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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS ART NEWS. By John F. Bailey. December 8, 2005: White Plains good old Westco Productions introduced its second “Healing Walls” creation at a major medical center in White Plains this morning, and new sponsorship was announced for the Children’s Rehabilation Center (originally built by Thomas and Agnes Carvel on the White Plains St. Agnes Hospital Campus).

 “Healing Walls” is the charming mural creation project program created by Westco Producer Susan Katz who introduced Westco’s original colorful murals at White Plains Hospital Center Pediatric Ward last Spring.

Robert Ruger. “Mr. White Plains,” the conscience of White Plains and a philanthropist of the heart for about the last 100 years, was one of the first to step up and donate the cost of the wall.  Ruger said it was a wonderful concept, and asked rhetorically, “who wouldn’t want to do this for kids. I just had to donate a wall.”Photo, WPCNR Art News

Today the second unveiling of new  “Healing Walls” was showcased with a Breakfast Reception for the “donors with a heart”  who made the Children’s Rehabilitation Center Healing Walls possible by donating the cost of creating the murals painted by White Plains artist Ann Ferencz at the Center on the former St. Agnes Hospital grounds.

Ann and Peter Vinci beside the Mural they dedicated as a memorial to their two sons who were treated at CRC. Photo, WPCNR Arts

Muralist Ann Ferencz beside her favorite mural at CRC, The Tree House. Photo, WPCNR Arts

Ms. Ferencz painted to doctors’ and therapists’ tastes, decorating the halls and offices with gala colorful children’s scenes exploring the whimsy and wonder of life with bursts of colors and engaging animal characters. One doctor wanted a barnyard scene painted. Another family, memorialzing their two sons who were treated at CRC, requested a hallway mural featuring bears and wolves. The effect of “Healing Walls” is to take a place of fear and uncertainty and turn it (a hospital) into a wonderland of “enchantment” that melts away the trauma of therapeutic treatement, and even, doctors say, plays a role in treatment every day.

Pat Turci, right, Executive Director of Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center in New York, announced the CRC was to become an affiliate of Elizabeth Seton in the Spring. With her is Maoureen Tomkiel, Executive Director of CRC, and Dr. Maria Picci, Medical Director. Photo, WPCNR Arts

At the reception where the media was given a tour of the center, it was announced  by Pat Turci, Executive Director of the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center in New York, that the Children’s Rehabilitation Center was going to become an affiliate of the Seton Center in the spring, “depending on the state reimbursement. Everything’s going to stay the same. It’s just a change in sponsorship. The Archdiocese of New York asked the Sisters of Charity, would  they be interested (in running CRC), because we run the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center in Manhattan and it’s a similar population of children. We felt CRC matched our mission and that we could help out and financially get the center in the right direction.”

Ms. Turci said the Sisters would “stabilize” the Center’s funding.

Susan Katz  (Center) welcomed the gathering of donors, saying, “I want to thank the CRC for working with us on this, and I hope this fulfills some of the needs that you had.” Photo, WPCNR ARTS

She thanked some of the donors that were present who included Brian and Beth Wallach, The White Plains Rotary Club, Jim and Robin Benerofe, Councilman Robert Ruger,  Jeff and Molly Werner,  and the Vinci Family,  who donated the monetary gifts  to create the Healing Walls.

Speaking on the unusual effects of Healing Walls,  Maureen Tomkiel, Executive Director of CRC said, “The therapists here are very creative, very caring and very loving and are able to incorporate the art not only as art but as motivation for the children to walk to the next part of the wall, to touch the wall or to pick something up. We thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Dr. Maria Picci, Susan Katz, (Center), and Artist Ann Ferencz. Photo by WPCNR Arts

Katz said she came up with the idea for creating walls that tell a story and engage when she experienced surgery herself 18 months ago and found herself staring at “mustard colored walls with $1 paintings. I thought there’s got to be a better way to speed up the recuperation process and to help patients with healing. Healing Walls came about. We started at White Plains Hospital last spring. We’re just about moving in here. We’ve got a lot to do, there’s still a lot of walls who need sponsors, so if anyone would like to sponsor a wall or an examination room or an office wall, it’s $600.

A Barnyard  on a Healing Wall Turns a Doctor’s Office into an Enchanted, not-so-frightening-place. Photo by WPCNR ARTS.

Ms. Ferencz, the muralist, speaking to the gathering, said seeing her work in interaction with the children is fascinating: “The kids are fabulous. They’re the best part. Even though the staff is excellent, you have to see what the kids are like  when they’re walking in here. This is their home. This is where they really feel comfortable. I want to encourage you all to reassess your feelings about little children with braces. They are not fragile.  These are some of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”

Ferencz has painted 8 walls so far at CRC, some of which she said took two days, some a day, and every time she comes in she adds to them. “The nice thing about painting here when you have a long time assignment, it just flows. You have all your paints out, and once you’ve established a theme, there weren’t any pencils after the first. The kids each one has some kind of special difference about them, and when they come here  they’re not different here. This is their domain.”

Asked by WPCNR what her next project was, Ms. Ferencz said she hoped to do more Healing Walls: “I’d like to keep this Healing Walls going. It enables local establishments to spruce up their walls. Sue is right. When you have little postage stamp dollar store posters it sends a message that this isn’t an important place.”

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. December 7, 2005: David Chong, the Number 2 man in White Plains law enforcement,  Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety of the City of White Plains  has abruptly  left his position, and is on a paid “administrative leave,” after which he will seek “other opportunities,” according to Martin Gleeson, Special Counsel, Office of the Commissioner.

David Chong. Former Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Number 2 Man in White Plains law, shown in May 2005. Peerless Leader, well-liked, the man who told WPCNR, “In White Plains, we lead from the front,” on a recent security assignment heading security for the White Plains Hospital Center gala,  has left the Department for family reasons. Photo, WPCNR News Archive

As of this hour the Commissioner of Public Safety has issued no statement on Mr. Chong’s departure and there has been no announcement  from the Mayor’s Office about this city personnel situation.

Mr. Gleeson reported exclusively to WPCNR that Mr. Chong has recently adopted a child, and has decided to take time with his family. Asked how long this period of paid administrative leave would last, Gleeson said he did not know at this time. Asked if Mr. Chong would return, Mr. Gleeson said no, that at the end of the administrative leave  that Mr. Chong would ” pursue other opportunities.”.

WPCNR asked Mr. Gleeson to relay to Mr. Chong that WPCNR would like to interview Mr.Chong about his new child, whom, WPCNR understands was adopted from China, and that Mr. Chong personally traveled to China a number of weeks ago to bring the child back to America.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. December 6, 2005 UPDATED 3:25 P.M. E.S.T. UPDATED 10:00 P.M. E.S.T.: A young man identifed as Clement Roosevelt Austin, male, black, 28 years of age, from Larchmont, NY. is reported by police to have jumped from the roof of the 7-story Lexington Avenue Garage at The Galleria at approximately 11:45 A.M. this morning according to Martin Gleeson, Special Counsel, Office of the Commissioner of the White Plains Department of Public Safety.

 Gleeson told WPCNR, “We’re calling it a suicide, pending investigation. The investigating team found the victim with massive head trauma on the side walk. He was taken to White Plains Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead on arrival.”

Scene of Suicide. Police inspect area where Clement Austin took his own life. Photo, WPCNR News

 Gleeson said no suicide note was found with the victim, whose mother resides on Harmon Avenue, White Plains.

 Police on the scene told WPCNR their first effort always goes to helping the victim, and the victim is immediately transported to the hospital in such cases. This is the third apparent suicide victim at the Galleria that WPCNR is aware of, one occurring in March of 2004.

Suicide Scene. A Closer Look. Photo, WPCNR News.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michelle Schoenfeld. December 6, 2005 (EDITED):  The White Plains Board of Education has announced the beginning of the formation of its Annual Budget Committee (ABC) for the tenth consecutive year, as it begins the formal process of preparing the 2006-07 school budget. (The 2005-2006 school budget is currently $154.7 million.) The ABC is an advisory group which provides input, feedback and suggestions to the District. 

President Donna McLaughlin said, “The Board is pleased and proud that the budget has passed by an overwhelming majority since the inception of the vote, and believes that the ABC has contributed greatly to that success, through its assistance and support.” 

The Committee is comprised of representatives of more than a dozen civic and community organizations and other interested individuals.  The first meeting, on February 8th, will include an orientation session for new members, as well as background information.  Two additional meetings with  the administration and Board of Education members will follow, on February 15th and March 8th. 

Meetings are held at 7:30 P.M. at Education House, 5 Homeside Lane and will include an overview of the budget as well as discussions of key issues and recommendations. 

        Anyone wishing to serve on the ABC may call Michele Schoenfeld, District Clerk, at 422-2071, by January 10th.  All of the meetings are open to the public.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. November 5, 2005: As predicted by WPCNR earlier Monday, the legal counsel for  Hale LLC submitted a letter prior to last night’s council meeting asking that the Monday evening Public Hearing on the proposed 10 story condominiums at 97-111 and 100-114 Hale Avenue be postponed until January 3, making it a short 45-minute Common Council meeting Monday.

In other business, the council extended the site plans for Calvary Baptist Church and the senior housing project at South Kensico Avenue and Hadden Avenue for the third straight year, (with the only evidence of construction for the latter, a pile of dirt in the middle of the lot as of last week).

The council approved $100,000 in improvements from the General Fund for renovation of the Thomas Slater Center which Councilman Benjamin Boykin said consisting of replacement of carpeting, restoring exterior retaining walls, and improvements to the rest rooms, and $100,000 for the White Plains Performing Arts Center, a project that was supposed to be self-sustaining when the Council first approved the operators.

In consent agenda ordinance # 31, the council quietly approved $100,000 for the White Plains Performing Arts Center by transferring urban renewal funds into the Main Mamaroneck Plaza Fountain Design and Construction  fund, (the $100,000 coming from that fund), without mentioning the amount of funds on the live telecast of the meeting.

This is $100,000 in addition to the payment the city sends to the White Plains Performing Arts Center nonprofit organization which runs the theater, and in addition to the estimated $192,860  (This was the amount in in-kind services the city provided to the WPPAC in the first year of the theatre’s operation in 2003-2004 – the only year for which “in-kind services provided by the city are documented)  in services the city provides the center at city expense. No one on the Common Council made any comment on this $100,000 bailout of the theatre. Nor has the Council made any public effort or inquiry of the Center’s Board for the direction they are taking the theater which continues to lose money.

By Mr. Stimac’s comments at the recent Common Council meeting, the Performing Arts Center has lost $197,000 its first year, $107,000, its second year, and stands to lose $300,000 in its third year, without $100,000 from the city, and another $200,000 promised by developer Louis Cappelli. In addition, it should be noted that the next show, opening this week, A Christmas Carol, is being advertised as being sponsored  by the Louis Cappelli Foundation.

Environmental Scopings approved for North Shore Community, DEIS for the Pinnacle.

The Final Environmental Scoping Outline, with three pages of amendments was approved for the North Street Community, the senior assisted living luxury condo project proposed for the former St. Agnes Hospital property. Rita Malmud, Councilperson insisted on the inclusion of the three pages, which asked more indepth explanation of issues involving affordable housing; possible impacts of alternatives if the council decided the density and number of units of the proposed senior assisted living condominiums on the former St. Agnes property was too big, and decided to cut the number of units from the proposed 381, and environmental recycling and environmental construction procedures.

The council approved a resolution accepting the Draft Environmental Impact Statement of The Pinnacle. However, environmental activist Daniel Seidel has pointed out to WPCNR that a copy of the DEIS as of Friday was not available to the public in the library or from the city, a violation of SEQR procedures.

Malmud, Delfino support Grace Social Services Center at 96 East Post Road.

Rita Malmud noted that in setting a hearing for the Grace Church Community Services organization on its plans to operate a social service center for homeless persons dropped off in White Plains a few doors down from the Open Arms shelter at 96 Post Road should have hours that allow the center to be “immediately” available when the homeless are dropped off by Westchester County policy at about 6 in the morning when they have leave the county homeless shelter at the County Airport, and when they have to leave the Open Arms Shelter.

New Grace Social Services Center is Planned to locate in the vacant storefront at 96 East Post Road slightly to the left of the white van in this photograph. Open Arms Shelter is the building at far left. Photo, WPCNR News.

Both Mrs. Malmud and Mayor Delfino were very supportive of this project. Mr. Delfino said Grace Church Community Services did a great job and that it was great the county had contracted with them to run the center. The Mayor pointed out that he had said it was horrendous that the county would drop these persons off in White Plains with no place to go, at the time of the Galleria murder in June when a White Plains woman was allegedly killed by one of the homeless persons the county had dropped off.

Malmud sees rosy scenario as CAFRA is released.

With the announcement of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Rita Malmud stated to the audience of thousands out in White Plains in the live telecast.

Holding up the CAFRA report, Malmud said the CAFRA “confirms some good news,” that the work of the last eight years was beginning to pay off, and that the CAFRA “confirms” that “the city is an excellent financial situation.” (Video Capture from WPGA-TV, Channel 75 Live Cablecast by WPCNR News)

She reported the CAFRA shows the city earned a “a surplus of $1.5 million,” (first reported by WPCNR in August, 2005), which she said goes into the general fund, and that the city income has risen 6.8% last year, and that the city fund balance is risen to 22.8 million, as well as an 8.6% increase in sales tax, (also first reported by WPCNR in October, 2005).

Mrs. Malmud did not comment on the First Quarter Financials for 2005-2006, which were also quietly presented at the meeting as part of the consent agenda. Those figures show the sales tax perking at the same rate as one year ago.

Benjamin Boykin in commenting on the CAFRA explained that most of the budget pressures the city was experiencing were personnel-related relating to salary increases and benefits and retirement costs, saying 80% of the city budget was in salaries, which increased the budge automatically 5-6% every year.

Roughly, this means the $89,868,335 in actual salary and benefits expenditures reported by the city for 2005-2005 will increase at the very least $5,392,100 increasing the $117,516,912 expenditure of the general fund  to  $122,909,012, with increases in other costs still to be budgeted.

Mayor Joseph Delfino noted that the CAFRA was showing the development of the city was beginning to pay off. “We knew it wasn’t going to happen right away. We’re starting to get our rewards.”

Nazael Fernandez, Junior Engineer in the Department of Public Works was honored as Employee of the Month for his work on  traffic projections and DPW projects. Mayor Delfino said he was “an engineer’s engineer.” Mr. Fernandez said “It does feel pretty good in a setting like this to impact the infrastructure of this wonderful city, this promising environment that I love…as I continue to serve. (Video Capture from WPGA-TV, Government Access Live Cablecast by WPCNR News.)