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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. August 16, 2005: The Stratford Brakettes, behind Sarah Pauly shut down Storm USA, 3-1, in the second game of a doubleheader Monday evening in Straftford, Connecticut,  to earn a birth in the ASA Women’s Major Fastpitch Championship Tuesday night at 6:30 at Frank DeLuca Field. America’s premier amateur softball team goes for their fourth straight National title tonight against the Schutt Hurricanes of California.

 

Chaput Sends One: Lovena Chaput, Brakettes shortstop rounds third and heads for home after cranking a drive over and out in the fifth inning to give the Brakettes a 3-0 lead in the must-win Loser’s Bracket Final late Monday night. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

 

The Hurricanes Taryne Mowatt, a freshman at the University of Arizona,  1-hit the Brakettes in the Winner’s Bracket Final, outduelling Cat Osterman, the Olympic pitcher, 1-0 in an eight-inning tie-breaker. To retain their national title, the Brakettes must sweep a twin bill from the Hurricanes. The Brakettes send Osterman back to the circle tonight in the first game and Pauley will pitch the title game if the Brakette bats come alive and force a second game.

Taryne Mowatt Mowing Down Brakettes in Game One. The Freshman from the University of Arizona pitched what she called her greatest game, giving the blasting Brakettes only 1 hit, putting the Schutt Hurricanes in the driver’s seat. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

 

The Brakettes Lovena Chaput belted a long sacrifice fly to drive in what turned out to be the winning run in the victory over the Storm and blasted a solo homer  10 feet over the right field fence in the fifth to make the score 3-0. Germaine Fairchild’s smoking single down the left field line got the Brakette bats going in the first inning as the Brakettes started teeing off on Lauren Anderson — who had pitched five innings in a game earlier in the day.

Anderson hit Chaput in the helmet leading off the game. Linda Secka hit into fielder’s choice, was sacrificed to second, and Germaine Fairchild, hitting cleanup smoked a single into the left field corner to make it 1-0. In the second inning, the Brakettes continued to stroke Anderson. Erica Sobel singled, Callie Piper singled, Amanda Jensen singled and Lovena Chaput belted a long towering drive into right center to drive in a run to make it 2-0. Chaput blasted a long one off Anderson in the fifth to make it 3-0.

 

 

Sarah Pauly, the Brakettes tall blonde righthander handcuffed the Storm, and held the lead, striking out the side in the second inning, with only one Storm reaching second in the fourth. Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

 A walk, a single and a single loaded the bases on Pauly in the 5^th, but Chaput at shortstop bailed Pauly out of the full-sacks jam, when she shoestringed a softliner and doubled Cross off third base. A run-and-bunt allowed the lone Storm run to score when the Brakette catcher threw errantly to third base, allowing Dykstra to score and it was 3-1. The Storm had winning run at the plate in the seventh with two out and two on, but Pauley rose to the occasion inducing a trickler to second. A  great throw from secondbaseman Sobel when she was flat in the dirt just did get the runner at first to end the game.

 

 

WINNING BATTERY: Sarah Pauly (right) with her catcher Killian Roessner, said her riseball and changeup were her stock-in-trade tonight that kept the pesky Storm hitters in check. She fanned 9, walked 1. Catcher Killian Roessner caught both ends of the doubleheader, and was robbed of a three-run homer in the seventh when the Storm Centerfielder lept at the centerfield fence, crashed threw it and appeared to catch the ball. Brakette manager John Stratton argued the fence was moved by the outfielder to catch the ball, but the men-in-blue called it a long out. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

 

 

In the first game, Cat Osterman the lanky lefty from Texas, (in the circle) member of the USA Olympic Softball Champions, pitching in her first game for the Brakettes, dueled towheaded Tarynne Mowatt. Osterman mastered the Hurricane hitters who mounted only one threat in the second inning until the game ended in a tie-breaking sacrifice fly in the 8^th by Ashley Herrara. Osterman with her drop and rise and  pinpoint control was painting the outside corner. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

 

Meanwhile Mowatt kept the Brakette hitters off balance allowing only one dying quail hit over third base in the second inning by Linda Secka. Brakettes Manager John Stratton grumbled about the Brakettes inability to move the runners and quiet bats. “You do that, you score runs,” he said. Catcher Roessner said the team was shocked after the first game loss, and said all the bats were quiet. “We have to bring our A-game, tomorrow,” she said.

 

Sunset Boulevard: Mowatt pitching in the sunset in the fifth inning of her 1-0 gem. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

 

The Brakettes had their shots to score off Mowatt in the 6^th and 7^th.  A walk to Chaput, and a botched sacrifice and a walk put runners on first and second for the great clutch hitter, Germaine Fairchild, hitting cleanup. Fairchild had three good swings but, Mowatt induced her to hit into a force play in the hole at short,  ending the bid.

 

Mowatt In Motion. Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

In the 7^th ,  Denise Denis was safe on an error when the thirdbaseperson’s throw pulled the second baseperson off the bag at first. Mowatt, with the game on the line, fanned Roessner and the fearsome Sobel swinging and got Callie Piper on a pop to short.

 

 Mowatt (left)  said she was using a screwball and curve to setup the Brakette hitters for her changeup, which she used more than once in batter sequences. She got a lot of her third strikes on the change, which is the same everytime she throws it, but in a different spot.  Hurricane Coach Paul Wilk said the victory was sweet, and credited his catcher Suzy Brazney, (right) with calling the pitching sequences, keeping the Brakette hitters off-balance. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

 

The Hurricanes won this game by sacrificing while the Brakettes could not get a bunt down in the 8^th and deciding frame.

 

In the Brakette 8^th with the tiebreaker in effect, Jill Cimminello on second. Amanda Jensen missed her first attempts to bunt Jill over and fouled the third pitch for out number one. Lovena Chaput pushed the ball to the right of the pitcher’s circle moving her over to third. With the go-ahead on third,  Linda Secka lofted a high easy fly to right to end the bid.

 

In contrast,  the Hurricanes executed. With Mallory Miller on second to start the bottom of the 8^th,  Danielle Peterson took one ball then dropped an Osterman pitch perfectly between the circle and first moving Miller to third. One out, winning run on third. Peterson said she disciplined herself to layoff Cat’s rise and anything high. She said it was the biggest play she’d ever been involved in.

 

 

Heroine of the Game: Ashley Herrera, the leadoff hitter stepped in. Herrera had put the ball in play three straight times against Osterman, and said she was looking for anything above the knees to drive. She’s also, she said, played against Osterman before. She got all of the first pitch and drove it on a line to straight away center, Miller tagged and slid in easily. Secka catching the ball in deep center had no shot at throwing her out and the Hurricanes and Mowatt had the win, 1-0. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

 

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WPCNR North Street News. By John F. Bailey. August 9, 2005, UPDATED WITH PIX: C. J. Follini, Managing Member of the North Street Community, LLC, announced to the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations Tuesday evening the 390 units of senior housing his group plans to build on the former St. Agnes Hospital property would be marketed as condominiums to persons over 55 years of age at prices from $400,000 to $1,000,000. It was the first time the group had revealed the units were to be in the form of condominium ownership.

 

C. J. Follini, Managing Member of the North Street Community LLC, presenting to the Council of Neighborhood Associations Tuesday evening. Photo, WPCNR News

 

Pirro Group Bought Out.

 

Follini announced his group had also acquired the ownership of 311 North Street, (currently housing medical offices),  from the group that formerly owned it, giving North Street Community LLC total ownership of the property. Follini declined to discuss the terms of the 311 acquisition. Asked by WPCNR if the former owners of 311 had exchanged ownership for an equity stake in North Street Community, Follini said they did not and they were “completely out of the project.”

 

311 North Street, (upper left picture), presently a series of medical offices was acquired by North Street Community properties and will remain as part of the site, and undergo substantial renovation to house community outpatient services, Follini said. The former St. Agnes Hospital, upper right, will be converted into an assisted living, nursing facility for the use of the community residents, should they eventually need assisted living care. Photo, WPCNR News.

 

Quarter of a Billion Handle?

 

The breakdown of  the 390 one-bedroom, two-bedroom units was not broken down at the meeting. Should North Street Community sell each for the minimum price of $400,000 would bring the North Street Community a minimum gross sales of about $156 Million. If the median price per unit approached $700,000, the rough “handle” on the project North Street Community could realize would be approximately $273 Million. North Street Community purchased the property for $21.5 Million from the New York State Dormitory Authority at auction last December 15.

 

The Dormitory Authority refused to consider a bid by the Italian-American Society to create a senior living home on the property at that time, that would keep St. Agnes Hospital open, and divested itself of the property for the $21.5 Million price paid by the Noyack Equity Group, as North Street Community was known as at the time.

 

Condos Subject to Affordable Housing Set Aside? No, Says Malmud.

 

Rita Malmud, White Plains Common Councilwoman, was asked by WPCNR whether now that the North Street Community was a condominium luxury housing project with health care services available, (“a hybrid of senior housing & health care” as described to WPCNR by Mr. Follini), did the project become subject to the city’s “Set-Aside Affordable Housing rule.

 

Ms. Malmud, said, “That’s a very interesting question,” but pointed out that the North Street Community property was not in the area in which the city “Set Aside Rule” currently applies. (It stops at Bloomingdale Road.)

 

Senior Housing Zones

 

Asked how the Common Council could prevent such developments from spreading on the New York Presbyterian Hospital property, Malmud suggested designating “Special Zones” of the city where senior housing could be built, the North Street Community property being one of them.  

 

Malmud noted that if the city granted a Special Permit to the R1-12.5 zone (which permits 90 homes to be built on the North Street Community property), it would have to apply to all R1-12.5 zoning. Malmud said in setting aside such “senior housing zones,” the city could have the opportunity to attach the “Set Aside Policy” to such projects, including Mr. Follini’s.

 

Why the Switch from Housing.

 

Follini, in his remarks to the Council of Neighborhood Association, which was inundated by a large contingent of owners in the Wyndam Close condominiums adjacent the property, said his group had considered building 90 homes on the 23.2 acre site, but felt the senior housing complex made more sense and fit the 1997 Comprehensive Plan stated need for senior housing. The ninety homes perhaps, WPCNR speculates, would realize the organization considerably less in long term revenue, less cost of construction with no long term revenue generation, which the North Street Community concept provides in licensing fees, and upfront money.

 

The Overview of the Project. Photo, WPCNR News

 

Wanted a Health Care Partner.

 

Follini said North Street Community is seeking “a licensed health care operator” to operate the 390 units of senior housing, for the North Street Community and the selected operator would also manage the Assisted Living and Nursing Facility he proposes to locate in the former St. Agnes Hospital Building. Follini noted that “we expect to sell the condominium units, but we would not remain on the Condominium Board, and the licensed operator would join the condominium board.”  Follini said his group would retain ownership of the property.

 

Follini said they were talking with prospective health care providers at the present time. He said New York Presbyterian Hospital was not one of them, and said at one point, he had not talked to them, had not had any calls from them, and they were not being considered. The issues of how any licensee would partner in the project were not discussed (such as whether the licensee would contribute in the construction phase).

 

311 Remains. Will Honor Leases.

 

As for the fate of the 311 building, formerly owned by the Simone Brothers-Pirro Group-Fisher Brothers, Follini said the building is to be home of community outpatient services, and that he would honor the leases of present tenants of the building, though extensive renovations were planned. Follini emphasized that neither the 311 site nor the converted St. Agnes Hospital building would offer emergency care.

 

Sightlines showing views neighbors would see: Sightline at top shows the treeline buffer shielding Wyndham Close from the proposed project. Sightling at bottom is the view from North Street, looking West. Photo, WPCNR News.

 

Questions and concerns of residents of Wyndham Close, the neighborhood adjacent to the North Street Community property hung on traffic and the green buffer between Wyndham Close and the property.

 

Traffic Studies Under Way.

 

Steve Kass, an attorney for the North Street Community, said that extensive traffic studies were under way and these would be included in the scoping process which begins August 25 at a Common Council Work Session beginning at 6 P.M in City Hall. The scoping process will continue at the September 6 Common Council meeting at 7:30 P.M, sometime during the course of that meeting.

 

 Kass assured residents that the Environmental Impact Statement would make extensive study of the traffic effects of the 1,040 parking places proposed. The large number of parking spaces (to be placed underground), Follini said, were to handle the needs of the staff required for the Assisted Living and Nursing Facility at the St. Agnes Hospital building.

 

Follini said that he did not expect to begin the project until the middle of 2006, according to the present timetable for council consideration of the proposal. In the question and answer period, Follini said that his marketing surveys showed that the average age of the expected condominium buyers would be 72 years of age.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Westco Productions. August 8, 2005:  “ANNIE” and “CATS” head the list of shows for the 2005-2006 season of Westco Productions, the White Plains-based professional theater company. Westco performs at various theaters in Westchester and Rockland, and reaches a cumulative audience of from 30,000 to 40,000 during the performing season.

In addition to the full Broadway productions of “ANNIE” and “CATS,” Westco will be presenting six other shows for family audiences. The company will be holding auditions on August 27, 2005, at the Irvington Town Hall Theatre, 85 Main St., Irvington, NY.  

Adults must have experience and will be seen from 9:30 am – 12:00 noon.  Children ages 7 and up will be seen from 12:30 – 3:00 pm.  Westco is also seeking girls ages 7 to 12 to play the orphans in “ANNIE.” 

Send a picture and resume to: Westco Productions, 9 Romar Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605.  Please be sure your e-mail address is on your resume.  You will be contacted to attend and given further details at that time.  Visit Westco’s website at www.westcoproductions.org for the full schedule of productions.  

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR from Dayna Dixon, Chicago Bandits. August 7, 2005: The battle continues today  in Chicago as the Chicago Bandits won their second game this weekend against the Juggernaut 3-2 Saturday night in Lisle, Illinois.  The two teams have been exchanging the wins since last weekend in New York. 

 

The Banditas Lindsay Chouinard gave up 5 hits but picked up her 8^th win of the season in the circle for Chicago.  On the other end, Jodie Cox gave up 8 hits and struck out two.  Cox took the loss for her third this year.

Both teams welcomed back players who were in Japan this past week playing on the USA National Team.  Bandits Jaime Clark and Vicky Galindo along with Juggernaut Natasha Watley returned to play with their NPF team for the rest of the series.  In the first inning alone, Watley created two outs defensively.

 

The game didn’t get rolling until the bottom of the third inning when the Bandits scored the first run of the game.

 

Bandit Vicky Galindo walked and scored when ex-Naut Gina Oaks recorded her 7^th RBI when she drove in Galindo off of her single to deep left.  The inning ended on an out from Oaks at first when the officials caught her leaving the bag early.

  

The Bandits exploded in the fourth inning with their bats, but only came up with one run.  Pitcher Jodie Cox gave up three hits in this inning alone.

 

 Jaime Clark hit a blooper that dropped in short center just enough put her on first.  Clark was moved around the bases with the next two batters but when Christina Enea pushed the ball to the left field outfielder Kaleo Eldredge gunned the ball to home.  Catcher Realmuto tagged Clark a couple feet in front of the plate.  Collins made up for the previous play by scoring Enea with her single to bring the Bandits to 2-0.

 

Kate Varde singled and was replaced by Liz Bouck to run.  Next up, Galindo was hit by pitch, although coach Julie Smith would disagree. She appealed the call to the home plate umpire .  Oaks hit a line drive down the left field line to bring in Bouck (who re-entered to run), giving the Bandits a 3-0 lead after four.  New York switched it up by bring in relief pitcher Auburn Sigurdson to finish off the inning with two outs.

 

The Juggernaut procrastinated by waiting until the 7^th inning to put some runs on the board.  Chouinard gave up four hits including a double.

 

Alicia Smith pinchhit to start the rally, singling to get on.  Chelsea Spencer, who was hit by a pitch in the first inning, drove in Smith with her double.  Jackie Pasquerella became the potential tying run on first with her single as Spencer crossed the plate, making it 3-2.

 

 After Watley was safe at first, Pasquerella attempted to stretch it to third, but first basemen Enea threw the ball to Galindo who tagged Jackie out at third, ending the game. The loss dropped the Juggernaut 5-1/2 games behind the league-leading Bandits.

 

The final game between the Chicago Bandits and New York Juggernaut will take place noon Sunday, August 7^th at the Bandits’ home field in Lisle, Ill.  The loss left the Juggernaut 2-1/2 Games ahead of the Arizona Heat for the 4th and last playoff berth in the NPF.

 

NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH STANDINGS August 7, 2005

Team W L %    GB Chicago Bandits 34 5 .872                 —— Akron Racers 31 6 .838                  1-1/2 Texas Thunder 31 8 .795                      3 New York Juggernaut 26 9 .743                     5-1/2 Arizona Heat 24 12 .667                     8-1/2 New England Riptide 23 16 .590                       11

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Cristin Seidel, WPPAC. August 5, 2005, (Edited):  White Plains Performing Arts Center Board of Directors President, Chauncey Walker and Producing Director, Tony Stimac announced the appointment of Ray Cullom to the position of Managing Director of the White Plains Performing Arts Center Friday afternoon.

 

Mr. Cullom fills the position formerly held by  Executive Director, Jeffrey Rosenstock, of Queens Theatre in the Park who has played a reduced pro bono role in the theatre’s management since last fall. Mr. and Mrs. White Plains will get an immediate look at Mr. Cullom’s work in September. Cullom is the creator of the first WPPAC production of the fall scheduled to open the WPPAC 2005-2006 season in September, Gilbert & Sullivan in Brief, which debuts September 23.

 

Mr. Cullom, 39, is currently the Executive Director of The Bethesda Theatre in Maryland, and General Manager/Line Producer for several large-scale productions of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.  Previously, Mr. Cullom has served as Executive Director for The Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick, MD, and the Theatre Row Theatre complex on West 42^nd Street in New York City, which he also helped to design and open.

He has worked behind the scenes on the national tours of many large-scale touring musical productions, including RENT, RAGTIME, FOSSE, CABARET, and directly with Cameron Macintosh on his productions of OLIVER! And OKLAHOMA! Ray also held the position of Vice President of Programming for the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, NC, one of the nation’s largest independent performing arts complexes.

 

 “Ray brings a national profile and experience to White Plains Performing Arts Center. Every previous institution where he’s been has seen significant growth in resources for the art. This is what White Plains needs most now. Additionally, I am personally thrilled to welcome him as co-leader of the White Plains Performing Arts Center” said an excited Tony Stimac on Mr. Cullom’s appointment.

 

 “Through the search process, we learned that Ray is regarded by significant figures in the arts world as one of the most promising and innovative arts managers of his generation. The Board of Directors is tremendously excited about the future of the White Plains Performing Arts Center, especially now that we have such a talented new leader to join Tony” said Mayor Joseph Delfino.

 

 “I am thrilled to join the White Plains Performing Arts Center” said Ray of his new position. He added, “to be a part of a vibrant community and remarkably rich arts scene is a dream come true. I look forward to helping advance the Center’s mission to be the region’s leader in the production and presentation of first-class cultural entertainment, and to provide outstanding education and outreach programs to the community.”

 

 White Plains Performing Arts Center will open its 3rd season on September 23^rd with the new musical Comedy, Gilbert & Sullivan In Brief, which was created by Mr. Cullom, and premiered at The Kennedy Center last fall.