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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. April 19, 2003: The Westchester Wildfire brought United States Basketball League Pro Basketball to White Plains Saturday night and made it an artistic though sloppy success, 110-100 over the Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs before 2,435 fans. An electrifying 3-pointer from the corner by Reggie Jessie with a second remaining in the Third Quarter took the bark out of the ValleyDawgs, giving John Starks club a 9 point lead after three stanzas that took the energy out of the Pennsylvania Club.

SPINNING TURNING IN THE PAINT, Lance Williams launches two of his 24 points to lead the Wildfire in a key stretch in the Third Quarter Saturday night at the County Center. Number 3 is Zach Marbury. Number 42, Kris Hunter.
Photo by WPCNR Sports

Following Jesse’s shot, the ValleyDawgs played as if in a stupor, allowing the better conditioned Wifldfire to run the floor at will and build an 18-point lead in the first 6 minutes of the third quarter.

The Wildfire held a 77-71 lead with 11 seconds to go in third quarter, when Wildfire Head Coach John Starks, looking like a dynamic sartorial mix of Lennie Wilkins and Pat Reilly, his former mentor, drew up a play. The Fire inbounded swung the ball swiftly around the perimeter into the top of the key to Zach Marbury and as the Dawgs moved to stop Zach’s shot he slung the ball to Reggie Jessie in the far corner with a second left and Jessie drained it for an 80-71 lead, it was the dagger in the heart.

The play was vintage John Starks from his Knickerbocker glory days, when Starks had that ability to drill one to turn around a game. And Mr. Starks looked just like Pat Reilly when he was drawing it up in the huddle.

MUSCLING INSIDE IN THE PAINT, Kitwana Rymer challenges for two in the first half at the Center Saturday night. The Wildfire front line of Lance Williams, Kevin Freeman and Rhymer outmugged and outbounded the Dawgs all evening, pouring in 48 of their 110 points in the paint, and outbounded the Dawgs, 59-48.
Photo by WPCNR Sports

Run, Gun, Turn it Over.

The Turnovers were atrocious in this game with the Wildfire losing the ball 28 times to Pennsylvania’s 22, according to the official stats, and they must have been being generous. It seemed to this reporter that each team lost the ball about 10 times each, each quarter, that’s how wild the play was.

There were few set plays, no such thing as a slow down, and frankly, when the Wildfire turned on the defense in the first 5 minutes of the game and for 10 minutes in the last 5 minutes of the third quarter and first 5 minutes of the 4th, Pennsylvania was outmatched.

Starting like Wildfire

The Wildfire started well, like Wildfire, running, swatting and pestering the Dawgs out of their sneakers to a 15-5 lead in the first five minutes, mostly with that swarming muscling churning defense in the lane I was talking about. Reggie Jessie, Vonteego Cummings used their quickness to great advantage.

The Dawgs regained their poise and the Wildfire lead by 2 at the half, 47-45.

In the Third Quarter, Williams, Freeman and Rhymer had their way inside (the Wildfire scored 27 “second chance points” the entire game) and built a 6 point lead during the last half of the third period, sealed by Reggie Jessie’s “Starks Dagger.”

A Calmer, Gentler Low Key John Starks

How did John Starks coach? He barked at his players, watched the game intently, called few timeouts, but when he did the team responded. He was not animated and gesticulating like Pat Reilly, but more like Lennie Wilkins, the Atlanta Hawks coach. His players seem to like him, and the players seem to like each other.

Starks substituted well, and has instilled a swarming, pestering defense of very quick-handed, brutal big men, with outstanding athleticism, when they wish to play hard dee, they can and the Dawgs were not prepared for it.

Team Starks

You can see a lot of the personality of John Starks the player in this team. A fire for the basket, an urge to shoot, and the ability to be absolute pests on defense. But they are big and quick.

The Wildfire can score, too. They had six men in doublefigures. Lance Williams poured in 24 with 11 bounds, Kevin Freeman, 23, and Von Cummings, 18. Cummings and Zach Marbury give Starksfquick, run-the-floor, coast-to-coast gunners who can find the open man and work to whip it to him, when they are denied.

Winning Madly

There were not a lot of set plays. The Wildfire is to put it tastefully, an “improvising team.” They create plays off the defensive boards firing and pushing the ball up at every opportunity, But unlike the Knickerbockers’ sorry experiment at this several years ago, they have the ability to get back and play dee when they have to. And they do not get tired. They are well-conditioned, too. So be prepared for the turnovers, gang. Itt was very entertaining, fierce basketball, the trademark of John Starks as a player — perhaps the most passionate Knickerbocker ever — when the Knicks were “Da Knicks.”

JOHN STARKS NOTCHES FIRST WIN AS A HEAD COACH: Mr. Starks, with back slightly turned in pearl gray suit, partially hidden to the left of Zach Marbury, after just receiving congrats and a win-hug, leaves the court. Ed Pinkney in the black turtleneck is facing the camera.
Photo by WPCNR Sports

Embers

The Wildfire’s next game at the County Center is Friday night at 7 PM against Texas…The Wildfire shot 40% from the floor, canning 37 of 84 shots…A testimony to the bang ’em, slam ’em board play was the 70 fouls called, a number of them charges…The Dawgs manufactured 23 points off Wildfire turnovers…The Wildfire bench lead by Zach Marbury with 13, Reggie Jessie with 10 and Rod Grizzard with 11 doubled the output of the Pennsylvania bench, 34-16…a key factor in the Dawgs tiring in the opening of the fourth quarter…Great postgame stats were provided instantaneously by the Wildfire Sports Information Team…The Wildfire Dancers from the White Plains City Center Dance on East Post Road made the New York Knicks City Dancers look slow, old and out of energy…of course the Wildfire Dancers are all under 12 years old and really entertaining…they got the biggest hand of the night with their appearances in each of the four quarters. These kids can really shake a tail feather…so can the Wildfire.

THEY LIKE TO MOVE IT, MOVE IT: The Wildfire Dancers, from City Center Dance, perform during a timeout, and dazzle the crowd.
Photo by WPCNR Sports

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY, By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. April 18, 2003:Recently I had the privilege to tour Northern Westchester Hospital’s brand new Interventional Radiology Suite and I was amazed with what I saw. This facility – which specializes in innovative diagnostic and angiography procedures – not only revolutionizes vascular surgery, but also proves Westchester is a leader in progressive, high-tech medical treatment.
But we can only remain a leader if we continue investing in our hospitals and health care system. The governor’s proposed $2 billion cut to health care jeopardizes hospitals – like Northern Westchester – and other health-related industries already burdened with new technology costs, disaster preparedness, caring for the uninsured, and workforce shortages.

The governor’s proposed $1.6 billion cut to Medicaid and his desire to impose a “sick tax” on hospitals and other health care providers will seriously jeopardize quality health care. Furthermore, hospitals and nursing homes will be forced to lay off workers to make ends meet. Additionally, the governor seeks to raise Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) fees 10 percent and cut reimbursements to pharmacies by 5 percent. These initiatives, if enacted, will truly affect quality health care.

In Westchester County, the governor’s budget would cost public health services almost $9 million. This could lead to the elimination of vital services such as disease prevention, mosquito control, and air and water testing. What’s more, crucial health inspection programs – including the inspection of 1,200 x-ray units in local hospitals and doctor’s offices – will also be lost if the wrong budget choices are made.

Eliminating health care services, laying off hospital staff, and raising prescription drug costs are all wrong choices.

New York’s unprecedented fiscal crisis will call on everyone to make sacrifices. When it comes to our health and the health of our loved ones, we can’t afford to make wrong choices that compromise the medical care our families need.

Adam T. Bradley, Assemblyman, The 89th District

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WPCNR ADVENTURER’S LOG. From Cynthia Goss. April 16, 2003 28°46’S 39°32’E / Indian Ocean: The course of Great
American II, the 53-foot trimaran sailing from Hong Kong to New York to challenge a 154-year-old passage record, has mirrored that of her nemesis Sea Witchthis week. Although Sea Witchsailed this passage well over a century ago, the wake of the clipper ship is very present to modern adventurers Rich Wilson (Rockport, Mass.) and Westchester’s own Rich du Moulin (Larchmont,
N.Y.) on Great American II.
“GAII and Sea Witch have been winding through each others’ wakes the past two weeks,” said crewmember du Moulin. “Imagine if we were here at the same time: we probably would have sighted each other. It’s a real race to the Cape (of Good Hope, Africa)!”

The Relentless Seas

But the path these two vessels have cut across the Indian Ocean is the only thing they have in common: thirty-two days out from Hong Kong, Great American II is reporting sea conditions unlike anything Sea Witch had encountered thus far.

For much of the week, GAII has been sailing in large, confused seas–and this boat and her crew have been getting thrashed.

“How can a boat survive such a beating?” queried Wilson in a satellite email. “GAII is all heart and incredible strength, but even she must have a limit. The forces that have been exerted on her since Saturday are overwhelming. Waves that shock the pontoon, that then shocks the rig: you wonder how could it possibly be still standing? How could that pontoon not have caved in yet?”

Sea Witch Passage Benign in Comparison

In stark contrast, in Sea Witch’s logs of January 1849, Captain Robert “Bully” Waterman recounted a string of pleasant days at this point in the journey, with lighter winds and clear weather.

The trimaran’s course is north of the clipper ship’s, but both vessels are neck-and-neck. The logged positions for day 32 are approximately
equidistant from the Cape of Good Hope.

Sea Water in the Oatmeal

This week’s reports from the GAII crew don’t focus as much on the horse race taking place over the span of thousands of ocean miles: Wilson and du Moulin are pushing as hard as they dare, trying to preserve their boat, and reporting on the rigors of daily life inside what Wilson has dubbed “a washing machine.”

Not the Place for Tender Technology

GAII has had a GPS failure, so they switched to the backup GPS antenna and were able to calculate their position. But every time a wave hits, the jarring motion causes them to lose their position.

“Of course, if you had a new stereo system, and every 60 seconds or so, hit the shelf it was on from the underside with a sledgehammer to make it jump off the shelf, after a while you wouldn’t expect it to work,” explains Wilson. “That is exactly what we have here. The GPS transceiver is next to my bunk. When these waves hit the underside of the cross beam, it lifts me right off the bunk, and it hurts: make no mistake, it hurts. So how could electronics possibly survive?”

Seepage and Seasoning

Even provisions are not safe from the conditions. When he went to get a snack, Skipper Rich Wilson found 1 inch of water in their snack bin; then found soup and oatmeal in 4 inches of water in another bin. Wilson went on deck to learn that water was forcing its way through the sealed port-side solar panel cable hole that comes in through the side of the boat.

“Every wave that was crashing tons of water into that side of the boat was forcing a drop through there,” he said. The drops accumulated until some provisions and pots and pans were swimming in seawater.

The Heavies

The crew on GAII did not expect to find these sea conditions so soon in
their passage. The size of the waves–reported from 10 to 18 feet, with
some waves swelling to 25 feet with crests–is not the sole problem: it is the waves’ confused patterns. Earlier in the week, Wilson reported seas that seemed to arise out of nowhere and descend on the boat.

The Cruel Capes

But the crew’s concern is not just focused on the present tumult onboard: they are wondering what lies ahead.

“It is known that off the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Agulhas that the
appalling seas can break ships in half,” reported Wilson earlier this week. “We are 1300 miles from there, but from our satellite imagery, we know that we are in an eddy of current that must be contributing to this confusion. If this is what it is like off Madagascar, what can it be possibly like off the Cape if we get the wrong weather?”

GAII’s next waypoint is the Cape of Good Hope, where she’ll turn north into the Atlantic Ocean and head for the finish line at New York’s Statue of Liberty.

Follow the Adventurers

Some 360,000 schoolchildren are following this adventure on a daily basis through the sitesALIVE! educational program–and the students are learning about math, weather, problem-solving, and other disciplines in the context of GAII’s live drama. Some of these students hope to be in New York when the vessel reaches its final destination. If GAII can beat Sea Witch’s pace, the boat will arrive in New York sometime the week of May 26.

* * *Tacks and Jibs

HOW THE PUBLIC CAN FOLLOW GREAT AMERICAN II: The website tracking the voyage of Great American II is http://www.sitesalive.com. Daily position reports and a Captain’s Log are posted on the site so classrooms, students, and families who purchase licenses can follow the progress of the boat. For
information, go to http://www.sitesalive.com/oceanchallengelive/.

The saga of GAII will also be published in a number of national, regional, and local papers, in the Newspaper In Education supplements, and tracked on the AOL@SCHOOL program (keyword: sitesalive).

Great American II’s Newspaper In Education participation is supported by the sitesALIVE Foundation. Established in 2002, the Foundation addresses teacher training in computer technology and funding for budget-constrained schools. The mission of the foundation is to enhance K-12 education by promoting the use of technology with real-world, real-time content from around the globe.
Some 360,000 students are expected to follow the voyage of Great American II.

For a chart showing the relative positions of Great American II and Sea
Witch, go to http://www.sitesalive.com/ocl/private/03s/pos/ocl3position.html

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WPCNR White Plains Police Gazette. April 14, 2003 UPDATED WITH PHOTOS:The White Plains Police Department announced a citywide, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week campaign to eliminate speeding and reckless driving within city limits through an safety seminar and traffic law enforcement program named “Operation Safe Streets” today. The campaign kicked off at a news conference held at the Public Safety Building Plaza in White Plains, and includes a commitment to enforcing laws against illegal housing, and sophisticated security checks of vehicles entering the city.

A SIGHT NO MOTORIST WANTS TO SEE: Lieutenant Bill Bertram, Executive Officer of the White Plains Police Traffic Division, beside a speed enforcement patrolcar. With newly installed radar camera, seen on the dash through the window, a WPPD officer can pick up speeders coming at the patrol car and approaching behind the patrol car. Look out Soundview Avenue and Bryant Avenue violators!
Photo by WPCNR News

Mayor of a city that has seen several of its young residents die in recent motor vehicle crashes related to speed, Mayor Joseph M. Delfino declared that “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people ages 1 to 33 and there are on average an estimated 5,800 pedestrian deaths and 90,000 injuries each year in the United States caused by car accidents.”
Photo by WPCNR News

The Mayor said, “People don’t realize that when they violate our speed limits, they put the lives of our residents in jeopardy. During my first term in office we nearly doubled the number of radar units used by the Police Department and substantially enhanced the City’s radar unit training and certification program. I asked Dr. Straub, when he first came board as our new Public Safety Commissioner to find ways to enhance our past efforts. To that end, I am pleased to announce a new initiative aimed at reducing unsafe driving habits through enforcement and education.”

COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY, DR. FRANK STRAUB, introduced the initiative. He is shown beside a blow-up of the handout card, motorists found in violation will be issued, acquainting them with the goals of the new program: OBSERVE LOCAL SPEED LIMITS, NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE, ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEATBELT, ONLY USE HANDS-FREE CELLPHONE EQUIPMENT.
Photo by WPCNR NEWS

Commissioner of Public Safety, Dr. Frank Straub introduced the initiative:

“Operation Safe Streets is a long-term commitment to enhance the safety, quality of life, and emergency preparedness in the City of White Plains. Operation Safe Streets represents a proactive comprehensive public safety strategy that will reduce speeding and unsafe vehicle operations through citywide, 24/7 enforcement and education; save lives through a multi-agency Safe Housing Task Force, and strengthen crime reduction strategies and enhance emergency preparedness through a new police and fire bureau Special Operations Command.

Rolling Initiatives: Target Speeding, Illegal Cellphone Use, Unfastened Seatbelts. Handcard Awareness.

The program will also feature bilingual handcards which will be handed out to all vehicles noted, stopped, or detained by police officers. Low profile Police Cars and unmarked cars, and motorcycle police equipped with high-tech radar guns will be actively looking for speeders in the outer neighborhoods as well as the White Plains downtown.

THE WHITE PLAINS BP’S (Bicycle Police) will be cruising and observing passing motor vehicle traffic for illegal use of cell phones and passengers and drivers with unfastened seatbelts.
Photo by WPCNR News

LICENSE AND REGISTRATION PLEASE: Officer John Nolan, emerges from a low profile patrolcar, so-called because it is without the standard rack of police lights on its roof. It’s purpose is to provide more concealment for the traffic enforcement officer, yet still identify it as a police car to enhance awareness in the neighborhoods. Asked whether warnings would be given speed violators in these first days of the program, Commissioner Straub said that was “up to the discretion of the police officer.”
Photo by WPCNR News

“THE BLACK BEAUTY,” an unmarked car for more selective speed enforcement. Officers manning The Black Beauty will, Commissioner Straub said always be in uniform so they can be identified as a police officer.
Photo by WPCNR News

FIVE RADAR EQUIPPED HARLEYS will be used to target speeders with the most up-to-date speedguns, very similar to “speed guns” used to measure major league pitchers’ speed.
Photo by WPCNR News

Radioactive Materials Searches.

Commissioner Straub also announced that White Plains Police would be conducting searches of commercial vehicles under certain conditions, using handheld radiation detectors at selected checkpoints when the department feels it is appropriate. Passenger vehicles may also be wanded for radioactivity using the handheld devices without the vehicles having to be stopped.

HAND HELD RADIATION DETECTOR, is demonstrated by Officer John Nolan. Each detector is sensitive to levels of radioactivity within 15 feet of a vehicle, according to Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Charles Jennings. Each “Pocket Geiger Counter” costs the department $1,700.
Photo by WPCNR News

Seminars coming up.

Commissioner Straub said there would be a series of Educational Seminars on the speed enforcement program held at meetings of neighborhood associations, and through the Community Police Officer at White Plains High School.

Details to come.

He said details of the Safe Housing Task Force would be announced shortly.

Councilman Glen Hockley noted to WPCNR after the new conference that “speeding is the number one issue in the neighborhoods,” and that he was glad to see the sophisticated effort about to begin.

THE WHITE PLAINS POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT TEAM at Department of Public Safety Plaza.
Photo by WPCNR News

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WPCNR Streets of White Plains. April 12, 2003: The sun, following a strong Northwest wind, absent from White Plains skies for a week, appeared about one hour before Rite of Confirmation Ceremonies began at the “Little Parish on Mamaroneck Avenue,” Our Lady of Sorrows.

THE SUN INTRODUCED Bishop Anthony Mestice at Our Lady of Sorrows Saturday, who confirmed 65 young ladies and gentleman into the faith at Confirmation Ceremonies at OLS Saturday afternoon.
Photo by WPCNR News

A JOYOUS DAY: Father Patrick Dunne introduces the About-to-be Confirmed, with Celebrating Bishop Anthony Mestice looking on benignly as Confirmation began with sunlight streaming into the little church.
Photo by WPCNR News

THE BISHOP ADDRESSES THE CANDIDATES: Bishop Anthony Mestice, delivered a passionate, in-depth message to the young people about to be confirmed, noting that confirmation did not mean you no longer had to attend church. he took the opportunity to encourage them to listen to the God Who is within them, to have the strength to talk with God, to listen to His plan for them and to discover the unique talent He has given. Bishop Mestice urged the young to have the strength to ignore those who would lead to the wrong path, by having the courage to listen to what the Voice of God within them tells them.
Photo by WPCNR News

PARENTS, THE NEWLY CONFIRMED emerge into the April sun, congratulating, posing for family pictures and marking the rite of passage in their children’s lives.
Photo by WPCNR News


PHOTO-OP WITH THE BISHOP: Bishop Mestice stayed for pictures with family group after family group, Confirmed and Sponsors, to mark the occassion. One observer remarked what a lovely gesture it was by Bishop Mestice to make himself available for well over an hour after the ceremony for keepsake pictures.
Photo by WPCNR News

The Newly Confirmed of Saturday, April 12, 2003 are: Kimberly Adams, Stefanie Alvarez, Daniel Amicucci, Matthew Ardino, Robert Ardino, Tracey Avery, Juliana Bailey, Alexander Barile, Andrew Barile, Matthew Becerra, Mark Bronzo, Meghan Buonamici, Andrew Ciaramella, Timothy Conroy, Marissa Capolongo, Michael Carcione, Susan Clancy, Michael Couzens, William Cuddy, Stephen DeGroat, Brian Donahoe, Matthew Doyle, Kelly Fargo, James Fennell, Elizabeth Flooks, Meghan Gazzola, Patric Henderson, David Klay, Jonathan Klay, Jennifer Lane, Corey Langelotti, Candy Light, Cynthia Lindner, Katherine Marchewka, Melissa Maurice, Kellie McLaughlin, Thomas Northcutt, Samantha O’Brien, Margaret O’Donnell, John Ohrnberger, James O’Neill, John O’Toole, Frank Palmieri, Nina Parakadavil, Jonathan Pasqua, Sarah Perone, Madelyn Petralia, Alexander Petre, Sarah Pinson Joseph Pollio, Katherine Power, Alyce Regan, Matthew Robles, Christa Santa-Donato, Jonathan Schulz, Patricia Scorzello, Lexie Sperduto, Alexandra Spiritozo, James Sutton, Robert Thompson, Mark Toglia, Katie Tomechko, Lisa Tripicchio, David Valcich, Saverio Vinci.