THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

Uggams, Michaels to Shine for Westco’s 25th Anniversary Gala Sept. 28

Posted on July 12, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Westco Productions Media Relations. July 12, 2004: Westco Productions, Westchester’s premier theater company for young and family audiences, has begun its 25^th season of presenting professional musical theater productions as well as performing arts workshops and hospital touring programs.

White Plains First Lady of Theatre: The Founder and “Empressario” of Westco Productions, inspiration for the White Plains Performing Arts Center, Susan Katz. Photo, Westco Productions.

To celebrate this milestone, Westco will hold a 25^th Anniversary Gala on September 28, 2004 at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford. The evening will include a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner and entertainment and will feature entertainment by Leslie Uggams and Marilyn Michaels.

Honorees will be Marsha Gordon, President & CEO of the Business Council of Westchester (formerly the Westchester Chamber of Commerce), Ronald McDonald House Charities/ALPS Management/Lynn Samaha (franchisee of 12 McDonalds Restaurants in Westchester and the Bronx), and the John H. & Ethel G. Noble Charitable Trust through Deutsche Bank, all for their support of Westco.

Entertainment for the evening will feature Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress/singer Leslie Uggams. Also appearing will be comedienne Marilyn Michaels.

Leslie Uggams has just finished starring on Broadway in the hit musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. She has recorded more than 10 albums and received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Broadway Musical Comedy as the lead in Hallelujah, Baby! Her musical-variety series The Leslie Uggams Show was on CBS-TV, and she won an Emmy Award as co-host of NBC-TV’s Fantasy.

She made her dramatic film debut opposite Charlton Heston in the MGM film Skyjacked. However, it was Leslie’s portrayal of “Kizzy” in the most watched dramatic show in TV history, Alex Haley’s Roots, that won her worldwide recognition as a dramatic actress – including the Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress, an Emmy nomination for Best Leading actress and a coveted Golden Globe Nomination from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. In addition to ongoing concert dates, Leslie has been seen on Broadway in the musicals Blues In The Night and Jerry’s Girls.

She starred as Reno Sweeney in the National Company of the Lincoln Center Production of Anything Goes and later reprised the role on Broadway. She has appeared with the Cincinnati Pops, The Washington Symphony Orchestra and the Rhode Island Symphony, and performed before 300,000 people during the Memorial Day concert on the Washington Mall. Leslie is receiving rave reviews for her new CD On My Way To You – The Songs of Marilyn and Alan Bergman.

Marilyn Michaels is known to television audiences from her frequent appearances on The Tonight Show, Regis Philbin, and The Howard Stern Show, and in commercials for top national brands. She narrated the Emmy Award winning PBS show Reading Rainbow. She is a favorite at the casino-hotel resorts in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, and has shared the stage with the likes of such household names as Don Rickles, Bob Hope, Alan King, Jerry Lewis, Milton Berle, and Jack Benny. Early in her career, she was featured on The Red Skelton Show and The Jackie Gleason Show, and starred as Fanny Brice in the national touring company of Funny Girl. She later appeared on tv’s The Love Boat and One Life To Live. Her shows Night of 101 Stars and Broadway Ballyhoo consistently receive rave reviews. She is an enthusiastic fan of improvisation, and is renowned for her impersonations of such icons as Katherine Hepburn, Ethel Merman, Judy Garland and Cher, as well as for her “three-minute production” of The Wizard of Oz in which she portrays all of the characters from the MGM movie!

Founded in 1979 by Susan Katz, who serves as Executive Director, Westco continues to set standards of excellence in quality performing arts programs. Westco’s mission is to foster and promote knowledge, understanding and appreciation of live theater for all audiences. Special emphasis is given to productions for children and families. In addition, Westco provides numerous community-based workshops for children and an expansive hospital touring program. Primary program activities include the presentation of musical adaptations of children’s classic literature, folktales and legends.

In the past 25 years, Westco has:

q Performed at such Westchester venues as Westchester Broadway Theatre, The Music Hall in Tarrytown, the Irvington Town Hall Theater, the Emelin Theater, the Rochambeau Theater in White Plains, and the Westchester County Center, as well as in Rockland County at the Antrim Playhouse in Suffern.

q Presented more than 1,750 performances of more than 250 different family-oriented shows ranging from a series of Theater For Young Audiences as well as fully-staged Broadway musicals, comedies, dramas, Shakespeare and original shows.

q Performed for more than 500,000 audience members.

q Entertained more than 50,000 children in hospitals and critical care facilities with shows and performers, at no charge to the institutions or children.

q Provided more than 7,400 at-risk children ages 3-5 from federally-funded Head Start agencies with free tickets to attend our productions.

q Provided year-round Creative Theater Workshops for more than 4,000 children ages 5-13, introducing them to the performing arts.

q Provided performing arts workshops for children with Down Syndrome.

q Provided performing arts workshops for more than 1,000 children from low income families.

q Provided The Nature of Poetry, a program featuring published poets which includes poetry readings and activities for young children.

q Provided work opportunities in the theater arts with an estimated 2,000 acting roles, 1,500 musician positions, and 1,000 positions for directors, writers, composers, costume & scenic designers, and stage technicians

Tickets for the Gala are $175 per person. To make a reservation or for more information on Westco’s programs, call Westco at 914-761-7463.

White Plains Elena Sassower Appeal for Stay Denied. Spends Day 15 in Jail.

Posted on July 12, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. July 12, 2004: A panel of three judges of The District of Columbia Appellate Court today denied in less than one day’s deliberation a stay of Elena Sassower’s sentence of 180 days in jail for disruption of congress, pending appeal.

This was White Plains resident Sassower’s 15th day behind bars since being sentenced by Judge Brian F. Holman to 6 months in jail, June 28, when she refused to agree to conditions of probation set by him after her conviction.

The motion for a stay was filed by the firm of Mayer, Brown pro bono on Ms. Sassower’s behalf. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Ms. Sassower, Miles Ehrenkranz reports two congresswomen one from California and one from the District of Columbia are protesting her treatment to congress. No one from the Westchester Delegation to Washington, Ehrenkranz reports, have come to Ms. Sassower’s aid.

INMATE 301-340 SPENDS DAY 15 IN JAIL: White Plains’ Elena Sassower is currently doing hard time for “disrupting congress” in the District of Columbia Capitol Jail, 1901 E. Street S.E., Washington D.C. The phone number at the jail is 202-698-3000. A recent article in the New York Law Journal on July 8, has attorneys nationwide in an uproar over the severity of her sentencing. Photo Capture by WPCNR from Center for Judicial Accountability website.

Mr. Ehrenkranz reports Senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer have not contacted the Sassowers on Elena Sassower’s behalf, and neither has any other member of New York State’s congressional delegation. “We are patiently waiting for the members of Westchester’s delegation to step up to the plate and defend their constitutent,” Ehrenkranz said.

A California congresswoman, Maxine Waters and District of Columbia Congresswoman Norton, two African-American congresswomen have spoken out separately in support of Elena’s release pending appeal.

Ehrenkranz reports Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton as calling today’s denial of a stay “to be outrageous. The sentence is unacceptable.” Ehrenkranz said he and Congresswoman Norton are “working together to craft a Congressional Memo to garner support for Elena Sassower.”

He said that the Sassowers are considering how to proceed, and how and who will represent them at this time has not been decided. Ehrenkranz said Doris Sassower, the mother of Elena Sassower, is working to get the opportunity to reargue the motion for a stay before the Appellate Court.

No Longer In “Solitary Confinement.”

Ehrenkranz said Sassower still has not been able to visit the jail law library on a regular basis. He also reports she is allowed to see visitors, however the appointments are subject to cancellation by prison officials. Ehrenkranz reports some 10 appointments have been cancelled by prison officers in 15 days.

Albright to Speak at Kerry Fundraiser: $250 a Pop.

Posted on July 12, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2004. From Democrats for Kerry. July 12, 2004: On Wednesday, July 21, Former Secretary of State Madeleine Korbel Albright and former Ambassador to Norway, Robin Chandle Duke will join the Westchester for Kerry Victory 2004 to have a conversation about foreign policy and Iraq. The event will be held in Chappaqua from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Event chairs include Doni Belau, Betty Cotton, Barbara Offenhartz, Jennifer Ryan Safsel, Robin Schlaff and Jane Silverman. Pelham residents as hosts include Judith and John Coyne, as well as Hon. Audrey Hochberg, Hon. Amy Paulin and other state and local leaders.

Madeleine Korbel Albright served as the 64th Secretary of State of the United States. She was the first woman Secretary of State and is the highest ranking woman in the history of the US government.

The general reception suggested donation is $250. For more information or to rsvp, please contact Kerry/Edwards Westchester Coordinator and National Finance Committee Vice Chair Jennifer Ryan Safsel at 914-738-7108.

Hockley Takes Charge of Judge Shopping Up to the Court of Appeals.

Posted on July 12, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. July 12, 2004: WPCNR has learned that Glen Hockley has opened a second front in his fight to keep his council seat. He has filed a separate appeal of quo warranto skirmish to the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals protesting the Appellate Division denial of the Hockley contention that the case be given to the Clerk of the Supreme Court for random assignment, instead of Judge Francis Nicolai, whom the Attorney General’s office suggested. Hockley’s attorney at the time, referred to the Attorney General Office request that the case be returned to Hockley as “judge shopping.”

The Appellate Division ruled 4-0 against them when they sued Nicolai and the Attorney General to have a judge randomly assigned, that it was a separate and new case, and a random judge be assigned.

Meter Make-Over to Be Complete by July 19. Period of Grace Then the Tickets.

Posted on July 12, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR METER MONITOR. July 12, 2004, UPDATED 1:40 P.M. E.D.T.: The City of White Plains confirmed Friday that the make over of the White Plains on street parking meters and garage parking meters and lot meters is going well and on schedule. The expected target date for all meters to be converted with new stickers and rate information copy is one week from today, July 19.

MOBILE ELECTRIC BILLBOARD WARNS OF PARKING CHANGES ON MAMARONECK AVENUE FRIDAY. Photo by WPCNR News.

At that time, residents will be expected to pay by the new city rates, 75 cents an hour at all on-street meters, and 50 cents an hour for garage meters. After July 19, it will be the Department of Parking policy to issue “Ooops” warnings for a short period of time, but the Department of Parking says this will be a short-lived grace period.

STICKER SHOCK: White Plains “One Slot Bandits” are being outfitted with new stickers calling parkers’ attentions to the new parking fee schedule. Consumers note: You are limited to a 2 Hour stay at this meter on Mamaroneck Avenue opposite Rader’s between the hours of 9 A.M. and 6 P.M. However, after 6 P.M. you can stay in the spot as long as 6 hours, however it will cost you 18 quarters. The fine print in the meter makes a friendly suggestion that White Plains parkers invest in a cash key, rather than horde quarters. Photo by WPCNR News

THE FINE PRINT: Parkers should take time to read the fine print within the newly “made-over” parking meters. You will note that a dime buys you 8 minutes, a quarter 20 minutes. To say an hour, you have to deposit 75 cents in quarters, dimes, and nickels (at meters that will take all change). A cash key is recommended. Cash Keys are for sale for any amount of cash at Department of Parking garages throughout the city, the Department of Parking Offices sell Cash Keys in The Galleria garage, the City Hall/Hamilton Avenue garage, and the City Center Garage. Photo by WPCNR News.

Just to update Mr. and Mrs. White Plains on what you face one week from today, here are the DOP’s summary of changes in parking rates and hours:

* Meters on-street will be enforced 9 A.M. to Midnight, including Sundays. There will be no parking allowed beyond the hour limits, except after 6 P.M.

* Meters in lots will be enforced 24 hours a day, 7 Days a Week. This is a KEY change!

* Summonses will increase from $10 to $15.

* Overtime Notices in Garages will Cost you $2 for each hour or Part of Hour you park overtime.

* Payment of Summons if you miss Appearance Date will be $15.00. Meaning if you mail in your summons payment after the Appearance Date it will cost you $30, not $25.

Rates in all garages are also going up for Permit Holders, check your garage or the Department of Parking for the bad news.

Circuit Riders Christian Rock Group Performs at Memorial UMC

Posted on July 12, 2004 by John Bailey

Put on picnic clothes and come to church July 18 to see the Christian rock group the Circuit Riders play during a rock-and-roll outdoor worship service at Memorial United Methodist Church, followed by an energetic concert and potluck spread in the courtyard. Everyone is invited!

The popular Mamaroneck-based band will perform quieter acoustic worship music during the 10 a.m. outdoor service, even teaching the kids a couple of songs during the children’s moment. When worship is finished, around 11:30 a.m., the courtyard will be transformed into a party atmosphere as the Memorial church family and neighbors enjoy a potluck fest, kids games and fun summer fellowship.

Bring the kids! This crowd favorite offers something for everyone: a little rock and roll and a lot of spirit. The kids love to dance to the Circuit Rider beat and the adults enjoy the unique mix of foot-stomping rock favorites and original, inventive Christian tunes.

Admission is free. The concert caps off Memorial’s “Hero Quest”-theme Vacation Bible School weekend for all ages, which runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The $20 donation includes dinner Friday and lunch Saturday.

The Circuit Riders deliver a ministry of encouragement and love by sharing their faith and love of Christ through music. The band has performed at Playland, the New York City Marathon, Hofstra University, the Emelin Theater, the Mamaroneck Harbor Festival, area churches, schools, and pubs, among other notable venues. The Circuit Riders recently released its second CD, “All Things New.”

MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH – A Welcoming Community
250 Bryant Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
Phone: 914-949-2146
Website: www.memorialmethodist.org
Email: info@memorialmethodist.org

Memorial UMC, a welcoming community, is located on Bryant Avenue between North Street and Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains. Its congregation strives to welcome and respect persons of every race, ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental ability, gender, family status, sexual orientation, age, theology, and economic circumstance. The pastor is Rev. Joseph Agne. Memorial has a diversity of regular cultural offerings, including the “Music at Memorial” series, monthly original plays performed by Innovative Stages, and occasional art shows.

Second Blackout in two weeks in White Plains Blacks out Battle Hill., Fortunoff

Posted on July 11, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. July 11, 2004: An informed source monitoring the sporadic blackouts occuring in White Plains told WPCNR Friday morning that the blackout in the Battle Hill section of White Plains Thursday evening which lasted for two hours (the second city blackout in two weeks) was due to “problems” with Con Ed Feeder cables, which also effected parts of Yonkers, Tarrytown, and Dobbs Ferry our source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Reports to WPCNR also said there were blackouts along Soundview Avenue, one of which occurred when a cable burned out by the Fenway Golf Club, but electricity was quickly restored.

The official told WPCNR that Con Edison has been having this problem with feeder cables for awhile now, and said that even when the city has asked Con Edison for explanations, Con Ed has told them they do not know what exactly is causing the short-circuits.

Another separate feeder cable problem cut all power to the Fortunoff complex Thursday evening and on Friday the entire department store, restaurant and Whole Foods Market was reported to be opening and running on their own generators.

Kaci No Hits Heat, 2-0 for first Naut No-No. Sweep Arizona.

Posted on July 11, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. July 11, 2004: Kaci “22” Clark threw a no-hit, no-run game this evening against the Arizona Heat, catching Tarrah Beyster looking for her 70th strike of the game to get the no-hitter, leading the Heat to a three-game sweep of the Heat over the weekend,2-0. Kaci’s gem followed 4-1 and 4-0 wins by Amanda Scott (9-3) on Friday, and Gina Oaks’ (7-5) 4-0 shutout Satruday night. The Nauts complete the first half of the season at 22-11, 1/2 game behind the Akron Racers, gearing up to take on the speedsters in Akron Thursday night for the second crucial series of the season.

STRIKE 3 ON THE WAY: Kaci Clark delivers her 70th strike to Tarrah Beyster of the Arizona Heat for a called Strike three to clinch her no-hitter, the first in New York-New Jersey Juggernaut history Sunday night. Kaci threw 110 pitches, made a living on the outside corner in handcuffing the Heat. Clark walked 3, struck out 7 and threw 70 balls in spinning the classic, which featured a lot of deep counts. She credited her catcher Courtney Scott, and her teammates for the pitch calling and their support. She said in a YES interview after the game with Jen Royko that what gets her through tough games is heart and wanting to excell. Photo Capture from the YES Network by WPCNR Sports.

TarrahBeyster kept the Nauts off the board until the fifth inning when with runners on first and third and two gone Lindsey Klein took an outside pitch to right field dropping it in front of the Heat rightfielder who did not dive to make the catch and the Nauts had the big run Kaci needed. In the sixth, after Laura Harms singled and moved to second, Germaine Fairchild took another outside pitch to right and lofted it over the rightfielder’s head for the second Naut run.

The Nauts are off for three days for the National Pro Fastpitch All Star break. Seven of the Nauts will be playing on the East All-Stars who are in action against The U.S.A. Olympic Softball Team Tuesday afternoon, and then the East Stars play the West Stars in the National Pro Fastpitch All Star Game Wednesday afternoon in Oklahoma City. The game will be netcast live on Pro Sports Radio.

This Week’s Hot Ticket: The Goodbye George Party: $35. Open to All.

Posted on July 11, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS AFTER DARK. July 11, 2004: George Gretsas, the outgoing Mayor’s Executive Officer, will be given a sendoff by his many friends, admirers, colleagues, commissioners, developers and county cronies Thursday evening at Laguna Restaurant from 5:30 to 8 P.M. The indefatigable Executive Officer who has been working virtually around-the-clock for six-and-one-half years to create the White Plains Renaissance will apparently break away from his corner office and cellphone for a goodbye party. The party, the Mayor’s Office says is not by invitation only, but “anyone who wants to can come.” The cost is $35 a head. R.S.V.P. to the Mayor’s Office at 4221411

Adam In Albany: Assembly Position on Sexual Predators

Posted on July 11, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. July 11, 2004: The Assembly recently passed legislation to help safeguard our children and families from sexual predators, including strengthening the Sex Offender Registry Act.

First and foremost, these bills are designed to prevent sexual predators from committing these horrible crimes in the first place. They send a clear message that those who commit these brutal crimes will be punished – severely.

Cracking down on brutal killers

To protect our communities and punish those who prey on innocent children, I sponsored legislation requiring a mandatory life sentence without parole as the minimum sentence for a person convicted of murdering a child under the age of 14 in the course of committing a felony sex crime against the child (A.11557).

The legislation – which is known as Joan’s Law in memory of Joan D’Alessandro, a New Jersey girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered while delivering Girl Scout cookies – also has Senate approval, and is expected to be signed into law by the governor.

Hopefully this legislation will help deter these awful crimes, and return a small measure of comfort and security to families and communities who have suffered from the loss of a child.

Preventing child abductions

To improve the Amber Alert Plan, which was created to serve as a quick and ready response to child abductions, I supported legislation the Assembly passed that would allow information about a missing child to be transmitted through e-mail, electronic organizers or mobile phones by service providers who voluntarily agree to send messages (A.11532). The legislation also passed the Senate and awaits the governor’s signature.

The Assembly passed another measure I supported criminalizing the act of luring a child under 14 for the purpose of committing a violent or sexual felony (A.11521).

We must act to protect our children from dangerous predators. These measures do so, and make sure tough penalties are in place for these heinous crimes.

Protecting our community

To strengthen the Sex Offender Registration Act, which requires convicted sex offenders to register with local law enforcement, I worked to pass measures – which have both passed the Senate – that:

· require the Division of Criminal Justice Services to regularly remind officials in other states that they must tell New York officials when a sex offender moves into this state, and mandating that the DCJS notify sex offenders in New York State that they may have to register in another state if they move (A.11599); and

· provide a toll-free telephone number for the sex offender registry and allow youth service organizations to perform background checks on up to 20 people per call (A.11590).

The Sex Offender Registry is an important tool in keeping our loved ones safe from sexual predators, and these new measures will make it even more effective by improving access to it, and making sure it’s up to date. I hope the governor will join us by supporting this legislation, which improves the efficiency of the registry.