 

Stepinac started up their drive at the 50. After a running play gained little yardage, quarterback Steve Meys hit Slowley with a beauty flat pass to the near sideline for a first down on the Tiger 35. There was a run for no gain. Then on third down a pitchback to Slowley was dropped —  the only fumble of the game to that point. He fell on it in the backfield for a 5 yard loss.  On third and 15, a  Meys pass to the 20 was broken up by three Tigers around the receiver and it was 4^th and 15 from the 40. Stepinac elected to pooch punt rather than go for it, attempting to bloop it short and hit a Tiger defender with it causing a free ball, but the Tiger linebackers were careful and let the pooch die.

 

The Tigers took over with Hewitt running 17 yards on first down to the  50. Gilmartin-Donohue ran to the Crusader 41 as the Third Quarter ended with the Tigers on the 41 and up 7-0.

 

Tiger ball control bleeds clock.

 

 After Gilmartin-Donohue made a first down at the 40, two plays lost two yards. Then Conor was about to be sacked deep at the 50 on 3^rd and 14, but he stepped out of a tackle like Fred Astaire and rumbled  17 yards on a slant around right end down to the Crusader 30 for a first down.  Jeff Terreda on 2^nd and 5 rolled around end for a first down on the Stepinac 16.  But there the drive stalled when Conor Gilmartin-Donohue was sacked for the first time back on the 25. The Tigers punted and Stepinac took over at their 26.

 

However, the eight plays run by the Tigers on the 50 yard drive had stolen 6 minutes off the fourth quarter. Stepinac took over and went 3 and out when Mickey Morello turned aside Mike Degrella on a 3^rd and 4 at the 33. A mighty punt forced the Tigers back to their own 10 with 4 minutes to play.

 

On a third down, Conor Gilmartin-Donohue on a keeper ran for a first down at the 23. This forced Stepinac to burn their time outs to stop the clock after each play. Three plays failed to make a first down and White Plains was forced to punt on 4^th down at their 24.

 

Jackson booms it out of harm’s way.

 

Standing on his own 10 Ian Jackson punted for the last time as a Tiger with great pressure. The snap was low and he was able to somehow zing a mortar on a line past the 50 yard line to the Stepinac 47. It was a 42 yard punt in the air, 30 yards from scrimmage. It was enough to give Stepinac a problem. The Crusaders had no time outs and there was only a minute and a half to go in the game.

 

Quarterback Meys elected for a series of medium passes getting a first down which stopped the clock. A completed pass to the Tiger 30 was nullified by an illegal procedure penalty, the last costly penalty of the day. This put the Crusaders back to midfield again. A pass deep to the Tiger 5 was overthrown. A final pass for all the marbles never got launched because Meys muffed the snap and the Tigers recovered, taking over and running out  the clock.

 

Tenative First Half

 

 In the first half Stepinac and White Plains, each showing signs of rustiness had opening drives stalled by procedure and encroachment penalties. Stepinac drove to the Tigers 8 on their opening drive that lasted six minutes but were stopped on a run and two incomplete passes. They elected to try a 15 yard field goal that went wide.  The Tigers drove right back to the Stepinac 21, getting an encroachment first down. But could not convert on the following series. 

 

Stepinac then drove to the Tiger 42 where their drive stalled. A closing Tiger possession in the first half ended on an interception and the first half ended 0-0.

 

 

Connors, McCarthy Honored. John McCarthy above, and Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors (waving to crowd, below) were recognized in pregame ceremonies as the Dedicatees of this year’s game. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

 

Superintendent of Schools  Timothy Connors, acknowledging the crowd, with his wife Jean,(center) and members of the White Plains Board of Education. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

 

 

Lee and Mohan Receive BT Lauer Awards.

 

 

At the close of the game Tommy Lee (below)  who caught the winning touchdown and Paul Mohan  (above)of Stepinac received the BT Lauer Sportsmanship Scholarship & Awards for their sportsmanship, leadership, community service and character on and off the field during their high school careers. Each young man receives a $1,376 Scholarship. Photos by WPCNR Sports.

 

 

 

 The White Plains High School Marching Band (below, playing the Alma Mater) performed a halftime extravaganza that set a new standard in formation segues and choreography. They looked very sharp. Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WPCNR RINGSIDE. By KO Johnny. November 23, 2005: The traffic was still streaming in at 8:15 into the parking lots surrounding the County Center as fight fans swarmed to the fifth and final Westchester County Boxing Card of the season. They were rewarded with four excellent fights highlighted by Welterweight Danbury Del Rodriguez’s 6 Round TKO of Sugarfoot McClendon on Rodriguez’s  combinations to die for  on him against the ropes in the last round. The relentless and patient Rodriguez boxed the Colombus (Ohio) brawler superbly, caught him with a series in the fifth started by a left jab and right cross, then finished him off in the sixth with an overhand right and a followup left from way down underneath  that put McClendon on the ropes where Rodriguez (17-1-1, 10 KOs) took him apart with a left, right, right,left driving him to his knees, and Referee Michael Ortega stopped the fight.

Delvin Rodriguez clocks Sugarfoot McClendon with an express right with everything on it in Round 6 to begin the finish to the Main Event. Photo, WPCNR Sports

The most rousing fight of the evening before 2,500 buzzing serious fans (who stayed until the end) saw Joey “Mr” Rios (12-0, 5 KOs) outbox the PitBull from Denver, Larry Gonzalez (8-2, 2 KOS), defeating him in a unanimous 8-round decision, 80-74, 78-74, 78-74. This tense battle of lightning fast fighters had speed, finesse, strategy and intelligent boxing was in doubt to the final gong.

Joey “Mr.” Rios, left and Larry Gonzalez of Denver, going at it in the lates. You can see Rios is cut above his right eye, and Gonzalez nose is caked with blood. Rios’ poise and ability to protect his cut through the fight carried him to the win against the explosive Gonzalez who could not finish his punches. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Rios got away on points in the first two rounds covering up from Gonzalez blows to his head and punishing Gonzalez with his left jab, bloodying Gonzalez’s nose by the end of round Two.

Gonzalez struck back a minute into Round 3 opening a nasty cut to the left of Joey’s eye. Joey was forced to avoid coming inside against Gonzalez throughout the fight due to the eye problem, but still punished Gonzalez with his lightning jab enough to take round four. Rios rallied jabbing away with Gonzalez unable to land his punches soon enough and Rios dancing away and dancing in, took the pivotal round five with a solid left hook in the final seconds to steal the fifth. We saw it 3-2 going to the sixth. Gonzalez took it to Rios in Round sixth but was unable to do serious damage. Rios held on controlling the fight jabbing and tying Gonzalez up while still being aggressive in the final two rounds. You got the feeling watching this one that at any moment Gonzalez could land one and hand Rios his first defeat. But Mr. Rios held on to go to 12-0, showing his right arm is solid after surgery seven months ago.

A left uppercut from Battle Hill’s Tony Grano  coming up out of the canvus waist high has just landed flush to Ruben Bracera’s jaw and Reuben is down at 47 seconds of Round 2, Tony had his first professional win by knockout. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Tony Grano, the heavyweight from Battle Hill showed he could box and move fast in his first fight, holding off free swinging Ruben Bracera (2-5-1) from the Bronx staggering and dropping Rueben in the corner with a massive right at the end of the first round. In the second round a left from down below caught Bracera flush in the face staggering him to his knees, and he fell back to the canvas, for a second round knockout at 47 seconds.

Hurricane Saccurato tearing Tanya Gallegos apart. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Ann Marie Saccurato (10-1-2)returned to her winning ways, defeating  Tanya Gallegos of Denver (now 3-4, 2 KOs) on a TKO at 1:38. Ann Marie was sky high for this one, jumping up and down with more pep than usual before the first bell. She litterally whirled into this fight, and Gallegos never knew what hit her. Ann Marie landed combinations at will in round two and the referee stopped the fight after Saccurato was pummeling her into the end ropes. Leo Fortyz of the Bronx Journal at ringside chatted with the referee who said she stopped it because Gallegos was obviously outclassed, was going to lose anyway and she did not want to see Gallegos hurt.

In the preliminaries, Richard Pearson (2-0, 1 KO) of Patterson, N.J. defeated Curtis Spice Jones of Brooklyn (2-1), stopping Jones with a solid right in the first round, and keeping Jones at bay the rest of the fight. Pearson told Fortyz in an interview he was fight with a muscle pull and could not throw his left hand. Ray Dominguez (0-1), making his pro debut, lost to Cory Jones of Brooklyn (1-1) who outboxed him and tired Ray out. But Dominguez came alive in the fourth round to give Jones a bit of a scare.