D.A., Officials to Tour Schools to Advise on Perils of Teen Drinking

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WPCNR AFTERNOON TRIB & POST. From Community Crime Prevention Bureau. (EDITED) November 26, 2002:A permanent advisory council comprised of 15 community leaders from across Westchester will work together in a coordinated effort to explore the causes and recommended solutions for the escalating problem of underage drinking. A panel of educational experts, including Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, will tour high schools throughout the county in January to heighten awareness of the dangers of teen drinking.

Six Month Plan

The advisory council will meet on a regular basis over the next six months to share ideas, practices and resources. Their findings will form the basis of a second major conference planned for April 2003. A successful conference was held with a panel of Westchester community leaders who discussed the drinking issue on November 7 at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY.

The concept for the permanent advisory council made up of the
original conference panel members emerged from that symposium.

Concerned D.A., Doctors, Educators to Tour High Schools Across Area in January

In addition to creation of the advisory council, a subcommittee of council members, including: District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, medical professionals from the council and educators will begin visiting high schools across Westchester to present a special program focused on the real physical dangers posed by binge drinking.

This outreach program, which will begin in January, will include a powerful educational video on alcohol and substance abuse — Dying High: Teens in the ER.

Filmed at White Plains HospitalCenter

This chilling documentary, which demonstrates the tragic consequences that often come with drinking, was filmed last spring at the White Plains Hospital Center’s Emergency Room- the busiest in Westchester County.

Pirro Outreach

The District Attorney explained that the advisory board and school program are a direct result of the countywide conference, which was held on November 7. Ms. Pirro, in a statement said,

“It was imperative that we capitalize on the momentum created by the
conference and by the heightened level of awareness brought on by recent serious underage drinking incidents across Westchester. I believe the advisory board and high school visitation program are proactive steps that can help our community in coping with this very complex problem.”

Advisory Council a Gathering of Leaders

The members of the advisory council on underage drinking represent leaders from the business, education, law enforcement and healthcare communities, as well as parents, students and clergy. Joining District Attorney Pirro on the council are:

Sam Abate, Ardsley Village Supervisor & President of the Westchester Municipal Officials Association;

Don Antonecchia, Superintendent, Pleasantville Public Schools;

Richard Berman, President, Manhattanville College;

Dorothy Fallon, School Board President, Bedford Schools (representing Westchester School Boards Association);

Marsha Gordon, President, Westchester Chamber of Commerce;

Dr. Debra Jackson, Superintendent North Salem Schools;

Bruce Kelly, Chief, Community Crime Prevention Bureau, Westchester District Attorney’s Office;

Helana Jaffe, Westchester East Putnam District PTA;

Ann Janiak, Women’s Enterprise Development Center & the Westchester Municipal Officials Association;

George Longworth, Police Chief, Village of Dobbs Ferry;

Donald Marra, Village Administrator, Irvington;

Frank Marte, Westchester Youth Council;

Dr. Franklin Richardson, Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon;

Edward Stolzenberg, President & CEO, Westchester Medical Center;

Jon Schandler, President & CEO, White Plains Hospital Center;

Ron Smalls; Superintendent, Southern Westchester BOCES.

First Meeting in December

The advisory council will hold its first meeting on Monday, December 9.
Thereafter, the council will continue to meet on an ongoing basis, leading up to the April symposium at which time the members will discuss their findings. Information about the council’s ongoing work and related information will be posted on the BOCES website.

For more information, please contact Bruce Kelly, Chief of the Community Crime Prevention Bureau, Westchester D.A.’s Office at (914) 995-3317.

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Calling all “Items” Wanting to Register as Partners. Today’s the Day.

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WPCNR County Clarion Ledger. From Westchester County Department of Communications. November 26, 2002:Westchester’s new law allowing non married couples to sign a domestic partnership registry goes into effect Wednesday, Nov. 27. Registrations begin today at the County Office Building.

First-day registrations will take place beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the lobby of the low-rise section of the County Office Building, across from the County Courthouse, 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains.
County Executive Andy Spano, who sponsored the new law, and County Clerk Leonard Spano, whose office will oversee its implementation, will speak at the event.

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TRASH BOOMS MAKE A BIG SPLASH ON BRONX RIVER

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WPCNR County Clarion-Leger. From Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation. November 26, 2002:Trash collection booms will be installed on the Bronx River Parkway Reservation to trap debris floating along the Bronx River, County Executive Andy Spano announced Monday.
Spano explained that the project is being funded through a $100,000 matching grant from the New York State DEC, and $70,000 worth of in-kind services and $30,000 in capital funds for the project.

“The Bronx River Parkway Reservation runs through the heart of Westchester and is one of the most diverse natural areas in the county,” Spano said. “While these booms will help contain some of the debris, we all share the responsibility of preserving it and ensuring that it remain the pristine resource that it deserves to be for the thousands of residents who enjoy it throughout the year.”

Spano explained that the booms will be installed in the White Plains and Yonkers area of the reservation next winter.

Each boom consists of foam-filled floats that are anchored at the far shoreline on the upstream side of the river, and stretched across to the downstream side on a 45-degree angle, where an 8 x 10-foot collection basket is set.

The booms are anchored on a sliding mechanism that allows them to rise and fall along with the water level of the river. When full, the basket and debris can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds.

He said the problem of bottles, cans, and plastic containers accumulating in the river is not new. Each year, more than 250 tons of trash is collected from the Bronx River, most of which travels downstream and winds up in Bronxville and Crestwood lakes.

In a single day, County Parks staff have removed as many as 10 tires, six shopping carts, and 20, 55-gallon bags of floatable debris from the river.

Spano noted that the Parks Department’s Bronx River maintenance staff will maintain the booms and remove the collected debris at regular intervals.

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CNA Sets New Officers for 2003; New Agendas

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WPCNR Newsreel. November 26, 2003: The White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations Executive Board has nominated a new slate of officers for the new year. The new slate will be presented to the membership at the next regular Council of Neighborhood Associations meeting on December 10.



BRAIN TRUST: Executive Board in deliberations last night: Clockwide from top: Ralph Nagan, Carl Barrera, Guy D’Antona, and Marc Pollitzer.
Photo by WPCNR News

Officers nominated for the 2003 year will be Mr. Barrera of the Hillar Circle Assocaiation and Mr. D’Antona, of the Gedney Farms Association, to continue as CO-Presidents, John Vorperian of the Old Oak Ridge Association for Vice President, Mr. Nagan, Treasurer, and Mr. Pollitzer, Secretary, the former both of the North Street Civic Association.

The Executive Board discussed upcoming agendas for the new year to include discussion of Indian Point policy, citizen and media access to City Hall information, and present and future city development and its effects on the environment.

Officers to be nominated for the 2003 year will be Mr. Barrera and Mr. D’Antona, to continue as CO-Presidents, John Volperian for Vice President, Mr. Nagan for Treasurer, and Mr. Pollitzer, Secretary. The Executive Board set upcoming agendas for the new year to include discussion of Indian Point policy, citizen and media access to City Hall information, and present and future city development and its effects on the environment.

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White Plains Woman Indicted for Murder of Police Officer

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WPCNR AFTERNOON TRIB & POST. From Westchester County District Attorney Press Office. November 25, 2002:Pia Stefanelli, 40, of 23 Old Mamaroneck Road has been indicted on two counts of Murder in the Second Degree by the Westchester County District Attorney’s office, for the October 14, 2002, shooting which resulted in the death of 41-year old Jeffrey Troebs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The indictment was announced by District Attorney Jeanine Pirro and White Plains Public Safety Commissioner Frank G. Straub today. The murder counts are based on two separate theories of law, one count is intentional murder and the second count is depraved indifference murder.

The indictment alleges that Stefanelli fired a single shot from close range with a .380 Beretta handgun striking Mr. Troebs in the head. Mr. Troebs was in a walk-in closet in the bedroom of Stefanelli’s apartment at the time of the incident. Mr. Troebs, a Sergeant in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Police Department, died the next day from the gunshot wound.

If convicted of the top count, the defendent faces a maxium of twenty-five years to life in state prison.

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White Plains Kids Present “Youth Acts 2002” at Eastview Dec. 5

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WPCNR CITY HALL HERALD TRIB. From Paul Wood, White Plains News Bureau. November 25, 2002: Mayor Joseph Delfino and the City of White Plains invites you to Youth Acts 2002! Join them for an evening of youth performances including dance, poetry, singing, & drama with special guest adult performers.

Youth Acts 2002 will be performed on Thursday December 5th, from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Eastview Middle School Auditorium in White Plains. For more information, contact the Youth Bureau 422-1378.

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Give Me A “W,” Give Me a “P,” Give Me an “H,” Give Me an “S”

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. From Westchester County Recreation & Parks:More than 700 cheerleaders, including the “Tigerettes,” the White Plains High School Cheerleaders, under Coach Alex Munoz, will be performing for their high school and middle school squads from Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Nassau and Bronx counties during the 54th Annual Westchester County Regional Cheerleading Invitational on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, December 2, 3 and 4, at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.
Anne Chillemi reports the White Plains High School Varsity Cheerleading Team will be in competition at the County Center on December 3rd. This is new to the team and they have a new coach, Alex Munoz, to teach the team.

Middle school and junior varsity competition will begin at 4 p.m. and varsity will begin at 6:45 p.m. each day; there will be no middle school/junior varsity competition on Wednesday.

Squads will be judged on the execution of their cheers, precision of their jumps, enthusiasm, group techniques and overall effect. Trophies will be awarded for first through fifth place finishes for varsity squads and first through third place for junior varsity.

The “Grand Champions” trophy competition, in which the first-place varsity squads from each day face off against one another, will take place on Wednesday after the varsity competition.
The United States Marine Corps Color Guard, the Young Marines of Westchester, and Marine Corps Jr. R.O.T.C. of Yonkers will present the colors for the opening ceremony each evening.

To add to the excitement, more than $7,000 in scholarships will be awarded, based on candidates’ academic average, a written essay, school and community involvement, as well as cheerleading ability.

At the conclusion of the competition, both varsity and junior varsity squads will be eligible for the Team Spirit Award sponsored by the Westchester County Police Benevolent Association.

Admission for spectators is $7.50. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 6, for parents and guardians of the competing cheerleaders; tickets for the general public go on sale Thursday, November 7. The County Center box office is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cash and all major credit cards are accepted.

The Westchester County Center is located at 198 Central Avenue, adjacent to the Bronx River Parkway, Central Avenue and Tarrytown Road in White Plains. The building and parking lots are accessible to the disabled. Parking is $4 per car. The County Center is also accessible via the Westchester County BEE-LINE Bus System.

The Westchester County Cheerleading Competition is sponsored by the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, the National Cheerleading Association, and the Westchester County Police Benevolent Association.

For more information, call the County Parks Department at (914) 864-7064. General information on Westchester County Parks is available on the World Wide Web at www.westchestergov.com.

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Joe’s Tree

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WPCNR Sunday Sunrise. November 24, 2002: A gathering of friends and family of Joseph Riverso stood in the chill brisk winds of Saturday afternoon in the neat courtyard of Antonio Meucci Lodge 213, Order of Sons of Italy to plant a young Red Maple Tree to remember Joe.



JOE’S TREE: “Whenever we walk past this tree, we will remember Joe,” said Lodge President, Antonio Capicotto, in his brief, wise remarks to the rememberers Saturday on Maple Avenue.
Photo by WPCNR News


Mr. Riverso was a bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald who lost his life in the World Trade attacks. A popular assistant football coach with Archbishop Stepinac High School, whose parents are members of the lodge, Riverso was much admired in White Plains.



“CLOSER TO EVERYONE:” Mr. Capicotto (Center) observed that since September 11, the attacks have had the effect of bringing families across America “closer to everyone.” He said we were “thinking for the world” in planting the tree to do something to remember Joe and all the victims of that day.
Photo by WPCNR News



TREE IS PLANTED: Joe’s daughter, Danielle, looks on as the Joe Riverso Tree is planted. Father Leonard Della Vadia, of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, said a brief blessing which the wind made difficult to hear, but the wind carried his words to God and the world. Mr. Riverso’s daughter placed some keepsakes of Joe’s life in the planting site.
Photo by WPCNR





Teresa Riverso, Joe’s mother, read a touching tribute, that recalled some of the special things about her son, and thanked all for being so nice to the family.

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WFAS Stuffs A Bus for Food Patch at the Stop N Shop.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS WEEKEND. By John F. Bailey November 23, 2002: WFAS Radio was on the scene Friday night at the Stop N Shop kicking off their ninth straight year of helping Food Patch provide food for the less fortunate. Today the Radio Rangers will be collecting nonperishable food items at the Somers Stop N Shop, and on Sunday, will be appearing at the Cross County Stop N Shop in Yonkers.
If you’re food shopping in any of those locations, look for their tent.



WFAS RADIO RANGERS ACCEPT FOOD GIFTS FROM WHITE PLAINS SHOPPERS AT THE STOP N SHOP FRIDAY NIGHT
Photo by WPCNR Street Cam



THE WFAS STUFFED BUS: “Under Assistant East Coast PromotionMan” WFAS Promotion Director, Adam Bushnell, reports the campaign to stuff a bus with food for the hungry this Holiday Season, is going well, he says all the seats are filled so far. It is the ninth year the radio station has run the promotion.
Photo by WPCNR Street Cam




TWO AND A HALF TONS of food filled last year’s bus, and were delivered to Food Patch for the holidays reports WFAS. If you’re shopping at the Stop N Shop in Somers Saturday or the Stop N Shop in Yonkers Cross County Center Sunday, pick up just a couple of extra items for the hungry and give them to WFAS.
Photo by WPCNR Street Cam



LOOK FOR THE WFAS TENT, A LITTLE FEEDS A LOT: If you’re food shopping in any of those locations, look for their tent as you’re coming out of the store. Pastas, canned foods, cereals, nonperishable items, averaging $10-$12 per donating shopper are requested. A little feeds a lot.Call WFAS for more information.
Photo by WPCNR Street Cam

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MOVIE REVIEW: Vacationing with Harry Potter

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WPCNR White Plains Variety. Movie Review By Bob Barrabee. From The Yonkers Tribune Reprinted with Permission. November 23, 2002: — I have been lately feeling overly busy and overly tired. My day-to-day grind has been getting me down. The perfect prescription for such a condition would undoubtedly be a vacation; a week spent relaxing, preferably somewhere warm.
Unfortunately, like most of my fellow Americans, I cannot simply take a vacation whenever I feel as though I need one. Vacations require planning, ample accumulation of off days, advance notice, and, usually, a good deal of extra cash. I have been too busy and too tired to deal with any of this.

In fact, just about the only thing I’ve had the energy to do recently is drag my sorry self to the movies. But lo and behold, like a nearly defeated Quidditch Seeker who just happens to have the Golden Snitch fall into his lap, the remedy to my exhaustion-induced down-troddenness actually found me, as I sat lazily (exhaustedly) inside my local multiplex’s Theater Number 1.

The feature that day was Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and it was exactly the vacation I needed.

The newest ‘Harry Potter,’ you see, is cinema escapism at its best. It is two hours and forty-one minutes spent in a world entirely different from our own. Instead of deadlines to meet, there are riddles to solve. Instead of cars rolling slowly through the midst of heavy traffic, there are cars flying quickly into the arms of angry tree monsters.

The world of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is hugely imaginative, painstakingly rendered, and gleefully unlike 21st Century Earth. It is a world worth getting lost in.

The film’s story, as devoted J.K. Rowling readers already know, is much the same as the original. Harry and his friends have another mystery to solve, and that mystery is again filled with supernatural forces, characters who aren’t what they seem, and plenty of opportunities for budding-wizard heroics.

As for the budding wizards themselves, Harry (played by Daniel Radcliffe) is slightly older and slightly wiser. His friend Hermione (Emma Watson) is slightly older and just as wise as ever. And his other friend, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), is slightly older, perhaps no wiser, but certainly a good deal funnier (and he was pretty funny before). All three of these characters are immensely likeable (for kids and adults alike), and all three are played by immensely gifted young actors.

The simple fact that they can all hold their own opposite the likes of Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagal), Kenneth Branagh (the newly hired Professor Lockhart), and the late Richard Harris (Professor Dumbledore), proves this beyond any reasonable doubt, as I’m sure even Snape would agree.

A new addition to the cast is a self-abusing, computer-generated creature by the name of Dobby (voiced by Toby Jones). It is almost impossible to make mention of Dobby without raising comparisons to Jar Jar Binks, that most hated character from ‘Star Wars Episode I’ (I couldn’t do it). Dobby and Jar Jar are indeed very similar in many ways, but there is one major difference: Dobby is terrific. He is cute and funny and silly and strange. He is everything a CGI character should be. Take some notes, Mr. Lucas. Take some notes.

The weakest part of this latest ‘Harry Potter’ installment, if you ask me, is the same as the weakest part of the last one: the plot. The characters are wonderful and wonderfully fleshed out, and the same can be said for the atmosphere, but the plot is unspectacular.

The actual mystery, the whodunit, the how-you-go-about-finding-out-whodunit; this is where the movies falls short. It is not really all that clever. Not all that clever at all.

But, as I said, I’ve been taken to a new world with this movie—a spectacular new world. And in this new world, where I forget all about deadlines and traffic jams and day-to-day worries, I also forget all about the importance of a clever plot. I guess you could say I’m under Harry Potter’s spell, and, like any good vacation, I’m glad to be there.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, directed by Chris Columbus. Written by Steve Kloves. Based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Maggie Smith, Kenneth Branagh, Jason Isaacs, Robbie Coltrane, and (the already sorely missed) Richard Harris.

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