WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR Ferris Avenue Reveille. March 7, 2004, UPDATED 10:40 A.M. EST: The funeral arrangements for Jerome “Bump” Robinson, the Ferris Avenue community leader who died suddenly last Thursday have been announced. A wake will be held for Mr. Robinson on Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 P.M. at The Thomas A. Slater Center. The wake will be followed by a service at 11 A.M. (moved up from 10 A.M.) at Mount Hope A M E Zion Church, 65 Lake Street. After interment, a repast will be served at the Slater Center.

Jerome Robinson, 1996. Photo, Courtesy, The Thomas A. Slater Center

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. March 7, 2004: Over 200 parents, friends, coaches, and patrons of the White Plains Little League, including Mayor Joseph Delfino, Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti, former Councilman John Martin, first Little League Treasurer Dave Coldrick, Dave Bennett, and all the friends and neighbors who coach, instruct and volunteer their services celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the founding of their League in White Plains Saturday night, at the first Annual Little League Field of Dreams Fundraiser Dinner at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

The festive occasion was the kickoff effort in a drive by the Little League to raise $100,000 by the fall to construct a Concession Stand, Press Box and Restrooms at Gedney Field. Gedney Field is the four year old ball park that is the official home of the League and site of District 20 tournament Games in the summer. At the end of the evening, WPCNR estimates the affair had raised close to $20,000.

THE LEAGUE’S ALL HERE: Panaoramic view of former Yankee righthander great, Mike Torres addressing the crowd after receiving a plaque and commemorative Brick recognizing his contribution to helping to found the Little League ten years ago. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

FOUNDERS DAY: President of the White Plains Little League, Rich Massaroni, second from right, congratulates Tom  and Cathy Pasqua, left and Mike Torres, right, who were honored with the first  Commemorative Bricks to begin the fundraising project, the Walk of Fame,  for their roles in bringing the Little League to White Plains in 1994 when Mr. and Mrs. Pasqua organized, liaisoned and negotiated with the city to accept the Little League, and began the league with 6 teams and 84 players. The 2004 White Plains Little League will field  88 Teams with 1,013 boys and girls on Opening Day, April 17.  Photo by WPCNR Sports.

LONG TIME LITTLE LEAGUE PARENTS, like the Tompkins family turned out  to show their support and trust in the League over the years and pulled out their checkbooks to support the league. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

LEAGUE’S NUMBER ONE FAN, MAYOR JOSEPH DELFINO, checks in with Field of Dreams Committee coordinators, Lisa Fee, left, and Larry Giordano, center. Mayor Delfino’s administration built Gedney Field for the Little League, and the Mayor told WPCNR, “This is what it’s all about. People coming together, building brick by brick. I guarantee you we’re going to get it done.”  Giordano said,  95 persons had signed up in advance, 55 more had shown up at the door and by 7:30 folks were still coming in. He estimated $10,000 was possible even before raffles, auctions and memorabilia for purchase proceeds. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

WALKUP CROWD MILLS IN in lobby of the Knights of Columbus Lodge. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

TALKIN’ BALL: Bullpen Pals along the basepaths, longtime coaches reminisce as did the 200 others who attended and they all know each other and all have little league memories and stories to tell. Left to right Al Orfe, Dom Ardino, Todd Oronzio, and Chet and Cindy Gottshall talk the sport they love. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

LEFT SIDE OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE INFIELD: Settled in the festivities began with raffles and presentations to the founders. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

RIGHT SIDE OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE INFIELD: Awaits the action. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

TORRES HONORED:  Yankee World Series Hero and Workhorse Righthander, Mike Torres is visibly moved as reades the Commorative Brick dedicated to him by White Plains Little League President Rich Massaroni, who presented Mike Torres with the Commemorative Brick that will be placed in the White Plains Little League Walk of Fame with his name to be laid down at the entrance to Gedney Field. The brick recognized Mr. Torres for his pioneering efforts as Director of Player Development, and as one of the league’s first managers in 1994. The Board of Directors in that first year were Tom Pasqua, President; Daved Coldrick, Vice President and Treasurer; Steve Ambrosino, Player Agent; Eric Lazere, Safety Officer; and Members at Large were Bob Eifler, Billy Delanoy, Orlando Cruz, and Mike Coles. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

TOMMY BALLGAME: Tom Pasqua, founder of the White Plains Little League in 1994, is presented with a personal Commemorative Brick with his name, distinguishing him as founder of the league. The Brick will be laid in the Walk of Fame. Pasqua then took the microphone, and reminisced about the negotiations, and the resistance that he, his wife, Cathy, had to overcome in convincing the city to accept and bring in the Little League to White Plains. He praised former Councilman John Martin for brokering the compromise in which the city accepted six teams as White Plains first Little League organization. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

A KID NAMED CHRIS: Mr. Pasqua said that a single incident  pushed him to create the Little League fifteen years ago. It involved a player named Chris Danielli who played for him in the Recreation Department League. He said Chris usually played in right field. “He had not made a catch all season,” Pasqua remembered, “and in the last game of the season the ball was hit to him, he went back and somehow the ball found his glove. The rest of the kids on the team started cheering for him and all raced out to right field and pounded him on the back, congratulating him. It was so special.” Pasqua said that single play inspired him to try and bring the Little League to the city “to give more kids more moments like this.”  He said Little League is really all about the kids. Everyone in attendance was touched by this story, and there were quite a few moist eyes in the hall. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

TABLE OF HONOR:  Left to right, Tom Grammolini, Secretary of WPLL,   Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph “Bud” Nicoletti, Mayor Joseph Delfino, Honorees Mike Torres, Cathy Pasqua, partially hidden,David Coldrick and his wife, and founder, Tom Pasqua. The Mayor has just been thanked by League President Rich Massaroni for his stalwart support of the Little League, and Mr. Nicoletti for his care and upgrading of the Little League fields. Later, speakin to WPCNR, Tom Pasqua praised Mayor Delfino for stepping up to build Gedney Field for the League 5 years ago. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

RAFFLES, MEMORABILIA A HIT: Supporters purchased raffle tickets and a few lucky supporters, including Elise Bronzo, won big. Ms. Bronzo loves her Al Leiter Bobblehead Doll. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

GRANDSTAND OF DREAMS: An architect’s rendering of what the fundraising effort will bring to the League: A concession stand and Press Box located directly behind home plate complete with restrooms. Next will be outfitting Gedney Field with lights and a picnic area. The objective is to allow the Little League to raise money through the sale of inexpensive concessions, provide comfort for fans and children,  and deliver a professional staging area (the press box) for management of Tournaments and events. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

BILLY AND BUD: 2003 Little League President Billy Ward, left,  and Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph “Bud” Nicoletti, who supervises and provides all groundskeeping services to the league, discussed the city’s role in the Concession Stand/Press Box project. Nicoletti said the Little League would contract for the actual building of the project and the city would help out with site work. Ward is chairing the Field of Dreams fundraising effort which will dedicate Commemorative Bricks for $50 for a 4″ x 8″; $125 for a 8″ x 8″, $250 for an 8″ x 8″, and $1,500 for a 32″ x 32″, engraved with the inscription of the donor’s choice to remember their child, a coach, whomever,  to construct a “Walk of Fame” at the entrance to Gedney Field. Donation of a brick is tax-deductible. ( To order a brick, click on the Little League “Anniversary” Button at the right. ) The “Walk of Fame” will be constructed at the entrance to Gedney pictured below. Photo by WPCNR Sports

YOUR FAVORITE LITTLE LEAGUER HERE: (or Mom, Dad, Coach,) Dave Schiavone demonstrates the cornerstone of the White Plains Little League Walk of Fame to be installed at the concourse of Gedney Field. Commemorative Bricks may be purchased by the public and will be added year after year to the growing Walk of Fame to fund Gedney Field improvements…and beyond. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

VIEW FROM ENTRANCE: The New concession stand and Pressbox would be situatiated some 100 feet behind the backstop at Gedney Field with an elevated view of the entire field. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

The Field of Dreams Committee consists of Billy Ward, Dave Schiavone, Lou Tallarini, Lisa Fee, Larry Giordano, and of course, Rich Massaroni. These individuals organized this evening’s Anniversary Dinner.

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WPCNR IN THE BALCONY. From Jennifer Hansen, National Amusements. March 6, 2004: Elvis lives again at the March Silver Screen Classic showing in Tuesday’s 1 P.M. Matinee of Blue Hawaii at  Cinema 15 de Lux at the White Plains City Center. Cinema de Lux in White Plains presents an old-fashioned matinee once every month duplicating that old time movie experience. Come on down to downtown and see “The King” in one of his fabulous musical classics.

WHAT:            Silver Screen Classics is a monthly series offered at City Center 15: Cinema de Lux.  Enjoy a classic film, popcorn and a soft drink for only $1.00.  This month’s feature is Blue Hawaii (1964).

Recently released from the Army, Chad Gates (Elvis Presley) returns to his home in the Hawaiian Islands where he enjoys surfing with his buddies.  Chad declines his father’s request to work for him and instead goes to work at his girlfriend’s tourist agency.  This musical comedy highlights all the beauty and romance of Hawaii and features the classic romantic hit “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”

WHEN:            Tuesday, March 9, 2004 at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE:          City Center 15: Cinema de Lux                                                                               

19 Mamaroneck Avenue
Mamaroneck Avenue and Main Street

White Plains, NY                                                                     

914 -747-6000 

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam Bradley. March 5, 2004: Every town should have the opportunity to change their own speed limits because they know their roads better than anyone else. In New York State, certain towns and all cities and villages can set their own speed limits. Approximately 852 towns – many of them with higher populations than the villages – are without this power. Lewisboro, Pound Ridge and North Castle are just a few of those towns.

Instead, those towns must often go through a time-consuming process with the state Department of Transportation to get speed limits changed, which frequently ends with a denial. I’m trying to change that process.

Legislation I sponsored would permit towns to set speed limits on roads within their jurisdiction (A.6101). This bill would remedy an inequitable situation and improve safety. An identical bill is being taken up in the Senate.

I also authored a bill that would require the DOT to make a determination and issue a decision on speed limit requests within 90 days. If the DOT fails to respond in time, the municipality would be able to make the requested change, provided it has a reasonable tie to public safety.

Under current law, the DOT is under no time constraints to make these decisions. My legislation will allow municipalities to ensure greater safety on their roads. It will provide encouragement for the DOT to rule on requests in a timely manner or enable the towns to meet their public safety needs when the DOT does not act in a timely manner. 

There have been far too many cases in which town boards wanted to lower speed limits in residential areas to protect the families that live there, but the DOT said no, or did not act in a timely manner.

These types of incidents need to stop. The setting of speed limits should not be in the hands of distant bureaucrats, but in the local leaders who know the best interests of their communities. My legislation will make sure that power is where it belongs.

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WPCNR CAPITOL DISTRICT. From The Press Office of Adam T. Bradley. March 5, 2004: Assemblyman Adam Bradley (D-White Plains) reinforced his support of Westchester commuters and criticized New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for interfering in the MTA’s plan to purchase 120 new railway cars. Bradley also called on the MTA to immediately release more details regarding their capital plan so this important issue is quickly resolved.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, these cars are desperately needed – we can’t take another winter of constant breakdowns. We pay fares, we pay taxes, and we contribute to the city’s economy – we deserve to have safe, reliable transportation,” Bradley said. “Mayor Bloomberg and everyone else have to realize how important these cars are to the city’s workforce and support their purchase.”

Bradley noted that the New York City mayor had threatened to sue to block the purchase of the cars in order to pressure the MTA to take over more than 80 city-funded bus routes.

“The mayor is playing political football with the health, safety and well-being of commuters. Westchester residents contribute a sizeable amount to the city’s economy and should not be punished because of greed by the mayor, the two issues should not be connected,” Bradley said.

     Keeping the MTA accountable to taxpayers

Earlier this week, the Assembly’s representative on the Capital Program Review Board raised questions regarding the lack of details in the MTA’s capital plan.

Bradley noted that last year the MTA also pushed through fare hikes and service cuts without public input or oversight. “State authority and public benefit corporation officials are not elected and operate with little outside control. It is essential that they are held accountable for their decisions,” Bradley said.

“Given the questions about the MTA’s procedures – including a $500,000 phone call by former-senator-turned-lobbyist Al D’Amato, the Assembly is exercising proper legislative oversight in the purchase of these cars,” Bradley said. “Commuters and taxpayers should know that their tax dollars are being wisely spent.”

To protect Westchester residents from a more expensive commute, Bradley sponsored legislation requiring more oversight of and public input into MTA service changes (A.7998-E) and fought the city’s effort to reinstate the “commuter tax.”