Judge Finds in City’s Favor in CCOS-NY Hospital Article 78 Action

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From The Mayor’s Office. August 12, 2003: The Mayor’s Executive Officer George Gretsas announced today that Judge Richard Molea of the New York State Supreme Court has ruled in favor of  the city in the Article 78 action brought by Concerned Citizens for Open Space against the city and New York Presbyterian Hospital last September, after approximately a three month review. (Final papers in the suit were filed at the end of April, 2003.


Mr. Gretsas said the ruling “throws out the suit, though Concerned Citizens for Open Space has the right to appeal.”


Gretsas made no other comment. The suit sought to deny the city’s approval of the Special Permit  paving the way for New York Presbyterian Hospital  to build biomedical research and proton accelerator complex on the grounds that a zoning change was needed. That approval came last August, and CCOS filed their Article 78 suit in September, 2002.

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Adam In Albany: We Must Protect Seniors’ Quality of Life

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. Weekly Column By 89th District NYS Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. August 12, 2003: Seniors have helped make Westchester the great place it is today. That is why one of my top objectives as a State Assemblyman is to help them spend their retirement years in the comfort of their own homes, with access to the health care and prescription drugs they need. We must ensure that seniors are able to remain vibrant members of our community.



Adam Bradley on the Campaign Trail, 2002 WPCNR  News File Photo


 


Keeping health care affordable


 


Many Westchester seniors already spend too much of their income on out-of-pocket health costs. That is why I have been working to help seniors receive the vital medications they depend on by blocking the governor’s fee increases to the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program and by sponsoring legislation to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for prescriptions, which would prevent co-payments from exceeding the cost of the prescribed drug (A.6851). I also sponsored a bill to establish a senior vision program within the New York Office for the Aging, which will provide services to seniors who suffer from visual impairments (A.2345).


 


Protecting hospitals and nursing homes


 


The governor called for major cuts to Medicaid and other health care spending, including imposing a “sick tax,” when hospitals and nursing homes are already losing money and facing severe staffing shortages. I refused to accept the governor’s budget and voted to override his vetoes, restoring over $40.5 million to local hospitals. Furthermore, the Assembly’s refusal to go along with the governor’s so-called “Medicaid swap,” saved Westchester County over $8.3 million.


 


Additionally, I worked for a budget that restored $2.5 million to the Westchester County Department of Health, which serves as a frontline defense against emerging diseases like SARS, West Nile and potential bioterror attacks, and continues to assist in the battle against Lyme Disease.


           


Fighting for property tax relief


 


We already pay some of the highest property taxes in New York State, and the governor’s budget would have made it even worse by freezing the STAR tax relief program. That’s why I voted for a budget that saved the STAR program. I also sponsored legislation that will help seniors get the STAR school tax relief they are due. The bill (A.7873) allows seniors to use 2002 income tax returns instead of 2001 returns to meet the income requirements for this year’s enhanced STAR program, providing immediate relief for this year’s retiring eligible seniors, who may have seen their incomes drop off this year. I urge the Senate and the governor to do what is right and pass this bill.


 


Working together we can keep improving our community and quality of life. I will continue fighting for Westchester’s seniors to ensure that their retirement years are filled with families and friends, not high medical expenses and property tax bills.


 

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Cantatore Holds News Conference Chiding Ryan on Campaign Literature

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN TRAIL. From Press Office of Frank Cantatore. August 7, 2003: County Legislative candidate Frank Cantatore (R – White Plains)  called on Legislator William Ryan to stop misusing public funds by distributing taxpayer-financed communications for his own benefit.  Such activity violates the spirit of a key Board of Legislators rule that specifically forbids misuse of taxpayer funds.


 


“Mr. Ryan must learn that the hard working residents of Westchester County do not struggle to pay their taxes in order support Bill Ryan,” said Cantatore.  “It is clear that he is using taxpayer dollars in a futile attempt to save his re-election campaign.  When the spotlight is on, Mr. Ryan claims to support campaign finance rules, but sadly, when he thinks the people are not watching, he helps himself to taxpayer resources.”


 


 


Ryan’s plan to use taxpayer resources for his personal gain was discovered when many citizens, who were upset at Ryan’s misuse of public funds, complained that Ryan and / or his assistants were distributing misleading flyers at various public places around the district including several busy shopping centers in White Plains.  The flyers, produced by Westchester County Board of Legislators staffers, using county resources, featured a dated picture of Ryan and contact information for his legislative office in White Plains.


 


“Unintentional misuse of public resources for personal gain is bad enough,” Mr. Cantatore continued, “however, Mr. Ryan, with full knowledge that the rules of the Westchester County Board of Legislators specifically prohibits the use of taxpayer resources for personal advancement or gain, has chosen to ignore the rules and thereby hurt the taxpayer, again.”


 


 


A rule entitled “Activities Prohibited During Political Campaigns For County Office” adopted by the Board of Legislators in 1998 specifically forbids incumbents who have filed designating petitions for a county office from using county resources to finance, prepare and mail newsletters “for the purpose of communicating Board activities and achievements to residents of such member’s legislative district.”  Ryan voted for the rule.


 


Mr. Cantatore’s campaign staff has filed a freedom of information request with the Board of Legislators to uncover extent of the misuse of public funds. 


 


“Ethics and the high public trust that a Legislator must adhere to and protect cannot be conveniently disregarded.  Again, Bill Ryan must learn, apparently the hard way, that the taxpayer’s money is not his own; he should pay back every cent that he misused with money from his campaign and pledge, as I have done, to put the taxpayer first,” Cantatore demanded.


 


The Cantatore campaign, in contrast to his opponent, has pledged to use only private donations to finance his election effort.  All donations to Mr. Cantatore’s campaign, and related expenses, are open to public review.


 


“Career politicians too often forget that government was not invented to provide them with a salary, a pension and every perk imaginable; hard earned taxpayer dollars must be diligently protected, unfortunately, sometimes even from elected officials.”  Mr. Cantatore concluded, “when elected, I will protect the public trust and ensure that each and every taxpayer dollar is appropriately spent, or perhaps more importantly, saved and as a first step if elected I will not accept a salary from the county. Those monies I will ask go towards defraying any future tax increases.”


 

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Pleasantville’s Newman Theatre Holds Auditions for Lion In Winter

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WPCNR CASTING CALL. From John Arco,  Newman Theatre. August 10, 2003:The Herbert Mark Newman Theatre of the Richard G. Rosenthal JCC is pleased to announce auditions for it’s fall 2003 production of The Lion In Winter, by James Goldman.  The production is under the direction of Thomas Kramer, with performance dates set for November 1, 2, 8, 9, 13, 15 and 16.  Auditions are scheduled for September 3 and 4, both beginning at 7PM at 600 Bedford Road, Pleasantville. Candidates will be seen on a first-com-first-served basis, and no appointments are needed.  Candidates should be prepared to read from the script.


Character breakdown for the piece is as follows:

Henry II, King of England, 50 years old, powerful energetic and a man
having his last moments of greatness before the beginning of the decline.
       

Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry’s estranged wife. She is his equal in every
way.

Richard Lionheart, the oldest son and Eleanor’s favorite. Strong; determined to be Henry’s successor.  

Geoffrey, the middle son. The brightest of a very bright family. Generally overlooked when the question of succession arises.

John, the youngest son and Henry’s favorite. Unsure of how to attain the throne. Will follow whoever leads him.  

Alais, beautiful. 25 years old. French princess betrothed to Richard for 18 years, and is currently sharing also Henry’s bed.

Philip, crowned King of France. Alais’ brother, determined to see Alais wed to Richard.

The play takes place at Christmas, 1183 AD, at Henry’s castle in Chignon, France.  King Henry II has summoned his rather dysfunctional family for the holiday season and plans to guarantee his successor to the throne. His wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, whom he has imprisoned for the past 10 years, has her own thoughts on who should follow Henry, while the three Princes all scheme to be named heir. Into the family mix, Alais and Philip (along with the power they possess) add to the political and personal maneuvering, and make for a very volatile holiday celebration. This is a
family that makes the Ewings of DALLAS look like THE BRADY BUNCH.

For more information about The Newman Theatre, please visit our website at
www.newmantheatre.org.  For directions or specific questions, contact John Arco at 914-741-0333×626 or send an e-mail to john@newmantheatre.org.

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Girls Fastpitch Explodes in White Plains

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By Chris Kulk, Coach White Plains Explosion 14-Unders. August 7, 2003: The sport of girl’s fastpitch softball is one of the fastest growing sports in area.  Interest in the sport has lead to the organization of the White Plains Girls Softball Association, which now sponsors three summer fastpitch teams.  The White Plains Explosion.  14 & Under, 12 & Under and 10 & Under age groups.           



2003 WHITE PLAINS EXPLOSION 14-U


Left to Right: Christine Portillo, Juliana Bailey, Jill Gordon, Tracy Avery, Jen Gilch, Molly Gottshal, Kailey Meccia, Lauren Kroutil, Lisa Tompkins, and Laura Cedrone. Madalyn Petralia, not pictured. The team won 12 out of 16 games this summer.


Photo by WPCNR Sports


 


The Explosion is a select travel fastpitch team playing other teams as far north as  East Fishkill and south as Bronx.  The players are selected from the best White Plains female athletes during tryouts in the fall.  The selected girls each have a strong commitment to learning the game of fastpitch softball. They commit to playing approximately 18 games starting the last week of June and lasting until the end of July.  The Fastpitch season is resumed again in the fall for an extra six weeks when the Explosion teams enter fall leagues.  Fall fastpitch adds another 12 games as the teams compete in weekly Sunday double headers.


          The Explosion teams, now in their second year have found their success in the philosophy of teaching fastpitch fundamentals in a positive atmosphere through competitive play.    The teams limit the number of players accepted on the team in order to ensure a maximum amount of playing time for each of the girls.


 


          The interest in the sport has driven demand for softball clinics.  Ted O’Donnell White Plains High varsity softball coach has filled that demand over the years by offering both pitching and skills clinics to White Plains girls 4th grade and up.  Ted O’Donnell’s  White Plains Fastpitch  also sponsors it own team.  The White Plains Stix.  The Stix are a 16 U tournament level travel team traveling weekends throughout the tri-state region  The Stix end each season by traveling to a week long National tournament, this year held in North Carolina.


 


          .  The White Plains business community has reached out with financial support to make this a big success.  Many thanks to Stephen Sules State Farm Insurance, Kent Plumbing Supply, Dooley Macs Pub, Smith Barney, Remodeling Consultants, Klhar Glass, Frank Gambelli of City Line Deli, White Plains Firefighters, Statewide Title Insurance, and Radel Corp. all off of which gave freely to support girls fastpitch softball in White Plains. 


          Girls interested in softball clinics or playing for the White Plains Explosion can contact the organization via email WP.Explosion@verizon.net


 

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Adam In Albany: Indian Point Still Troubles Him Despite ” Assurances”

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By 89th District Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. August 7, 2003: So much has changed in our lives since terrorists attacked New York and Washington. All of us have become acutely aware of how precarious our safety and that of our families can be. And it’s for that reason that I have been an outspoken critic of the Indian Point Evaluation Plan. I do not have any faith in the federal government’s assurances that all of us living in the shadow of the Indian Point nuclear plant are safe – and most importantly that we will be able to safely evacuate in case of an emergency at Indian Point.



Assemblyman Adam Bradley


 


       This isn’t just my opinion, either. This past January, I attended a meeting in Greenburgh to discuss a 550-page report released by James Lee Witt Associates, a company founded by the former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which conducted a five-month study of the plant’s evacuation plans for the state. Their conclusion was that the evacuation plan was wholly inadequate.


 


    


 


FEMA and the NRC have to, by law, sign off on the evacuation plans only when they are assured and can guarantee that the plans are adequate to ensure the safety of surrounding communities in the event of a nuclear catastrophe. That assurance cannot be made in the case of Indian Point. In the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster, it’s naïve to think that people will heed official instructions. Families will understandably want to make sure children and loved ones are all right. As a result, our already congested and overburdened roads will be completely choked with traffic, making it impossible to evacuate. And that’s just in Westchester. Indian Point is only 35 miles or so upwind from Times Square and the millions of people who live in New York City proper.


 


       I remain concerned for the safety of our families and friends, and for the well-being of our communities. And as the terrorists have so effectively proven, we are vulnerable. It’s high time for the federal government to take our situation seriously. I urge FEMA in the strongest possible terms to rethink their horribly misguided certification of the evacuation plan and to protect the safety of our families instead of the interests of big energy corporate profits.


 


The greatest lesson we should have learned from September 11 is that the unthinkable can become a reality in a fraction of a second. Airliners can become missiles. Buildings once thought indestructible can be brought down – the lives of thousands of people can be lost. The Indian Point evacuation plan will not work, therefore Indian Point is no longer a risk worth taking in our communities. It’s time for the federal government to finally do something proactive to keep our families safe and secure. It’s time for the federal government to finally be honest and shut Indian Point down, and at a minimum, level with us in candid terms about the lack of any meaningful evacuation plan.


 

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Mayor Announces and Confirms Performing Arts Center Brain Trust

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VARIETY. From Rick Ammirato, The Mayor’s Office. August 6, 2003: Mayor Joseph Delfino today announced the appointment of the White Plains Performing Arts Center’s (WPPAC) Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is charged with getting the organization and operation of the Center up and running, and will be expanded to include more members in the future. The Mayor will also be appointing a Citizens Advisory Committee for the Center later this year.


  



Mayor Delfino, shown at a Common Council Meeting last spring, said,  “The formation of this highly distinguished board is the true beginning of the City’s quest to make the WPPAC the pre-eminent cultural institution in the County,” Mayor Delfino said. “Each of our board members is extremely successful professionally and is very active in the community. They bring a wealth of skills and experiences to the Center.” File Photo by WPCNR News


 The appointees are:



·        Louis R. Cappelli, founder of Cappelli Enterprises and Summit Aviation, Chairman and CEO of George A. Fuller Construction Company. Mr. Cappelli is also a founding member of the Westchester Partnership for Economic Development, a past trustee of the Browning School, a Founding Director of the March of Dimes Real Estate Breakfast, and a sponsor of the Westchester County New York Philharmonic Concert. He also established the Louis R. Cappelli Foundation in 2000, which funds grants to organizations devoted to at risk children.
·      


  Louis Fortunoff, Executive Vice President of Fortunoff Fine Jewelry and a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Fortunoff serves on the Executive Committee of the National Retail Federations’ Board of Directors. He also serves as a board member of the Fifth Avenue Association and the Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District, the NYC Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Association for a Better Long Island, and the New Jersey Retail Merchants Association.
·        


Peter Gisondi, Sr., founder of Peter Gisondi & Co., Inc. Mr. Gisondi is past President of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of Westchester County, past President of the Dry Wall, Painting and Taping Employers Association of Suburban New York. He is presently a member of the White Plains Chamber of Commerce, the Building Trade Employers Association of Westchester and Putnam Counties, the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, and the Associated Builders and Contractors of Fairfield County, Inc.
·        


Thomas Hales, Chairman, President and CEO of Union State Bank. Mr. Hales is also a board member of the New York State Banking Board, the Independent Community Bankers Association and past President of the Independent Community Bankers Association of New York State. Mr. Hales has been a major force in establishing the Children’s Hospital and Trauma Center, at Westchester Medical Center.



·        Patricia Keegan, District Director for Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey. Ms. Keegan is a former Adjunct Professor of Journalism at Iona College and Pace University. Ms. Keegan was also the Director of Communications for the New York State Education Department.
·        


Jeffrey Rosenstock, Executive Director of the WPPAC. Mr. Rosenstock is also the Executive Director of Queens Theatre in the Park, former Producing Director of Theatre by the Sea in Portsmouth, NH, former General Manager of Theatre By the Sea (summer stock theatre) in Matunuck, RI, partnered in the theatre management firm ITC and the former Director of the Charles Ives Center. Mr. Rosenstock currently serves as a panelist for the New York State Council on the Arts, a panelist for the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and is a guest lecturer at NYU and Brooklyn College.
·        


Eli Schonberger, former Vice President at PACE advertising. Mr. Schonberger is an extremely active member of the White Plains community. He has chaired various committees and is currently a member of the White Plains Recreation Advisory Committee.
·        


Tony Stimac, Executive Producer of the WPPAC. Mr. Stimac is the founder, Executive Producer and Artistic Director of the Helen Hayes Theatre Company, founder and former Executive Director of Musical Theatre Works, and Managing Director of the John Drew Theatre East Hampton. Mr. Stimac is also a founding board member of the National Alliance for Musical Theater and served in the Challenge Panel for the Opera/Musical Theater Program at the National Endowment for the Arts.
·       


 Chauncey L. Walker, head of the Transactional Department at Cuddy, Feder & Worby LLP. Mr. Walker is also President of the White Plains Rotary, Vice President of the American Lung Associations of New York State and of the Hudson Valley, and serves on the Board of Directors of the YMCA of White Plains. Mr. Walker is an Adjunct Professor at Pace Law School.
MAYOR APPOINTS WHITE PLAINS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOUNDING BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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Cantatore Will Serve Taxpayers at No Salary as He Announces His Bid for Leg

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Frank Cantatore’s Press Office. August 6, 2003:  Businessman and community leader, Frank Cantatore urged his opponent, William Ryan, Vice Chairman of the Board of Legislators to take a no salary pledge as he has committed to do. “The Board is a part-time position; why does Bill Ryan get to charge the taxpayers over $55,000.00 for part-time employment?  I am calling on him to join me in not taking a salary while taxes continue to skyrocket and costs overruns plague our county’s budget.” The County announced two weeks ago that property taxes would increase by over 30% in 2004. He added, “as Vice Chairman of the Board, my opponent would set an example and show the taxpayers that he too understands the plight of our Senior Citizens, and families who struggle to make ends meet everyday.”


 



Frank Cantatore, Republican Candidate for County Legislature,


pictured at a Common Council meeting in March of this year.


Photo by WPCNR News


 


Mr. Cantatore announced his intention to run for the Fifth District on the Board of Legislators, which encompasses most of White Plains and part of Scarsdale. At his announcement he declared that if elected he would not accept a salary from the County and that those monies should go towards the operating budget of the County to help in defraying any future tax increases.


 


Cantatore is a third generation resident of White Plains. He is President of Corato Contracting Corporation and Fairway Modular Homes. He has also been a long time member of various civic and community organizations such as the White Plains Planning Board, former President of the North Broadway Citizens’ Association, former President of the Carhart Neighborhood Association, the Antonio Meucci Lodge and the White Plains Lions Club.  Mr. Cantatore is also a long time sponsor and supporter of Little League baseball in the area. He is married to the former Barbara Reid and has two children, Alex and Seann.

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Council Approves City Center Garage Rooftop Health Club. 221 Main Rolls On.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. August 5, 2003 UPDATED WITH PHOTOS 4:30 P.M. E.D.T.: The Common Council approved the Louis Cappelli proposal to build light retail, a health club, including pool and tennis corrects to the rooftop of the new City Center Garage Monday evening by a vote of 6 to 1 with Councilman Thomas Roach voting against because he thought the proposal had been made without adequate time to answer all the questions about how the project would work within the complex. Super Developer Louis Cappelli vowed publicly the rooftop construction on the City Center Garage would not prevent the garage from opening October 15 in time for the opening of the City Center.



“Mamaroneck and Main was not a 24-hour city, that was my charge.” Louis Cappelli told the Common Council last night, saying,  the City Center project, “will not be complete without 221 Main.” Photo by WPCNR News


 



The Cappelli-Bland Westin Hotel as visualized from the corner of Court & Main. Photo by WPCNR News


The public hearing to consider the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Super Developer’s proposal to build “the Cappelli-Bland Hotel”  35-story hotel and office complex on the former Halpern property on Main Street between Church and Court Street was opened.


Four members of the public voiced opinions on the project. Two in favor and two against. Carl Barrera, a resident of the Highlands spoke in favor of the project. Alan Teck and Barbara Benjamin expressed strong concerns about the aggravation of traffic and air pollution levels they predicted would be forthcoming should the council approve the project. Steve Connors expressed concern that the Bar Building had historical significance. (The Planning Board and Design Review Board has endorsed condemning to open up more space along Main Street, showcasing Grace Church.)



The Proposed Cappelli Bland Westin as viewed from across the street at Fountain Plaza.


Photo by WPCNR News


Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Louis Cappelli said he was actively pursuing negotiations to acquire the Bar Building and indicated it was only a matter of time before he did acquire the former home of the Westchester Bar Assocation (from which the building gets its name). Mr. Cappelli was magnanimously gracious in his public pronouncements last night, complimenting White Plains as being the city all others in Westchester are trying to be like because of the city’s “vision.” Cappelli noted that New Rochelle has followed the White Plains lead by approving a second hotel and retail complex that Mr. Cappelli is to build to build on the success of his New Roc City complex.



The drive-in entrance to the Cappelli Bland Westin off the proposed Court Street extension as shown before the Common Council last night.


Photo by WPCNR


The Common Council approved funding mechanisms for the White Plains Performing Arts Center in another resolution, and city sources said a news conference would be held this week introducing the new Trustee and Advisory Boards to the theater. WPCNR has also learned that the show for opening night has already been selected and is in development at the present time. Louis Cappelli told WPCNR the theater would open shortly after November 1, that he could not give an exact date.


The Council approved Ann Bernstein as a represenative of the Common Council to the White Plains Business Improvement District by a vote of 6 to 1, with the Mayor dissenting because Ms. Bernstein, the realtor, was no longer a resident of White Plains.



Peter Russo, Senior Code Enforcement Officer of the Department of Building was honored as Employee of the Month for his work in enforcing kitchen fire codes across the city. Photo by WPCNR News.


Major fireworks of the evening occurred during the Citizens to Be Heard  segment. About 15 residents of the Highlands turned out to protest the impending purchase of 129 Longview Avenue by the Association of Halfway Houses organization, which proposes to house rehabilitating citizens there. The disabilities of the residents have not been revealed yet.

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Boykin: Theatre Contract Signed with Stimac Today.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. August 4, 2003: The contract to operate the White Plains Performing Arts Center has been approved and signed today by Tony Stimac, according to Common Council President Benjamin Boykin.


On the afternoon of this evening’s Common Council meeting when the Common Council is going to pass a resolution essentially funding the fledgling operations of the White Plains Performing Arts Center, Council President Benjamin Boykin confirmed for WPCNR that the long-negotiated contract with Tony Stimac to operate the Performing Arts Center now being constructed was some 60 pages in length, covered lease agreements, exit strategies, and relationships between the operator and the city. He said he assumed that Jeffrey Rosenstock, who was selected with Mr. Stimac to run the theatre, also signed with Mr. Stimac, but said he had not seen the contract. Boykin said he expected the contract, which he said followed the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement approved by the Common Council, to be made public “within a few days.”


The White Plains Center for the Performing Arts also has appointed an Advisory Committee of luminaries including Rupert Holmes, Davis Shire, Jean Stapleton and Charles Strouse. A Founding Board of Trustees has also been named, and they include Louis R. Cappelli (builder of the City Center housing the theatre), Louis Fortunoff, Peter Gisondi, Sr., Thomas E. Hales, Jeffrey Rosenstock, Eli Schonberger, Mr. Stimac and Chauncy L. Walker. The Founding Board of Trustees according to the mission of the theatre is responsible for fund-raising for the operation.


 

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